Well you could also include Olajuwon since he had nothing on the first one and a minimized drexler on the second one. You could also include MJ since you know; he and Scottie were drafted (or acquired on draft night via trade). You could also in life Kobe and shaq since Kobe didn't recruit shaq or vice versa. So basically it's just Lebron who needs to assemble players to play with him. Yes other all star players are necessary but only one needs to dictate who and with he plays.
He couldn't have done that in the offseason? He was feeling the gorilla grow on his back and went to a better situation.
You called a finals trip. Congrats. It's in the minor leagues aka the nba eastern conference this year.
Even if the GSW win in the next game the finals won't be moved up from June 4th. I can't wait that long.
Certainly made the easiest, most pragmatic decision. And I certainly won't blame him for that. Though he certainly could have let the organization and Wade know before his national grandstand. Honesty is not always the best policy; I mean, imagine if he had come out with it: "Wade/Bosh are past their primes and I simply do not believe in Riley—despite the piles of evidence to the contrary—to 'retool' a contender; I would much prefer to join a team of budding superstars in Kyrie and soon Love. My associate Maverick Carter would also like more of a stake in the organization, and the front office in Miami is simply not obliging; I have indirectly taken offense to this. As a response, waiting until the last second is my way of twisting the dagger, leaving the front office in Miami to scramble to 'retool'". He could not have done this, and instead ended up offending an entire city—which, as far as the rest of the country is concerned is pretty much a bonus. Understood: On taking the easy way, who wouldn't? But would you really expect someone who has always controlled his own fate (in terms of employment), and never having to place a single modicum of value to professional network connections, to know how to not burn bridges on the way out? It appears Lebron is willing to set aside the clear disrespect of one Dan Gilbert, because it most likely the case that he knows he is using the city of Cleveland as both a shield and pedestal. A shield in that, should he lose, the built in excuses surround the youth and inexperience of future Cavaliers squads. The national narrative that comes with returning "home" and perhaps winning there is in itself the pedestal. It is a brilliant, ultimately self-serving, and carefully thought out strategy to bolster the legacy, and serve the interests of his closest fellowship while remaining in the nation's social graces. I'm not a hater of James—far from it—and I will always appreciate the greatness we all experienced during his time down here. The guy was instrumental to bringing in back to back championships, along with a second all-time win streak during a reign that was exciting to watch throughout its dominance. He is a transcendental talent, one that I'm sure Jordan himself deep down envies, and one that any city would be more than happy to have wear their colors. You don't often get to see a player who can make history seemingly on a whim; I say to hate on such greatness is simply a monumental waste of time and mental energy. Witnessing the apex of such a brilliant career is not something I'll take for granted any time soon.
LeBron turned this city into a basketball town. This city is all about the NBA now which wasn't the case a few years ago.
When was the last time the East was good? Everyone is acting like it just happened THIS season, which I suppose coincides with ones agenda.
I don't know how anyone can put down what Lebron has done this year and really for the last 6-7 years, he's on an amazing run. He's one of the best players in any sport having success with different teams, players, coaches, etc. Its unprecedented really. If he can beat the Warriors his legacy is on a different level. I think he actually has a good chance to beat GS. I'm not a Cavs fan but I can appreciate someone's greatness. We don't get to see players like this, as a fan I'm enjoying it.
Oh stop with this nonsense. This "salt of the earth" crap that Cleveland/Ohio people put on is so damn annoying. People work hard and are struggling EVERYWHERE in this country. Ohio is no better or worse than anyplace else in that regard. Cleveland does not "deserve" a championship more than Oakland. You realize people are struggling in Oakland too, right?
That was one of the more fun sporting moments I can remember. Just a perfect close-out game in front of a home crowd where it seemed like everyone got their own "curtain call" - Joe Harris hits a shot, Perkins, etc. Just a fun moment. I know Heat fans hate the Cavs, and I totally get why; and I know Cavs fans are crazy defensive, and I get why - but I'm not super interested in all those arguments. This was fun. Sports should be fun. And in Cleveland, they often aren't. Not gonna worry about if this was an easy road to the Finals or if LeBron is loyal. I see the Finals going one of two ways - either the Warriors come out and just wipe the floor with the Cavs in a sweep, or the Cavs come out and muddy up the game, play ugly and slow down the Warriors and lose in 5 instead of 4.
I certainly agree with the bolded, except it doesn't exactly match up with what you bolded. Fin-o said loyalty (something I might disagree with in regards to people in general from Ohio), not anything about struggling or deserving something more than others. I definitely agree Lebron has loyalty to the Akron area and Northeast Ohio though.
I said Warriors in 6 before we swept the Hawks, and unless Kyrie isn't healthier than he was last night, I am not sure why I would change my opinion.
Then why did he leave in the first place? Seems to me that he has loyalty when it suits him. He and Wade seem to be truly great friends, but LeBron had absolutely no problem leaving him high and dry when Wade looked like he might not be as much help as usual. Couldn't even give the guy a heads up or tell him not to opt out of his contract. Some great loyal friend. I would've told him to pound sand, but maybe Wade is a nicer guy than me.
