but unless they can get Kawhi, and I don't see any way they can compete with the Sixers offer on top of not seeing Popovich be willing to send him to the Lakers, they will not compete with the Warriors in a 7 game series.
How will they have trouble competing with a trash offer of Saric and Covington? Even throwing in Markelle Fultz couldn't spice that up, even if they were willing to trade him.
Lebron is the biggest fraud in sports. Always has been, always will be.
Fraud? Going to a shitty team makes you a fraud?
To a shitty team in the Western Conference, no less.
People have been diminishing his accomplishments and "competitive spirit" by asserting he just coasts along against historically weak competition. They can't say that anymore, and yet, they will.
Offseason isn’t over yet...
Before you put all your eggs in the LeBron-Masterminded-a-Superteam basket -- just so you can later diminish him when he loses against a better team in the playoffs -- keep in mind that players have enjoyed going to the Lakers for decades, and joining LeBron for a decade. A player or two joining them should be neither a surprise or a smoking gun.
How many signed as free agents tho in the last 35 years who were in their primes and were top players in the league.
I can think of only one. Shaq.
I expect that number to grow... fast.
I didn't say the Lakers have been historically active in signing big free agents, especially since they usually just trade for players. I said players enjoy going there. No one who gets traded to the Lakers pouts about it.
If another really good player signs or gets traded to them, try not to see it as proof that James just wants to live a life absent of challenges.
RE: Only 3 players have ever made 1st team all nba Â
The East has been terrible for most of my lifetime. It's not free agency. It's poor management. There's free agency in the western conferent too, and that hasn't ruined anything.
the whole "he didn't go to LA to win, he went there for his post career", like his brand would somehow be diminished if he finished off his career in Cleveland.
His future and his grandsons grandson future is probably more secure than your average ham and egger. He went to LA to win. He's bringing other players in with him. Always has. Always will.
if Leonard or another high profile player is traded or signs with LA it doesn’t make LeBron a fraud, whatever that is supposed to mean. You can say he took the easy way to a championship in Miami by signing with Bosh and Allen which I agree with but he still had to perform to win. And after his block on Iguodala in Game 7 a few years ago repping his home city after years in Miami, leading his team back from a 3-1 deficit against a 73 win team, any fraud talk nonsense should be dead and buried.
People pine for the days when players were slaves to their teams and had to play their whole careers for one team but those days are thankfully numbered both in sports and the working world
People pine for the days when players were slaves to their teams and had to play their whole careers for one team but those days are thankfully numbered both in sports and the working world
How about this fact with all his reported power and nba skills when all was said and done the top NBA FA’s all said No Thanks.
Who are you referring to? Paul George?
The Lakers better not screw around and wait for next offseason. Lebron is turning 34. Go all in for Leonard. I'd also be going after Walker. This starting 5 can win a title.
Kemba
KCP
Lebron
Leonard
Mcgee
And vets/ ring chasers will always sign up to play in LA.
if Leonard or another high profile player is traded or signs with LA it doesn’t make LeBron a fraud, whatever that is supposed to mean. You can say he took the easy way to a championship in Miami by signing with Bosh and Allen which I agree with but he still had to perform to win. And after his block on Iguodala in Game 7 a few years ago repping his home city after years in Miami, leading his team back from a 3-1 deficit against a 73 win team, any fraud talk nonsense should be dead and buried.
People pine for the days when players were slaves to their teams and had to play their whole careers for one team but those days are thankfully numbered both in sports and the working world
Well said. Some just don't like the guy personally and will find any way they can to rip him. These are the same that whined that he was hiding out in the East, never facing the best competition. Now he's going to the much tougher conference with an unproven roster, so time to find another angle. Hence, he's a fraud! Give me a break.
By all accounts he's told the Lakers to not give up assets now for Kawhi. It's why he signed a four year deal when he never did that for Cleveland. To show that he's committed and they can build something more lasting than what they had with the Cavs.
