2010-2011 NBA Season Thread

[quote name='BigSpoonyBard']You know, I've been really up and down on Lebron over the course of his career. When he came straight from high school, I wanted him to fail miserably. The hype was too sickening for me to accept. Over time, I accepted that he could play and I actually kind of liked him as a player. He actually seemed to get better each year, and I could respect that. A year ago, I was even open to the possibility that he was the best player in basketball. Turns out it's still Kobe, but Lebron would have been a close and acceptable second.

In the playoffs this year, I started to sour on him again as I watched him quit. Yes, he can walk into near-triple doubles every night simply by his athleticism, but that wasn't good enough. The numbers didn't show what the games were actually like. He quit, plain and simple. Had he stuck around in Cleveland to give a better showing next year, I probably could have overlooked it. But now, it's hard not to connect that giving up with this free agency spectacle. I just don't think he cared anymore. He knew he was gone.

Now, following the egregiously self-serving television special, drawn-out drama, and disregard for his former employer, I really don't like him. I don't care that he changed teams. Players have every right to do that and I don't begrudge him that ability. However, I'm absolutely sickened by the ego that has been put on display. Yes, the American viewing public helped to create it, as did sports writers and whatever you want to call the folks at ESPN. But Lebron ate it all up and then he spit it back in our faces. This was the biggest "Look at me" grab I've ever seen. I liked Bosh and Wade teaming up. I like both players. I would have been ok if Lebron had joined them without all the shameless self-gratification. Now, it's going to be hard for me to watch that Heat team and root for Wade and Bosh.

Maybe I'll get over it, maybe I won't. Lebron could make up a lot of goodwill by recognizing how he rubbed people the wrong way and saying, "I realize it was over the top, and if I had it to do over again I would have gone about it more respectfully." Something to that effect would mean a lot. No, he doesn't owe anyone anything, but it'd be nice to see a little humility from him.[/QUOTE]
I feel bad for Wade. I think he is a great player and a good person but i can't root for him
to win because of Lebron.
 
All of these ignorant people proclaiming Lebron as a "sellout", a "quitter", and a "backstabber" have no clue what hell they are taking about.


I see one thing -> Lebron and company took significantly less money than the average NBA "superstar" cashing in on his name. Yet these three players alone by themselves entertain thousands of fans and generate ridiculous amounts of revenue for their ballclubs.



Prime example of cashing in this season being Joe Johnson and Amare. Neither of which are even close to Lebron or Wade's value in my opinion (Bosh is a different story and he'll have to prove his worth). Yet both Lebron and Wade took a significant pay cut for the love of the game and the desire to win a championship.
It's the exact opposite of being a sellout.


And when people make the excuse -> "Why do we pay these player so much money! *rage* *anger* arghhhh!!!! blah blah blah". They are paid because they entertain people, not just because they like playing basketball. Why do they get paid so much? Because so many freaking people want to watch them play. Why do you pay to watch a movie? Because you want to be entertained. Why do you go to a basketball game and buy that $10 hot dog? I have no effing clue (totally not worth it in my opinion, at least the hot dog part). I never understood why people complain about sport stars making millions entertaining people, yet no one ever complains about movie stars or actors that carry the same type of price tag. Why don't we bash singers and artists too since they make millions? Broken logic.


I respect Lebron and Wade more for taking less money than a Joe Johnson for signing a $124 million contract and cementing the chances of Atlanta ever winning a championship within the next 6 years (which is 0% chance now that they have no money left to sign anoyone else). He single handedly screwed his team.


And why do you think the owner of the Cavs was so pissed at Lebron? You really think it's because he "betrayed the city of Cleveland"? Oh course not! It's because Lebron brings in crazy amounts of revenue entertaing fans and the owner just lost millions in his investment. He cares a lot more about himself losing money than the feelings of Cavs fans. By putting that letter out there bashing Lebron, he is hoping to save a couple fans that will probably jump ship.


It's really funny seeing all of these "professional" sheep journalist writing articles about the morality of the situation while clearly ignoring the business side of it all.


One thing I completely agree on is that Lebron should have never held that 1 hour special especially with that idiot of an interviewer Jim Grey. Instead of holding the Cavs hostage he should have simply and gracefully announced his plans from the start of free agency. The way Lebron handled the situation was unprofessional and immature, definitely not something a "grown man" like a Jordan or Kobe would do. I completely understand the hate for that. But all of this other hate for his actual decision to leave derives from ignorance.



