Where is Lebron going?

Originally posted by monteirof
Easy to say that today, Today they are a solid team with 5 great starters and a solid bench. But Boston finished the 2006-2007 season with one of the worst records in the league. Rondo wasnt even a starter, he was just a prospect. People doubt he could be a starting pg of a team battling for the title. Same works with Perkings. Boston brough the big 3 and ...[text shortened]... . That wont really be such a tuff job, anybody looking for a ring (or ringS) will consider Miami

Sorry, but I hate to tell you this....rings don't pay their bills. The guys that can make the big bucks are going to want the big bucks. The guys who can't command the money, will need to get what they can because they aren't making the millions that the top guys are. There really isn't an abundance of excellent players who have all the money they need who will hop on board for the chance at a ring. A few grizzled veterans perhaps, but they won't get long minutes out of them. There is a salary cap in place they must contend with, so it isn't as easy as you surmise it to be. Teams that put the pieces together well, will win out in the long run. I think the Rockets, with Yao Ming, are a better team right now than Miami with the triplets. I think Boston is better. I think the Lakers are better. Time will tell, but I am pretty confident this will not manifest into a championship in Miami.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
Sorry, but I hate to tell you this....rings don't pay their bills. The guys that can make the big bucks are going to want the big bucks. The guys who can't command the money, will need to get what they can because they aren't making the millions that the top guys are. There really isn't an abundance of excellent players who have all the money they need ...[text shortened]... will tell, but I am pretty confident this will not manifest into a championship in Miami.

LeBron took the last good thing out of Cleveland with him. They're going to burn his jersey in effigy for a good long time.

Originally posted by Scotty70
LeBron took the last good thing out of Cleveland with him. They're going to burn his jersey in effigy for a good long time.

Why do fans believe they have eminent domain on the athletes that play in their city?
I am sure LeBron laughs his ass off at those who burn his jerseys....while looking forward to how many new Miami jerseys that will be bought and he will make a nice chunk of.

Free Agency is a double edged sword. It allows you to get superstars from other organizations, but you risk losing yours as well. Cleveland has not been a particularly great organization for many years. Why should LeBron be expected to stay and fight for Cleveland? Certainly Cleveland didn't go get Bosh and Wade to keep him there...if that was what it took?

All I can say to Cleveland fans....get over it, he is gone, try to find someone else.

Originally posted by monteirof
Easy to say that today, Today they are a solid team with 5 great starters and a solid bench. But Boston finished the 2006-2007 season with one of the worst records in the league. Rondo wasnt even a starter, he was just a prospect. People doubt he could be a starting pg of a team battling for the title. Same works with Perkings. Boston brough the big 3 and ...[text shortened]... . That wont really be such a tuff job, anybody looking for a ring (or ringS) will consider Miami

This is basically correct, but Garnett brought something extra; a fierce will that helped mold the team's defense which was the key to their championship run. LeBron though an excellent defender has not shown the ability to lead his team in the tough playoff games including against the Celts this year and the Magic last year when he had the "better" team.

The Heat will be favorites to win it all, but the Cavs were in 2009-10 too. Time will tell.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
Why do fans believe they have eminent domain on the athletes that play in their city?
I am sure LeBron laughs his ass off at those who burn his jerseys....while looking forward to how many new Miami jerseys that will be bought and he will make a nice chunk of.

Free Agency is a double edged sword. It allows you to get superstars from other organizat ...[text shortened]... took?

All I can say to Cleveland fans....get over it, he is gone, try to find someone else.

While a player is, of course, free to go where he pleases once his contract is up, he really shouldn't talk about "loyalty" to his previous team while doing so. And LeBron's rationale "I want to win" is pretty insulting to his ex-teammates.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
Sorry, but I hate to tell you this....rings don't pay their bills. The guys that can make the big bucks are going to want the big bucks. The guys who can't command the money, will need to get what they can because they aren't making the millions that the top guys are. There really isn't an abundance of excellent players who have all the money they need ...[text shortened]... will tell, but I am pretty confident this will not manifest into a championship in Miami.

The tuffest part of the job is done: put the 3 together. To surround them with role players (poor guys making only a million per year) is way easier.

Originally posted by no1marauder
This is basically correct, but Garnett brought something extra; a fierce will that helped mold the team's defense which was the key to their championship run. LeBron though an excellent defender has not shown the ability to lead his team in the tough playoff games including against the Celts this year and the Magic last year when he had the "better" team ...[text shortened]... The Heat will be favorites to win it all, but the Cavs were in 2009-10 too. Time will tell.

Wade is a much better defender than Allen. James is a much better defender than Pierce. Bosh is not better than Garnett, but he is an excelent defender, a rebound machine and he's only 25.

Chalmers (already signed) is one of the best defensive pg in the league. Haslem is the guy for the dirty work, dont believe he'll leave the team now.

They gotta pick good pieces now... a true center for example. But the tuffest part is done. It's not a championship team that is being builded (like Boston). It's a dinasty.