If that's the case, he's essentially throwing a year away late in his career. They're not winning the title this season. If he was just chasing a ring there were 4-5 teams that would have been better destinations. I'm sure he would have liked Paul George to be there waiting for him but that didn't work out. He went anyway because this has seemingly always been his plan, regardless. He's earned that right to choose his own future. All of these great players have. The fact that bothers so many people is very strange
that they will in one breath tell us what a competitor LeBron is and in the next one say we can't fault him for going to LA to set up his post-NBA career.
Sure we can. And it highlights the farce that the NBA is for free agency.
The NBA has become a place where friends band together on a handful of teams and tilt the competitive balance. You watch the Lakers over the next 4 years, LeBron will get a few people to come over and make a last run at a title. He'll likely fail, but the Lakers will be competitive again, he'll keep his star shining and then morph into a post career in entertainment.
LeBron has waved the white flag. The next few years will be for show - get the Lakers into the playoffs and band a few friends together to get them to where they might face the Warriors deeper in the playoffs - then he'll ride off into the sunset.
People bitch about super teams but are ok with what lebron does? Ok, can’t have it both ways.
The fact people are missing is lebron controls teams and fan bases and when he can’t win, he leaves - plain and simple. It’s fucking shitty to a fan base if you ask me.
Lebron doesn’t wave the white flag. He and magic have a plan. This is the first step.
IF so, why is this a bad thing? If he just languishes on a terrible roster that he has to drag through the playoffs, you'd approve then? He wouldn't be a fraud?
and it signals they'll do their best to get Leonard, including waiting a year and signing him. It does signal he's giving up a year of his career, as Kyle said, but this is both a basketball and post-hoops career decision for him. The team they're building for next season will be competitive, and it's about getting another year of seasoning for the young core and seeing where they're at a year from now.
they decide to move Randle in a sign-and-trade and for what assets in return. Not going to get Leonard this route, but I've heard they really like Aaron Gordon and might try to swap RFAs.
LeBron has done a tremendous amount for Cleveland.. Â
Lebron doesn’t wave the white flag. He and magic have a plan. This is the first step.
IF so, why is this a bad thing? If he just languishes on a terrible roster that he has to drag through the playoffs, you'd approve then? He wouldn't be a fraud?
Because the tilt of the NBA is at an all time low as far as competiveness. The east sucks now where you have two teams competing to get pummeled in the finals. Players controlling where they go and who they play with is not good for the sport. And no player in the history has controlled a sport than Lebron.
Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
I get that because of the small roster size in the NBA and the impact a star has on the team that it is easier to control teams, but this isn't good for the league.
The perception that a group of friends or top players get to control the competitiveness of the league is basically the trend most leagues have tried to get away from for years. In theory, people love a dynasty until they are in the middle of watching them, then those teams become a target of derision. It is an odd dynamic
nobody here is angry with Lebron. Sad, sure. But they understand and are grateful for what he gave them. This isn't like 210
Yep Cleveland fans are going to be fine with winning 15 games next year.
Is that what I said?? Actually they'd probably rather bottom out now and win 15 games than languish with 30 wins and the 10th pick in the draft.
I'm guessing you didn't mind the lack of parity in the league when your team was winning 6 straight titles in full seasons that MJ played. This is what the NBA is about, always has been a stars league
Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
I get that because of the small roster size in the NBA and the impact a star has on the team that it is easier to control teams, but this isn't good for the league.
The perception that a group of friends or top players get to control the competitiveness of the league is basically the trend most leagues have tried to get away from for years. In theory, people love a dynasty until they are in the middle of watching them, then those teams become a target of derision. It is an odd dynamic
The league is as popular as it's ever been. The claim that this isn't good for the league just is not backed up by data.
Dynasties and star filled teams are good for the NBA. The NBA was far more popular in the MJ era or during this super team era than it was in, let's say, 2004.
Ingram put up a ton of empty stats. I dont see him ever being anything more than solid.
His team stunk, how was he ever going to put up anything other than empty stats? I'm not saying he'll be a superstar, but that is his ceiling. If SA trades Kawhi to LA, Ingram HAS to be part of the package. I'd be interested to see how he does with Pops and a world-class shooting coach.
Everyone on the planet knows LA is a more attractive choice than Cleveland. The only player in the NBA with any benefit to playing in Cleveland is James. For literally every other player it takes a premium in dollars and James being there for it to be a destination.