And I'm gonna looove all of the new heat fans, just as much as the recent Laker fan and Boston fan.
 
[quote name='lordopus99']I never said he didn't give up... I stated the whole team gave up. He played hard in the first 3 games of the series when his teammates didn't come to play, he knew the series was beyond win. Game 5 specifically... Mo Williams gave up in the first (two quarters before James seemed to give up) when Rondo kept blowing by him the whole game (well... series). Lebron still played hard i.e. 3rd quarter outlet pass to him in Game 5 (the only guy to run the floor), even if he was lethargic at times during the games i.e. part of the fourth. Don't discredit him due to his shot being off during the game either. His defensive numbers out shine every SF in the league, even during the series. As for the elbow bullshit, it wasn't him stating it... it was ESPN analysts trying to explain the misses in his shot. If Lebron really thought his elbow was a problem, he would have sat out during the playoffs like most players do i.e. Brandon Roy.
.[/QUOTE]

The team gave up because LeBron gave up. The dude was the star, why should the supporting cast care if he doesn't? They all knew that he was the reason they were winning and they basically got out of his way. When he doesn't want to charge through it, like a champion would, why should they even bother lacing the boots up?

Have you ever played organized sports? It commonly happens in situations like this. The best player will realize its hopeless and either push through it and try or sit and cry and whine about. LeBron chose the path of losers. He decided to not push himself and to not care.

And he's the one that came up with the elbow bullshit. He was looking for an excuse, for an out. Thanks to dafoomie we have his quote, but seriously, that was like a kid saying "The dog ate my homework." Didn't the elbow just 'click' out of place in between free throws or something too? All that says about LBJ is that he's a quitter and all this "King James" crap that he was putting up is a bullshit. Dude tried to be the man and now, because of this super-team move, he'll never be it.

Guess it means he can go back to recruiting for his "fledging" marketing company and be a corporate shill.

Edit: This'll be my last post about LBJ. Quitters don't deserve this amount of attention.
 
[quote name='Sc4rfac3']I feel bad for Wade. I think he is a great player and a good person but i can't root for him
to win because of Lebron.[/QUOTE]

Don't feel bad for Wade he may get a few open shots for the first time in years. The celtics were nearly triple teaming him in the playoffs
 
miami_nazgul_xavi.jpg


Ladies and gentlemen your Miami Heat!
 
[quote name='guyver2077']pissed off about not being able to resign some of our players... Dorell Wright is heading to Golden State. Atleast its a team I can root for..[/QUOTE]

You've got three of the top dozen or so players in the whole league, two of those being top five players, and you're complaining about losing Dorell Wright?
 
[quote name='advanced']The team gave up because LeBron gave up. The dude was the star, why should the supporting cast care if he doesn't? They all knew that he was the reason they were winning and they basically got out of his way. When he doesn't want to charge through it, like a champion would, why should they even bother lacing the boots up?

Have you ever played organized sports? It commonly happens in situations like this. The best player will realize its hopeless and either push through it and try or sit and cry and whine about. LeBron chose the path of losers. He decided to not push himself and to not care.

And he's the one that came up with the elbow bullshit. He was looking for an excuse, for an out. Thanks to dafoomie we have his quote, but seriously, that was like a kid saying "The dog ate my homework." Didn't the elbow just 'click' out of place in between free throws or something too? All that says about LBJ is that he's a quitter and all this "King James" crap that he was putting up is a bullshit. Dude tried to be the man and now, because of this super-team move, he'll never be it.

Guess it means he can go back to recruiting for his "fledging" marketing company and be a corporate shill.

Edit: This'll be my last post about LBJ. Quitters don't deserve this amount of attention.[/QUOTE]

What about from the other perspective? If you carry a team on your back 6 years in a row winning games for a team that never should have won, does it ever get to a point where it breaks you down and exhausts you? It's gotta be the hardest thing in the world to carry a team for 82 games a year and each year you try harder, putting up magical numbers just to be able to compete, meanwhile you look across the court and each team you face have multiple threats like Detroit (Billups, Hamilton, Rasheed, Prince) or Boston (KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo) or Orlando (Howard, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter).

One vs three superstars is too much for any man, even Michael Jordan (back in the Detroit era). This might be a comical analogy but I've walked away watching a ton of those games in the Playoffs where I felt it just wasn't fair for LeBron because it was like watching Superman II in real life (Superman vs. General Zod and the other 2 villains). It's like Space Jam only this ain't no cartoon.

