NBA 09-10

[azurepred]

he still didn't show why he was the MVP even with those numbers, it's not just numbers it leadership and he had none. but there is a difference between a regular season mvp and a post season mvp. he still has work work ahead of him.

Obviously you dont remember when he took them to the Finals with less talent; he carried them there. I dont think anyone has a clue if they question his leadership when he has taken them so far. Coaches have a responsibility to show leadership as well and get their players motivated, it cant all be put on Lebron. I dont recall the Cavs having more than 2 players in double figures in their losses.

He did have 9 turnovers in that triple double thats not good. Numbers don't always tell the truth like was said above. He lead pretty well but I think maybe mentally he wore down. Having to carry them so much in the playoffs and maybe being banged up worse than what we know. Its not the first time a great player has had issues with this in the post season.

Yea, I mean everyone and their mom's know about his injury, it doesnt matter how hurt he was, I think he did what he could. If you noticed, he couldnt shoot jump shots for crap. He had no range at all, so he tried to take everything to the basket and that lead to a lot of turnovers. Celtics had better coaching and better players; and they proved that when their healthy, they're still great.

 

[ProgMatinee]

Hey...that ass Stern can always rig the draft again so that NY gets the top pick...lol.

 

[azurepred]

I agree. Without him the Cavs wouldn't be much at all. As far as the Lakers go with the roster they have and no Kobe I'd say 50 wins. The west is really tough.
.

I agree, Lakers could still make the playoffs without Kobe. I think when Kobe was out this season, they only lost one of those games and that was against Boston. I'm pretty sure, if you look it up, you will see that without Lebron, the cavs have a losing record.

 

[ShazBo]

Hey...that ass Stern can always rig the draft again so that NY gets the top pick...lol.

Well not that the Knicks ever pick anyone of any value. (except David Lee) Or we could get a real decent player like did in the 2002 draft with Nene and trade him to another team immediately after.

 

[The Josh]

Lebron is not going to the bulls. if he's going anywhere it's to the knicks. he doesn't want to be in jordan's shadow.

Are you reading any of the reports out there? Even folks close to Lebron are talking about the Bulls being the perfect fit. They have the talent, making the playoffs without Lebron, have cap room for him and someone else. NY has crap. They have Lee who is probably going to leave and thats it. If they sign two max guys they cannot afford to get really anyone else and have nothing there. Why on earth would two superstars want that? James is not afraid of Jordan's shadow unlike a lot of guys out there. If anything I think he'd embrace it and want to be the guy to bring rings back to the Bulls.

I still think the chances are fairly high he stays with the Cavs. That being said if he leaves I'd rank them like this.

1. Chicago
2. Miami
3. Clippers
4. Knicks

Yea, I mean everyone and their mom's know about his injury, it doesnt matter how hurt he was, I think he did what he could. If you noticed, he couldnt shoot jump shots for crap. He had no range at all, so he tried to take everything to the basket and that lead to a lot of turnovers. Celtics had better coaching and better players; and they proved that when their healthy, they're still great.

Yeah, something isn't right with that elbow. You can see it in the way he was playing. The Celtics did what veteran teams do this time of year. WIN

 

[karamazov80]

he still didn't show why he was the MVP even with those numbers, it's not just numbers it leadership and he had none. but there is a difference between a regular season mvp and a post season mvp. he still has work work ahead of him.

Agreed. No one is denying Lebron's skills here, but he sure looked "mentally weak" to me in the last couple games, stats be damned. And how can you explain the last minute of the game? Down by 10 or so, and the Cavs just completely gave up, Lebron included. Sure, the chances of winning were low, but there was still a shot. And Lebron was just moping about like he had been all game, looking like he was ready to go home, instead of trying to pump his team up to take the game. He looked half-way there. Same thing with some of those turn-overs. He looked sloppy, like he wasn't really trying.

If he wants all the attention and accolades, and to be considered one of the all-time great NBA players, then he is deserving of criticism when he fails to give 100% effort, IMO. Guys said it this morning on ESPN and I think it is true--you never saw Jordan act that way. Not even in a "meaningless" regular season game. Much less games determining the end of the season.

 

[ProgMatinee]

As unlikely as I think the Clippers would get Lebron, a starting lineup of Steve Blake, Baron Davis at SG, LeBron, healthy Blake Griffen, and Chris Kamen would be damn good.

 

[The Josh]

you never saw Jordan act that way. Not even in a "meaningless" regular season game. Much less games determining the end of the season.

Thats one of the many things that set him above everyone else. He wanted to take you out every game/every second.

As unlikely as I think the Clippers would get Lebron, a starting lineup of Steve Blake, Baron Davis at SG, LeBron, healthy Blake Griffen, and Chris Kamen would be damn good.

They're a dark horse IMO. The only way he goes to NY is if they can get Bosh, Wade, and himself.

 

[ProgMatinee]

I've never heard the Nuggets mentioned, but they do have some guys they could offer. JR Smith, Nene + 2 1st rd picks could possibly be as good an offer the Cavs would ever receive.

 

[azurepred]

I've never heard the Nuggets mentioned, but they do have some guys they could offer. JR Smith, Nene + 2 1st rd picks could possibly be as good an offer the Cavs would ever receive.

anything could happen, everything here is speculaton. Only he knows what he wants and needs, its gonna be a long summer. Almost every team in the NBA is gonna think they have a shot at him.