The Lakers have better young players in-place, and will attract better free agents.
Put it this way, this Lakers team starting this instant wouldn't get swept by Warriors. That's a great place to start for James.
James has one last shot at getting a ring, and the chances are exponentially higher in LA. Cleveland is going to win 20 games next year and Lue will get fired.
And when it's all over James will be remembered as a great Laker, live in the Hills, be a star.
nobody here is angry with Lebron. Sad, sure. But they understand and are grateful for what he gave them. This isn't like 210
Yep Cleveland fans are going to be fine with winning 15 games next year.
Is that what I said?? Actually they'd probably rather bottom out now and win 15 games than languish with 30 wins and the 10th pick in the draft.
I'm guessing you didn't mind the lack of parity in the league when your team was winning 6 straight titles in full seasons that MJ played. This is what the NBA is about, always has been a stars league
They beat five different teams in the finals though.
And dynasties are fine. But most dynasties were done by great drafting and smart moves. Who did Jordan team up with?? They drafted basically everyone. The biggest free agent signing was Ron Harper.
that shows the NBA's popularity is mainly driven in the postseason.
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The league is as popular as it's ever been. The claim that this isn't good for the league just is not backed up by data.
Since moving to ESPN/ABC, the regular season ratings are some of the lowest they've ever been, and were dwarfed by the ratings when the games were on NBC.
But the postseason has had a lot of success with increasing viewership.
Basically, much like an NBA game, the first 3/4ths is nearly uncompelling to watch and the last 1/4th is what drives the excitement.
Nowadays, people basically know the outcome and tune in to see the climax.
Might as well be a porno where people fast-forward through the bad acting and clothed scenes for the moneyshot.
Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
I get that because of the small roster size in the NBA and the impact a star has on the team that it is easier to control teams, but this isn't good for the league.
The perception that a group of friends or top players get to control the competitiveness of the league is basically the trend most leagues have tried to get away from for years. In theory, people love a dynasty until they are in the middle of watching them, then those teams become a target of derision. It is an odd dynamic
The league is as popular as it's ever been. The claim that this isn't good for the league just is not backed up by data.
Dynasties and star filled teams are good for the NBA. The NBA was far more popular in the MJ era or during this super team era than it was in, let's say, 2004.
The quality of play is fantastic. There are unreal players in the league. However, how many tines was it pointed out that the playoffs sucked balls this year? Not only were many series not close but neither were the games.
The game being popular to fans isn’t a concern to me. Competitiveness and quality of play is. Individual play is more important than team play.
Dating the most popular girl in school may be fun at first but how many times does she turn into a pain in the ass?
His greatness as a basketball player is undeniable.
However, his competitive spirit should always be called into question based on his track record. He's not the only one, as they've all followed his lead, but this modern age of colluding with other stars to form a power team is weak. His tenure in Miami a disappointment because he, Wade and Bosh, not only talked about, but should've won more than 2. That finals loss to the Mavs was inexcusable. All the whining about poor LeBron playing on teams just not cut out to win titles? Oh well. He has lived in the East which has been nothing more than a cake walk to the Finals out side of a few years of some good Celtics teams. Oh, and that he had to face the Golden State juggernaut? He brought (the Durant version) of that team on himself by making it a thing for the best players in the world to join up with other already established groups when the going got tough.
And before anyone says, it was also pathetic when Malone and Gary Payton and whoever else tried it with the Lakers. If that group had won a ring it would have been garbage.
If LeBron stayed in Cleveland that whole time and had his 1 ring there to show for it, I would think more highly of his career than I do with his 2 additional manufactured rings down in Miami.
Among the kids I know these days the NBA is the most popular Â
Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
I get that because of the small roster size in the NBA and the impact a star has on the team that it is easier to control teams, but this isn't good for the league.
The perception that a group of friends or top players get to control the competitiveness of the league is basically the trend most leagues have tried to get away from for years. In theory, people love a dynasty until they are in the middle of watching them, then those teams become a target of derision. It is an odd dynamic
The league is as popular as it's ever been. The claim that this isn't good for the league just is not backed up by data.
