The LeBron James Thread

[King_B_Mack]

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

The Lakers would be a 40-50 win team without Kobe. There's enough depth on that team that they'd be able to win if Kobe ever needed a prolonged rest due to injury. For example, if Kobe was out for 20 games, they'd survive. They'd probably go 13-7 or something along those lines. In my opinion, the same goes for Orlando. Perhaps not to the same extent, but they'd survive, especially in the east.

Cleveland on the other hand would be a cellar dweller without their star.

I personally think LeBron, Amare, and Gallinari, is a better core than LeBron, MO, and Jamison. Especially with the offense New York runs, and LeBron's style of play.

So they're going to win 70 games is what you're saying? The core in Cleveland you just named won 66 games last season, you said the core in NY is better....even if they did win 70 with their play style, they ain't winning in the playoffs because that style just doesn't win in the postseason when the league isn't 'defense optional.'

[DieHardYankee26]

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

So they're going to win 70 games is what you're saying? The core in Cleveland you just named won 66 games last season, you said the core in NY is better....even if they did win 70 with their play style, they ain't winning in the playoffs because that style just doesn't win in the postseason when the league isn't 'defense optional.'

No that's not what he's saying. He said the core, as in the three players he named. There are at least 9 other players on any team that also make a difference. He's saying that the three on the Knicks would be better than the three on the Cavs, not that the team is better, only that it is a better core.

[Nike Fattz]

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

So they're going to win 70 games is what you're saying? The core in Cleveland you just named won 66 games last season, you said the core in NY is better....even if they did win 70 with their play style, they ain't winning in the playoffs because that style just doesn't win in the postseason when the league isn't 'defense optional.'

If that's how you wish to interpret my post, that's on you, but that isn't what I said. I don't know how many regular season games they'd win, nor do I care. As we've "witnessed" the past two seasons, the number of regular season games you win means nothing come playoff time. What I do know is that I'd take a core consisting of LeBron, Amare, Gallinari, over any combination of three the Cavs with LeBron could put together, especially with the roster flexibility New York will have in the coming seasons to surround that core with the proper pieces to win.

Would New York with LeBron be a successful playoff team? I don't know either way, that'd be left to speculation. We've seen how successful a Cleveland team with LeBron is during the playoffs though.

[King_B_Mack]

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

If that's how you wish to interpret my post, that's on you, but that isn't what I said. I don't know how many regular season games they'd win, nor do I care. As we've "witnessed" the past two seasons, the number of regular season games you win means nothing come playoff time. What I do know is that I'd take LeBron, Amare, Gallinari, over any combination of 3 the Cavs with LeBron could put together, especially with the roster flexibility New York will have in the coming seasons.

Would New York with LeBron be a successful playoff team? I don't know either way, that'd be left to speculation. We've seen how successful a Cleveland team with LeBron is during the playoffs though.

All I'm saying is LeBron is looking for championships, not deep playoff runs or first, second round losses and D'Antoni's system does not win championships, hell it doesn't even get you the right to play for the championship. I'm still not even sure how successful Amar'e is going to be in New York considering the pick and roll is his bread and butter.

[Jonesy]

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

Anyone here who knows in which team is Lebron going to be playing?

Solid first post.

I know where he's going to sign but i'm keeping it a secret to build suspense.

[Cebby]

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

The Lakers would be a 40-50 win team without Kobe. There's enough depth on that team that they'd be able to win if Kobe ever needed a prolonged rest due to injury. For example, if Kobe was out for 20 games, they'd survive. They'd probably go 13-7 or something along those lines. In my opinion, the same goes for Orlando. Perhaps not to the same extent, but they'd survive, especially in the east.

Cleveland on the other hand would be a cellar dweller without their star.

The Lakers and Magic could manage a few games without them, but so could the Cavs. And before you bring up the last few games that the Cavs lost without Lebron, they had already clinched the East and were resting about half their players from night to night.

I do like though that Kobe and Howard are worth about 7 wins while Lebron is worth roughly 30-45 to have the Cavs be as awful as the Knicks. Lebron is the best player in the NBA, but he's nowhere near that good.

I personally think LeBron, Amare, and Gallinari, is a better core than LeBron, MO, and Jamison.

Lebron would have a better #2 guy in New York. However, the third person is arguable since Gallinari is apparently the best player on earth, but in every other position the Cavs destroy the Knicks.

Plus, once the Knicks give a player the MLE they'll lose the benefit of Curry's expiring contract next year.

Cleveland will be in much better room to make roster changes as their players will be expiring over the next few years. The Knicks on the other hand will have about 5 million free next year, but then will be hamstrung from max contracts to James, Amare, and GOAT Gallinari.

[ProfessaPackMan]

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

Anyone here who knows in which team is Lebron going to be playing?

