Big difference is experience and choice. Heat had playoff experience. Every single rotation player had it. The coaching staff had it. At least based on last night, the Cavs rotation will have little of it outside LeBron and Varaejo. Miller and Shawn Marion's corpse barely played and James Jones was his typical DNP-CD (the fact the thought this would change is funny) Also, a big factor for the Heat was that the Big 3 chose to come together and understood the sacrifices that needed to be made. I guess Love sort of chose this, but Kyrie and Waiters didn't. Let's see how they respond in a month or so if things are still up and down. They have too much talent to not win a ton of regular season games but that shouldn't matter. They should be judged just like the Heat. Only on the playoffs.
I thought Love and Kyrie played pretty well. Dion did a good job of limiting his bad shots but still being aggressive. LeBron was awful. Just awful. But Blatt may have been worse. The minutes the starters played, the rotations - just awful. It was crazy. I can't get over some of those lineups. Tristan got like 20 minutes? Miller didn't get in till the 2nd half? There were points where Tristan / Andy / Marion were all on the court. Blatt was just terrible. LeBron will straighten himself out, hopefully. He was stopping the ball, turning it over, missing shots. He's been talking about how he's such a wonderful leader and how this is the biggest sporting event in the history of earth - he needs to calm down and play some team ball.
Blatt is going to have to figure out a rotation that works, particularly on the defensive end. They went with Love at the 5 in their "closing" lineup which is going to be a disaster defensively.
I can't believe this speech isn't getting more criticism on ESPN, it's literally one of the worst pre-game speeches I can remember hearing.
I don't get the Lebron Hate from the Heat fans, its beneath you guys. I mean I don't know what more you could have asked for from the guy. Lebron played like crap last night and they lost, he won't play like that most nights, they will be fine. I really don't get the hate, if Marino had went somewhere else I still would have wished him well, this is childish petty stuff. And I'm not a Lebron fan, I'm a Wizards fan that wants the Cavs (and Heat for that matter) to suck so we can win.
Easy for you to say. And Marino didn't voluntarily leave a team that at least two more Finals runs in it so his boys could get a private plane and have run of the organization.
I don't hate LeBron at all, but if you're going to call that one of the biggest games in the history of sports like he did and then lay an egg on the court you should face some criticism.
Yep. The coverage of these two teams is completely opposite even though they were put together almost exactly the same way. and this whole LeBron as Messiah of Ohio thing is incredibly off putting. He plays basketball for god sakes.
I'll be honest, as a Clevelander, it's even kind of annoying. The whole narrative that the city was a barren wasteland when he left was really insulting. Basketball is the 3rd most popular sport in this town. His presence is a big deal, but it's hardly something actual Clevelanders base their entire civic pride around.
Heat fans don't have to defend LeBron the player anymore, so are free to hate LeBron the person. The player has my respect and appreciation for what he helped the team accomplish these past 4 years; the person is pretty dislikeable and saying things like what he said, or the way he left the Heat, are good arguments as to why.
Spend four years defending someone then have them take a runny **** on your face. Because that is what Lebron did. I dobdobnt really care abourt Lebron the person, but I certainly hope Lebron the basketball player fails on every level. The thing is Lebron is a man who's words don't match his actions. No respect for that.
I know y'all hate Cavs fans...but imagine LeBron being a hometown kid, 7 years of him playing here, back-to-back 60+ win seasons, and then him doing that. You guys at least got 2 rings out of it. And were left with Bosh and Wade. We were left with nothing. I'm not defending Cavs fans going over the top with it - but I find it kind of funny that after everything that has happened, the current national narrative is that Heat fans aren't allowed to be upset and that Cavs fans never should have in the first place. It's kind of amazing how much LeBron controls the message that surrounds him.
I get not liking the guy (he's not very likable to me personally) but its like a crusade to bash him now, you had a great run with him, its over, just move on.
I'm really interested in what happens to the Jazz in the next 3-4 years. They have a lot of really fun, young players - but the entire puzzle just doesn't seem to be coming together. They REALLY need Exum to be a stud.
