LEBRON MAKES HIS GREATEST "GROWN MAN" MOVE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP

LeBron and D-Wade, the two who led the U.S. team to the Olympic final while Kobe took a back seat, were both too nervous at the end of the very tight Gold Medal Game to finish the deal. In came Kobe to the rescue.

You have to agree that LeBron is wildly talented, possessing all of God’s gifts as I wrote. However, he does not possess the single-minded purpose Kobe has shown his entire career and understands that about himself. Signing in Miami is not a sign of weakness, just reality that his greatness will be told with volumes of rings and not MVP’s just as Kobe is being measured.

This sets up interesting chases…Kobe trying to surpass Magic for tops as a Laker and hopefully setting the stage for him to eclipse Jordan’s six while James and Wade are setting their sights beyond them both. Does it mean anything to you for the 2-time regular season MVP to defer to Wade, who will always have more rings than King James???

I agree that his “individual legacy” will take a hit. WIth this move, James understands that. Don’t you think Barkley, Malone, Stockton, or Reggie Miller would trade their fame as really good players but not great enough to win a championship (or two, or more)?

If the Heat succeed in winning the title more than the Bulls of the ’90’s and the Lakers of the 2000’s, James leading Wade and Bosh will put the Heat franchise into the conversation as a dynasty surpassing Jordan and Kobe.

For a man, like the great and respected Bill Russell, who understands what there is no “I” in team, that will be enough. LeBron wants to be compared to different standards than Kobe and Michael. I believe this is a mature step, in a similar vein to Magic restructuring his remaining $25 million contract to pay him that amount over 25 years in order to afford great players to deliver his magical passes to.

I don’t post much around here, so I don’t know the etiquette. I thought a title should be in caps.

What do you think of the moves LeBron,and Bosh made to joint D-Wade?

Lebron doesn’t have the competitiveness or skills of Kobe. Lebron makes for it with his insane athletic abilities, but in terms of those things? It’s not even close.Lebron didn’t make a grown man move by screwing Cleveland on national television. If someone went on facebook to break up with their fiancee, they’d be called a coward. I don’t care where Lebron goes but for someone who knows the history of the game, he should know that championships aren’t won on talent and dance moves.

what the fuck are you talking about, srsly. Lebron has the skills and competitiveness of Kobe? An argument can be made for Lebron “selflessly” going to Miami. But, there is no way you can compare his skills or his competitiveness to Kobe. As previously stated, if Lebron was as competitive as Kobe he doesn’t go to Miami. Also, if you say he is as skilled as Kobe to anyone that watches basketball, they would laugh in your face. I’m sorry guy, our realism might seem myopic to you only because you aren’t based in the same reality.

but for real, that Cavs team was so so so so so so much better than the 05-07 Lakers. are you kidding me. Mo Williams, 40% 3-pt shooter, Anthony Parker 40% 3-pt shooter, Antawn Jamison career 20-10 guy, Shaq giving 12 and 10 every night before injury. Such a better team. You lost me there man.

I’d love to read more about why you were ROFL. I understand if it is impossible for you to make an objective opinion about another great player when compared to your hero. I felt the same about MJ, especially when he rose up against the Lakers for his first title.

I hope I’m wrong at least one more year.

First off, the last time I checked Magic, BIrd, or MJ never won a title playing one-on-five. They were part of a team situation in all instances.

Yeah, ones that they dominated and controlled from the get go. There was never any doubt who dictated and controlled the tempo on each team. They would never accept the notion that their authority and competitive spirit were unmatched on their respective teams.

Secondly, Wade’s Heat never went head-to-head w/ LeBron’s Cavs in the playoffs.

Irrelevant. He’s essentially admitting his inferiority in this relationship by going to a team with two other stars, especially one as established as Wade.

Don’t believe for a second MJ wouldn’t have bolted for a contender (he’s close friends with Sir Charles) had PJ not been named coach and Pippen hadn’t developed.

