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LeBron will never ever ever join the Warriors while Curry is there, and anyone who thinks that could happen should just forget about it.
 
The fact is they need a leader. The fact is they need a clutch player with the game on the line. The fact is they need a player that can just flat out get it done and not fill up a score sheet with meaningless stats in a critical loss of a close game. They need a guy who will make a critical defensive stop in a close game. The fact is they need a player not to turn the ball over. They need a guy who'll score 40 when it's needed. Great players get it done. They lead their teams to wins. There's no one on this Cavs team that can do that.

All of this is generally true, but you're also setting a near impossible standard. You're also acting as if Lebron hasn't ever done those things, which he has (just not this year). Durant is a great player. Westbrook is a great player. Hold a league wide draft and those guys are probably top 10 picks. But they didn't get it done this year. And there's no single guy on GS that is great in this way. Take away KT's ridiculous game 5 against OKC and there's not been any "heroic" performance by a GS player where one guy just took over, yet they're on the verge of winning back to back titles. They're a great team because they're well coached and loaded with talent that has learned to work together. Different guys shine on different nights.

So, this really isn't about Lebron doing it all himself. The TEAM that is winning the series is doing it with a lot of really good guys sharing the load. I'm not saying Lebron hasn't stumbled, and I'm not even going to wade into the GOAT discussion except to say that the Bulls dynasty was exceptionally coached and exceptionally deep, and had an all-time great on it. Some of the teams that those Bulls beat in the Finals--the Jazz and that one Sonics squad, for instance--are title teams many other years. You can say the same about the Cavs, but they're competing against a stacked TEAM. One guy, no matter how good he is, can't beat that TEAM.

This entire "discussion" has become farcical and petty. There's such anti-Lebron sentiment--and I know why, given his personality--that supposedly knowledgable people are discounting his skill and greatness, which is undeniable. Lebron's resume isn't impeccable and isn't perfect, but it's pretty goddamned good.

Karl Malone never won a title and went to 3 Finals. Does that mean he's a chump or not an all-time great? That he wasn't clutch? Gary Payton got his ring coming off the bench--does that mean he wasn't a great player? This same principle applies to other players, and to other athletes in other sports as well. Dan Marino. Jim Kelly. Bruce Smith. Herschel Walker. Ken Griffey Jr. I could go on ad nauseam.
 
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I watched all the playoff games, I could care less who wins, but Lebron is the most-over rated player in sports. People can cry and post stats, its not going to change my mind. Watch the games.

This man speaks the truth. Great player, but sorry, not one of the all-time greats. Go back and watch the final 5 min or so of Game 6 in the 2013 NBA Finals before Allen bailed him out. Watch his eyes, his body language, his shot selection. That's all you need to know about LBJ, the player. I'd put him in the Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing tier. But no way does he get put in the greatest tier shared by MJ, Magic, KAJ, Bird, Duncan, Shaq, Olajuwon, maybe Kobe.

My legends show grace under pressure. When the going gets tough, LBJ just gets flustered too easily.
 
All of this is generally true, but you're also setting a near impossible standard. Durant is a great player. Westbrook is a great player. Hold a league wide draft and those guys are probably top 10 picks. But they didn't get it done this year. And there's no single guy on GS that is great in this way. Take away KT's ridiculous game 5 against OKC and there's not been any "heroic" performance by a GS player where one guy just took over, yet they're on the verge of winning back to back titles. They're a great team because they're well coached and loaded with talent that has learned to work together. Different guys shine on different nights.
Do you forget about the first game Curry was back from his knee injury? When he just went off in OT?
 
This man speaks the truth. Great player, but sorry, not one of the all-time greats. Go back and watch the final 5 min or so of Game 6 in the 2013 NBA Finals before Allen bailed him out. Watch his eyes, his body language, his shot selection. That's all you need to know about LBJ, the player. I'd put him in the Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing tier. But no way does he get put in the greatest tier shared by MJ, Magic, KAJ, Bird, Duncan, Shaq, Olajuwon, maybe Kobe.

My legends show grace under pressure. When the going gets tough, LBJ just gets flustered too easily.

I guess that traumatic game 7 loss for you was wiped from your memory. LeBron dominated the Spurs and carried the Heat to the title in that game.

Remember when Duncan missed that two foot layup that would have tied the game? How is that grace under pressure?

