****The Official 2013-14 NBA Thread****

I would think less of Lebron if he returned to Cleveland b/c it would mean that he really isn't about the championships. I didn't believe he would leave Cleveland originally b/c I thought he cared more about being liked than he did about winning championships as he claimed. I posted here, at the time, that if he really was being honest about winning than going to Miami with Wade, Bosh (Bosh announced a day or two before) and most importantly Riley was his best choice. (Chicago was another lesser, but reasonable option). I now believe that Lebron is/was sincere about championships being the thing. That is why I don't believe it's anywhere close to 50/50. I do think his legacy is important to him and to put himself in that Jordan argument after his career is over, he probably needs about 5 rings. He'll never get that in Cleveland. Winning one title in a lowly city will never compare to having the higher overall ring count. And I don't think he'd ever seriously consider going back to that that owner who was such a douche when Lebron left. Putting aside the douche factor, Lebron has no reason to reasonably believe that Cleveland and that owner can attract a better surrounding cast than what Riley can in Miami. He learned that first hand when he tried to recruit players to Cleveland. Bosh told him straight up that he would never go to Cleveland. IMO that was the moment when he made the mental switch from most likely staying in Cleveland. Then when Riley pitched him and told him he had the plan for how to win championships, that's when he committed to Miami. (That crap about how it was planned years in advance was just talk. Every superstar in the league has talked with every other superstar about how great it would be to play together). All those same factors are in play now, except that back then Lebron just hoped that Riley could deliver and now he knows.

And for the record, my opinion about Lebron if he left would not be related to his leaving my team. Wade is my favorite player and when it looked like he was possibly leaving for Chicago due to that custody fight, I posted that I understood and was just appreciative of what he gave when he was here.

 

Can't see LeBron choosing mgmt in Cleveland over Miami. Like choosing FinHeaven over this site.

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To me? Being so close to Cleveland...I think winning 3-4 rings with one or two in that dump says a lot. Also we disagree on the strength of a surrounding cast. Remember, this will be 2015.

 

Nobody will deny that IF that is a big factor?? It's the Heat by a mile.

 

It doesn't matter what year it is. Miami doesn't win the championship last year if they don't bring in a Ray Allen and Birdman. You have to have an organization you trust to bring in those pieces every year. Who would you trust? I don't think it's even close. I think Lebron would have to be an idiot to believe that his odds of winning even one championship with Cleveland are anywhere near his odds of winning multiple championships in Miami, whether or not Wade is around.

 

The issue in Cleveland is the area. Nobody wants to play there.

The organization never sat on their hands like many have speculated, it just isn't an attractive destination. If Bynum stays on the court than the pieces will already be in Cleveland assuming they both stay.

Lebron who is a better player than he was 6-7 years ago STILL led those Cavs teams to the best record in basketball twice and the finals once.

 

I'm not saying they sat on their hands. I'm saying that they don't have anything Lebron would trust to bring in those key FAs every year. Lebron has won now and he knows how difficult it is and how important those pieces are. And Lebron also learned first hand that nobody wants to play there, so why would he consider going back there when he knows that he'll almost assuredly end up in that exact same situation he was in before?

 

Maybe that is exactly how he feels...I would be a moron to try and be definitive on my prediction.

60+ win seasons with a team that at times looked dominant with a less mature James, was very impressive looking back. He is undoubtedly better, the cast (Irving, Bynum) would be MUCH better.

 

Let me preface this with that I don't think he'll go back to Cleveland:

It won't be the same situation as before, because there is talent and youth developed/developing that wasn't present on the roster prior to Lebron's arrival (save for Boozer, who backstabbed them, but they were the idiots for allowing it). Prior to Lebron's arrival they had traded multiple 1st round picks for crap. When Lebron got there, they were good almost instantly. Too good in fact, so they were never able to develop a core through the draft like they have now, and had to rely on overpaying mediocre FAs (to be fair a bit, I don't know if anyone could've or should've predicted Larry Hughes was going to fall off the planet). Because of that core, they were able to go out and sign a good FA in Jarrett Jack, and roll the dice on Andrew Bynum. Jack nor Bynum would have ever come to Cleveland without the past 3 drafts (well the two before this year at least), so it already isn't the same situation as before.

 

We have Maynard and his soft hand.

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So Beasley is back with the Heat. Thoughts?