Dynasties and star filled teams are good for the NBA. The NBA was far more popular in the MJ era or during this super team era than it was in, let's say, 2004.
The quality of play is fantastic. There are unreal players in the league. However, how many tines was it pointed out that the playoffs sucked balls this year? Not only were many series not close but neither were the games.
The game being popular to fans isn’t a concern to me. Competitiveness and quality of play is. Individual play is more important than team play.
Dating the most popular girl in school may be fun at first but how many times does she turn into a pain in the ass?
I agree the talent in the league is at an all time high. a lot of the lack of quality in the playoffs can be attributed to the Warriors just being far too good. That's what happens when the second best team in the league joins a 73 win team.
We did get two seven game conference finals this season at least.
But I do think there's some revisionist history about how good the games in the past were. Those early and mid 2000s games were absolute rock fights. Check out some of the scores from those playoff games. The Pistons clinched a trip to the Finals with a 73-65 win over Indiana. There was more parity, but the game was in a worse place
They beat five different teams in the finals though.
And dynasties are fine. But most dynasties were done by great drafting and smart moves. Who did Jordan team up with?? They drafted basically everyone. The biggest free agent signing was Ron Harper.
[/quote]
But don't you have to give credit to the Bulls and fault the Cavs? The Bulls delivered Jordan Pippen- an all time great player and a player who fit perfectly next to him. Lebron spent 11 seasons in Cleveland- who was his Pippen? Kyrie who Cleveland got by pure luck and then proceeded to trade for a bag of balls.
Not to mention the shrewd trades for Rodman and Grant along with delivering him an all time head coach. Who was even Lebron's second best player pre-Miami? Mo Williams?
I think a better run organization would have been able to keep Lebron. But they did a really bad job of building around him and Gilbert is a gigantic asshole.
How were grant and pippen shrewd moves? They drafted them. And those were shrewd and Irving was luck? In fact, lebron chose to play with Irving. Not vice versa.
Lebron controlled many of the personnel decisions in Cleveland. He publicly acknowledged who he wanted for and the team went on and got those player or re-signed them. So you have to put a ton of fault in him too. And each time he saw a scenario where his team couldn’t compete....
He left. Every time. What other mega star in the history of the game has done what he has done?
The answer is simple. No one. He controlled everything within his team from playing, who to play with, coaching, and personnel decision.
The sob story that lebron hasn’t had enough to play with needs to end. He hasn’t played for too many coaches and GMs to absolve him.
His greatness as a basketball player is undeniable.
However, his competitive spirit should always be called into question based on his track record. He's not the only one, as they've all followed his lead, but this modern age of colluding with other stars to form a power team is weak. His tenure in Miami a disappointment because he, Wade and Bosh, not only talked about, but should've won more than 2. That finals loss to the Mavs was inexcusable. All the whining about poor LeBron playing on teams just not cut out to win titles? Oh well. He has lived in the East which has been nothing more than a cake walk to the Finals out side of a few years of some good Celtics teams. Oh, and that he had to face the Golden State juggernaut? He brought (the Durant version) of that team on himself by making it a thing for the best players in the world to join up with other already established groups when the going got tough.
And before anyone says, it was also pathetic when Malone and Gary Payton and whoever else tried it with the Lakers. If that group had won a ring it would have been garbage.
If LeBron stayed in Cleveland that whole time and had his 1 ring there to show for it, I would think more highly of his career than I do with his 2 additional manufactured rings down in Miami.
+1
It’s also hard to play the “languishing on bad teams” card when he hand picks the players for said teams. Look at the mid-season trades Lebron engineered on Cleveland last year.
I have to chuckle at the bafflement some people have Â
at why a lot of fans don't like Lebron for going to the Lakers. It's the Lakers for crissakes!! They're the Cowboys of football and their fans are the absolute worst. They've never, ever known an extended period of losing. No shit people don't want them to improve. How shocking!
And, again, the vast majority of us go into each season knowing that our teams have absolutely no chance to even attempt to compete. None, zero, zilch, nada. What the hell reason does a Knicks fan, or a Nuggets fan, or a Grizzlies fan, or a Pacers fan, etc., have to bother paying attention to the league?
