Deconstructing LeBron James, his teammates, and his coach

[NeilsCeltics]

"LeBron lost with HCA, thus he will always be considered inferior to Jordan." - that is the thought of some of the people here in RealGM.

I disagree with this statement.

Your team, the Cavaliers were the favorites to beat Orlando Magic, or as I would call them.. Orlando Tragic (Tragic, as in, they never seem to have a break. Jameer Nelson gets injured. Rashard Lewis gets suspended. Etc).

You guys lost, because LeBron's teammates choked. LeBron's coach wouldn't make adjustments. LeBron did not have a reliable second option to rely on. If you gave LeBron, a Reggie Miller or a Brandon Roy, to swap with Maurice Williams, you guys would probably have won the Championship.

Hedo and Shard killed you guys. Dwight Howard ate the Cavalier's front-court for lunch.

People say that it's LeBron's fault for his teammates' chokejob, since people say that if Kobe Bryant made his teammates harder and tougher, so should LeBron James do the same thing.

On the other hand, Orlando Magic didn't have their starting PG.

LeBron would have had to average 50 PPG to win the series by himself. That's simply not achievable, nor practical for his long-term health.

I blame it on Mike Brown for failing to adjust, and failing to keep LeBron's teammates mentally tough.

I doubt that LeBron James would win the Championship this year, unless Shaq produces like Ancient Kareem, and unless his teammates step up to the plate and hit clutch shots. And if they don't win the Championship this year, LeBron James would be leaving.

The moment that LeBron James leave Cleveland, that is the moment that Ohio will be crying tears of blood. LeBron James couldn't turn a losing organization into a winning organization, they would say, unlike Jordan with the Bulls.

What do you think about this?

[GameOver25]

Wow.......

[Rise Against]

Your insight is correct as to why we lost to Orlando... But the second part of that post makes me think you are just a troll.

[L&H_05]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GENwoFVhP6s

[twenty23]

"LeBron lost with HCA, thus he will always be considered inferior to Jordan." - that is the thought of some of the people here in RealGM.

I disagree with this statement.

Your team, the Cavaliers were the favorites to beat Orlando Magic, or as I would call them.. Orlando Tragic (Tragic, as in, they never seem to have a break. Jameer Nelson gets injured. Rashard Lewis gets suspended. Etc).

You guys lost, because LeBron's teammates choked. LeBron's coach wouldn't make adjustments. LeBron did not have a reliable second option to rely on. If you gave LeBron, a Reggie Miller or a Brandon Roy, to swap with Maurice Williams, you guys would probably have won the Championship.

Hedo and Shard killed you guys. Dwight Howard ate the Cavalier's front-court for lunch.

People say that it's LeBron's fault for his teammates' chokejob, since people say that if Kobe Bryant made his teammates harder and tougher, so should LeBron James do the same thing.

On the other hand, Orlando Magic didn't have their starting PG.

LeBron would have had to average 50 PPG to win the series by himself. That's simply not achievable, nor practical for his long-term health.

I blame it on Mike Brown for failing to adjust, and failing to keep LeBron's teammates mentally tough.

I doubt that LeBron James would win the Championship this year, unless Shaq produces like Ancient Kareem, and unless his teammates step up to the plate and hit clutch shots. And if they don't win the Championship this year, LeBron James would be leaving.

The moment that LeBron James leave Cleveland, that is the moment that Ohio will be crying tears of blood. LeBron James couldn't turn a losing organization into a winning organization, they would say, unlike Jordan with the Bulls.

What do you think about this?

Who are these 'some people'? I recall ONLY JB saying this and everyone calling him an idiot for it.

[NeilsCeltics]

Your insight is correct as to why we lost to Orlando... But the second part of that post makes me think you are just a troll.

Cleveland's front-court is unathletic allowing Dwight Howard to eat them up, although Shaq will be the Dwight Killer , Dwight struggles with super strong Centers like Perkins and Shaq. Your back-court is too small, allowing Swingmen like Kobe to abuse them, but hey, that's why LeBron is there, right? LeBron James is too ball dominant and he's not spreading the wealth, because he is not allowing his other teammates to create themselves, disrupting their hot and cold rhythms.

Orlando also had a very bad back-court, and did not have their starting PG in Jameer Nelson.

I believe that Shaq would produce like Ancient Kareem, but your role-players won't step up and hit dagger shots, because I believe that they're not made of stern stuff. I don't think that Mike Brown can't do anything to make LeBron's teammates mentally tougher.

Added that to the pressure of having an excellent record and team to keep LeBron, and the pressure of LeBron James leaving when you don't win the Championship.. and you guys should be sweating bullets.

Why do you believe in Cleveland's chances to win the ring for the King? What weaknesses needs to be addressed?

You guys have a Dwight Killer. You guys don't have a Shard/Hedo/Kobe killers yet. You guys don't have a concrete second option. Shaq just does not cut it, he's old and aging, he might get injured, so that leaves you with Mo and Delonte.