I don't disagree - but man y'all spend a lot of time telling Clevelanders how awful and terrible it is to live here. Now it's not worse to live here than anywhere else!
He left for work and better opportunity, but still kept his place in Ohio and did events and camps in the Akron area. I don't know why the idea seems foreign that you can remain loyal to some place and still make life choices that move you away from it. If he had no loyalty to the area he would have sold his house, and not done anything else around there until this season when he moved back. And I never said he had loyalty to Wade, I have no clue. He says Wade is one of the few real friends he has in the NBA (I think with Chris Paul and Melo being the others), and I suppose you'd need Wade to corroborate or deny. You and I really don't know. He may not be a loyal friend, or he may be, but no one here claimed he was a loyal friend. It was a nice tangent you went on though.
Hey, Cleveland wouldn't be my cup of tea. But if you and the rest of the residents there like it, and enjoy living there, then good for you. I wouldn't want to live in Milwaukee or Minneapolis either. Yet, somehow Cleveland has reserved for itself, with the media's help, the role of the nation's sad sack. The place of good hard working folk who have been so beaten down they just deserve a championship. That is what annoys me. No city "deserves" a championship more than another. Such things are completely meaningless at the end of the day. Particularly in a place like Cleveland, which has so many other terrible things going on, that are far more important. LeBron James isn't going to make the police department any less corrupt or violent, and he isn't going to bring back factory jobs that were lost long ago.
He could have kept working, at the same salary, in Cleveland. And he might've won a championship over the last 4 years had he stayed. We'll never know obviously, but it's possible.
The juxtaposition of this Finals run during protests has been really interesting. Although I'm consistently amazed at how much LeBron lends this city credibility. I don't really agree with the idea myself - but I work with sales reps from Chicago, Detroit, New York, San Fran, etc everyday and it's always the FIRST thing they bring up about Cleveland. It's weird how much LeBron being here makes it "ok" to people from the outside - more so than for the people that are here.
I'll never root for Cleveland. One of my biggest pet peeves is classless behavior and that organization and city was classless when Lebron left and when he returned. You always have a few classless individuals. That's understandable. But in Cleveland you had seemingly everybody from the owner on down being a tool. Lebron was booed by the vast majority of fans when he played against Cleveland. Contrast that to what happened when he played against Miami.
No it's been that way for a while. But at least the Heat had to beat the Pacers with a legit starting lineup and the bulls the one year rose was healthy and looking like the next big thing. It was exceptionally watered down this year. The bucks made the playoffs as a 6 seed. Think about that.
I just think the coverage between the Heat the last 4 years and the Cavs now is just completely unfair, and was unfair to LeBron as well. That goes to the cities/fan bases as well. Just look at how national media people are still making fun of Heat fans.
While I'm glad the Heat organization and fans did the classy thing on Christmas, I'm over this notion of being "grateful" to LeBron. The last 4 years were obviously simply a business transaction for him. He's made that clear with his words and his actions over the last year, starting with his inability to do anything to thank the Heat fans and continuing through now. It obviously didn't mean that much to him, other than a chance to win the title. He got what he wanted, we got what we wanted. Done. Over with.
I can appreciate someone's greatness but I think Lebrons is tarnished by the fact he needs to pick and choose who he plays with and couldn't get it done otherwise. I don't like fake people and that's exactly how Lebron strikes me. Also as much as I hate the Miami Heat, he's an idiot for not trusting Riley to help him more then anything that could happen in Cleveland. Pat Riley is so far and away better then anything Cleveland has ever seen it's a joke. Damn now I feel dirty.
Obviously to a lesser degree for various reasons, but Heat fans had their moments of bitterness aswell. Also let's not pretend Riley has kept his butt hurt balled up inside and taken the high road in all of this.
One of the easiest routes for sure...ditching an older wade and bosh for just entering his prime Kyrie and A team who had the 1st pick which was either going to be Wiggins or a good player via trade gave him a chance to sustain his run longer. He no longer felt confident in the players around him so he ditched them like a little rat. I don't know him but I can tell you my perception of him is not good.
Sounds like you think he bolted for a better roster, I happen to believe he bolted for the reasons in the letter. Guess we will agreee to disagree.
You brought it up. What did Pat Riley say or do in the year since LeBron left that was untrue, mean spirited or unfair? Give me an example.
I'm not sure it's a better roster but it was clearly in his eyes a brighter future. Wade and Bosh outlived their usefulness. He got his rings now he's done with them. He's basically an assassin who needs help with the difficult kills cause he can't get it done otherwise. That's how I view Lebron.
Don't know who this Dwayne Wade fellow is, but Dwyane Wade just had an amazingly efficient year despite him and his team being plagued by bizarre, voodoo curse types and amounts of injuries. Or are we saying that LeBron foresaw Chris Bosh getting a pulmonary embolism, among other things?