Well maybe for you Greg, But not for most. If he joined the Celtics, Rockets, Sixers, heck if he joined the damn Portland Trail Blazers, the complaints would be the same
because they are run by an incompetent fool and have been mostly a mess for 20 years. They would be a destination for these types of decisions if there was a semblance of leadership in place. The situation is similar to Cleveland. They just got lucky Lebron is from the area and felt some obligation to return.
FWIW, I think it was Jalen Rose that said he thinks Durant eventually ends up in New York if/when he leaves Golden State.
There would have been complaints wherever he went, yes, but the fact that it's the Lakers makes it much louder. People HATE the Lakers, and people especially hate Lakers fans.
How will they have trouble competing with a trash offer of Saric and Covington? Even throwing in Markelle Fultz couldn't spice that up, even if they were willing to trade him.
Pope is a normal JR Smith. Hits 3s and defends. One year deal so are the other 2.
If you are going to start a mega team, you need a bunch of cheap 1 year deals. I can see them gutting the team soon.
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In comment 14003872 Big Rick in FL said:
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In comment 14003854 dep026 said:
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Can be free agents next year.
Lebron is the biggest fraud in sports. Always has been, always will be.
Fraud? Going to a shitty team makes you a fraud?
To a shitty team in the Western Conference, no less.
People have been diminishing his accomplishments and "competitive spirit" by asserting he just coasts along against historically weak competition. They can't say that anymore, and yet, they will.
Offseason isn’t over yet...
Before you put all your eggs in the LeBron-Masterminded-a-Superteam basket -- just so you can later diminish him when he loses against a better team in the playoffs -- keep in mind that players have enjoyed going to the Lakers for decades, and joining LeBron for a decade. A player or two joining them should be neither a surprise or a smoking gun.
I can think of only one. Shaq.
I expect that number to grow... fast.
I can think of only one. Shaq.
I expect that number to grow... fast.
LeBron in 2010...LeBron again in 2014
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How many signed as free agents tho in the last 35 years who were in their primes and were top players in the league.
I can think of only one. Shaq.
I expect that number to grow... fast.
LeBron in 2010...LeBron again in 2014
I was referring to the lakers.
The players who go there are either pst prime or traded.
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In comment 14004082 dep026 said:
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How many signed as free agents tho in the last 35 years who were in their primes and were top players in the league.
I can think of only one. Shaq.
I expect that number to grow... fast.
LeBron in 2010...LeBron again in 2014
I was referring to the lakers.
The players who go there are either pst prime or traded.
Fair
I can think of only one. Shaq.
I expect that number to grow... fast.
I didn't say the Lakers have been historically active in signing big free agents, especially since they usually just trade for players. I said players enjoy going there. No one who gets traded to the Lakers pouts about it.
If another really good player signs or gets traded to them, try not to see it as proof that James just wants to live a life absent of challenges.
Free agency has killed this sport.
The East has been terrible for most of my lifetime. It's not free agency. It's poor management. There's free agency in the western conferent too, and that hasn't ruined anything.
The Lakers have already intervened with LaVar and you can bet they will even more if he bothers LeBron in anyway.
His future and his grandsons grandson future is probably more secure than your average ham and egger. He went to LA to win. He's bringing other players in with him. Always has. Always will.
People pine for the days when players were slaves to their teams and had to play their whole careers for one team but those days are thankfully numbered both in sports and the working world
People pine for the days when players were slaves to their teams and had to play their whole careers for one team but those days are thankfully numbered both in sports and the working world
This.
People are still mad about John Elway.
💰 $3,208,333 A Month.
💰 $740,384 A Week.
💰 $105,479 A Day.
💰 $4,394 An Hour.
💰 $73.25 A Minute.
💰 $1.22 A Second.
Who are you referring to? Paul George?
The Lakers better not screw around and wait for next offseason. Lebron is turning 34. Go all in for Leonard. I'd also be going after Walker. This starting 5 can win a title.
Kemba
KCP
Lebron
Leonard
Mcgee
And vets/ ring chasers will always sign up to play in LA.
