LeTravel, LaQween, LaDouche - La Going to LA

[nuposse04]

Not a very good design to have three high priced players like that. One goes down and poof.

Eggs. Meet one basket.

One of the 3 is getting traded in the next year or two.

I don't cheer for the Heat, but I don't think their approach is wrong. I think if you have 2 true young stars(like say Westbrook and Durant), the best option is to build a team of a very good supporting cast around them. And it does seem that the teams that exceeding expectations(Sixers, Pacers) in the play-offs are those that are taking the team approach.

However look at the teams that have taken the "stars approach". Miami wasn't going anywhere before the "sidekicks" arrived. One criticism of the Heats moves is they got Battier who is a bit of an insurance policy if Wade or LeBron go down, but they might have been better off getting some help on the interior.

The Knicks probably have the worst combination of stars Amare and Anthony and overpaid, but they are still a play-off team. The Clippers getting Paul has helped them make the play-offs and the 2nd round. The stars approach isn't without risk, Deron Williams with the Nets and the hope of luring Dwight Howards isn't looking too good. Maxing out Joe Johnson isn't looking good for the Hawks, but if you have a chance to acquire a legit all-star level player, it is usually the right move.

For the teams that have taken the team approach, you almost have to get every move right. I think the SAS, OKC approaches are actually a combination. Stink early(or draft really well) and get young cheap talent, that will turn into your stars. Develop them to come together as a team. Then add the role players who have been overlooked and make some shrewd moves with teams looking to save money.

I didnt say don't get any stars. I said three high priced stars.

It worked for the Celtics. But that was then. This is now. Its just to much of a risk to not have quality deep and your books straight.

Miami will need to trade one of those three to get better. My guess is that it is Bosh.

wade is on the wrong side of 30, if they COULD trade anyone, it would be him. With his mounting injury concerns and concern for lack of production they will not get what they want for him. Bosh is the most valuable trade-able asset, but I think a core of LBJ and Bosh is far more potent than Wade+LBJ for the long haul.

[hands11]

That is why I think it will be Bosh.

But there is the argument that Bosh and James don't get in each others way as much as Wade and James do.

It would be best for Miami to get ride of Wade. It would be easier to get ride of Bosh. So I think we agree.

Miami has a lot riding on this Indy series. If they go down in the second round to Indy, there is going to be some serious re-evaluating going on. 52M on three players in 2012. Ouch. And it doesn't get better.

Of those 3, the only contract I think even approachs fair value is LeBron. Bosh is not worth 17M, 19M, 20M, 22M over the next for years. Very few players are. Teams are going to have to get smarter about who they are playing max money to. Miami is in the worst cap situation out of all the team next year. Most teams are about to clear there books. Boston is going from 88M to only 34M committed so far. Orlando is stuck next year but then after that their book clean up a lot better. Chicago would be kind of strapped.

The Wizards are looking really solid. The sole remain salary issue they have remaining is Dray and if he come back in shape, they should be able to move him without to much trouble. The only question is when they will do it. Dray has a lot of growing up to do this summer is there is any chance he could fit in with this team. Cuz as it is, nothing about him does.

Nor is Wade.

[pancakes3]

i found stephenson's apology to be one of the hokiest things ever. Stern's got to realize that you can't turn an NBA environment into a white collar work environment.

[Severn Hoos]

Just when I think these guys can't get any more unlikable...

Danny Granger has received a technical foul in each of the last three games against Miami and drew the ire of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in their comments on Tuesday.

"Whatever he’s trying, it is not working," James said. “He’s said he’s not scared of LeBron, 'I want to let (James) know.' I guess he’s doing it for his own psyche. It’s stupid."

Granger took exception to elbows James threw in his direction in Games 2 and 3. Granger also approached Wade after he grabbed Roy Hibbert's arm.

"I’m all for standing up for your guys but certain things you just can't keep doing," Wade said. "My message to Granger was that you just can’t keep running up into people’s faces for altercations. We’re not fighting on this basketball court so let’s not act like we’re going to fight. We can be physical and do all that but certain things got to stop. Are you out here to play basketball or are you out here to be a tough guy?"



Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... z1vcuNF8Wy

Like many others here, I find my dislike of LeBron waning over time, but perhaps that's only because it has all rubbed off on the fool whose Momma can't even spell his first name right.

Seriously, Wade is going to call out Granger? For being a "tough guy"? After what he did in Game 1? Really?

I don't ever remember wishing injury on anyone, but the less I have to see of this guy, the better. I always wore #3 growing up, don't think I can any more, he's ruined it for me....

[closg00]

Asked by ESPN's Doris Burke what holes he was exploiting in the Heat defense, Rondo answered: "Them complaining and crying to the referees in transition."

[DCZards]

Once again Lebron fails to score in the last 2 minutes of the game. What a bum!

[AnaheimRoyale]

The loser was satisfied with the 43 he'd already put up I guess.

