NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavs VS Golden State Warriors

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

You guys are so sure of things that can't be known. I'm embarrassed for you.

That's what makes it fun.

Everyone of our "opinions" are laced with homerism, haterism or cynicism.

 

[bksballer89]

To be honest with you guys I don't dislike Lebron as much as most Heat fans. I'm over what he did with them in 2014 by screwing up any plan B they had by waiting so long to sign.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Then, as I tried pointing out to you... you missed my original point.

The whole point of my post which you replied to starting this conversation was that LeBron committed to Cleveland before knowing if love would be on the team. And you apparently agree.

He basically KNEW Love wanted to come and that Gilbert would trade Wiggins to make it happen.
Nothing before it happens is 100%, but from what we've all learned, Love coming was up in the high 90's.

 

[gordontrue]

I think Lebron returned to Cleveland because he thought Wade and Bosh were washed up. Also he had friends (From Ohio) in his ear in his entire 4 years in Miami begging him to return to Cleveland. I think Cleveland being home had very little to do with it. He just allowed his friends to influence him way too much

I just don't see how anyone can think that Cleveland being home had little to do with it but I respect your opinion.

I agree that the health of wade was a factor but no way in hell does LeBron even give CLE a glance if it wasn't his former team and where he grew up, imo.

 

[tlance]

Do you think it's out of the realm of possibilities that he went "Home" because Riley would not bend to his will?

Riley was clear that the name on the front of the Jersey is more important than the one on the back.

In Gilbert's desperation to bring the prodigal son home, he ceded the keys to the castle.

I am sure that was part of the equation.

What these guys are saying is that he got to hand pick his team. Having influence and forcing the Love trade is not the same as hand picking a team. Sorry.

By signing in Cleveland, there were a number of roster constraints LeBron was accepting. 1 was Kyrie Irving, and the second was either Wiggins or the best piece they could get in exchange for him. That was Love.

Clearly LeBron wanted Love over Wiggins. While it is easy to say that was a bad decision in hind sight, the majority of NBA analysts felt that Love improved their chances to win right away. LeBron was not the only person pushing for this deal.

If @trojanfan12 equates forcing the Love trade (which they might have wanted to do anyway) with hand picking a roster, then whatever. That is a gross exaggeration about what happened though.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Then, as I tried pointing out to you... you missed my original point.

The whole point of my post which you replied to starting this conversation was that LeBron committed to Cleveland before knowing if love would be on the team. And you apparently agree.

He did.

The Love stuff had been out their for a year before James returned.

Kevin said no thanks until AFTER Lebron returned.

 

[gordontrue]

That's what makes it fun.

Everyone of our "opinions" are laced with homerism, haterism or cynicism.

You're right. That was a silly post by me.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

To be honest with you guys I don't dislike Lebron as much as most Heat fans. I'm over what he did with them in 2014 by screwing up any plan B they had by waiting so long to sign.

Don't hate him as a person or for leaving. Never did.
He's a great, great player who did some great things while here.
I admire his charity work, etc..

I just want him and douche bag Gilbert to lose, forever.

 

[Black Adam]

To be honest with you guys I don't dislike Lebron as much as most Heat fans. I'm over what he did with them in 2014 by screwing up any plan B they had by waiting so long to sign.

thought it was a dick move, quite honestly. but then it ain't the first dick move the guy's ever done...

 

[bksballer89]

I just don't see how anyone can think that Cleveland being home had little to do with it but I respect your opinion.

I agree that the health of wade was a factor but no way in hell does LeBron even give CLE a glance if it wasn't his former team and where he grew up, imo.

His friends got to him. Can you imagine those conversations he had with his circle after Miami won those titles. I really think they encouraged him a lot to return to Cleveland. I don't know his family life but I bet his kids and wife were just fine living in Miami. I think his circle really sold him on winning a ship for his hometown team. Just my opinion though

 

[trojanfan12]

Then, as I tried pointing out to you... you missed my original point.

The whole point of my post which you replied to starting this conversation was that LeBron committed to Cleveland before knowing if love would be on the team. And you apparently agree.

Are you really this desperate to defend Lebron? Really?!?

Of course he couldn't have things done before he actually signed with Cleveland. He wasn't on the team yet. It's really not that difficult. He already had everything in place, but he had to sign with Cleveland first.

Lebron already had what he wanted in mind and had already contacted those he wanted and decided who was going to have to leave. So, he had a pretty good idea what was going to happen.