Only after screaming at his teammates, punching a few out, and giving epic performances in the meantime. And he would have, never, ever quit in the manner that LeBron did in the Boston series. Past that, the team he would have went to would have never had a star as established as Wade (hence the Isiah/Bird/Magic comparison) or at the very least, one that Jordan wouldn’t have immediately made his presence and dominance known. You crush the people with competitive spirit comparable to yourself as a superstar; you don’t join them for the ride.

You forget that Magic and Bird joined talented, veteran teams that were in need of their talents. They had success in the Finals early and often in their careers. Jordan’s Bulls struggled for playoff success just like LeBron’s Cavs have. Le Bron never got his Pj or a Pippen alongside. Had the Cavs moved to acquire Chris Paul or Chris Bosh, that might have been enough to compel James to stay. The Cavs didn’t improve their roster, believing James was theirs without making any moves.

LeBron had two 60+ win teams in the last two years, and failed to get them anywhere. His failure is especially prominent considering that he effectively controlled a fair share of front office decisions for the past two years. As for Magic and Bird, they came into teams that they dominated from the outset. If Magic started a long losing streak, he wouldn’t have joined up with Bird to dominate the rest of the NBA.

LeBron essentially had the choice in this case to go to three teams where he could unquestionably be the major star: Cleveland, Chicago, and New York. (Assuming New Jersey and the Clippers were out of the question.) He took the easy route by joining Miami, which had Wade on top of another major star in Bosh to overshadow any of his contributions to the team. He won’t win any MVPs at his current location (whereas Magic, Bird, and Jordan, as the unquestioned leaders of their teams, were always in consideration and would have been majorly pissed at an inability to win it) due to Wade and Bosh taking the credit for his contributions, or at the very least, others attributing his contributions to them. Any championships he wins, regardless of whether he wins the Finals MVP or not (and given the degree to which Wade explodes during the playoffs, I find that doubtful), will be similarly attributed to the fact that he was with Wade and Bosh, two other top 10 players, not due to the fact that was supposedly the best player the game.

In Chicago, he would have had a similarly competitive team, except one with no entrenched egos or players of similar quality for him to worry about, while simultaneously making a team certainly good enough to contend for a title immediately (hell, Chicago with LeBron is likely more competitive than Miami with LeBron next year due to depth differences). Cleveland would have been the same. New York would have been a rebuilding situation, but similar to Cleveland, he would have had the unmatched ability to essentially save basketball in New York.

Jordan? Magic? Bird? Kobe? They would have undoubtedly picked one of the previous three because of 1) the fact they were the dominant player 2) it offered an inherent challenge of bringing a team that was unmistakeably “theirs” to rings 3) their legacies would be defined by their leadership and individual play. They would have never, ever, stooped low enough to admit that they needed the help of players of similar caliber in order to make it over the hump. That’s the equivalent of forfeiting your identity as a star in this league.

I understand your rationale, it’s similar to the other respondents. I feel there’s more to being a star player in the NBA than dominating teams/headlines. That’s why I think this is a great move. It’s one that has me worried if Bynum can’t stay healthy and Kobe has to carry the Lakers all over again.

That’s bogus. Being a star player is almost entirely about personal competitive drive. It defines their character, it raises them above their fellow players such that it commands admiration, deference and respect, and permeates throughout their teams. Winning on their own terms defines these set of players — they never lowered themselves in any way to get to where they wanted to go. Those who fail to meet that measure get delegated to the set of supporting players who follow other stars.

Finally, it is a testament to LeBron’s talent that you feel he should be able to defeat the entire NBA alone, no talent behind him, while you hold up MJ, Kobe, Magic or Bird who won as part of complete teams.

He was part of two 60+ win teams. Don’t give me that bullcrap. He epically quit on his own team during the Boston series in a manner that any of those players you mentioned would not have. All of them would have put forth a performance for the ages in their loss or at least went down trying to.

We’ll have to agree to disagree here.

Apparently, as you hold a bizarre view on NBA history and the making of individual legacies.

