Stephen A. Smith: LeBron to join Bosh in Miami

[BR0D1E86]

The people saying a LBJ/Bosh/Wade team wouldn't be great because of depth are insane.

Depth does not matter that much in basketball. Not when you have those 3 players on the court.

That doesn't mean I think this will happen, but to act like this team wouldn't destroy the league is either hating or misguided.

Just remember that the Bulls won 72 games with Luc Longley starting... and a bench that was made up of Steve Kerr, Jud Buechler, Bill Wennington... etc.

Steve Kerr played the 4th most minutes on that team.

That bench won't matter much since they'll be protecting 20 point leads when they're in.

Agreed, barring injuries depth wouldn’t be a problem. Only question would be if they could all tone down their egos a bit.

[NADALbULLS]

I think the main problem with Cleveland (apart from each of LeBron's teammates having quiet playoff performances) is that they keep having to find short fixes each year, they will have to deal with Shaq probably leaving, and in a couple of years Jamison will be ineffective, they'll keep having to re-load just to stay competitive. And there is already talk of trading Mo Williams. Nothing is certain for LeBron if he stays in Cleveland. Whereas if LeBron signs with a team that has 2 young all-stars and young promising role-players then he knows he can compete for rings for the next decade. That is a lot more appealing than Cleveland's short fix efforts.

And then there is that other problem. You can say Cleveland are great because they win 60 games each year, but none of those guys are stepping up in the playoffs to help LeBron. He even averaged 35-8-8-51%fg vs Orlando and hit a game-winning 3, and still the Cavs lost in 6. That says it all right there.

[northbrookrich]

The reason Cleveland didn't make finals had nothign to do with the Lebron. I'd say it was pretty much Antwan Jamison playing like a hot pile of chit, along with the rest of that roster.

I think you just looked at his stats and didn't really watch the games. In at least 2 of the games, his head was not in it as he stood around the perimeter not being agressive. Boston was a good team this year, but I think an agressive LeBron could have made the difference.

[Jordan45822]

The reason Cleveland didn't make finals had nothign to do with the Lebron. I'd say it was pretty much Antwan Jamison playing like a hot pile of chit, along with the rest of that roster.

Game 5 choke job by the loser disagrees with you.

So never mind the 5 other games in the series that he didn't choke? Basic logic disagrees with you.

He was any better in game 6 either outside of game 3. He blew hard in that series. People act like this guy is a god or a king, its hilarious to me he is more like a princess

[davhern]

The reason Cleveland didn't make finals had nothign to do with the Lebron. I'd say it was pretty much Antwan Jamison playing like a hot pile of chit, along with the rest of that roster.

Game 5 choke job by the loser disagrees with you.

So never mind the 5 other games in the series that he didn't choke? Basic logic disagrees with you.

Seriously... Why do people love to blame the best player for team failures? It's because of LeBron James that that team manages to be successful... so when they finally reach the point where LeBron can't overcome his team's shortcomings, it's his fault?

No player is going to win every game on his own... Jordan had his share of playoff clunkers. Maybe not as bad as the strange stuff going on with LeBron in that series, but the expectations are still ridiculous.

He was right when he said he spoils people with his play. He shouldn't have said it, but he was right.

[NADALbULLS]

The reason Cleveland didn't make finals had nothign to do with the Lebron. I'd say it was pretty much Antwan Jamison playing like a hot pile of chit, along with the rest of that roster.

Game 5 choke job by the loser disagrees with you.

Don't forget, LeBron had a numb elbow in the playoffs, he couldn't even take jump-shots and when you play Boston and they cut off the lanes to the hoop and your teammates are just standing around, you have to take jump-shots, yet he couldn't take them physically. That's why he only attempted 15 shots. He did what he could though, and in game 6 he pulled down 19 rebounds.

[DJhitek]

I get some of the arguments that Lebron/Wade/Bosh would destroy the league and during the regular season they probably would. It still wouldn't be a cake walk through the playoffs when those role players play more vital roles. Not suggesting they wouldn't win multiple titles but a very good starting 5 with some quality depth could counter that effectively in a 7 game series.

[KingoftheCastle]

So LBJ sucked ass the enitre Boston series?


Game 1 35 points 7 boards 7 assists
Game 2 24 pioints 7 boards 4 assists
Game 3 38 points 8 boards 7 assists
Game 4 22 points 9 boards 8 assiss
Game 6 27 points 19 rebounds 10 assists

Seriously, are you just making **** up? Do you realize how **** stupid you look? He could have shot better, yeah but he was a beast on the boards and racked up the assist numbers to. He had to, his supporting cast(Mike Brown didn't help) was just that bad. They stood around with thumps up there ass on offense.

[PJ Brown]

Now, I take LBJ to Miami seriously because as long as he's OK with playing with Wade, it is the quickest path to a title, but I don't know why so many people are taking Smith seriously. We know what he's all about, and he's still the only national journalist saying it. Late last night, both Woj and Broussard, for example, had him coming here if he leaves.

[davhern]

That was one beast of a game in Game 6... wow.

[davhern]

Now, I take LBJ to Miami seriously because as long as he's OK with playing with Wade, it is the quickest path to a title, but I don't know why so many people are taking Smith seriously. We know what he's all about, and he's still the only national journalist saying it. Late last night, both Woj and Broussard, for example, had him coming here if he leaves.