I have moved on. I'm concentrated on the Heat. Does that mean that I can't take some enjoyment in LeBron losing? You'll have no choice but to watch the games. They'll be on all the time
This. Exactly this. I'll admit I am a little bitter, it's like dating a really hot girl and having a great time with her, only to see her break up with you even if she had her reasons. It hurts, but you don't necessarily hate that person. But I will still defend LeBron when people try and make stupid arguments to belittle how good he really is. The problem is how hypocritical the public and especially the media is about him. Things he was bashed for in Miami are being celebrated now.
Adrian Wojnarowski confirms what we already know: LeBron and Rich Paul are running the Cavs. CLEVELAND – In the uneasy moments lurching toward tipoff, the neatly manicured mythology of LeBron James’ homecoming flickered on the spectacular screen suspended over the Q Arena floor. All around, the shoe company’s commercial played out with thousands upon thousands of Clevelanders surrounding the prodigal son in the Cavaliers’ huddle, thousands more reaching out, across blocks and streets, responding to the superstar’s declarations of duty about winning a championship for them. No one does fairy tales like Nike, an unapologetic peddling of product for a summer transaction. The most conditional kind of love washed down onto James upon his Cavaliers return on Thursday night, Northeast Ohio determined to distill romance out of something that was far more a free-agent power play than the storybook journey home that it’s been framed. View gallery. LeBron James, going to the bucket against Carmelo Anthony, likes being a power player off the court as well. (AP) … For James’ genius standards, this was a flat, flawed debut – an abysmal performance born of nerves and newness. The Cavaliers lost to theNew York Knicks, and James had never looked so pressed and uneasy. From eight turnovers to missing eight of nine shots to start, even the sprawling hype of this night overwhelmed a four-time MVP and two-time champion. This is a new pressure, and for a night anyway, it was palpable.“This was great, but I’m glad it’s over,” James said. Yes, James loves this region, but give him this too: The world’s best basketball player is testing the reach of the iconic athlete into athletic and coaching representation, pursuing power and control that no active athlete’s ever dared. His childhood friend-turned agent, Rich Paul, oversees Klutch Sports, a Cleveland-based agency that exists out of the generosity of its financial benefactor, LeBron James. These are James’ resources and might behind the company, but he lets his buddies run it. Klutch represents Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson, who has a decided advantage as a James underling to negotiate a better-than-market value deal with the Cavaliers. Most agents and business associates of key Cavaliers players are on full alert to keep clients out of the tentacles of Klutch. The Klutch sales pitch has been predictable: Come with us, get paid with the Cavaliers. As much as anything, James has set up Rich Paul with a sweet gig: Paul doesn’t negotiate the contracts for clients, nor does he do the marketing for LeBron James. Those jobs belong to Mark Termini and the Fenway Sports Group, respectively. Nevertheless, Paul is the personable frontman, the secondary recruiter behind James himself. As the season unfolds, the Klutch Sports client most are watching closest is deposed Golden State coach Mark Jackson. He has bounced agent to agent in his brief coaching career, but landing with Paul raised the suspicions of Jackson’s motives: Does Jackson think Paul can simply wedge him into the Cavaliers’ job? Most believe that James is too smart to ever want a coach who spends far more time retweeting Twitter praise for himself than preparing his basketball team, but Jackson shouldn’t be underestimated as one of the sport’s great self-promoters. And make no mistake: If the Cavaliers struggle, it won’t be James and Kevin Love taking the blame. It’ll be coach David Blatt, who understands – even embraces – the burden. After the loss on Thursday, Blatt was disappointed but hardly discouraged on the walk back to his office. “I’ve been preaching patience on this team all along, but I understand that it can be hard for people to accept it,” Blatt told Yahoo Sports. “Anyway, we can play a hell of a lot better than that.” Asked if this kind of opening-night loss amid the anticipation had felt like a kick in the stomach, he said, “It was for me, for everybody – and that could be a good thing for all of us.” Even so, Blatt stopped and smiled. All these stops in the world, Princeton to Israel to Russia, and this was the kind of night, on the kind of stage, that he had forever dreamed: “It was special,” Blatt told Yahoo. “Just incredibly special …” View gallery. Despite his immense power, James really has no choice but to remain with the Cavs. (AP) When James and theMiami Heat were barely over .500 to start his Heat career, he tried to take on Erik Spoelstra – only to have management support the coach. The Cavaliers could be 0-2 by late Friday in Chicago – and still be on the way to 60 