Finally, it is a testament to LeBron’s talent that you feel he should be able to defeat the entire NBA alone, no talent behind him, while you hold up MJ, Kobe, Magic or Bird who won as part of complete teams.

Skill set, work ethic, killer instinct; Lebron lacks all of those. He has a so-so jumpshot, shoots poorly from mid-range, has a hard time creating his own shot if he can’t take the drive, has a history of failing at critical points in his career (against the Celtics most recently), and doesn’t appear to have the work-ethic to tap into and take advantage of his raw physical abilities.

He can make crazy-ass half-court or full-court shots, though…

He’s an awesome, physical player. If he had the same mentality as, say, Kobe or MJ, he’d probably be the best player ever. He doesn’t, though.

Physical abilities can get you rings, ask Shaq. It can’t immortalize you though.

I think he took the easy way out.

Good news is that there’s no way he can be mentioned in the same sentence as Jordan and Kobe. They never bailed out and went to another team when they couldn’t win.

Kobe just made significant headway as best ever.

They have a mediocre point guard and no bench besides LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. They’ll definitely have no decent center given how this market is going, and Bynum and Gasol will simply annihilate whoever is manning the five. Their bench will likely consist of mostly garbage given that decent veterans want financial security with the impending lockout over a ring as well.

Finally, a reasonable Lakers fan!

Actually, the Heat also have Michael Beasley on the roster but he figures to be moved to add players.

The reason I wrote this is I am scared…I believe the others are a little and just need to vent differently.

Thanks for taking the time to read/comment.

RAILLY isn’t coaching yet, they need a good point, a center. their best defenders are Wade and James right now. What kind of offense will they run? The Wade iso’s and high picks doesn’t care me. What defense scheme will they use? How much Wade and Lebron will exert themselves on D. How will they mesh in the system?

I mean, Kobe > Wade.
Gasol > Bosh.
LeBron > Artest.

That’s a 2:1 favour. And then there’s the fact that our Top-5 Center will be going against someone who belongs in the D-League, and the slight advantage we possess in actually having a bench.

I like how the last paragraph was actually one sentence. =D

wait where did 32laker24-8, a sudden new poster, go?? I want to read his reponse!

Thanks for checking in. I hope to be back again soon.

As for the hole you write about in my argument, I agree it could have been done differently but LeBron was not in control. LeBron’s life and career has not been his own…he recaptured some of that control with this move.

He mentioned this summer so much because it signaled the end of LeBron being controlled by his inner circle, the end of young LeBron. He knew that this decision would be the first time he made his own professional decision. ESPN has owned him since high school, probably always will since ABC/ESPN have the NBA rights to whatever games they want, sloppy 2nd’s to TNT. LeBron was pimped out by his high school and his mom when he was a teenager.

Young LeBron was given everything he wanted, probably ate free wherever he went. His friends got the royal treatment as well. His mom drove a Hummer when LeBron was in high school. Wasn’t that a big red flag?

Let me ask you. Have you ever known anyone who adored a pro sports team/player not from his home town? LeBron’s heart will always be in Cleveland…a special place in my mind/heart is dedicated to childhood memories in my hometown. LeBron adored MJ despite his Cleveland roots…wore 23 in his honor, which is probably why he considered Chicago. Perhaps LeBron also adored New York and the chances their sports franchises have to be great when/if they want to be. Big media market and the chance to play in the greatest Arena in the NBA, Madison Square Garden.

In the end, it would have been too much for him to follow his idol’s footsteps. Chicago out. New York just doesn’t have enough to be taken seriously as a place he can win a ring or rings. NY out. Cleveland…that’s the same old roster he’s been carrying for seven years, not to mention the people outside of basketball he’s been supporting. Cleveland out.