Cavs was a team with one superstars and a few good pieces (Williams, Jamison, Varejão). You cant really compare that to this Miami team. Lebron have never been surrounded by all stars (like Kobe's lakers).

I agree Lebron has a lot to prove, but I'm sure he'll deliver. PLus, he'll find a valuable help on Wade that already got 1 championship.

A lot of people have already been waiting on "King" James for what now? 6 years?

A lot of HooHaa over some guy who hasn't even done anything yet in the NBA in 6 years, despite high hopes. Some guy who has the unmitigated ego to call himself "King". Big deal.

Dan Gilbert was spot on.

Originally posted by monteirof
Wade is a much better defender than Allen. James is a much better defender than Pierce. Bosh is not better than Garnett, but he is an excelent defender, a rebound machine and he's only 25.

Chalmers (already signed) is one of the best defensive pg in the league. Haslem is the guy for the dirty work, dont believe he'll leave the team now.

They gotta p ...[text shortened]... he'll deliver. PLus, he'll find a valuable help on Wade that already got 1 championship.

Saying one individual player is "better" than another means very little in basketball; it's a team game and the Celtic D in 2008 was greater than the sum of its parts. I do not agree with your individual assessments either but that's beside the point.

I'll wait until they win something before crowning them a "dynasty".

Originally posted by no1marauder
Saying one individual player is "better" than another means very little in basketball; it's a team game and the Celtic D in 2008 was greater than the sum of its parts. I do not agree with your individual assessments either but that's beside the point.

I'll wait until they win something before crowning them a "dynasty".

I mostly agree with you, the higher weight should be put on team effort.
But you always need individual talent to do it. It's also about having defensive specialists. You said it yourself about Garnett's impact.

But by now, considering they only have 4 players under contract and we absolutelly cant imagine who´ll be the rest of Miami's roster (and who's coaching) all we can do is speculate by their individual players. And, so far, they have four huge names to build a strong D.

I strongly believe on the sucess of this Miami team not just because of the big 3 talent, but because of their personality. None of them are selfish superstars and the 3 of them are putting winning above money and individual stats. All 3 of them could have higher contracts if they werent together. They are hardwork superstars at the prime of their career with the only goal on winning multiple championships. There's not much else u can ask for when it's about building a dinasty. But, of course, they gotta make it happen.

Originally posted by monteirof
I mostly agree with you, the higher weight should be put on team effort.
But you always need individual talent to do it. It's also about having defensive specialists. You said it yourself about Garnett's impact.

But by now, considering they only have 4 players under contract and we absolutelly cant imagine who´ll be the rest of Miami's roster (and w ...[text shortened]... can ask for when it's about building a dinasty. But, of course, they gotta make it happen.

You don't know that they could have higher contracts elsewhere.
Secondarily, their endorsements (at least for James and Wade) add plenty to their income levels.

But, if they DON'T win....it will bode very negatively on them. They know this. Now we will see if they have the ability to perform, under immense pressure and spotlight and not choke on it. I, for one, am not convinced that LeBron is the best player in the game right now. While I can't stand Kobe as an individual, he has the killer mentality and the guts of a cat burglar. He has no problem taking the team and placing it on his shoulders. And, he gets it done...no question. But, Kobe didn't do it alone. They have a deep bench, as does Boston. The bench Miami puts together will tell if they succeed or bust.

Oh, and I heard Riley is not going to be on the sideline coaching this group. At least that was what was reported.

Originally posted by shortcircuit
[b]You don't know that they could have higher contracts elsewhere.

You dont really need to be a mathematical for that. Knicks and Nets have more cap space and could cover a Miami offer for any player. Knicks have been cleanning sallary cap for the last 2 seasons dreamming with Lebron. The job was well done and they have a high edge on cap space over the others to make the higher offer for Lebron. And now you think they didnt make it????

But I agree on the rest. They need to build a team with a solid bench and they need a strong name to coach. We'll see.

Originally posted by no1marauder
The Heat will be favorites to win it all

Does this mean you are going to jump on the Heat bandwagon next season?

heh heh heh...

Originally posted by monteirof
Lebron have never been surrounded by all stars (like Kobe's lakers).

List of All-Stars Lebron has played with:

Carlos Boozer
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Ben Wallace
Mo Williams
Shaq
Antawn Jamison

Other interesting facts:

Lebron led Team USA = Bronze Medal
Kobe led Team USA = Gold Medal

Titles by age 25:

Kobe - 3
Lebron - 0

So far I think the Heat consists of Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Chalmers, and Haslem with 6 million dollars of cap room left. They need at least 5 more players to have a full squad. What kind of quality of players is 6 mil going to buy for the Heat? Not good quality I bet. Looks like the "Three Kings" are going to have to win their first title together playing 48 mins a game. Good luck with that...

You know, I wouldn't be surprised if Boston slayed the "Three Kings" in next seasons playoffs, even if Porkins isn't at full strength. See you next year no1 (assuming you haven't jumped on the Heat bandwagon yet).