I partially blame the Cavs organization for not being able to bring in a Pippen after 7 full seasons. It is a shame because LeBron bringing a championship to his hometown and staying a Cav for life would have been a storybook career. And all they had to do was get a solid number 2 option.

As for his marketing company, who would ever hire them after this whole ESPN "The Decision" fiasco?
 
i wonder what excuse lebron is going to use for not flying with the team to cleveland when the heat face the cavs. injury, family emergancy, being a pussy?
 
[quote name='guyver2077']pissed off about not being able to resign some of our players... Dorell Wright is heading to Golden State. Atleast its a team I can root for..[/QUOTE]

Dorell Wright never got the opportunity to do anything there (at least while I lived in Miami). The second he started playing rough, he was pulled. I am glad for the sake of his career that he left. It sounds like you might get Haslem back. A new rumor about even getting Juwan Howard. The team seems to be filling out alright (if the numbers work).
 
[quote name='Kendro']What about from the other perspective? If you carry a team on your back 6 years in a row winning games for a team that never should have won, does it ever get to a point where it breaks you down and exhausts you? It's gotta be the hardest thing in the world to carry a team for 82 games a year and each year you try harder, putting up magical numbers just to be able to compete, meanwhile you look across the court and each team you face have multiple threats like Detroit (Billups, Hamilton, Rasheed, Prince) or Boston (KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo) or Orlando (Howard, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter).

One vs three superstars is too much for any man, even Michael Jordan (back in the Detroit era). This might be a comical analogy but I've walked away watching a ton of those games in the Playoffs where I felt it just wasn't fair for LeBron because it was like watching Superman II in real life (Superman vs. General Zod and the other 2 villains). It's like Space Jam only this ain't no cartoon.

I partially blame the Cavs organization for not being able to bring in a Pippen after 7 full seasons. It is a shame because LeBron bringing a championship to his hometown and staying a Cav for life would have been a storybook career. And all they had to do was get a solid number 2 option.

As for his marketing company, who would ever hire them after this whole ESPN "The Decision" fiasco?[/QUOTE]

Christ, I swore that'd be the last one, but people keep bringing it back!

You get paid to play basketball, therefore, there should never be any "give up" moment. You push through and do your best, because thats what you're being paid to do. There are other people that want to be in your shoes, make the most of it. Don't sit and pout and come up with excuses.

Had LeBron committed to a longer contract, like Durant just did, it'll show that he's there for the long haul and other players will see that and they might want to go there. Would you have gone to Cleveland in 08 knowing that LeBron was going to leave in 10? No way. Not unless you get yourself a two year contract and you can leave with him.

Did you watch the Finals? Remember when the Lakers would be down at the end of the games they lost? Did Kobe and his crew give up when they knew defeat was inevitable? No fucking way. They played until the last millisecond was up. LeBron gave up when his team still had a chance and thought about excuses so he'd have something to lean on.

I don't feel bad for LeBron because he was the cause of his situation the last few years in Cleveland. Had he committed to a longer relationship, he could have become a recruiter for the Cavs instead of just a guy there waiting. He sat on his hands and wasted time until he could super-team-up with Bosh/Wade. By doing so, he sealed his own fate. Let him go win championship after championship, he'll never be in the "Jordan/Kobe" conversation ever again.
 
[quote name='Kendro']What about from the other perspective? If you carry a team on your back 6 years in a row winning games for a team that never should have won, does it ever get to a point where it breaks you down and exhausts you? It's gotta be the hardest thing in the world to carry a team for 82 games a year and each year you try harder, putting up magical numbers just to be able to compete, meanwhile you look across the court and each team you face have multiple threats like Detroit (Billups, Hamilton, Rasheed, Prince) or Boston (KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo) or Orlando (Howard, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter)[/QUOTE]
I do not like Michael Jordan but he never, ever quit.

Lebron's team had the most wins in the NBA, then the playoffs come around and suddenly he can't lead them anymore? Bullshit. He knew he was leaving and his heart wasn't in it.

Responding to adversity by raising your game to another level is what champions do. But thats not Lebron. He's a quitter and a loser until he proves otherwise.
 
[quote name='dafoomie']
Responding to adversity by raising your game to another level is what champions do. But thats not Lebron. He's a quitter and a loser until he proves otherwise.[/QUOTE]


Yup. Champions do exactly that, proof in point: Kobe Bryant played most of this past season with a broken index finger on his shooting hand. What was LeBron's excuse? An "elbow injury"? Yeah, I'm still not buying that bag of bullshit.
 
