Yahoo is reporting we are close to signing Luol Deng, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem and Birdman Andersen.
I have an idea, lets make Oden wear number 6 and make him put on a head band to make it seem like Lebron never left us.
Even if he just wins one more that gives him 3, thats enough for people to put him high up there in the ranks of great players. I don't know what the argument you're making is really, he has just as good a chance to win in Cleveland than if he stayed in Miami. The Heat's team last year got blown out in the Finals and there was no reason to think the team was going to be greatly improved. I think what burns Heat fans is the notion that Lebron actually left for the better basketball team and for a better chance to win more titles. The Heat were clearly on the decline and had lost 2 of the 4 Finals they played in, and should have lost 3 of them. Was their run historic and great? Yes. Was it going to continue? I doubt it. The talent on the Cavs is trending up, the talent on the Heat is trending down, I don't think Lebron would have even considered the Cavs if they didn't give him just as good a chance to get through the East as the Heat.
Wow this is simply wrong in every aspect? Cavs talent is trending up? Who do they have exactly? Kyrie Irving, who is probably the most overrated PG in the NBA, has only missed 9 less games than Wade and is a good but not great player. Bennett who was the #1 overall pick but looks like a terrible bust. Wiggins? The guy who couldn't even carry a college team is somehow going to help carry an NBA team to a finals within the next 2-3 seasons? No way. The Heat roster without Lebron had more win shares than the Cavs roster without Lebron last season. You are simply trolling or know nothing about the NBA.
The argument is that there was exactly ONE team last year capable of demolishing the Heat in the finals, and that just happened to be the team that they faced. Virtually every other team would have been an underdog against Miami, but the Spurs were always favorites in that series. If he would have committed early on to the heat, we could have signed some guys who really improved the system - An Ariza for a backup and bench scoring to reduce lebron's minutes, maybe VC or Anthony Morrow for cheap spot up shooting... Napier would have been used as a spot up 3 point shooter until he developed... We could have built the strongest team in the NBA with an improved bench. Now, he's going to a questionable situation. The Heat are STILL contenders if they can replace Lebron with Deng. He made the cavs contenders instantly, yes, but he didn't make us the basement franchise that Cleveland became. It's definitely an opinion that he left for a better basketball team - One that is wrong at this second. There is not a single player who is the caliber of Chris Bosh on that roster outside of LeBron. Kyrie Irving missed as many games as Dwade in the past two years, so I'd argue their best player has consistent injury problems. All of their other players are virtually unproven, or old. Mike Miller and LeBron James may very well be the only proven talent come playoff time... I'm not saying that with 4 #1 overall picks that Cleveland CAN'T become a much better team than Miami, I just don't see it at the moment. If we manage to sign a good SF, that is.
Lol. Cleveland. The city that hasnt had a pro sports championship since the 1960s is all of a sudden going to win "in the next 1-2 years"? My wallet is SO open for any and ALL action revolving around this. Lol. It obviously worked out well for him his first 8 years or so, amirite?
Time will tell, but all signs point to yes. If only because he himself is such a pivotal talent. Exhibit A - Pat Riley. The man knows how to build champions. He's done it before LeBron. I have very little reason to doubt he'll do it again. It clearly now is. Oddly enough, mainly because of Lebron. Pat Riley gifted some high picks during last go-round's sign-n-trade. Also worth noting that the sun does eventually shine on the dog's ***, when that dog is a perennial lottery picker. It would have been really hard to screw up the draft position of the past 4 seasons after routine clear and unabashed tanking; you'd better have amassed a core of young talent. They went to 4 straight NBA Finals, and won two. Of course they "lost 2". Should have lost 3 of them? Did you actually watch that 2013 series? See Exhibit A. Of course it is, it'd better be. See BLUE. I agree, he's a smart man. No question. He will always opt for a better perceived situation. I never doubt Lebron, my only doubt lies with the Cavaliers organization, from top to bottom. A clown shoes owner, and a rookie coach. Otherwise, the talent in Cleveland is just fine, and they will be a contender for many many years to come.