victories and a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. Blatt is nothing if not supremely confident, prepared and convinced he’ll find a way to get the best out of everyone on his basketball team.In the end, James will make the ultimate call in Cleveland, but remember something: He doesn’t have the leverage with a one-year contract that people want to believe. He committed to a short contract so he could cash into that new television booty, but whatever is threatened for the sake of leverage – directly or indirectly – James can’t leave Cleveland again. His image, his brand, couldn’t survive the fallout. Once James returned, make no mistake: he signed a lifetime contract with the Cavaliers. This time, it’s in blood. Only one thing had changed from when James had left the Cavaliers four years ago: This time, he had two championships. Once you’ve won, everything is easily explained away. His free-agent performance this summer wasn’t so much different than 2010, only seen through a new prism. James empowered Paul to drag several teams to Klutch’s offices in Cleveland for free-agent presentations without the free-agent star present. Once those meetings were over, leaked to the public, the teams sheepishly realized: We were had. “Just used as props to get attention and publicize their business,” one league executive told Yahoo Sports. “Maybe that’s smart to some people, but you have to deal with the same people again and again in this league. Those things can come back on you eventually.” It won’t be soon, because LeBron James is running Cleveland again, running the NBA. Everyone still wants this LeBron James story to read like a fairy tale, but it’s something else, something different. This is business, and for now, business is good.
Honestly man its Cavs fans like yourself that make me okay with it. Honestly if he had handled it differently and still left I wouldn't care. Its how he left, not that he left.
Woj - by far the best at breaking news and the worst at writing actual articles. Not that part of what he says isn't true - but trying to say Rich Paul can only get clients paid by the Cavs is hard to argue when the Suns gave Bledsoe a max deal. And if James prefers Mark Jackson - why didn't the Cavs just hire him in the first place? And the one that I don't get - everyone is convinced the Cavs are going to massively overpay Tristan to keep LeBron happy - but that would only hurt the Cavs and their championship chances, right? Why would that be in LeBron's best interest. I really hate that I'm sitting here defending Rich Paul, btw.
There's a lot that I'm disillusioned about, personally. I think Heat fans could have a bit more class about this. Personally no matter why he originally chose Miami or why he chose to leave Miami, I'm pretty grateful he went there. As a sports fan, he gave Heat fans something that very few fans in the modern sports world have ever experienced. It's an almost incomparable privilege to say that you got to feel the ups and downs (mostly ups) of being a big fan of the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014. Four straight championship appearances, two of them won, and everyone's bitter because the train didn't keep going? That strikes me as greedy. I'm not bitter, I'm grateful. And I don't need LeBron to make outward shows of his being grateful toward Heat fans or not, in order to feel grateful. I don't need him to be a likeable hero to feel grateful. I don't need him to come off as genuine or humble, in order to be grateful. I'm grateful because the best basketball player in the world chose us and keystoned four straight championship appearances and two titles. But at the same time I'm pretty disillusioned with LeBron himself, his antics, his motivations, etc. There's nothing wrong with that. He's a smart dude, and at times pretty genuine. At times, he's not. I don't think I really respect what he's doing in Cleveland basically acting like it's his team for him to do what he wants with, but then again I can't be certain that my balking at that idea isn't the result of some arbitrary (and possibly objectionable) ideals ingrained in my head over long periods growing up. Somewhere in the recesses of our heads the players are the slaves and the owners/coaches are the masters and it doesn't seem right for the slaves to take mastery over the manor. But he's the reason a team wins, why shouldn't he have control? Maybe I shouldn't have a problem with that after all. One thing I do know is that the media have generally not conducted themselves with much class either during this whole thing. The bias is palpable, the hypocrisy lethal. And I also have no problem with getting a nice private laugh at the hypocrisy involved with Cleveland fans, putting up road signs and banners, throwing jersey bonfires, doing commercials and videos, etc...and then all the sudden treating LeBron like a god again. You don't have to be a hypocrite, a Heat fan, a victim of disillusionment or any combination of the three in order to get good laughs at the monolith of hypocrisy being built in Cleveland, nor should any of us cynics feel any shame at the schadenfreude we feel when we see the Cavs go out and lose to a bad team on their first night.