As for “giving up” in the playoffs:
 
2010 PLAYOFF AVERAGES
29.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 7.6 apg, 3.82 topg, 1.7 spg, 1.8 bpg
2010 SEASON AVERAGES
29.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 8.6 apg, 3.43 topg, 1.6 spg, 1.0 bpg
CAREER AVERAGES
27.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 7 apg, 3.29 topg, 1.7 spg, .8 bpg

Let’s talk about your “effort” argument.
1. Had 2 rpg MORE in the playoffs than regular season and career stats.
2. Steals were nearly identical to season averages, the same as his career #.
3. Blocks were UP nearly one from his season figure and exactly one more than his career.
4. Turnovers were UP…I guess you’d say sloppy, I’d say trying very hard to make a difference.
5. Assists were DOWN one full point from the season…well, Clevaland shot just 46.9% in the playoffs but 48.5% during the season. The ball got heavy for his supporting cast.

So, where did LeBron not put forth effort? The stats don’t support your counter-argument.

As for carrying a team, have you been blind to what it’s doing to our beloved Kobe??? LeBron sure hasn’t. This year, but especially during the playoffs, he was showing wear literally and figuratively. Kobe had to lift Shaq when he was here, now he’s got to lift Gasol, Bynum, and Odom. Did you see how many rebounds he had in game seven? He wasn’t going to leave that effort department up to those three.

As for responsibility, have you had to carry an entourage of leeches at any point in your life, let alone from the ages of 18-25??? I doubt it. He’s owned up to his responsibility, Cleveland never held up their end. They failed their responsibility to put a championship roster around him.

As for forgiving him…up to now he wasn’t adult LeBron James. Time to stop condemning the evolving man for whatever immature acts he’s committed as a younger man. I ask you, how long has it taken for you to look past Kobe’s indiscretion in Colorado??? Are you the same person you were at 25? I am not.

I’ll finish with another question. If LeBron had announced he would be wearing the purple and gold after a multi-team deal which included a sign and trade and Kobe would stay to mentor him, what would you be saying about him.

In the real world, James deserves none of the stones that have been cast.

"Judgements prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances." – Wayne Dyer

That’s exactly why he made this move to the Heat. He’s doing what he wants for the first time in his life. Anointed as the “second coming” since high school, the weight of the title was too much to bear for a youngster who didn’t go to college to learn how to become a man. I believe LeBron will blossom in this new environment. Riley, Wade, and Bosh will create a much stronger support system than he had in Cleveland. The Miami “heat” will help shed some of the leeches…NBA, look out.

As for the spectacle, I wish everyone would give him a break. His mom sold him out as a kid…ESPN has owned him since high school and always will. He’s breaking away from his childhood and early adulthood comfort zone, telling his inner circle they’d better get used to fending for themselves. Going to south beach, to play with two good friends, the chance to start a dynastic run and create a life of his own. That’s about as mature as it gets in my book.

I think LeBron wants to win as much as Kobe, just hasn’t been with the right kind of players to showcase his talents.

And, you’re right, I am now a huge LBJ fan. Didn’t like him much before, love him now. Not more than Kobe, mind you definitely second on my list.

Tell me, would you stay in an armpit of a city instead of playing in beautiful Miami? You’d stay with a team that can’t even play with the Clippers without LeBron, instead of with Olympians Wade and Bosh who are easily better than anyone on the Cavs roster???

Give it time, It’ll be LeBron, Wade and Bosh in Miami.

Imagine LeBron as Magic handling the ball as point guard on offense, feeding to Wade or Bosh on the wing…LeBron setting up Wade for the game winner like Magic would have to Kareem. Then there will be that one play…it may be next season, the season after, or the season after that, when LeBron improvises on the final shot play in the playoffs or finals and Wade, like Kareem, will understand that his teammate is too good to hold back as the second fiddle.

Let me ask you what you would think of Derrick Rose deferring to LeBron? You’re cracking yourself up with the Clips and Nets scenarios…oh wait, LBJ/Farmar for Nets, LBJ/Griffin or how about LBJ/Kaman for Clips? BTW, in Cali it’s widely known that as long as Donald Sterling owns the Clippers, they’re irrelevant. Could make the playoffs in a perfect season, nothing more.

Thanks for your opinion, won’t yell next time :-)!