The LeBron James Thread

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Rings are another double standard. We will kill you if you retire without enough, but clown you if chase them. It's ok to move if it only slighty increase your chance anything more your stacking a team. Where is the line? I remember many said even after LeBron announced where he was going he would never win a ring and if he really cared about winnng he would go to Chicago. Now it's he stacked the team so this is Wade's team/ring not his.

More than anything I take exception to the double standards in sports.

[ehh]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Everything is a double standard for LeBron, the dude cannot win. Maybe if Wade tears his ACL and LBJ averages 50/20/15 in the Finals, I think that's the only way he'll ever quiet everyone.

[Bumi]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Rings are another double standard. We will kill you if you retire without enough, but clown you if chase them. It's ok to move if it only slighty increase your chance anything more your stacking a team. Where is the line? I remember many said even after LeBron announced where he was going he would never win a ring and if he really cared about winnng he would go to Chicago. Now it's he stacked the team so this is Wade's team/ring not his.

More than anything I take exception to the double standards in sports

I don't see the double standard. I think the measure by which we grade great players is exceptionally efficient. Also, I can't recall any post prime players being criticized for being ring chasers? I also can't recall any prime super stars leaving their franchise to join the team of a peer.

You're going to have to give me some examples.

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't see the double standard. I think the measure by which we grade great players is exceptionally efficient. Also, I can't recall any post prime players being criticized for being ring chasers? I also can't recall any prime super stars leaving their franchise to join the team of a peer.

You're going to have to give me some examples.

Well, for one, there's that big Shaq guy you've been talking up.

LOL

[Bumi]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Well, for one, there's that big Shaq guy you've been talking up.

LOL

Shaq went to LA to make winning a title easier? And then he left LA, where he won 3 rings, to make winning a ring easier?

I don't think I get your point.

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Shaq went to LA to make winning a title easier? And then he left LA, where he won 3 rings, to make winning a ring easier?

I don't think I get your point.

I don't know what his intentions were but he certainly left during his prime to go to another team.

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't see the double standard. I think the measure by which we grade great players is exceptionally efficient. Also, I can't recall any post prime players being criticized for being ring chasers? I also can't recall any prime super stars leaving their franchise to join the team of a peer.

You're going to have to give me some examples.

So it's ok to go to a bad team for big money, but it's not ok in your prime to sign for less money to play on a good team. Most of the viable all time greats (whether they earned a ring or not) had enough talent with the teams they were at to compete. You rather him use up his prime years with no real help in Cleveland before he chases rings. His choice has him two games away from his first ring something he couldn't do in seven years @Cleveland.

[Bumi]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't know what his intentions were but he certainly left during his prime to go to another team.

How does that conflict with my post?

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I also can't recall any prime super stars leaving their franchise to join the team of a peer.

You're going to have to give me some examples.

I don't know if by "peer" you mean "friend", but Shaq was a prime superstar and left the Magic for the Lakers.

Is it excused because he may have done it for the location?

[Bumi]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

So it's ok to go to a bad team for big money, but it's not ok in your prime to sign for less money to play on a good team. Most of the viable all time greats (whether they earned a ring or not) had enough talent with the teams they were at to compete. You rather him use up his prime years with no real help in Cleveland before he chases rings. His choice has him two games away from his first ring something he couldn't do in seven years @Cleveland.

No, it's not ok for two prime top 5 players, and an additional All Star to conspire together to join one another through free agency in hopes of making their path to a title easier. If that's what you're asking.

[DieHardYankee26]

I don't know what his intentions were but he certainly left during his prime to go to another team.

Shaq went to LA because he wanted to be an actor and do all kinds of non basketball related things to expand his brand.

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Shaq went to LA because he wanted to be an actor and do all kinds of non basketball related things to expand his brand.

I think most would agree that was the reason, but does that excuse his move in the mind of basketball fans?

[Bumi]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't know if by "peer" you mean "friend", but Shaq was a prime superstar and left the Magic for the Lakers.

Is it excused because he may have done it for the location?

A peer is someone of equal worth. In respect to basketball, a peer would be someone of comparable talent or equivalent status. Shaq didn't leave Orlando to join a peer in LA.

[Bumi]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I think most would agree that was the reason, but does that excuse his move in the mind of basketball fans?

If you're attempting to draw parallels between Shaq leaving Orlando, and LeBron leaving Cleveland, don't. None exist.

[mKoz26]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

A peer is someone of equal worth. In respect to basketball, a peer would be someone of comparable talent or equivalent status. Shaq didn't leave Orlando to join a peer in LA.

Shaq left and ended up receiving a peer in Kobe. That wasn't the reason he left, but are we saying it's more excusable to leave for celebrity status than to leave to form a team with friends who are also great basketball players?

Also, I'd like to know what you would say if LeBron left Cleveland for Chicago, since the majority thought Chicago was the most championship-ready destination of the many he considered. Would that discredit his legacy forever too? Or would it be okay since he would be the best player on that team but surrounded by many other "good" players? Is it about being the "alpha dog", or about ring chasing and joining a talented team?

If you're attempting to draw parallels between Shaq leaving Orlando, and LeBron leaving Cleveland, don't. None exist.

That's not even close to true. Both left the team that drafted them for another team while in their primes and both left, at least partially, to enhance their celebrity statuses. (LeBron, South Beach, party/concert entrance, etc.)