 

[The Josh]

Some fun stuff from an article by Bill Simmons on ESPN.

Jordan was a ruthless mother******. Jordan was a killer. Jordan didn't care if his teammates despised him. Jordan never, ever, not in a million years, would have allowed his team to quit in the final two minutes of last night's game like LeBron did. His teammates feared him, loathed him, revered him and played accordingly. Bird had that same quality. In the second half of his career, so did Magic. Winning meant so much to those guys that their teammates almost didn't have a choice; they had to follow suit. Or else.

If he cares about winning titles (multiple) and reaching his full potential as a player, he only has one move: the Chicago Bulls. That's always been the play. If you've been listening to my podcast or reading this column, you know that I've been touting this possibility since last winter, and here's why: Deep down, I think LeBron (and just as important, the people around him) realizes that he needs one more kick-ass player to make his life easier. That means Miami or Chicago. And really, I can't imagine him signing with Miami because Wade is almost too good. LeBron wants help, but he doesn't want to be perceived as riding someone else's coattails, either. Dwyane Wade might be the best player alive for all we know -- he certainly was in 2006, and he's been banged-up and trapped on bad teams ever since.

No, Chicago makes more sense. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah proved that they were warriors these past two springs. They could be his Pippen/Grant or McHale/DJ. Easily. Rose could take the creative load off LeBron on nights that he doesn't have it. Rose could come through a few times in the clutch. Rose could hide some of LeBron's faults. It's the single smartest basketball move for LeBron James. It's the Michael Corleone move.

"MJ -- Winning. Hands down, all he wanted to do was win. And that's over-used for a lot of athletes, but not him.

"Kobe -- Greatness. Yes he's going to win some, but only because he wants to be considered great and that will be a by-product at times. But you'd also see him shoot his team out of a game; jack 3s when he should press the issue and get to the paint. He didn't mind losing a few games if people came away saying 'Kobe is great; look what happens when he doesn't shoot.'"

"LeBron -- Amaze. I think he just really wants to amaze people. Which is why he spends 10 minutes before the game throwing underhand, left-hand half-court shots. Why he celebrates amazing dunks and blocks, but isn't working just as hard to win. I know the Cavs aren't great without him, but he's got PLENTY on that team to win rings with."

Russell, Magic, Bird, Duncan, Walton, West and Havlicek: Winning.

Wilt: Numbers.

Oscar and Barry: Perfection.

Shaq: Fame.

Kareem and Elgin: Pride.

Moses: Rebounds.

Malone and Garnett: Work.

Barkley: Fun.

Cousy, Stockton, Isiah, Pippen and Nash: Team.

 

[karamazov80]

Funny that almost all the point guards listed there are "Team." Seems like it's just a by-product of the position. Like I suggested above re: Deron Williams, those guys almost never get the credit they deserve because of the nature of their positions.

And of course, I agree with his distinction between having Wade or Rose as a team-mate. Guys like Lebron and Kobe have egos to match their paychecks. They don't want another superstar on the team.

 

[azurepred]

I agree with a lot of that. I think Kobe is the most feared player in the NBA right now. He has a lot of the same mental qualities of Jordan. I agree that in the Boston series, his leadership could have been better; for whatever reason this post-season, he just didnt have it. I thought he could win with what he had as well; but the whole team didnt improve their play in the post season. In the playoffs, its a lot different, but the team came into the postseason with the wrong mentality.

 

[karamazov80]

The weirdest thing to me is that they started strong. They coasted through the first round, started 2-1 against Boston, and then gave up.

 

[Deeznutz6]

I thought when they got Jamison tehy were a lock for the east. I think with the loss he bolts, heopefully to the Knicks Its been a long 10 years of misery

 

[azurepred]

I thought when they got Jamison tehy were a lock for the east. I think with the loss he bolts, heopefully to the Knicks Its been a long 10 years of misery

I think most ppl thought Jamison would have an advantage over KG, but it ended up being the opposite. I think the Cavs got Shaq to match Howard, and Jamison to match Lewis, but in the end, we didnt get to see whether or not those trades would put them over Orlando, maybe the Cavs were looking too far ahead against Orlando instead of focusing on the team in front of them

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

well all the flak that Kobe used to get about giving up on his team is now Lebron's burden. so i guess he's on the path.......

 

[Deeznutz6]

Looks like Mike Brown is going to get the ax, its about time

 

[The Josh]

well all the flak that Kobe used to get about giving up on his team is now Lebron's burden. so i guess he's on the path.......

The path Lebron and Kobe are on is very similar. The things Laker fans get all pissy with James about is the same things said/done about Kobe years ago. That's why I always find it ironic how Laker fans act towards James.

 

[Shatterer of Dreams]

it's very true. though the only thing that bothered me about lebron is the king james nickname (so please quit lumping all of us Lakers fans together, some of us really like basketball and don't just have Laker eyes). now i know he didn't give himself that name but NBA writers and the such should have not perpetuated the name until he earned it and he doesn't earn until he's a champion. other than that i think he's a great player, he needs to develope a midrange jumper and then he'll be really scary but the guy is obviously a natural.