True... they both have Miami as possibilities, though, IIRC... at the very least, Woj does.

[NADALbULLS]

Jordan45822 has an ulterior motive if ever I've seen it.

[DanTown8587]

The reason Cleveland didn't make finals had nothign to do with the Lebron. I'd say it was pretty much Antwan Jamison playing like a hot pile of chit, along with the rest of that roster.

Game 5 choke job by the loser disagrees with you.

3-14
9-12 FT
Lose by 32

6-24
11-15 FT
Win by 4

The first performance was LeBron in game 5, second one was Kobe in game seven of the Finals. So if LeBron scores another 20 points, they still probably lose. What game 5 proved was Cleveland isn't a competent team if James doesn't play really well.

[umfan83]

Depth does not matter in basketball? Maybe in the regular season. In the playoffs I believe it means a lot, especially when you factor in the potential for injuries and whatnot.

That said, as we learned with the Boston Three Party, superstar power does often become a predictor for success in the league. Especially when those superstars are veterans and willing to sacrifice their individual games to win. The more superstars the better. The Bulls have an opportunity to have 3 superstars, and multiple key role players in place by the middle of this month. The Heat have the opportunity to have 3 superstars and not much else. I mean I'm sure they can resign Haslem and whatever other FAs they had from last year but that was mediocre at best. It was Wade and everyone else for the Heat last year. For the Bulls, you are taking our 2 best players and at least in Noah's case, making him a role player, while 2 superstars jump in.

[Jordan45822]

So LBJ sucked ass the enitre Boston series?


Game 1 35 points 7 boards 7 assists
Game 2 24 pioints 7 boards 4 assists
Game 3 38 points 8 boards 7 assists
Game 4 22 points 9 boards 8 assiss
Game 6 27 points 19 rebounds 10 assists

Seriously, are you just making **** up? Do you realize how **** stupid you look?

typical using stats argument.. Not everything is about stats

[KingoftheCastle]

So LBJ sucked ass the enitre Boston series?


Game 1 35 points 7 boards 7 assists
Game 2 24 pioints 7 boards 4 assists
Game 3 38 points 8 boards 7 assists
Game 4 22 points 9 boards 8 assiss
Game 6 27 points 19 rebounds 10 assists

Seriously, are you just making **** up? Do you realize how **** stupid you look?

typical using stats argument.. Not everything is about stats

ahh the good old WATCH THE GAMES ARGUMENT!!!

[The Evidence]

SAS has lost out to quite a few nobodies such as Broussard, JRose, Bucher, Wojnarowski, etc. If it's true, I guess I'm the fool, but I'm not putting a ton of stock until the rumors are linked by more industry people.

[northbrookrich]

I get some of the arguments that Lebron/Wade/Bosh would destroy the league and during the regular season they probably would. It still wouldn't be a cake walk through the playoffs when those role players play more vital roles. Not suggesting they wouldn't win multiple titles but a very good starting 5 with some quality depth could counter that effectively in a 7 game series.

People said the same thing about Garnett/Allen/Pierce. They were even harsher because Allen appeared to be on the downside and Garnett had been a little injury prone. Celtics record the year before picking up Allen and Garnett (with Al Jeff on the team) was 24-58!!!!

Bosh 2010 at least equalls Garnett 2008
LeBron 2010 >>>> Pierce 2008
Wade 2010 >>>>> Allen 2008

Heat would just need to find their Rondo 2008, Big Baby, Perkins, etc. Much easier to find those guys once you have a big three like that...

[MGB8]

This would suck.

On the "bright" side, and why I think this would be unlikely, I don't think either of those 3 would be ultimately happy in that situation.

There just isn't enough oxygen. Both Lebron and Wade are, by nature, "the man." Bosh is similar to Gasol - he can be 2nd fiddle fine... but now he's relegated to 3rd fiddle as the two "mans" fight over who is the real face and meaning of the team. It's not even really an ego thing - it's just an unhappiness thing.

KG-Pierce-Allen works in large part because there really is a pecking order - Allen is clearly 3 (or even 4) in this stage of his career - and where Pierce and KG were both "the man" earlier in their careers - neither were as much so as Lebron or Wade. KG was often faulted for not being assertive enough! And KG and Pierce play very very different roles.

Wade and Lebron are essentially the same player (different size, obviously). They have very similar games. And while, in a basketball sense, you can make that work... in an emotional sense... they've just kind of given up on their individual destinies for a collective. That's not the way people are built.

[Jordan45822]

The reason Cleveland didn't make finals had nothign to do with the Lebron. I'd say it was pretty much Antwan Jamison playing like a hot pile of chit, along with the rest of that roster.

Game 5 choke job by the loser disagrees with you.

3-14
9-12 FT
Lose by 32

6-24
11-15 FT
Win by 4

The first performance was LeBron in game 5, second one was Kobe in game seven of the Finals. So if LeBron scores another 20 points, they still probably lose. What game 5 proved was Cleveland isn't a competent team if James doesn't play really well.

if you want to use stats Kobe had 15 big rebounds that hepled the Lakers win t