The latest LCS Rankings as of today have them as:
1. Cavs
2. Bulls.
3. Knicks.
4. Nets.

*Rankings are subject to change.

[Nike Fattz]

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

All I'm saying is LeBron is looking for championships, not deep playoff runs or first, second round losses and D'Antoni's system does not win championships, hell it doesn't even get you the right to play for the championship. I'm still not even sure how successful Amar'e is going to be in New York considering the pick and roll is his bread and butter.

If LeBron's looking for championships and not deep playoff runs, there's even more reason to get the hell out of dodge.

We don't know how successful D'Antoni's system would be with LeBron. I imagine it'd be pretty stellar. Furthermore, it won't be any worse than the 1 on 5 system Cleveland runs.

Amare's already been successful under D'Antoni's system. No reason to assume he'd be worse off playing with LeBron.

[DieHardYankee26]

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

Solid first post.

I know where he's going to sign but i'm keeping it a secret to build suspense.

[Cebby]

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

Amare's already been successful under D'Antoni's system.

With Steve Nash

And they weren't as successful in Phoenix as Lebron was in 1 on 5.

Lebron has 1 Finals appearance, 1 conference finals, and 3 semifinals.

Amare has (under D'Antoni) 1 conference finals, 1 semifinals, and 1 first round loss. In that declining order.

[DieHardYankee26]

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

With Steve Nash

You don't think he'd be as successful if LeBron ran the point?

[King_B_Mack]

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

You don't think he'd be as successful if LeBron ran the point?

Come on now Knick fan, you're better than that.

[Nike Fattz]

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

The Lakers and Magic could manage a few games without them, but so could the Cavs. And before you bring up the last few games that the Cavs lost without Lebron, they had already clinched the East and were resting about half their players from night to night.

I do like though that Kobe and Howard are worth about 7 wins while Lebron is worth roughly 30-45 to have the Cavs be as awful as the Knicks. Lebron is the best player in the NBA, but he's nowhere near that good.

Lebron would have a better #2 guy in New York. However, the third person is arguable since Gallinari is apparently the best player on earth, but in every other position the Cavs destroy the Knicks.

Plus, once the Knicks give a player the MLE they'll lose the benefit of Curry's expiring contract next year.

Cleveland will be in much better room to make roster changes as their players will be expiring over the next few years. The Knicks on the other hand will have about 5 million free next year, but then will be hamstrung from max contracts to James, Amare, and GOAT Gallinari.

The difference is, Kobe doesn't have to put up 30 every night in order for the Lakers to win. As we witnessed during game 7 of the NBA finals, when Kobe went 6-24, his team still managed to pull out a win against the second best team in the NBA. There's players on his team that can and have bailed him out on tough nights. Same with Orlando, if their success was determined solely on whether or not Dwight Howard would put up 25+ and 10 every night, they'd hardly ever win, as Dwight is inconsistent on offense. But alas, he too gets bailed out on tough nights.

The same can't be said for Cleveland. If LeBron ever went 6-24 in any game, there's a pretty good chance Cleveland isn't winning that game, let alone winning a championship. If LeBron had as many off nights as Dwight Howard does on offense, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Cavs win total cut by 15-20 games. LeBron IS Cleveland. As he goes, so does his team.

I'm not even a New York fan, so you can miss me with the hyperbole's pertaining to Gallinari. I understand the flavor of the month is hating New York, but Gallinari will develop into 17-20 ppg scorer, with the bulk of it coming from jump shots. A complimentary weapon to the type of player LeBron is. He, in my opinion, is a better asset than Mo Williams, who's hit his ceiling, or Antwan Jamison who's career is now sliding.

And to my knowledge, New York will have about 13 mil to spend next season. Adding more pieces to the core mentioned above.

[Cebby]

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

You don't think he'd be as successful if LeBron ran the point?

Again, Lebron is good, but he's nowhere near as good as you're making him out to be.

Nash was arguably the second best offensive point guard of all time from 2005-2007 and that included a WCF appearance without Amare.

So no, Lebron wouldn't be anywhere near as good as Nash during that stretch running the point.

[Nike Fattz]

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

With Steve Nash

And they weren't as successful in Phoenix as Lebron was in 1 on 5.

Lebron has 1 Finals appearance, 1 conference finals, and 3 semifinals.

Amare has (under D'Antoni) 1 conference finals, 1 semifinals, and 1 first round loss. In that declining order.

And he wouldn't be equally as successful with LeBron? Who'd take the bulk of the defensive pressure, can run, has great vision, can make his presence felt in the paint, etc? Further more, he'd have an excellent spot up shooter who'd be able to relieve him any time he's doubled.

And LeBron's better than any player Amare's ever played with, or D'Antoni's ever coached. All that resume does make me confident that they'd do well in the east considering how successful they were in the west.

Btw, D'Antoni's Phoenix teams made it to the conference finals twice with Amare.