 

Well, assuming the sexual assault situation clears up, along with the drug charges, he will be as good as he wants to be, he is pretty much on his last shot and in the best possible situation.

Ball hogging and shoddy defense won't cut it in Miami, what he does about it is up to him.

 

Lebron to the knicks. Durant to the nets the following year. That will be a hell of a rivalry

 

Dan Gilbert running things in Cleveland and Pat Riley running things in Miami makes all the difference really.

trolololololol

 

well he is friends with carmelo. granted i do believe the knicks would find a way to blow that but its not out of the realm of possibilities.

 

You have to add another variable in 2015.

Cap Space with Pat Riley and Micky Arison.

Game. Set. Match.

Oh and..Irving has to stay on the court to be better than Wade....EVER. They guy doesn't play, and when he does, he gets outplayed by Norris Cole. Bynum is a Bum.

 

Yes it is.

he is also friends with Dwyane Wade. and Kevin Durant. and Chris Paul. and Jamal Crawford.

A friend of mine lives in New Jersey. I have another that lives in Dallas. Yet another that lives in Atlanta.

 

Question still stands, how will you feel if he leaves?

 

It's still about the ability to add those pieces that are needed each season. That level of ability is still the same. That's what I mean about it being the same situation.

 

Wonder if Wade, Bosh and Paul George is enough to continue to win championships.

Personally, my personal opinion of Lebron would downgrade to no respect whatsoever.

he was made promises. He held them to those promises. They DELIVERED. and they KEEP delivering. He then stabs them in the back and leaves? nah, that would be the move of a person with no character whatsoever.


and I hope you and others can see the VAST difference between Cleveland and Miami.

 

If Lebron were there with what they currently have they could add those pieces that are needed each season IMO. Wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong though if reality were to prove otherwise.

 

because they did so before....right?

 

Why? It's already been conceded that nobody wants to play in Cleveland.

 

Victor Oladipo: "To be honest, I really didn't want to go to Cleveland."

 

Cleveland already has stars in place, and with James there you guys really believe the Cavs couldn't persuade a player like Birdman?? Ofcourse they could.

If Lebron was a Cav tommorow they beat Wade/Bosh and the Heat by double digits.

 

Maybe a Birdman, but not a Ray Allen type. I'm sure Lebron knows the truth. He tried to recruit players to Cleveland and couldn't. I'm not sure why anyone would believe things would be different now?

 

Disappointed but grateful that he gave us these four unbelievable years. He owes us nothing beyond what he's given us. His choices and reasons are his own and I respect that.

 

Well said.

 

Awesome. Just need to recruit some serious weapons for him to not pass the ball to.

 

I'm sure ESPN has hired another 40 crews just to blow things out of proportion from November until July.

It's going to be humerous.

 

humerus

 

That's very true.

Also Boik when Lebron returns to Cleveland, it will just be me, you, and stitches in this thread bickering...

 

Slow your troll.

THE MIAMI HEAT MADE Lebron. Not the other way. Pay Attention. You must have forgotten what last happened before he got here.

 

BTW, as good as Lebron has been these last three years..it has been teammates that have lifted him to his two championships. In Cleveland, they just let him down.

Without Wade's heroics vs. Indiana in 12', and then Chris Bosh making his return and going nuts in Game 7 vs. Boston..there is no Championship #1. Then in the Finals...without Shane Battier..they come back to Miami down 0-2 to OKC. it was Mario Chalmers that won game 4 if you remember as well. Mike Miller in Game 5 to Ice it.

This year, It was Birdman vs. Indiana..Chalmers in a couple of games...Wade in Game 7 helping him out.

Then in the Finals, truth be told..he played poorly till he didn't. Wade was the best player on the court in Game 4, when down 1-2 to San Antonio. Ray Allen in Game 6. Chris Bosh in OT. Game 7, Shane Battier and Dwyane Wade helped him to beat the Spurs when he had his best performance.


NONE OF THAT..happens in Cleveland. Why? because it didn't before.

 

Hmm, as for Pop, have to give him the edge as a pure coach b/c he and his staff have taken no names, aside from Duncan, and made them into stars, that rarely happens in the NBA.

Cannot argue with results, Spo's team did beat Pop's team, however from a roster pov and player development, hands down Popovich over Spo.

Now if Spo and the Heat culture can straighten Beas out then there is a legit competition imo.

 

Wow.

 

hey. i live in new york. you're up to four friends