People pine for the days when players were slaves to their teams and had to play their whole careers for one team but those days are thankfully numbered both in sports and the working world
Well said. Some just don't like the guy personally and will find any way they can to rip him. These are the same that whined that he was hiding out in the East, never facing the best competition. Now he's going to the much tougher conference with an unproven roster, so time to find another angle. Hence, he's a fraud! Give me a break.
By all accounts he's told the Lakers to not give up assets now for Kawhi. It's why he signed a four year deal when he never did that for Cleveland. To show that he's committed and they can build something more lasting than what they had with the Cavs.
If that's the case, he's essentially throwing a year away late in his career. They're not winning the title this season. If he was just chasing a ring there were 4-5 teams that would have been better destinations. I'm sure he would have liked Paul George to be there waiting for him but that didn't work out. He went anyway because this has seemingly always been his plan, regardless. He's earned that right to choose his own future. All of these great players have. The fact that bothers so many people is very strange
Sure we can. And it highlights the farce that the NBA is for free agency.
The NBA has become a place where friends band together on a handful of teams and tilt the competitive balance. You watch the Lakers over the next 4 years, LeBron will get a few people to come over and make a last run at a title. He'll likely fail, but the Lakers will be competitive again, he'll keep his star shining and then morph into a post career in entertainment.
LeBron has waved the white flag. The next few years will be for show - get the Lakers into the playoffs and band a few friends together to get them to where they might face the Warriors deeper in the playoffs - then he'll ride off into the sunset.
People bitch about super teams but are ok with what lebron does? Ok, can’t have it both ways.
The fact people are missing is lebron controls teams and fan bases and when he can’t win, he leaves - plain and simple. It’s fucking shitty to a fan base if you ask me.
IF so, why is this a bad thing? If he just languishes on a terrible roster that he has to drag through the playoffs, you'd approve then? He wouldn't be a fraud?
Yep Cleveland fans are going to be fine with winning 15 games next year.
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Lebron doesn’t wave the white flag. He and magic have a plan. This is the first step.
IF so, why is this a bad thing? If he just languishes on a terrible roster that he has to drag through the playoffs, you'd approve then? He wouldn't be a fraud?
Because the tilt of the NBA is at an all time low as far as competiveness. The east sucks now where you have two teams competing to get pummeled in the finals. Players controlling where they go and who they play with is not good for the sport. And no player in the history has controlled a sport than Lebron.
Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
I get that because of the small roster size in the NBA and the impact a star has on the team that it is easier to control teams, but this isn't good for the league.
The perception that a group of friends or top players get to control the competitiveness of the league is basically the trend most leagues have tried to get away from for years. In theory, people love a dynasty until they are in the middle of watching them, then those teams become a target of derision. It is an odd dynamic
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nobody here is angry with Lebron. Sad, sure. But they understand and are grateful for what he gave them. This isn't like 210
Yep Cleveland fans are going to be fine with winning 15 games next year.
Is that what I said?? Actually they'd probably rather bottom out now and win 15 games than languish with 30 wins and the 10th pick in the draft.
I'm guessing you didn't mind the lack of parity in the league when your team was winning 6 straight titles in full seasons that MJ played. This is what the NBA is about, always has been a stars league
That's a lot to give up if Kawhi leaves in a year. I still think the Lakers can offer the most, given they can be pretty sure Kawhi will sign there.
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Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
I get that because of the small roster size in the NBA and the impact a star has on the team that it is easier to control teams, but this isn't good for the league.
The perception that a group of friends or top players get to control the competitiveness of the league is basically the trend most leagues have tried to get away from for years. In theory, people love a dynasty until they are in the middle of watching them, then those teams become a target of derision. It is an odd dynamic
The league is as popular as it's ever been. The claim that this isn't good for the league just is not backed up by data.
Dynasties and star filled teams are good for the NBA. The NBA was far more popular in the MJ era or during this super team era than it was in, let's say, 2004.
Ingram put up a ton of empty stats. I dont see him ever being anything more than solid.
His team stunk, how was he ever going to put up anything other than empty stats? I'm not saying he'll be a superstar, but that is his ceiling. If SA trades Kawhi to LA, Ingram HAS to be part of the package. I'd be interested to see how he does with Pops and a world-class shooting coach.
