****The Official 2014-15 NBA Thread****

This meeting, Lebron and Dwyane in Vegas; I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if it is a "Sorry, my friend, but it's time we made changes;" meeting.

 

When?

In 11' he left Wade and Bosh all alone in the finals. (Wade could have been finals MVP)

In 12' he got huge performances from Wade vs. the Pacers, and then from Wade/Bosh coming back from Injury vs. the Celtics. Everybody was great vs. OKC.

In 13', Wade played out of his mind in every Big game in that run, including a masterful performance in Game 4 of the finals to save the season vs. the Spurs. In Game 7 he was great.



SO when exactly, besides games 4 and 5 when they got annihilated this year did they "leave him all alone"?

 

Meeting? They had dinner and went clubbing.

I don;t think you have a guy opt out of $42 million to then stab him in the back.

 

I would think David West and Roy Hibbert (and any team with some size) would be salivating if the Heat swapped Bosh for Melo. Or any team with a quick point guard that could penetrate and not have Bosh's crazy length bothering his shots.

Melo would be super fun on that Heat team - but from a standpoint of actually winning games and playing defense, Bosh is just so damn integral to what they do.

 

Palazzo? My guy is at The Palms...

 

The infamous "ropes" incident. Lebron pu the team on his shoulders and led them back to victory, and then won the championship.

 

Flip-side of this is that as a Cleveland fan I hate that the media is trying to paint us as this devastated bunch of sad sacks when LeBron signs with Miami. We have Kyrie and Wiggins for the next 5-6 years, tons of cap space, and guys like Waiters and Bennett who have a ton of potential. Not to mention up to 3 first round picks next year. Most of the fans I've seen think this is hysterical - a shirtless trainer and a cupcake shop acting like they are breaking LeBron news? It's hilarious.

It's kinda funny how the media has created these narratives for Heat and Cavs fans that don't really apply.

 

You would also lose some height. If you didn't have wade already it would be a better fit. Wades role though is really as a scorer at this point

 

So, Im not that astute when it comes to basketball, so if this is a dumb question, I apologize in advance.

With how good James Enis has looked so far in the Summer League, could his play be one of the reasons why Bron decides to remain in Miami? I ask this, because Ive been reading Ck's posts for years now, and I know he is not prone to hyperbole, but he sounds pretty damn high on Enis's shooting potential. How much does Enis's play affect their roster decisions?

 

Salivating? When they're bound to be 15-25 points behind with Lebron and Carmelo on the floor together?

More like sweating how to catch up, and praying those two don't get back at the same time again.

 

Nah he doesn't drop that or any news at a dinner with family and friends there....that stuff happens tonight or tomorrow when Riles shows up....

http://lasvegas.informermg.com/2014/07/08/lebron-james-and-dwyane-wade-in-las-vegas-at-lavo-and-marquee/

 

Well let's see how he does against starting NBA competition BUT this team was in terrible need of athleticism last year and good lord does Ennis have that

 

Had a back and forth with him today on that. I like Doyel personally BTW..but jeez...why does he write this ****?

 

The Heat already have LeBron, Bosh and Wade as GREAT offensive players. But all 3 play defense. And the Pacers have made them sweat a few years in a row. All you are doing is subbing out a guy who fits perfectly and plays on both ends of the court for one that plays a little better on offense but doesn't play well on the other end and leaves a HUGE hole at PF/C.

Like - do you not think Bosh and Wade are already top 5-10 offensive players that adding Melo is going to help that much on that end?

 

I'm hoping that the combination of Ennis and Shabazz gives the team that much-needed jolt of energy and athleticism. If only Hamilton could improve enough as well to make the final 15, he'd add to that.

 

that "ropes" incident? Lebron had two turnovers that "should" have cost the Heat the title.

Then..Ray Allen happened...and then Bosh happened in OT.

 

The best argument anywhere that LeBron isnt leaving.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

How is that what you're seeing?

 

James Ennis has a high release and perfect form. it translates well to getting his shot off at the next level.

He is very athletic as well with quick hands.

He will be a valuable roster piece starting this season.

 

I've heard this narrative a few times now. It's so ridiculous, as if LeBron himself is out there leading Cleveland on. Just because the media says it, doesn't make it true.

 

I can't wait to see Ennis and Lebron on a fast break together

 

Yep. That's why Wiggins was so huge. Gives a chance at another star. I'm not super high on him becoming a great offensive player, but he's a helluva lot better than anything we were going to grab in FA.

And I'm SUPER interested to see Blatt. Seems like boom or bust. Everyone raves about him being smart and adaptable - but can he manage NBA personalities? There's already a lot of rumors about Kyrie being fairly difficult (and Waiters - but the feeling seems to be he'll get dealt.)

 

Also - about 90% of the rumors have come from Akron. I get the impression LeBron's old buddies are spreading stuff so they can feel like big shots again since it appears he's shut most of that crowd out in recent years.

But almost EVERY rumor I've heard starts with "My buddy in Akron..."

 

No. Wade has most certainly, and likely permanently, fallen out of a top-five talent scale. Bosh is likely still a top-five guy, but not in his current role. He gives up much too much to fit into the place where the Heat needs him. Now, say Oden can take on 30 quality minutes per game at the 5 and Bosh can play more naturally in his native 4; then Bosh is a going concern, and his value, when combined with a huge presence like Oden's, increases both his Defensive and Offensive threats.

As it is, I don't believe teams sweat two-thirds of the "big-three" as much as we'd like to think. Indiana has spent the last three years building, man for man, to counterpunch the Heat, and they only seem to be getting better this offseason. Chicago, not so much due to the unknown factor of Rose's health and ability post-injury; but the Knicks, if you leave them 'Melo, have improved by subtraction; even moreso if they can jettison Stoudemire for someone who's actually productive.

 

I just see it happening because I get human nature. No big thing, just after living a while, you know a universal truth is that people hate to lose, athletes exponentially more so—top-three athletes even more so, and that they will remove obstacles from their path to winning if they can.

 

I do find it interesting that the Heat are sticking to the small-ball concept. I thought as Wade started to drop-off a bit they'd turn to Bosh. Dude used to be a 25 and 10 player. Thought the Heat would try to find a more traditional center and let Bosh start to pick up some of the offensive load instead of focusing on defense and stretching the floor. Then anything Wade gives you is just gravy and likely the thing that puts them over the top.

If you took the sentimentality out of it completely, swapping Wade for Melo would be the move that would just make the Heat unstoppable. Or unstoppabler.

 

Right I agree but how is Miami an obstacle provided that they keep Wade and Bosh OR Melo?

 

Precisely.

 

Lebron: "Hey bro, thanks for opting out of a ton of money, and you guessed right, I am staying in Miami......just without you. Good luck finding more money elsewhere"

Wade: "Oh cool, no worries, bro. Lets go clubbing!!!!"

Yeah....likely scenario.

 

They aren't moving on from Wade YET, the fans would revolt......they can have all of that scenario if all takes a little less...

 

Agreed. But you can't take the sentimentality of of it completely, and that's why Wade isn't going anywhere.

 

So is it completely inconceivable and out the window at this point that the big three take substantially less money than whats been thrown around to bring Melo on board? Would bring the minutes down that each would have to endure throughout the season with that kind of rotation.

 

Don't see Melo giving up that kind of money

 

I think the McBob and Granger signings put an end to that.

 

Fixed that for you.

Can people please stop talking about Dwyane Wade as if he's deceased? His performance in games that occurred before the Finals counts too.