I had a dream when I went to bed, Carmelo was on the Heat and he stole the ball from Lebron with a fast break, he had to throw the ball like a quarterback with a small window to JR Smith, JR Smith tried to dunk that ball so hard that it bounced out of the rim up in the air, Spo was heated because he thought JR Smith was fouled, Spo had to be held back because he was just losing it.
I know right! Carmelo doesn't play defense is one, he would have dribbled the ball up the court and not make a Lebron type pass, JR Smith is the third one that really made the dream seem fake even when I was dreaming.
Vegas had the Heat odds of returning to the finals at 3/1 for this coming season when it was assumed the big 3 would return to Miami. The odds for Cleveland now are 4/1. So Vegas disagrees with you as well.
hmm, upside is we have lots of cap space left, downside is we lost the best player (though moody as hell) player in the league Wish leBron the best, he is a decent guy, do think the league is something of a joke, also think DW has been cruising the last couple of yrs, he has to step up now
This is one of the worst myths around the league. Carmelo plays defense and when he gets help on offense he's actually really effective. He's no Lebron on d where he's an elite defender, but he's definitely average and he's been very good at times. Most of the year last year he played good defense.
The Cavs talent is absolutely trending up. Kyrie is 22, Wiggins is 19, and Bennett is 21. They're all top picks, and they're all kids. You're writing them off before they even turn 23...really? LeBron will without question raise their games. He didn't have these kinds of young pieces in Miami, where he could look three or four years ahead and see athletes and playmakers. Kyrie might be overhyped but he's not overrated. When he was 20 he averaged 23 and 6; last year 21 and 6. The kid can play, and now that he has proven veteran help he'll be way more efficient...as tends to happen when people play with LeBron. Wiggins is a ridiculous athlete who has been considered the #1 pick for over a year. At the very least he is probably a top wing defender and transition player from day one. Again...hate on the Cavs as much you want...But they are currently the favorite in Vegas to win the NBA Finals THIS YEAR, much like Miami would've been if LeBron stayed. Let's not act like Cleveland is some awful basketball situation.
I like Carmelo, second best scorer behind Kevin Durant, but I seen him play defense when he tries and he is actually good at it but Harden's defense is ***, no way around that.
I've stated how I feel about Wiggins before Lebron even left. The kid is a bust. He has no work ethic, heart, or basketball IQ. I'm willing to stand by that one. Kyrie is what he is. A very good player. You have to think his PPG will go down as the #2 option and he isn't really a compliment to Lebron.. Bennett....he didnt even show promise. Just because they are still young doesn't mean they will ever be very good.
Lebron made the right choice, as much as I hate the fact he is gone there is no doubt he is on a much better team, Kyrie, Wiggins, and Bennett. That team is going to be good this season with Lebron as the leader. Cleveland does not need to trade for Kevin Love, they really need to add Mike Miller and Ray Allen to the bench and they will be set.
Lebron makes the worst players seem decent, so with Lebron on the team now, everyone just got better. He made Mo Williams a freaking All-Star, Mo freaking Williams.
He makes them better efficiancy wise but their stats go down. Here is an article on Bennett. He wasn't just bad, he had the worst season of a #1 pick EVER. http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/1/14/5305228/anthony-bennett-rookie-season-statistics-cleveland-cavaliers Lebron can't make bad players good. He makes guys play to their strengths around him. Bennett has no strengths and Kyries don't mesh with Bron at all.
I think Wade didn't want to win the finals this year or else his nickname Three wouldn't have made sense, NBA is like WWE, no fuggin way do the Cavs pull a rabbit out of their *** to get the first pick.
"Deng's game is eerily very similar to Lebron's. Perfect fit. Same skill set without the ego." I can't wait for Deng to play for us, yeeee excited.
lol you guys are funny... The Cavs supporters are saying they have the better talent because of college production and where they were draft... The Heat supporters are saying that the Cavs players haven't proven anything... bottom line, there is no statistic guideline to guess what they'll do with LeBron this year haha However comma space... I think Riley/Spo leadership along with the straight heads of Wade and Bosh will prove how well LeBron had it here. The Cavs locker room was a mess this past year... and you expect me to believe David Blatt is going to control that locker room? We'll see... I just find it interesting that LeBron basically conceded the GOAT title to MJ now IMO.