The Lakers have better young players in-place, and will attract better free agents.
Put it this way, this Lakers team starting this instant wouldn't get swept by Warriors. That's a great place to start for James.
James has one last shot at getting a ring, and the chances are exponentially higher in LA. Cleveland is going to win 20 games next year and Lue will get fired.
And when it's all over James will be remembered as a great Laker, live in the Hills, be a star.
He's a modern day Wilt.
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In comment 14004164 Kyle in NY said:
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nobody here is angry with Lebron. Sad, sure. But they understand and are grateful for what he gave them. This isn't like 210
Yep Cleveland fans are going to be fine with winning 15 games next year.
Is that what I said?? Actually they'd probably rather bottom out now and win 15 games than languish with 30 wins and the 10th pick in the draft.
I'm guessing you didn't mind the lack of parity in the league when your team was winning 6 straight titles in full seasons that MJ played. This is what the NBA is about, always has been a stars league
They beat five different teams in the finals though.
And dynasties are fine. But most dynasties were done by great drafting and smart moves. Who did Jordan team up with?? They drafted basically everyone. The biggest free agent signing was Ron Harper.
Since moving to ESPN/ABC, the regular season ratings are some of the lowest they've ever been, and were dwarfed by the ratings when the games were on NBC.
But the postseason has had a lot of success with increasing viewership.
Basically, much like an NBA game, the first 3/4ths is nearly uncompelling to watch and the last 1/4th is what drives the excitement.
Nowadays, people basically know the outcome and tune in to see the climax.
Might as well be a porno where people fast-forward through the bad acting and clothed scenes for the moneyshot.
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Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
I get that because of the small roster size in the NBA and the impact a star has on the team that it is easier to control teams, but this isn't good for the league.
The perception that a group of friends or top players get to control the competitiveness of the league is basically the trend most leagues have tried to get away from for years. In theory, people love a dynasty until they are in the middle of watching them, then those teams become a target of derision. It is an odd dynamic
The league is as popular as it's ever been. The claim that this isn't good for the league just is not backed up by data.
Dynasties and star filled teams are good for the NBA. The NBA was far more popular in the MJ era or during this super team era than it was in, let's say, 2004.
The quality of play is fantastic. There are unreal players in the league. However, how many tines was it pointed out that the playoffs sucked balls this year? Not only were many series not close but neither were the games.
The game being popular to fans isn’t a concern to me. Competitiveness and quality of play is. Individual play is more important than team play.
Dating the most popular girl in school may be fun at first but how many times does she turn into a pain in the ass?
However, his competitive spirit should always be called into question based on his track record. He's not the only one, as they've all followed his lead, but this modern age of colluding with other stars to form a power team is weak. His tenure in Miami a disappointment because he, Wade and Bosh, not only talked about, but should've won more than 2. That finals loss to the Mavs was inexcusable. All the whining about poor LeBron playing on teams just not cut out to win titles? Oh well. He has lived in the East which has been nothing more than a cake walk to the Finals out side of a few years of some good Celtics teams. Oh, and that he had to face the Golden State juggernaut? He brought (the Durant version) of that team on himself by making it a thing for the best players in the world to join up with other already established groups when the going got tough.
And before anyone says, it was also pathetic when Malone and Gary Payton and whoever else tried it with the Lakers. If that group had won a ring it would have been garbage.
If LeBron stayed in Cleveland that whole time and had his 1 ring there to show for it, I would think more highly of his career than I do with his 2 additional manufactured rings down in Miami.
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In comment 14004176 FatMan in Charlotte said:
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Some might like it, but personally it sucks. My complaint about lebron isn’t his game or even trying to win. It’s him controlling teams and the league. It’s not good.
I get that because of the small roster size in the NBA and the impact a star has on the team that it is easier to control teams, but this isn't good for the league.
The perception that a group of friends or top players get to control the competitiveness of the league is basically the trend most leagues have tried to get away from for years. In theory, people love a dynasty until they are in the middle of watching them, then those teams become a target of derision. It is an odd dynamic
The league is as popular as it's ever been. The claim that this isn't good for the league just is not backed up by data.