[quote name='advanced']Yup. Champions do exactly that, proof in point: Kobe Bryant played most of this past season with a broken index finger on his shooting hand. What was LeBron's excuse? An "elbow injury"? Yeah, I'm still not buying that bag of bullshit.[/QUOTE]
And this isn't even the only season Kobe's done that.
 
Now Jesse Jackson is getting into the act

http://www.tmz.com/2010/07/11/jesse-jackson-lebron-james-dan-gilbert-cleveland-cavaliers/

In a harshly-worded statement, Jackson took Gilbert to task for his open letter to Cavaliers fans which slammed LeBron's decision to sign with the Miami Heat. Jackson says, "He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave."

He goes on, "LeBron is not a child, nor is he bound to play on Gilbert’s plantation and be demeaned. He has been a model citizen and has inspired the children of Akron, Cleveland, the State of Ohio and the United States."



 
Sorry for the double but the iPhone browser won't let me edit.

Rajon Rondo is expected to be named to Team USA to compete in the FIBA championship tourney.
 
[quote name='Kendro']What about from the other perspective? If you carry a team on your back 6 years in a row winning games for a team that never should have won, does it ever get to a point where it breaks you down and exhausts you? It's gotta be the hardest thing in the world to carry a team for 82 games a year and each year you try harder, putting up magical numbers just to be able to compete, meanwhile you look across the court and each team you face have multiple threats like Detroit (Billups, Hamilton, Rasheed, Prince) or Boston (KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo) or Orlando (Howard, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter).

One vs three superstars is too much for any man, even Michael Jordan (back in the Detroit era). This might be a comical analogy but I've walked away watching a ton of those games in the Playoffs where I felt it just wasn't fair for LeBron because it was like watching Superman II in real life (Superman vs. General Zod and the other 2 villains). It's like Space Jam only this ain't no cartoon.

I partially blame the Cavs organization for not being able to bring in a Pippen after 7 full seasons. It is a shame because LeBron bringing a championship to his hometown and staying a Cav for life would have been a storybook career. And all they had to do was get a solid number 2 option.

As for his marketing company, who would ever hire them after this whole ESPN "The Decision" fiasco?[/QUOTE]\

This. I dont know why people just discredit this like it doesnt mean anything. Also Dafoomie you are wrong...I am from Detroit and I have listened to a hundred Barry Sanders interviews...and when asked Barry Sanders said the reason he quit was because is was sick of loosing. Thats from Barry Sanders.

Its a lost cause people will belief what they want too. Bottom line is Bron did what he thought was best from him.


Now that the big guys are gone, I really think the signing of the 2nd through 5th tier FA are going to make or break teams next year. There are some fantastic FAs still on the market.
 
[quote name='Soodmeg']I am from Detroit and I have listened to a hundred Barry Sanders interviews...and when asked Barry Sanders said the reason he quit was because is was sick of loosing. Thats from Barry Sanders.
[/QUOTE]

I thought he quit because of cell phone reception =/
 
[quote name='Soodmeg']\

This. I dont know why people just discredit this like it doesnt mean anything. Also Dafoomie you are wrong...I am from Detroit and I have listened to a hundred Barry Sanders interviews...and when asked Barry Sanders said the reason he quit was because is was sick of loosing. Thats from Barry Sanders. [/QUOTE]
So what? I never said Lebron did anything wrong by leaving Cleveland. Its everything else he's done and how he's done it.
 
[quote name='dafoomie']So what? I never said Lebron did anything wrong by leaving Cleveland. Its everything else he's done and how he's done it.[/QUOTE]

This. I may not agree with the decision, and I would have done it differently, but its was his choice to make. He just went about it wrong.

Everything else I said about him showing us his quitness, yeah, thats all still valid.
 
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[quote name='wwe101']i wonder what excuse lebron is going to use for not flying with the team to cleveland when the heat face the cavs. injury, family emergancy, being a pussy?[/QUOTE]

none. he'll be there for the stomping they give the cavs.
 
[quote name='lordopus99']Dorell Wright never got the opportunity to do anything there (at least while I lived in Miami). The second he started playing rough, he was pulled. I am glad for the sake of his career that he left. It sounds like you might get Haslem back. A new rumor about even getting Juwan Howard. The team seems to be filling out alright (if the numbers work).[/QUOTE]

Nice to see someone else knows a bit about him...