Who are these 'some people'? I recall ONLY JB saying this and everyone calling him an idiot for it.

Just a couple of LeBron haters, that's all. I forgot their names. Ball Boy or something? I don't know.

[L&H_05]

Shard ? Hedo ? Hedo is a Raptor... So he's a non factor...

Are you kidding ? LeBron can just neutralize "Shard" now easy enough.... The Cavs have a few guys they can throw at a VC now...

There's not a team in the east that really worries me... I think there's a great chance if the Cavs are healthy they're going to get the top record in the east.. In which case, I don't see a team coming into that building and winning this go around...

Boston can't win there... The Cavs (IMO) have the ability to make Rondo a non factor, especially when he plays in Cleveland...Not worried about Boston at all..

Orlando just simply is a non factor now.. Our countermoves this summer just appear to be a perfect blueprint to take the east from Orlando...Sure, they'll be tough in their place, but the Cavs have added size on the interior and along the perimeter.. Cavs didn't have nearly as much talent than Orlando a year ago, and the Cavs were right there in the end...There's a misconception that Orlando jsut handled the Cavs...

Unless injuries take place, I simply do not see a team in the east that is going to beat us... I just don't..

San Antonio and LA are the issues... And to be honest, a heathy San Antonio team might scare me a bit more... They look to have the perfect compliment of pieces... I love the McDyess signing for them-- and RJ just fits in perfectly...

Regardless, this is so far down the road... No point in it really...

[NeilsCeltics]

Shard ? Hedo ? Hedo is a Raptor... So he's a non factor...

This makes sense. Hedo is out of the way, sayonara to you, Hedo.

Are you kidding ? LeBron can just neutralize "Shard" now easy enough.... The Cavs have a few guys they can throw at a VC now...

Makes sense. There's nothing to worry about then. People can keep VC in check, Shard can be neutralized by Bron.

There's not a team in the east that really worries me... I think there's a great chance if the Cavs are healthy they're going to get the top record in the east.. In which case, I don't see a team coming into that building and winning this go around...

Well.

Cleveland is built to take down the Celtics.

They found a Dwight Killer.

This seems plausible, Cleveland will probably end up as the first seed then.

Boston can't win there... The Cavs (IMO) have the ability to make Rondo a non factor, especially when he plays in Cleveland...Not worried about Boston at all..

You better watch out for Sheed. They have added more shooters around Rondo, making his amplifier effect on the shooters even dangerous. But yeah, you can probably force Rondo to beat you with his mid-range jumper, and then the Celtics are truly dead.

Orlando just simply is a non factor now.. Our countermoves this summer just appear to be a perfect blueprint to take the east from Orlando...Sure, they'll be tough in their place, but the Cavs have added size on the interior and along the perimeter.. Cavs didn't have nearly as much talent than Orlando a year ago, and the Cavs were right there in the end...There's a misconception that Orlando jsut handled the Cavs...

Yeah, you guys have a Dwight Killer now, in Ancient Shaq. That is the perfect counter move to Dwight. Dwight struggles with Centers like Shaq.

Unless injuries take place, I simply do not see a team in the east that is going to beat us... I just don't..

The Celtics will probably be injured again. Orlando Magic can be kept in check. There's no threats for you guys then.

San Antonio and LA are the issues... And to be honest, a heathy San Antonio team might scare me a bit more... They look to have the perfect compliment of pieces... I love the McDyess signing for them-- and RJ just fits in perfectly...

Regardless, this is so far down the road... No point in it really...

San Antonio can just clog the lane and turn LeBron into a jump shooter. They're damn scary, yes they are. Poppovich and Duncan, along with a stacked line-up is just.. plain nasty. But that's why they have Ancient Shaq and all the shooters, right? How will you go about limiting Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili?

Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant are also... a deadly mortal foe. They can just clog the lane, make Bryant lock down LeBron, and mind-game LeBron James until' he dies, mentally. The only way I can see Los Angeles Lakers getting beaten is if, you force Kobe and Gasol's teammates to beat you, and locking down on Bryant with LeBron.

How will you go about beating SA and the Lakers?

[L&H_05]

It's going to be a challenge.. However, the beauty in adding Shaq (and this is just speculation on my part) is that it will force the Cavs to adjust a bit with how they use LeBron... i.e.. More LeBron in the post..

The one thing that really gets overlooked here (as well as it should, because it was a small sample size) was LeBron was getting more and more comfortable in the post as the playoffs were going on... LeBron in the post ads a dimension that many teams are not prepared for.. It should allow for better spacing, and better ball movement...

However, I do truly believe that by adding Shaq, it's also going to force LeBron off the ball more.. Shaq is an exquisite passer, in which case I think it really benefits LeBron in the sense that a defense simply cannot set with him moving around...

Shaq just doesn't add size to our lineup... He ads a complete interior package.. Someone that will command a double team from time to time, and someone that can really provide great interior post passing, and another player that can get the perimeter shooter open looks...