Remember what happens next? LeBron made a long jumpshot to put the Heat up by 4, which was the series clincher jump shot.

Remember on the next drive LeBron stole the pass?

Remember then LeBron made both free throws?

Remember then James got the finals MVP?
 
I guess that traumatic game 7 loss for you was wiped from your memory. LeBron dominated the Spurs and carried the Heat to the title in that game.

Remember when Duncan missed that two foot layup that would have tied the game? How is that grace under pressure?

Remember what happens next? LeBron made a long jumpshot to put the Heat up by 4, which was the series clincher jump shot.

Remember on the next drive LeBron stole the pass?

Remember then LeBron made both free throws?

Remember then James got the finals MVP?

Remember who got the last laugh the following year?
 
This man speaks the truth. Great player, but sorry, not one of the all-time greats. Go back and watch the final 5 min or so of Game 6 in the 2013 NBA Finals before Allen bailed him out. Watch his eyes, his body language, his shot selection. That's all you need to know about LBJ, the player. I'd put him in the Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing tier. But no way does he get put in the greatest tier shared by MJ, Magic, KAJ, Bird, Duncan, Shaq, Olajuwon, maybe Kobe.

My legends show grace under pressure. When the going gets tough, LBJ just gets flustered too easily.

This sums up how I feel about LBJ perfectly. The true greats of the game get it done. No excuses.
 
Haven't had time to post my thoughts about Game 4, but most of the knowledgeable posters here have pointed out things that I would have as well.

I do want to address filip629's point that nobody wants to come to play in Cleveland as an FA, which is entirely true. Even with the salary cap, all destinations are not equal. Let's face it, Miami is more attractive as a destination than Cleveland, Milwaukee, or Minnesota. Plus Miami (and Orlando, as well as the Texas teams) have the added advantage of no state income tax, which is huge.

To the more pressing point at hand, Draymond Green's possible suspension for tomorrow's game is key.

He clearly swings at Lebron's groin area after Lebron steps over him. I didn't notice it during the game, but subsequent replays are pretty clear.

On one hand, Green has clearly shown a pattern of "extracurricular" activity. On the other hand, suspending Green will send the message that the NBA has a double standard when it comes to star players (Lebron James) over role players (Steven Adams).

Plus a suspension will only fuel the conspiracy theorists that the NBA will want to extend the series, and SHOULD (please note the capitalization, bold font, italics, and underlining) the Cavs come back and win, Lebron detractors will add an asterisk to the title.
 
Lebron knocked green down then tried to disrespect him by steping over him, putting his nuts and **** right near greens neck. **** that ****, I would have swung too, get that **** away from me. Green got up and called him a ***** & Lebron snapped. After the game LeBron was campaigning to the media hard to get Dray suspended, making it sound like green said something worse then he did. Maybe green should be suspended based on his previous behavior but that last incident was all on james. I respect green for not backing down to the king, and also for restraining himself while lebron proceeded to curse him out. He was definately trying to bait green into a technical
 
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^ Lebron knocked Green down? Green must not be as big and strong as we thought if that's all it takes to knock him down.

The whole episode is stupid. Green is an instigator and Lebron took the bait. Let's move on.
 
^ Lebron knocked Green down? Green must not be as big and strong as we thought if that's all it takes to knock him down.

The whole episode is stupid. Green is an instigator and Lebron took the bait. Let's move on.
Agreed. But let's also not act like Green is the only flopper involved. Green didn't get phantom knocked out by his own teammate in the playoffs. That was a Hollywood worthy acting job.
 
:lol:lol:lol Green Suspended! :yess:

Hey guys, remember when I said the series isn't over yet? Right again! :lol:lol:lol

Where is everyone saying the series is over?
 
Its only 1 game. With green out, Iggy and HB going to be on the court at the same time, both going to get a lot of playing time. It will hurt on the boards but they are both better shooters then green. Also GS bench plays better at home then on the road, if this was a road game it would have had a far greater impact.
 
I think I'm still leaning towards GS winning this game. Hopefully this just makes it a close game instead of a blowout.

I'm picking the Cavs for this game. I hope too that this will be a close game, but will be interesting to see the lineups for both teams now.

If the Warriors do win... I wonder who is going to be finals MVP. Green and Iggy have been the two most consistent players, even then, they both had bad games in this series.
 
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