ImageImageImageImageImage

since we're already depressed...

Moderators: Morris_Shatford, 7 Footer, DG88, niQ, Duffman100, tsherkin, Reeko, lebron stopper, HiJiNX

User avatar
bill russell
Pro Prospect
Posts: 846
And1: 65
Joined: Oct 31, 2007

since we're already depressed... 

Post#1 » by bill russell » Mon Jan 7, 2008 3:58 pm

I had held out hope the boston and detroit would get old in a couple of years and that the young raptors -- and we are young, especially up front -- could look forward to being a contender for many years after the inevitable boston/detroit declines. Having watched Lebron again yesterday, and having seen what he did in the playoffs last year, and given that he's 23 years old, Cleveland has to be the odds-on favorite to win the east for a decade, at least once KG has his moment in the sun.
I mean, lebron is still developing, still only half serious about playing hard every night, still learning to play defense. He's going to get a lot better. And Cleveland has to at some point upgrade that sorry backcourt. He has the potential to be more dominant than MJ, and he's already very close.
So what do you think. Is it desperate, or did lebron just have a good fourth quarter yesterday.
User avatar
El Presidente
Lead Assistant
Posts: 4,896
And1: 15
Joined: Oct 22, 2003
Location: raptorsrepublic.com

 

Post#2 » by El Presidente » Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:01 pm

Except that Boston and Detroit will reload. I don't see Miami sucking ass for too long either.
User avatar
Yuri Vaultin
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 21,168
And1: 14,506
Joined: Jun 24, 2006
Location: In a tree by your window.
     

Re: since we're already depressed... 

Post#3 » by Yuri Vaultin » Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:03 pm

bill russell wrote:I had held out hope the boston and detroit would get old in a couple of years and that the young raptors -- and we are young, especially up front -- could look forward to being a contender for many years after the inevitable boston/detroit declines. Having watched Lebron again yesterday, and having seen what he did in the playoffs last year, and given that he's 23 years old, Cleveland has to be the odds-on favorite to win the east for a decade, at least once KG has his moment in the sun.
I mean, lebron is still developing, still only half serious about playing hard every night, still learning to play defense. He's going to get a lot better. And Cleveland has to at some point upgrade that sorry backcourt. He has the potential to be more dominant than MJ, and he's already very close.
So what do you think. Is it desperate, or did lebron just have a good fourth quarter yesterday.


I don't agree. His supporting cast sucks. He is in the same boat KG was in for the last 10 years. The East will get stronger.

I'm not sure I see him playing for the Cav's his whole career - he seems more money driven the Scrooge and I would not be surprised to see him become the saviour of the Knicks at some point to make more coin via endorsements and even more over exposure and hype.
User avatar
theSkinny
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 22,097
And1: 4,277
Joined: Jan 06, 2006
Location: 2019 NBA Champions.
     

 

Post#4 » by theSkinny » Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:05 pm

decade?....what about when he walks out of Cleveland after his contract is up?
Image
GideonRapfan
Pro Prospect
Posts: 994
And1: 13
Joined: Jun 20, 2003

 

Post#5 » by GideonRapfan » Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:06 pm

Agreed with Mr Vaultin. I don't see LeBron staying with the Cavs for the next decade, so I wouldn't be too concerned.
dagger
RealGM
Posts: 41,274
And1: 14,292
Joined: Aug 19, 2002
         

Re: since we're already depressed... 

Post#6 » by dagger » Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:10 pm

bill russell wrote:I had held out hope the boston and detroit would get old in a couple of years and that the young raptors -- and we are young, especially up front -- could look forward to being a contender for many years after the inevitable boston/detroit declines. Having watched Lebron again yesterday, and having seen what he did in the playoffs last year, and given that he's 23 years old, Cleveland has to be the odds-on favorite to win the east for a decade, at least once KG has his moment in the sun.
I mean, lebron is still developing, still only half serious about playing hard every night, still learning to play defense. He's going to get a lot better. And Cleveland has to at some point upgrade that sorry backcourt. He has the potential to be more dominant than MJ, and he's already very close.
So what do you think. Is it desperate, or did lebron just have a good fourth quarter yesterday.


Not every coach will refuse to double Lebron if he's hot. They will force Cleveland to make others win games, and they don't have a great supporting cast. They will have low draft picks and it will be a couple of years before they can open up any cap space. Kobe, at least, has Odom and Bynum. Cleveland has an aging big Z. In a couple of years when Z retires, they will be diminished by that. Varajeo doesn't bring the game that Z does when Z is on.

You are also putting no value on our draft picks or cap space. Let's say this season ends up as a disappointment - no playoffs for whatever reason. So we get a lottery pick, and either use it or package it. We have expiring contracts this summer for trades. We have cap space potentially in 2009. We could start next season with Ford and Garbo healthy. Ford could spend all summer building up his neck muscles a bit more and come in feeling really confident. There are so many scenarios. In the same way that injuries sometimes drop a decent team into the lottery for a year, then they rebound stronger than ever, we could too.
2019 will never be forgotten because FLAGS FLY FOREVER
User avatar
ruckus
RealGM
Posts: 13,628
And1: 11,357
Joined: May 18, 2007
Location: From the Slums of Shaolin...
 

 

Post#7 » by ruckus » Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:12 pm

Cleveland improving around LeBron is not a given. Look how long it took KG to get to where he is now. There are a ton of individually great players who never got close to sniffing a championship. Whether or not LeBron gets there again is really up to Cleveland's management.
Image
raptorsfan1985
Junior
Posts: 450
And1: 26
Joined: Apr 17, 2007
       

 

Post#8 » by raptorsfan1985 » Mon Jan 7, 2008 4:49 pm

Cleveland? Lebron will be playing for the Knicks in 2009.

Return to Toronto Raptors