The LeBron James Thread

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

That makes no sense though. So he should be looked down upon because he took the easiest road to the championship....on paper? There is no easy road to a championship, no matter how good your team is.

And what would be the reasoning for him to not take the easiest road to the title? The guy has just carried a team for 7 years, even bringing that Hughes/Pavlovic/LeBron/Varejao/Z starting 5 to the Finals. He has a right to take the easiest road to a title after nearly taking the hardest road of all time to one.

It makes plenty of sense. What people don't seem to realize is that LeBron isn't just any player. He is the player that has been labeled a "king" and the "chosen one". He was destined to be one of the greatest of all time. Whether you or I or anyone else wants to admit it, LeBron was built up to be one of the greatest. Do I believe he would've been? Maybe, but it's what he was supposed to be because it's the persona that he created for himself. The GOAT shouldn't take the easy way out, he should lead his team to the promise land. Of course he has the right to take the easiest road and as I said, it's not guaranteed. But people have the right to call it how they see it, and it looks as if he's taking the easy way out, so people are going to be frustrated with it. The same way he can do what he wants, people can criticize him for those decisions.

[Pared]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Do you guys seriously think that people are only upset because of what went down?

It's MORE than that. It is about HOW it went down.

People are calling Bosh a little wuss because he tagged along Wade's shirt for most of free agency.

People hate the fact that Wade visited other teams while (according to you as well) he had no intention of leaving. It was a smokescreen.

People are jumping the Prince for having a one hour special to stab the hearts of people who supported him for years, locals. Roger Clemens and Boston/Toronto, anyone?

Don't be naive and act like it's simply about leaving. You quit your job and don't give notice and you're a douche. This is no different. Might as well start fist pumping in the clubs.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

So where is the anger that the Yankees tried to trade for Cliff Lee? Shouldn't we all boycott Yankees games because their ownership tries to put top flight talent at every on field position?

Is this a joke? Everyone who doesn't love the Yankees, hates the Yankees. The Yankees are constantly complained about for having the largest payroll and they have been for years. That is a horrible example.

[23]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

It makes plenty of sense. What people don't seem to realize is that LeBron isn't just any player. He is the player that has been labeled a "king" and the "chosen one". He was destined to be one of the greatest of all time. Whether you or I or anyone else wants to admit it, LeBron was built up to be one of the greatest. Do I believe he would've been? Maybe, but it's what he was supposed to be because it's the persona that he created for himself. The GOAT shouldn't take the easy way out, he should lead his team to the promise land. Of course he has the right to take the easiest road and as I said, it's not guaranteed. But people have the right to call it how they see it, and it looks as if he's taking the easy way out, so people are going to be frustrated with it. The same way he can do what he wants, people can criticize him for those decisions.

Your logic makes no sense at all. Being the best player means willingly risking injury and a better chance at a title for what?

Stop referring to players in the GOAT conversation when they havent even won anything yet... Man this is ridiculous

Claiming titles that arent there
Bashing a team and willfully proclaiming yourself a ***** of a team that doesnt even have a full roster

..and people are proud of that too.

[NovaStar]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

So where is the anger that the Yankees tried to trade for Cliff Lee? Shouldn't we all boycott Yankees games because their ownership tries to put top flight talent at every on field position?
Teams and players are loyal to the hunt for a ring, thats it, thats all it has been. There wasn't a CBA that allowed for true free agency like it does now in any sport. The owners really owned the rights to all of their players, this is a different day and age.

Nobody has answered my question about whether a player has won a ring w/o at least one other HOF'er on the roster, but the expectation was for Lebron to do it.

Your question does not get to the heart of the matter, your question is self serving and would provide a misleading answer. The question properly stated is "name at least one leader of a nba team, in his prime that has won two mvp's, that chose to leave a winning team which had the best record in the conference, to go to a team that already has a leader who has won a championship? Answer that one. The answer to your question provides many names, the answer to my question provides one name.

[brahmagoul]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

I wasn't critical of the way LeBron went about his free agency or his show, so I'm not going to start now. It was different, and they made it happen.

