Lebron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

[exhawg]

I don't know, the whole thing is upsetting as someone who lives in the area now. I am pretty much positive LeBron is gone now, though I'm not exactly sure where. I won't say he quit last night, but the team as a whole certainly did (Shaq aside, actually). I suppose there could be a miracle comeback in the series, but from the looks of it last night, I imagine LJ, Shaq, and the entire coaching staff will be gone next year...at least. This team is much like the Indians of the mid-late 90's...they put together a 4-5 year run, but couldn't get it done, and now it appears they are starting to regress, which I think is what will seal the fate of LJ leaving. If they lost in 7 to the Lakers, there would be more of a reason for him to stay to get over the hump. If he's going to play where he's an attraction and the team isn't going to win championships, he can do that in NY and get a lot more money overall.

If Lebron is gone Mike Brown won't be. There is no point having to pay 2 coaches. Gilbert will go into money saving mode for a few years until the bad contracts go away.

 

[Bucklion]

If Lebron is gone Mike Brown won't be. There is no point having to pay 2 coaches. Gilbert will go into money saving mode for a few years until the bad contracts go away.

I would agree with that but most people around here say that Brown is dead man coaching anyway regardless unless he makes the finals, and that he'll be gone before the LJ situation gets resolved...I dunno.

 

[tsteele316]

If Lebron is gone Mike Brown won't be. There is no point having to pay 2 coaches. Gilbert will go into money saving mode for a few years until the bad contracts go away.

the problem is that clearing cap space really doesn't do cleveland much good because they will never be able to attract marquee free agents anyway. if lebron bolts, the best thing cleveland can do is try to trade their expirings for some big names and put something together. if that doesn't work, you clear the books, get some lottery picks, then sign some FA's in a few years.

 

[buckeyesin07]

I would agree with that but most people around here say that Brown is dead man coaching anyway regardless unless he makes the finals, and that he'll be gone before the LJ situation gets resolved...I dunno.

I agree with this, even though I also agree with ex's point that you don't want to pay two coaches. If the Cavs lose to the Celtics, everyone will be foaming at the mouth so much that Brown will have to be fired immediately. The Cavs won't have the luxury of Lebron choosing what to do first and them planning the future with Brown accordingly.

 

[buckeyesin07]

I don't know, the whole thing is upsetting as someone who lives in the area now. I am pretty much positive LeBron is gone now, though I'm not exactly sure where.

Buck--can I ask why you feel this way? I'm not even saying that I disagree, but just wondering why you're so positive. Is it that you think a guy who plans on being in a city long-term and who has the skills to take over an NBA game wouldn't have let happen what happened last night in Game 5?

 

[Bucklion]

Buck--can I ask why you feel this way? I'm not even saying that I disagree, but just wondering why you're so positive. Is it that you think a guy who plans on being in a city long-term and who has the skills to take over an NBA game wouldn't have let happen what happened last night in Game 5?

Nah, everyone has an atrocious night somewhere along the line, and I am in no position to say what LJ's mindset is or that he quit because he didn't care or anything like that. I do think his quest to be considered a PTPer in line with Jordan and Magic took a monster hit given the circumstances of WHEN he had that bad game, but my reaction is really based on his mixed signals even when Cleveland was cruising through the regular season and also on an analysis of what has happened since 2006. They overachieved on LJ's back to make the finals in 2007, they lost to Boston in 2008 (one can certainly argue Boston was the better team that series), they got smoked by Orlando as the clear favorite last year, and now we're back to Boston, who are supposed to be old and over the hill...and they're probably going to beat us the same round they did 2 years ago. Sadly, they're nowhere near as good as they were then, so what does that say about the Cavs at this point? I just think LJ looks at it and says this team had its 5 year run, they signed an old dude who has a bunch of rings to try and finish it off...and none of it has worked. My guess is he feels the situation here has run its course and he has better opportunities elsewhere, especially under the brighter lights of NY or the Windy City, where they can spend to bring in complementary pieces (or they already have them). I think Cleveland's run, much like the Indians from 1995-2001, is now over if they lose games 6 or 7. I hope I am wrong.

 

[OHSportsFan]

This kid is getting it piled on like never before...but I just have one more question.

When the hell did he get that god-awful habit of jump passing?

Accounts for at least 3 turnovers each game (turnovers= Rondo buckets/assists).

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I hate to be another of "those guys" that suddenly has serious issues with a guy's play after one piss poor game, but....and this is going to be out there, so bear with me....

I almost wonder if sandbagged it in game 5 to create more drama in the series, as if he feels he can take over any game at any point and guarantee a win and believes he can make sure the team wins these next two.

I know it's not exactly the same, but he does it within games all the time. Be non-existent for 3 quarters while they struggle against inferior competition only to absolutely dominate the 4th quarter as the Cavs overcome a deficit or turn a close game into a blowout.

