The LeBron James Thread

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I think it's because the team just doesn't fit around each other well at all, at least not yet. Therefore they can't do all of their little celebrations they like doing when they're blowing teams out... in other words not as much "fun". So I can see how his demeanor would change.

I definitely don't see as much of the stuff I saw when he was in CLE

[NYJets]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I don't get what "taking the easy way out" even means. When people thought he might go to the Knicks, everyone cried and said he should stay in Cleveland or go to Chicago, or even the Clippers, because they would offer him a better chance to win. Then he goes somewhere that gives him a chance to set up a dynasty, and everyone hates him for it. So your allowed to go to a good team, but not too good a team?

[BlueNGold]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I don't get what "taking the easy way out" even means. When people thought he might go to the Knicks, everyone cried and said he should stay in Cleveland or go to Chicago, or even the Clippers, because they would offer him a better chance to win. Then he goes somewhere that gives him a chance to set up a dynasty, and everyone hates him for it. So your allowed to go to a good team, but not too good a team?

10 char

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I don't get what "taking the easy way out" even means. When people thought he might go to the Knicks, everyone cried and said he should stay in Cleveland or go to Chicago, or even the Clippers, because they would offer him a better chance to win. Then he goes somewhere that gives him a chance to set up a dynasty, and everyone hates him for it. So your allowed to go to a good team, but not too good a team?

LeBron went to one of two teams in the NBA that he is not the unquestioned best player in the NBA.

And they added a good offensive big man a few days before hand.

On the surface, it definitely looks like an "easy way out" to me. And for someone who wants to be known as the GOAT, that's not exactly screaming "I WANT TO BE THE MAN!"

[JerseySuave4]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I disagree strongly with the both of you.

First off, trying to say James sacrificed so much? I just when I read that. He could still prove he's the best player in the world with his play, and so far I am having my doubts. He's come straight back down to Earth since he quit in the playoffs last year, dude just looks like he lost "it". I am amazed, because there was a long period where he was the undisputed best player.. not so much now.

Lebron lost it? You're nuts!

He did sacrifice a lot. Think about when all is said & done and he retires. His numbers were on pace to put him as one of the best players to play the game and now his numbers wont be close to that. He turned down his legacy as an individual for team success. He knew he couldnt beat teams like Boston or LA by himself so he needed some sort of help.

He hasnt come back down to earth since the playoffs last year, he's got 2 other guys on the team that need to get involved as well. Last year he averaged a little over 20 shots per game, this year he's at 16. When he wants to he can still take over a game by himself, but with Wade & Bosh on his team he doesnt feel he needs to do that. Watch the Heat when Lebron is on the court by himself, its like watching the Cavs last year where he just takes over and does everything. But its hard to score 29 ppg like he did last year, when he's only shooting 16 shots a game.

He's still the best player in the NBA. If he wants to Lebron could lead the league in scoring every year. But when he did that it didnt equal rings in Cleveland. He would rather be a Magic Johnson type player that handles the ball and makes things happen for other people but right now the Heat have no identity. If Pat Riley took over and had them in the same system as the Showtime Lakers then you'd see Lebron be a more dominating Magic Johnson.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

He's still the best player in the NBA.

Nope. Most talented, sure, but not best player.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I think it's apparent that he and his teammates need time to gel, but that doesn't mean I'm giving him the automatic "oh yeah, he's still the best".

Kobe as much as I've taunted him in the past few years is looking right up there this year.

When I say he lost "it" notice the quotes buddy. He simply hasn't looked like the undisputed King like he has in the past few years. Therefore that leads me to say he's somewhat lost some of that luster.

Keep in mind this is coming from someone who has said LeBron has been the best player since 2008.

[Bumi]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I think it's apparent that he and his teammates need time to gel, but that doesn't mean I'm giving him the automatic "oh yeah, he's still the best".

Kobe as much as I've taunted him in the past few years is looking right up there this year.

When I say he lost "it" notice the quotes buddy. He simply hasn't looked like the undisputed King like he has in the past few years. Therefore that leads me to say he's somewhat lost some of that luster.

Keep in mind this is coming from someone who has said LeBron has been the best player since 2008.

This.

I thought it was just me, but LeBron doesn't seem the same to me. His level of play has definitely taken a dive.

[Gibbz]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Kobe Bryant is still the best player in the NBA, IMO.

Lebron James quit on his team in the Eastern Conference Finals last postseason, and that showed me a lot about him as a player.

It comes down to more than just physical attributes. Is LBJ the most physically gifted player in the NBA? No doubt about it. Would I ever prefer to have him on my team over Bryant? Hell. No.

[JerseySuave4]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

LeBron went to one of two teams in the NBA that he is not the unquestioned best player in the NBA.

And they added a good offensive big man a few days before hand.

On the surface, it definitely looks like an "easy way out" to me. And for someone who wants to be known as the GOAT, that's not exactly screaming "I WANT TO BE THE MAN!"

who says he wants to be known as the GOAT and that he wants to be THE MAN. When he was in high school he got his teammates involved, he enjoyed being the facilitator of the offense and seeing the team be successful. He was drafted to Cleveland and had to be the man because there was no one else around him. I'm sure if he had his choice he wouldnt have wanted to do it all by himself.