As a Cleveland sports fan, I can't even say I'm mad at LeBron. Why? Because the last seven years were my favorite as a sports fan. Basketball was always No. 1 for me, and it was great to have the premier star in my city and be from my area. It was like a fan's fairy tale.

However, seeing him leave and leave for Miami is a cop out. As critical so many people are of Cleveland's roster, you can't deny that roster saw upgrades every year and, in turn, they posted the league's best record the last two years. So many people are saying that means little. How? Take a blank slate and say a superstar has posted the league's best record with his hometown team two straight years. Would he leave? I think hardly anyone would say or think yes.

As for why the Cavaliers couldn't turn the best record into a Finals berth, I chalk it up to coaching and matchups. They caught a hot Orlando team two years ago and a Boston team that outplayed them and did so partly because of Mike Brown's bad decisions. Cleveland made a great hire in Byron Scott and would have been just as much a contender this upcoming season.

It's LeBron's career and life, so he has every right to do with it as he sees fit. I'm not going to rip the man, but I'm not going to respect him either. His decision to leave was so deflating, I won't be able to stomach another NBA season.

So, come next March I expect to have a perfect NCAA tournament bracket.

[Murkurial]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Stop referring to players in the GOAT conversation when they havent even won anything yet... Man this is ridiculous

I've been reading this and a couple other threads for a little while now, but I'm finding it tough to determine on exactly what side of the fence you fall on in all of this?

And you don't think that the media, and tons of people, maybe not YOU, have been building Lebron up as a potential GOAT? I mean, like you, don't think that he should be in the discussion until he wins something, but I think a lot of the comparisons are a reaction to the incessant LBJ ****riding that we've been witnesses to for the past few seasons and this move (though I guess this is debatable) kind of throwing that talk out of the window. Sort of a "where are all the people that kept saying he was gonna be the GOAT? What do you have to say about it now..." response.

[23]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

I've been reading this and a couple other threads for a little while now, but I'm finding it tough to determine on exactly what side of the fence you fall on in all of this?

And you don't think that the media, and tons of people, maybe not YOU, have been building Lebron up as a potential GOAT?

Can you explain to me how LeBron has had a greater career than Kareem, Wilt, Russell, Magic, Jordan, Bird, Shaq, etc..?

[phenom1990]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

So where is the anger that the Yankees tried to trade for Cliff Lee? Shouldn't we all boycott Yankees games because their ownership tries to put top flight talent at every on field position?
Teams and players are loyal to the hunt for a ring, thats it, thats all it has been. There wasn't a CBA that allowed for true free agency like it does now in any sport. The owners really owned the rights to all of their players, this is a different day and age.

Nobody has answered my question about whether a player has won a ring w/o at least one other HOF'er on the roster, but the expectation was for Lebron to do it.

1. Nobody is criticizing the Heat for doing this.

2. Comparing sports isn't usually good because different sports are structured differently.

Baseball is more of a sport that no one individual can have that phenomenal of an effect on a team. Pitcher/hitter is an individual matchup. Depending on the league there are either 8 or 9 actual competitive match ups. In 2002, A-Rod hit 300 with 54 home runs, got the MVP even though I believe his team was horrible. Some people complained a guy on a losing team shouldn't win it but there are so many more factors he can't control. It's not like A-Rod could have been less selfish and said hey Ruben Rivera, I will give up some of my stats so you can play better. A-Rod and a Pujols playing together because neither really ever compete against each other. Its basically A-Rod vs pitcher and Pujols vs Pitcher and the only time they play against each other is when Pujols pulls one to left and that's it. I'm not criticizing players for leaving one team to go to another, however I feel what Lebron did spoke for itself and left me disappointed.

[Murkurial]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Can you explain to me how LeBron has had a greater career than Kareem, Wilt, Russell, Magic, Jordan, Bird, Shaq, etc..?

I think I fleshed out my answer a bit more while you were typing that. He hasn't had a better one (I am 100% not a Lebron fan btw). I'm firmly in the camp that the GOAT discussion was unwarranted, but my point was that everyone and their mother couldn't leave it alone.

I said more in the previous post though about where I think the mentions of the GOAT title are coming from.