I'm not sure how we attack those teams quite yet ? Because, like us, they too have to make adjustments.. Especially the Lakers, who subtracted the perfect role player for their system for a guy who needs the ball to be effective, and does tend to stall ball movement with holding the ball for his own offense...

The Spurs have the easiest adjustment IMO, but we need to see how it all plays out...

[JordansBulls]

"LeBron lost with HCA, thus he will always be considered inferior to Jordan." - that is the thought of some of the people here in RealGM.

I disagree with this statement.

Your team, the Cavaliers were the favorites to beat Orlando Magic, or as I would call them.. Orlando Tragic (Tragic, as in, they never seem to have a break. Jameer Nelson gets injured. Rashard Lewis gets suspended. Etc).

You guys lost, because LeBron's teammates choked. LeBron's coach wouldn't make adjustments. LeBron did not have a reliable second option to rely on. If you gave LeBron, a Reggie Miller or a Brandon Roy, to swap with Maurice Williams, you guys would probably have won the Championship.

Hedo and Shard killed you guys. Dwight Howard ate the Cavalier's front-court for lunch.

People say that it's LeBron's fault for his teammates' chokejob, since people say that if Kobe Bryant made his teammates harder and tougher, so should LeBron James do the same thing.

On the other hand, Orlando Magic didn't have their starting PG.

LeBron would have had to average 50 PPG to win the series by himself. That's simply not achievable, nor practical for his long-term health.

I blame it on Mike Brown for failing to adjust, and failing to keep LeBron's teammates mentally tough.

I doubt that LeBron James would win the Championship this year, unless Shaq produces like Ancient Kareem, and unless his teammates step up to the plate and hit clutch shots. And if they don't win the Championship this year, LeBron James would be leaving.

The moment that LeBron James leave Cleveland, that is the moment that Ohio will be crying tears of blood. LeBron James couldn't turn a losing organization into a winning organization, they would say, unlike Jordan with the Bulls.

What do you think about this?

The problem was that Cleveland didn't take Orlando seriously. It took Orlando 7 games to beat a KG less Boston team and Cleveland had won it's first 8 games by 10+ points each. Thus they overlooked Orlando and figured it was going to be easy especially with Jameer not playing as well.

Lebron very well may have had to average over 40 ppg in that series to win it, but he didn't. It is just like in 1969 Jerry West, Wilt and Baylor all get the blame for losing to the Celtics because they were the favorite and had the HCA despite West averaging nearly 39 ppg in that series.

Honestly the series between Miami and Detroit in 2005 was like the Cavs vs Magic in 2009 where the team with HCA lost. However the next year when Miami didn't have the HCA everyone was expecting Detroit to mop the floor with them and then Miami pulled off the upset. Seems like it could be the same with Cle and Orl next year with Orl getting the HCA and Cle pulling off the upset because Orlando will be overlooking Cleveland thinking the following: "if we beat Cleveland last year without HCA and without our PG and have added all of this depth and we get HCA, we just need to worry about LA."

[L&H_05]

The problem was that Cleveland didn't take Orlando seriously. It took Orlando 7 games to beat a KG less Boston team and Cleveland had won it's first 8 games by 10+ points each. Thus they overlooked Orlando and figured it was going to be easy especially with Jameer not playing as well.

Lebron very well may have had to average over 40 ppg in that series to win it, but he didn't. It is just like in 1969 Jerry West, Wilt and Baylor all get the blame for losing to the Celtics because they were the favorite and had the HCA despite West averaging nearly 39 ppg in that series.

Honestly the series between Miami and Detroit in 2005 was like the Cavs vs Magic in 2009 where the team with HCA lost. However the next year when Miami didn't have the HCA everyone was expecting Detroit to mop the floor with them and then Miami pulled off the upset. Seems like it could be the same with Cle and Orl next year with Orl getting the HCA and Cle pulling off the upset because Orlando will be overlooking Cleveland thinking the following: "if we beat Cleveland last year without HCA and without our PG and have added all of this depth and we get HCA, we just need to worry about LA."

This opinion is so incorrect... You think once Orlando won game 1 on the Cavs home floor they proceeded to not take them seriously ? In which case they still had 6 games to get the job done..

Do you think the fact that Orlando had a ton of success against the Cavs in the last two seasons prior to game 1 of that series, that it wouldn't warrant the Cavs to take them seriously ?

Look, the Cavs got out to big leads in a few of those games, and most of those games were close... Cavs took them seriously, Orlando hit some big time shots, and used the mismatch advantages to the best of their abilities, and they beat the Cavs fair and square...

I don't buy for a second the Cavs didn't take them seriously...

At some point the credit has to go to the Orlando players and their coach for executing a great gameplan, and following it accordingly..

[Rise Against]

Let's get things straight, the Cavs took every game seriously. There is a difference between struggling and not playing as hard as you could have.. Now you could make an argument that Mike Brown didn't motivate our team in any way... But other than that, we could have gotten the job done had Lewis never hit the 3 in game 1 or game 4 to send it to OT.