It's similar to when he went to Miami. He knew Wade was going to re-sign with the Heat and that Bosh was also going to sign with them. But nothing official could be said or done until FA opened and everyone actually signed.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I am sure that was part of the equation.

What these guys are saying is that he got to hand pick his team. Having influence and forcing the Love trade is not the same as hand picking a team. Sorry.

By signing in Cleveland, there were a number of roster constraints LeBron was accepting. 1 was Kyrie Irving, and the second was either Wiggins or the best piece they could get in exchange for him. That was Love.

Clearly LeBron wanted Love over Wiggins. While it is easy to say that was a bad decision in hind sight, the majority of NBA analysts felt that Love improved their chances to win right away. LeBron was not the only person pushing for this deal.

If @trojanfan12 equates forcing the Love trade (which they might have wanted to do anyway) with hand picking a roster, then whatever. That is a gross exaggeration about what happened though.

It's a bad decision NOW.

But, the Cavs were in win now mode.

They didn't have the luxury of waiting for Wiggins to mature.

TF12 said it best: nobody saw the Warriors coming.

 

[bksballer89]

Don't hate him as a person or for leaving. Never did.
He's a great, great player who did some great things while here.
I admire his charity work, etc..

I just want him and douche bag Gilbert to lose, forever.

This is where you and I are different. I just don't want him to win in Cleveland because I can't stand Gilbert and some of the Cavs fans I know. If he went somewhere else I would be happy to see him win a few more titles

 

[Kold]

That roster comparison is a good one, but that Laker team did not win. I agree the Cavs could have beat them. If that makes them championship caliber in some year, then ok. Just not this year.

I think it was equally ridiculous for Kobe to be blamed for the '08 loss too.

As for the Finals loss thing, there is no way anyone will ever convince me that a Finals loss is somehow worse than losing sometime before. The logic there just does not make sense. A loss is a loss. Getting to the Finals is better than not getting there.

It's something that I disagree with, but it's not something that I harp on too much, because I definitely understand the logic in someone saying that a loss is a loss is a loss, no matter where it is. I think Jordan kind of messed it up for everybody after him, when he went 6 for 6 with 6 mvp's however. I guess it's relevant because titles won are probably the only thing we could go off of when we throw the winning aspect of the who's better than who debate

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

His friends got to him. Can you imagine those conversations he had with his circle after Miami won those titles. I really think they encouraged him a lot to return to Cleveland. I don't know his family life but I bet his kids and wife were just fine living in Miami. I think his circle really sold him on winning a ship for his hometown team. Just my opinion though

His wife too.

Fuck big fish in a small pond..

They are like a killer whale swimming in a glass of water.

 

[bksballer89]

thought it was a dick move, quite honestly. but then it ain't the first dick move the guy's ever done...

It really was. By the time he announced he was returning to Cleveland, all of Miami legit Plan B options were already long gone. Deng was a Plan D option to be honest with you.....But I'm over that. I can't hold grudges forever for someone I don't know at all

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

That's fine. I disagree. I understand why as a heat fan that matters to you... but to me I really don't care when LeBron decided.

Not a matter of caring, but it certainly ties into the moves Nike made, and that was the discussion.
It wasn't chance Nike did those things, it was known to that entire inner circle what was going down.
The entire FA period was a charade right up to and including the BS SI letter that was written for him.

 

[gordontrue]

His friends got to him. Can you imagine those conversations he had with his circle after Miami won those titles. I really think they encouraged him a lot to return to Cleveland. I don't know his family life but I bet his kids and wife were just fine living in Miami. I think his circle really sold him on winning a ship for his hometown team. Just my opinion though

That part makes sense to me. LeBron values the opinions of his friends. If you've ever seen the documentary about LeBron s childhood it's really interesting.

Similarly, wade was a big part of convincing LeBron to leave Cleveland in the first place.

 

[GNG]

This is a boring series thus far.

 

[Heatles84]

Personally I believe the Cav's made a huge tactical error. They should have kept Wiggins and developed him. Lebron would have had to wait a year or two before being a serious contender, but it doesn't look good for him now any way. At this point he would still be in the playoffs but would have Wiggins instead of Love and Wiggins would be a rising star about to shine with one of the best forwards in the NBA and instead he is stuck with shitty ass Love and the Cavs would have some money this summer to sign some one like Durant to play with Lebron.

Well, no on the latter. Given the salary of that entire roster (for hypotheticals, we'll exclude Love), there would still be zero room to sign Durant (or rather not enough space to fit his max contract).