[BlueNGold]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

It makes plenty of sense. What people don't seem to realize is that LeBron isn't just any player. He is the player that has been labeled a "king" and the "chosen one". He was destined to be one of the greatest of all time. Whether you or I or anyone else wants to admit it, LeBron was built up to be one of the greatest. Do I believe he would've been? Maybe, but it's what he was supposed to be because it's the persona that he created for himself. The GOAT shouldn't take the easy way out, he should lead his team to the promise land. Of course he has the right to take the easiest road and as I said, it's not guaranteed. But people have the right to call it how they see it, and it looks as if he's taking the easy way out, so people are going to be frustrated with it. The same way he can do what he wants, people can criticize him for those decisions.

Like I said, there is no easy way out to a championship (then again, maybe Adam Morrison would disagree). You realize these guys still have to play 82 games + playoffs right? It's no sure thing that they win a title. Hell, I don't even think they beat Orlando unless they get a big to guard Dwight 1 on 1.

The fact is, LeBron chose the best situation for himself to WIN, which is why you play the game. Who's to say that he couldn't become the top dog of this new Miami squad? Dwyane has played second-fiddle before.

Also, why is Chicago not considered "the easy way out" when they would've actually had more flexibility to make other moves had they signed LeBron?

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Your logic makes no sense at all. Being the best player means willingly risking injury and a better chance at a title for what?

Stop referring to players in the GOAT conversation when they havent even won anything yet... Man this is ridiculous

Claiming titles that arent there
Bashing a team and willfully proclaiming yourself a ***** of a team that doesnt even have a full roster

..and people are proud of that too.

Whether it makes sense or not, this is the world we live in. God forbid people want the best players to lead their teams into victory. It's absolute nonsense. People want their leaders to be leaders, to win and to be the reason that their team won. We don't want for players to cop out and coast to a title. People want their players to earn their victories. And it's not me that's saying that LeBron would have been the greatest. But noone can deny that if he had kept performing like this, and led the Cavs to 2 or 3 titles, he would be up there in the talks. LeBron brought this on himself, getting tattoos that say Chosen1 and saying he wants to be one of the greatest. People wanted him to be the best, and now people don't think he ever will be. Again, this is the world we live in.

And them not having a full roster has nothing to do with people hating them. If the Lakers dumped everyone on their roster people can't hate them anymore? All you need to do is look at who they actually do have. If you don't like that they have 3 superstars, then people will hate them. Some people hate the Lakers just because they hate Kobe, and if he was the only one they would hate the Lakers anyway.

[rangerrick012]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Your logic makes no sense at all. Being the best player means willingly risking injury and a better chance at a title for what?

Stop referring to players in the GOAT conversation when they havent even won anything yet... Man this is ridiculous

Claiming titles that arent there
Bashing a team and willfully proclaiming yourself a ***** of a team that doesnt even have a full roster

..and people are proud of that too.

If you watched that celebration last night you can see how it's easy to hate this 'team'.

[23]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

Whether it makes sense or not, this is the world we live in. God forbid people want the best players to lead their teams into victory. It's absolute nonsense. People want their leaders to be leaders, to win and to be the reason that their team won. We don't want for players to cop out and coast to a title. People want their players to earn their victories. And it's not me that's saying that LeBron would have been the greatest. But noone can deny that if he had kept performing like this, and led the Cavs to 2 or 3 titles, he would be up there in the talks. LeBron brought this on himself, getting tattoos that say Chosen1 and saying he wants to be one of the greatest. People wanted him to be the best, and now people don't think he ever will be. Again, this is the world we live in.

And them not having a full roster has nothing to do with people hating them. If the Lakers dumped everyone on their roster people can't hate them anymore? All you need to do is look at who they actually do have. If you don't like that they have 3 superstars, then people will hate them. Some people hate the Lakers just because they hate Kobe, and if he was the only one they would hate the Lakers anyway.

Exactly how did LeBron coast to a title?

[23]

Re: LeBron James Signs With Miami Heat

If you watched that celebration last night you can see how it's easy to hate this 'team'.

Nope I didnt watch it nor do I care to raise my blood pressure over some 20 year olds partying

and I highly doubt that the people who are ranting like ravening wolves started doing so because of that