He always talks about great players making great plays to win games. All too often, it seems to me that he prefers games to be close so that he can pour it on in the 4th. Forcing shots, making open shots more difficult by fading away, going for the highlight reel pass or circus shot....it just seems at times that it's more about LBJ than about the team. When he's on...wow...I've never seen anything like it, but when he's off...ugly things like Tuesday night happen.

Maybe he just flipped the switch in the 3rd quarter Tuesday night, realized he didn't have it together, and mailed it in the rest of the game to conserve energy for the remainder of the series?

I know it doesn't really make all that much sense, but I just can't figure out why else Game 5 went down like it did. A guy seemingly as competitive as LBJ just quitting in the middle of a series like that? Absolutely befuddling.

 

[Bucklion]

I hate to be another of "those guys" that suddenly has serious issues with a guy's play after one piss poor game, but....and this is going to be out there, so bear with me....

I almost wonder if sandbagged it in game 5 to create more drama in the series, as if he feels he can take over any game at any point and guarantee a win and believes he can make sure the team wins these next two.

I know it's not exactly the same, but he does it within games all the time. Be non-existent for 3 quarters while they struggle against inferior competition only to absolutely dominate the 4th quarter as the Cavs overcome a deficit or turn a close game into a blowout.

He always talks about great players making great plays to win games. All too often, it seems to me that he prefers games to be close so that he can pour it on in the 4th. Forcing shots, making open shots more difficult by fading away, going for the highlight reel pass or circus shot....it just seems at times that it's more about LBJ than about the team. When he's on...wow...I've never seen anything like it, but when he's off...ugly things like Tuesday night happen.

Maybe he just flipped the switch in the 3rd quarter Tuesday night, realized he didn't have it together, and mailed it in the rest of the game to conserve energy for the remainder of the series?

I know it doesn't really make all that much sense, but I just can't figure out why else Game 5 went down like it did. A guy seemingly as competitive as LBJ just quitting in the middle of a series like that? Absolutely befuddling.

Problem with that is one would think he would remember the Orlando series last year, when the games were almost all close down the stretch and (the one game aside) he/they didn't come up with the Ws in the clutch. I'm not saying you're wrong, in terms of him just assuming they were going to lose or whatever, but to me if he did do that it's a piss-poor strategy based on last year's playoff loss.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Problem with that is one would think he would remember the Orlando series last year, when the games were almost all close down the stretch and (the one game aside) he/they didn't come up with the Ws in the clutch. I'm not saying you're wrong, in terms of him just assuming they were going to lose or whatever, but to me if he did do that it's a piss-poor strategy based on last year's playoff loss.

Oh, I definitely agree that there are holes in that idea and that it IS a stupid-ass plan if that's what it happens to be.

However, the 1-on-5 offense is a sucktastic strategy, too...but that doesn't seem to prevent him from initiating it for long stretches in every game.

 

[Bucklion]

Oh, I definitely agree that there are holes in that idea and that it IS a stupid-ass plan if that's what it happens to be.

However, the 1-on-5 offense is a sucktastic strategy, too...but that doesn't seem to prevent him from initiating it for long stretches in every game.

Yeah, there was some definite heinosity there, and it certainly wasn't the first time. Well, one thing is for sure...he certainly can't do that tonight if they want to have any chance.

 

[buckeyesin07]

Maybe he just flipped the switch in the 3rd quarter Tuesday night, realized he didn't have it together, and mailed it in the rest of the game to conserve energy for the remainder of the series?

Interesting theory. But what about that game at Boston late in the season? The Cavs were down 22 in the 3rd quarter and came back to take the lead in the 4th. Seems to me that shutting it down in the 3rd quarter doesn't make sense when the game is still up for grabs, given the two teams' history this year.

 

[OH10]

Sonny Vaccaro said LeBron James will leave the Cleveland Cavaliers - ESPN Chicago

Vaccaro said James and Calipari are very close.
"There's a very close, wonderful relationship there, and the seeds have been sown over a period of time now," he said. "And it has nothing to do with anyone thinking they're going to either Chicago or the Knicks or John Calipari going back to the pros. It's a friendship."

If Lebron is close to that sleezeball, that tells you just about all you need to know about what kind of person the "king" really is as opposed to who we think he is/want him to be.

 

[NFBuck]

So LeBron's gonna sign with Kentucky then? Where's Matta??????

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

Vaccaro said James and Calipari are very close.
"There's a very close, wonderful relationship there, and the seeds have been sown over a period of time now," he said. "And it has nothing to do with anyone thinking they're going to either Chicago or the Knicks or John Calipari going back to the pros. It's a friendship."

it's not a friendship. it's a business venture. worldwide wes, leon rose, lebron, and calipari have formed an enterprise that will continue to pollute high school and college basketball.