The problem is the media and the fans are all looking for the next Jordan. They label guys the next so & so before they even play a game. I saw John Wall compared to Magic Johnson after like his 3rd game in the NBA. The media wants guys who want to be "the man" but maybe thats not the type of person Lebron is and theres nothing wrong with that. We get on athletes for being too selfish and then when a guy isn't selfish we say he's not selfish enough.

Remember when Lebron was early in his career and he was passing up last second shots to wide open teammates for 3s that they'd miss. Everyone got on him for being selfish but he would say the better play is to pass it to the guy who is wide open for the shot. Jordan used to do the same thing to guys like Paxon & Kerr but they'd make the shot so Jordan wasn't criticized for it but when Donyell Marshall misses a wide open 3 to win the game Lebron gets criticized for passing it to a teammate. But thats who Lebron always has been.

People said he should be loyal and be the man and stay in Cleveland. So people wanted him to be loyal so Cleveland was happy but when the guy never wins the title they call him a choker. Cleveland was never winning a title. Boston got better, LA got better, why is it ok for those teams to get better with more stars but Lebron has to be loyal and stay in Cleveland and play with Mo Williams & Antwaan Jamison in the playoffs who disappear?

People said he should have went to Chicago because they had the best chance to win a title. Then the guy would have been compared to Jordan every second. And he turns down Chicago for Miami because he feels this Miami team has a better chance to win a title. So he should go to Chicago to join a really good team to win a title but not Miami because theyre a great team with Wade & Bosh as teammates? Yea that makes sense.

People said he should have went to NY and been the man. While i do think NY would have been the smartest choice the guy felt Miami was the best chance at winning. Being the man was not more important to him than winning a title. And yet we bash him for not wanting to be selfish once again.

No matter where he picked people were going to hate him because everyone from NY, NJ, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, etc kissed his *** because they wanted him on their team so as long as he didnt pick their team, they were going to hate him anyway. Then the show just gave them an excuse to hate him even more.

No matter what the guy did he was going to be bashed. We love to build up stars just to knock them down and see if they can climb back up.

[NYJets]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

No matter what the guy did he was going to be bashed.

Awesome post.


I have no problem with people bashing him for the way he handled his free agency. But to bash him for choosing Miami is crazy to me.

[JerseySuave4]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Kobe Bryant is still the best player in the NBA, IMO.

Lebron James quit on his team in the Eastern Conference Finals last postseason, and that showed me a lot about him as a player.

It comes down to more than just physical attributes. Is LBJ the most physically gifted player in the NBA? No doubt about it. Would I ever prefer to have him on my team over Bryant? Hell. No.

how is Kobe STILL the best player when he hasn't been the best player the past few years. Just because Kobe's team is better doesnt mean he is better. If Lebron put up the performance Kobe did in the finals he would be bashed but Kobe got a pass because they won the game. Lebron is a better rebounder, better passer, shoots at a higher fg %, but since Kobe shoots jump shots and Lebron drives for dunks people say Kobe is better. 2 points is 2 points. Lebron shoots a higher fg %.

And you bring up Lebron quitting on his team against Boston but the guy put up a triple double. Instead of putting all that blame on Lebron go look at Antwan Jamison. Go look at his numbers in that series and go look at Garnett's numbers because Jamison couldnt stop Garnett and Jamison did 0 to help his team.

Oh and you might want to go back to when Kobe quit on the Lakers in the playoffs against Phoenix a few years back. Or maybe you forgot about that.

Boston was a better team than Cleveland, plain and simple. This wasnt a case of Cleveland dominating them in the regular season only to blow it in the playoffs. They split the season series and Boston was the better team. Rondo was better than Mo Williams, Allen was better than Parker, Lebron was better than Pierce, Garnett was better than Jamison, Perkins was better than Shaq/Big Z. You aren't going to win when you have the advantage at only 1 out of 5 positions.

[Kashanova]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Kobe Bryant is still the best player in the NBA, IMO.

Lebron James quit on his team in the Eastern Conference Finals last postseason, and that showed me a lot about him as a player.

It comes down to more than just physical attributes. Is LBJ the most physically gifted player in the NBA? No doubt about it. Would I ever prefer to have him on my team over Bryant? Hell. No.

kobe has quit on his team more than one time, lebron is still the best player in the league been that way since 2006

[Boltman]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I seriously sit here and laugh when I read some of the stuff that gets written on here. My opinion is this, I don't care who the "best" player in the league is. That is akin to parents arguing who's better at little league baseball little Johnny or little Timmy.

I always thought a more relevant argument or conversation would be, who do you prefer more as your superstar of choice?

There really is no "best player" in the game title now is there? Do they hand out an MVP award? Yes they do, and even that award gets argued amongst people. Is it really "Most Valuable Player" or the best player in the league?

I like what Gibbz said here about Lebron "Would I ever prefer to have him on my team over Bryant? Hell. No."

I feel that way not because he is the "best" just because he is my superstar of choice, Lebron may be for others. Meh, I can live with that.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Bron could've gotten Amar'e or Bosh in Cleveland, he chose not to. Instead he was at the airport looking to recruit Derek Fisher to the Heat. I think it's time to give the 'he had no help in Cleveland' excuse a rest.