Its not that I disagree with any of this. Its more like.... Yes we had a great ride buy he should be as thankful to our organization as we are to him. As great as Lebron is he doesn't win without Wade, Bosh, Chalmers, Allen, everyone who stepped up and took control at different times. The way he left made me feel personally like he has no appreciation for our franchise or our city. So why should we appreciate him when its obviously not mutual? That letter he wrote had to be the phoniest and most (unintentionally) disrespectful way to phrase why he left. After leading us on and not telling our organization anything. Its his right to leave, but in my eyes the relationship is over. We had great times...I wouldn't trade them...but it ended ugly and that is where we stand. Just my feelings, I don't expect anyone to agree.
I think to someone outside of the entire situation this has to be pretty funny. Cavs fans falling all over themselves to praise LeBron while Heat fans make memes and revel in his failure. Four years ago Cavs fans couldn't have been more over-the-top with their hatred and reaction and Heat fans couldn't have acted more disgusted with the idea of "haters" who were cheering against their team. And now they're reversing roles without even acknowledging it in any way. At the end of the day, it's sports and we probably don't need to dig too deep. I've said some really awful things about Rex Ryan but if he wants to come be our DC next year I'm going to be his biggest fan.
I'm sure San Antonio has a plan and maybe they're just waiting to see what types of offers they get next year - but Kawhi is their chance to keep this window open as Duncan, Parker, and Manu age. Seems crazy to me to play games. But they've earned the benefit of the doubt.
My issue is clear. The Hatred that MY City continues to get while theirs...(which deserves it) DOESN'T get it. Brown People. We are foreign. Only explanation.
I on the other hand was HERE and on Twitter calling that guy a complete phony, even while he was AND IS, the best player in the world on my team and the Cavs. I don't like the LIE. I like it LESS when it's at the expense of my city, our fanbase, and our franchise.
I...just don't think I'll ever understand an argument centered around Cleveland not being hated. It's literally the most made fun of city in the United States.
Did you watch last night? Did you watch in 2010? Hell, do you have Cable, Satellite or hear ESPN Radio/Podcasts?
Have you been watching ESPN lately? The predominant phrase being used right now in this whole situation is "Cleveland deserves this"
How did it end ugly? Kevin Love to me or moreso Carmelo or Deron Williams ended things ugly for their respective franchise. Parsons and Houston ultimately ended ugly. Boozer and Cleveland ended ugly too IMO, but not Lebron either time.
Yeah celebrating the team and the city since LeBron went back. Some pity that. Miami and the Heat could have used some of that "pity" back in 10. Instead they got ridicule, hate and insults.
Every fan base thinks ESPN hates their city. It's their business model. Do you think they've ever - I mean this, EVER - shown a Cleveland game without going through the Misery Montage of The Drive, The Fumble, The Shot, etc? Do you remember the 7 years before LeBron left when ESPN's entire coverage was "Cleveland doesn't deserve LeBron, he belongs in New York or somewhere better than Cleveland." You guys think Windhorst HATES the Heat and LOVES the Cavs - yet he's the guy who told Cleveland that Kyrie wasn't going to re-sign, that LeBron would never play with Kyrie, that LeBron would never return to Cleveland. Cavs fans think he hates us, too. It's what ESPN does. As for the Heat hate - it was BAD that first year. Bad. And then you guys won. And the narrative mostly shifted. The national media was completely behind Cleveland right after the Decision - and those same guys that wrote all those scathing articles about The Decision suddenly shifted to a "Why should Cavs fans have to forgive LeBron - he didn't do anything wrong!" message. I mean literally the same guys. Honestly? As someone who follows the NBA at a fairly extreme level, I haven't even really seen much Heat hate the last 2 years? Seems like you guys all kind of got in a bunker in 2010 when everyone was taking their turn bashing you but things shifted pretty dramatically after that first title. The hate hasn't really been that strong the last 2 years.
Also - give it time. It was "hometown hero!" when LeBron first got to Cleveland and within the first few years it was "Cleveland doesn't deserve him, he should be in New York." This current fever pitch will change soon enough.