Dynasties and star filled teams are good for the NBA. The NBA was far more popular in the MJ era or during this super team era than it was in, let's say, 2004.
The quality of play is fantastic. There are unreal players in the league. However, how many tines was it pointed out that the playoffs sucked balls this year? Not only were many series not close but neither were the games.
The game being popular to fans isn’t a concern to me. Competitiveness and quality of play is. Individual play is more important than team play.
Dating the most popular girl in school may be fun at first but how many times does she turn into a pain in the ass?
I agree the talent in the league is at an all time high. a lot of the lack of quality in the playoffs can be attributed to the Warriors just being far too good. That's what happens when the second best team in the league joins a 73 win team.
We did get two seven game conference finals this season at least.
But I do think there's some revisionist history about how good the games in the past were. Those early and mid 2000s games were absolute rock fights. Check out some of the scores from those playoff games. The Pistons clinched a trip to the Finals with a 73-65 win over Indiana. There was more parity, but the game was in a worse place
Might as well be a porno where people fast-forward through the bad acting and clothed scenes for the moneyshot.
Pretty good line, credit where it's due lol
And dynasties are fine. But most dynasties were done by great drafting and smart moves. Who did Jordan team up with?? They drafted basically everyone. The biggest free agent signing was Ron Harper.
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But don't you have to give credit to the Bulls and fault the Cavs? The Bulls delivered Jordan Pippen- an all time great player and a player who fit perfectly next to him. Lebron spent 11 seasons in Cleveland- who was his Pippen? Kyrie who Cleveland got by pure luck and then proceeded to trade for a bag of balls.
Not to mention the shrewd trades for Rodman and Grant along with delivering him an all time head coach. Who was even Lebron's second best player pre-Miami? Mo Williams?
I think a better run organization would have been able to keep Lebron. But they did a really bad job of building around him and Gilbert is a gigantic asshole.
How were grant and pippen shrewd moves? They drafted them. And those were shrewd and Irving was luck? In fact, lebron chose to play with Irving. Not vice versa.
Lebron controlled many of the personnel decisions in Cleveland. He publicly acknowledged who he wanted for and the team went on and got those player or re-signed them. So you have to put a ton of fault in him too. And each time he saw a scenario where his team couldn’t compete....
He left. Every time. What other mega star in the history of the game has done what he has done?
The answer is simple. No one. He controlled everything within his team from playing, who to play with, coaching, and personnel decision.
The sob story that lebron hasn’t had enough to play with needs to end. He hasn’t played for too many coaches and GMs to absolve him.
However, his competitive spirit should always be called into question based on his track record. He's not the only one, as they've all followed his lead, but this modern age of colluding with other stars to form a power team is weak. His tenure in Miami a disappointment because he, Wade and Bosh, not only talked about, but should've won more than 2. That finals loss to the Mavs was inexcusable. All the whining about poor LeBron playing on teams just not cut out to win titles? Oh well. He has lived in the East which has been nothing more than a cake walk to the Finals out side of a few years of some good Celtics teams. Oh, and that he had to face the Golden State juggernaut? He brought (the Durant version) of that team on himself by making it a thing for the best players in the world to join up with other already established groups when the going got tough.
And before anyone says, it was also pathetic when Malone and Gary Payton and whoever else tried it with the Lakers. If that group had won a ring it would have been garbage.
If LeBron stayed in Cleveland that whole time and had his 1 ring there to show for it, I would think more highly of his career than I do with his 2 additional manufactured rings down in Miami.
+1
It’s also hard to play the “languishing on bad teams” card when he hand picks the players for said teams. Look at the mid-season trades Lebron engineered on Cleveland last year.
And, again, the vast majority of us go into each season knowing that our teams have absolutely no chance to even attempt to compete. None, zero, zilch, nada. What the hell reason does a Knicks fan, or a Nuggets fan, or a Grizzlies fan, or a Pacers fan, etc., have to bother paying attention to the league?
FWIW, I think it was Jalen Rose that said he thinks Durant eventually ends up in New York if/when he leaves Golden State.