Last year he got a good amount of minutes and finally broke the injury curse a bit. He is a great athlete and was my fav Heat player (aside from dwade). He was also close with Dwade so i hoped he would stay but o well. Its ok i guess because I can still root for him in Golden State. He did mess up off the court last year. hopefully he matures more...
 
[quote name='pitfallharry219']You've got three of the top dozen or so players in the whole league, two of those being top five players, and you're complaining about losing Dorell Wright?[/QUOTE]


Hell yea.. that was my fav player.. Just because Lebron comes in I am supposed to forget about the reserve players?

Don't get me wrong. I have always like Lebron. (have my cavs jersey to prove it). Its amazing that hes here... but I did not want to see Beasley and Wright go...

O well.. it happens
 
[quote name='advanced']This. I may not agree with the decision, and I would have done it differently, but its was his choice to make. He just went about it wrong.

Everything else I said about him showing us his quitness, yeah, thats all still valid.[/QUOTE]

Exactly
 
[quote name='advanced']Sorry for the double but the iPhone browser won't let me edit.

Rajon Rondo is expected to be named to Team USA to compete in the FIBA championship tourney.[/QUOTE]

I love Rondo but his lack of a jumper makes him a poor choice for international ball
 
[quote name='javeryh']He's also one of the worst free throwers I've seen recently that isn't a center.[/QUOTE]

Haha, yep. It's also weird how he is able to hit his ocassional 3's though.
 
Rondo's definitely improved on his jumper, but his free throws are seriously lacking. He's a pass first point with great court vision though, so he should be fine.
 
http://lakersblog.latimes.com/laker...-kobe-bryant-is-better-than-lebron-james.html

Michael Jordan proclaims that Kobe Bryant is better than LeBron James

July 12, 2010 | 12:18 pm

All it took was a one-word answer for Michael Jordan to settle the Kobe Bryant-LeBron James debate. When he was asked at a basketball camp who the better basketball player was, Jordan simply said, "Kobe."
Click to expand...
I wish we could read MJ's mind to see what he really thinks of what went down with LeBron.

On a side note, I used to think baseball was the only true sport where the regular season and post season completely change the makeup of a team. But LeBron and Kobe run the same parallels. Gimme LeBron in the regular season and the first 3 quarters. But gimme Kobe in the 4th and for the last shot.
 
Apparently the Suns are getting Turkoglo from the Raptors and Childress from the Hawks (via Athens), with Barbosa and Diaw going to Toronto, and and 2nd round pick to the Hawks.

If I remember all that right from the ESPN ticker.
 
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Per Sportscenter, Mike Miller has announced his intentions to sign the rumored 5 year $30 million deal with the Heat.

Also per PTI, apparently Haslem turned down $13 or million so more money from other teams to stay with the Heat.

And, as expected, Fisher is going to stay with the Lakers.


Also just saw on the ticker that Ilgauskas is considering joining the Heat.
 
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[quote name='wwe101']i dont understand how the heat can offer mike miller that contract. can anyone please tell me their cap situation?[/QUOTE]

Stop worrying about that, and start worrying about how the Cavs are going to win the lottery next year.
 
[quote name='pitfallharry219']Stop worrying about that, and start worrying about how the Cavs are going to win the lottery next year.[/QUOTE]


i still think we can compete for the 4-5 seed in the east if we bring in one of :granger, al jefferson, or iggy. maybe we can get one of them with the trade exception we got from miami. we also have about 14 million in cap space.
 
[quote name='wwe101']i still think we can compete for the 4-5 seed in the east if we bring in one of :granger, al jefferson, or iggy. maybe we can get one of them with the trade exception we got from miami. we also have about 14 million in cap space.[/QUOTE]

That's a pretty bold stayment about the 4-5 seed.

Are the Pacers actively shopping him?

[quote name='wwe101']i dont understand why the league can fine dan gilbert $100k. what happened to that little thing called freedom of speech?[/QUOTE]

NBA people talking about other NBA people = fine.
 
[quote name='wwe101']i dont understand why the league can fine dan gilbert $100k. what happened to that little thing called freedom of speech?[/QUOTE]

He could have acted more professional than he did. Mark Cuban was fined for answering if Dallas wanted LeBron before July 1.
 
[quote name='craven_fiend']That's a pretty bold stayment about the 4-5 seed.

Are the Pacers actively shopping him?



NBA people talking about other NBA people = fine.[/QUOTE]


possibly. i heard grangers name in a few trade rumors with new jersey. also maybe philly will want to trade iggy now that they got evan turner
 
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