If we can land Boozer for cheap too to go along with Deng then woohoo watch out, the Heat would still be contenders for the ECF. [video=youtube;zFnmJgxft_s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFnmJgxft_s[/video]
My issue is that even Cavs fans were calling Bennett a huge bust. Now that they have Lebron its OMG WE HAVE BENNETT TOO!
I don't get the Bosh is soft comment, at least you know it's full of crap too, Bosh put his freaking body out there in the Pacers and Spurs game, he was so beat up in the Spurs game from the Pacers game that he had an excuse to be worn down. Also happy that we are moving him back to the 4.
You missed the part where LeBron states the Cavs aren't good enough to contend for a title right now, and banks on future growth of Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson to become contenders. So, no, LeBron did not leave for the better team. The Heat are ECF contenders right now. You can basically pencil in a Cavs-Heat ECF as of this moment. There's an outside chance the Bulls make it, but I don't see how Gasol fits that team at all, so I'm not sure they're better even on paper. The Pacers have collapsed, and letting Lance Stephenson walk doesn't help their remaining talent pool. I think the Raptors have a better chance at the ECF than the Pacers right now.
I'm glad Lebron left now that I see the bigger picture, we have a chance for the Heat to be like the Spurs, we don't need the best player to win the finals, we need a complete team which we are going to have.
I can't be glad Lebron left until we deny him a title in the playoffs. As the saying goes...you're either with us or against us. He chose his side.
I disagree. Losing a player of LeBron's caliber is a clear blow to the team, even if you allow for Wade and Bosh stepping back into primary roles as a result. The benefits are secondary; the eastern conference will now beat itself up a little more with a more evenly distributed talent pool, and the Heat will no longer be getting every team's best playoff-level shot night in and night out. No more #randomscrubheatkiller.
I don't agree with the LeBron comparison at all. Though Deng is a very good player on both ends. He and Ennis would be a very nice duo to man the wing. I'll be curious to see how they divide the minutes between those two guys. I don't see Chalmers as a great option in this LeBron-less lineup. He doesn't create as much offensively as you'll probably need now. Not a bery good fit, imo, though they are kinda desperate and year-to-year stability counts for something, I suppose. Defensively he's good, I just think they lack an off-the-dribble creator and now lack explosive athletecism in the backcourt. This is why I was arguing for Monroe. The options at PG are not ideal, and someone is going to have to dominate the ball more. Deng and Chalmers are not that kind of player, and neither is Bird if you can even manage to play him substantial minutes. Monroe is very slick with the ball in his hands on the block, high post, or on the perimeter. He and Bosh would be sick together, switching places and scoring from just about anywhere. You could run offense through them. [video]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RGxkSPXpFQ0[/video]
And why would they? In the past four years they were in Win NOW mode, and weren't consistently drafting lottery picks after tanking every year. If you offered me exchanging the past four years of Heat basketball vs four years of Cavs tanking basketball in that time, I take the former every single time. Unless you're the Spurs, you're either winning or you're building. This doesn't even account for the sign-n-trades that brought the Big 3 together, which required the Heat to give away entire drafts. This is a case of Lebron having his cake and eating it too. And I can never fault him for this. But let's not act like simply adding Lebron isn't what immediately made Cleveland a serious contender. He is the center piece of any NBA franchise. Please don't be the guy to make Cavs management into sudden geniuses for basically tanking four straight years, drafting the consequent high draft picks, and making the situation somehow attractive to James. Does the budding talent help? Of course it does, but it is hardly the main reason why he chose to return. This is arguably second on his list of reasons to return to Cleveland. This is his hometown reclamation project of sorts. For as highly a decorated player as he is, wining a title in that town would be his biggest accomplishment yet.