[Zonkerbl]

Ashamed to admit I cheered loudly for the Heat, particularly for Bosh but I even leaped out of my seat for a spectacular play that Lebron made.

I just like Bosh too much and hate Lebron too little to root against them anymore.

And ew, Celtics in the finals? Yuck.

[Severn Hoos]

Well, I can't see any circumstance that would leave me cheering for the current version of the Heat. The way they put the team together, the way they keep adding veteran ring-chasers (though I enjoy watching them fail spectacularly, like Bibby), making a mockery of the salary cap, and - oh yeah, the whiny flopping punk that Wade has become. Nope, can't root for them, even as my respect for LeBron has grown and my hatred of him has melted away. I think I'd actually root for him now if he went to another team. But that ain't happening...

One thing I thought was interesting about the Clutch/Choke debates. In a sense, to the extent that "being clutch" means anything, there's two types of clutch - coming up huge in the biggest games, and coming up huge in the biggest moments.

Robert Horry had a knack for coming up huge in the biggest moments. One shot to win or lose the game, and he's there to take it. But it's not like he'd had a monster game up to that point, in most cases.

Duncan has come up huge in big games, but the Spurs didn't/don't necessarily go to him on the last possession with the game on the line. Of course, in most of those games, there was no last possession with the game on the line because Duncan (and co.) had made sure that the outcome was decided long before it got to that point.

Needless to say, MJ did both - had monster games when it was most needed, AND made the shots over Ehlo, Russell, etc. But even then - when they had to put away Barkley's Suns, he was smart enough to give the ball to Paxson for the win and the title.

What does this have to do with LeBron?

Well, even his supporters would have to say that he hasn't had his Ehlo moment. Even the incredible game winning shot against the Magic was viewed as much as luck as anything else. There are too many images of an iso ending up with a clang off the rim and the dejected walk off the court. No real way around that.

But I do think that distracts from what's really going on. Was LeBron "clutch" in game 6? There wasn't that "one shining moment" where he rose up for the gamewinner and stuck the dagger in. But that's because there didn't have to be. he made sure of that, and did again in Game 7. To me, that's "clutch." But to the morons at ESPN, it probably would have been more of a validation of him if he had scored 25 points, but made the gamewinner at the buzzer, just to prove he's "clutch."

Man, I'm not used to defending the guy, but that's what ESPN has done to me. Still, GO THUNDER!

[hands11]

Wow, has anyone been taking note about how much more mature LeBron gives a post game interview.

Seems like he has matured overnight.

And he has been playing a lot less soft. He has been taking it to the hole.

Over the last month, I find myself hating him a lot less.

[willbcocks]

I'm a forgiving person. When a person has earned a certain amount of public ridicule, and seemed to internalize at least part of it, I'm willing to forgive him. LeBron definitely meets the first threshold and possibly the second.

Also, he's an amazing basketball player with a fantastic game to watch, so I'm not rooting against him this year. Also, OKC has as many bandwagon fans as Miami, including one of my good friends, so I'm either neutral or leaning slightly towards Miami with my support this year.

[willbcocks]

Lebron looks focused and amazing. Regardless of how this series ends, I think he's turned the corner this year.

[FAH1223]

Lebron looks focused and amazing. Regardless of how this series ends, I think he's turned the corner this year.

I still think he's a whiner, a douche, and a drama diva on the court trying to hype up a moment more than it actually has to be hyped up.

But he has carried the Heat during this finals run, I give him props for manning up and playing much better and improving his game

[Severn Hoos]

I'm a forgiving person. When a person has earned a certain amount of public ridicule, and seemed to internalize at least part of it, I'm willing to forgive him. LeBron definitely meets the first threshold and possibly the second.

Also, he's an amazing basketball player with a fantastic game to watch, so I'm not rooting against him this year. Also, OKC has as many bandwagon fans as Miami, including one of my good friends, so I'm either neutral or leaning slightly towards Miami with my support this year.

I agree that LeBron has certainly matured, and has acquired a dose of something approximating humility (I don't think you could ever actually use "LeBron" and "humility" in the same sentence.) My issue is not really with LeBron any more, but with the Heat and the way they came to be the team they are today.

First, you had the grand scheme of the Big 3, planned out as much as 3 years before execution (remember how they all conveniently signed co-terminous 3-year deals with their original teams?) and done pretty much out in the open. If the owners had done the equivalent from their side, there would be loud and accurate cries of collusion.

But even given that players who are Free Agents are, well, free to sign wherever they want, the accumulation of guys signing below-market deals to try and get a ring works against at least the spirit of the salary cap and competition. From Bibby (so glad that failed) to Miller (ditto) to Battier, they have been able to add role players on the cheap in a way that no other team could have done. And FWIW, I always thought Battier would be the type of guy who would ask to guard the game's best player, not try to ride his coat tails. Kinda disappointed there.

Add in the way Wade has become so unlikeable, the flopping and jumping into other players, the favorable calls and (sometimes) fawning media - though admittedly they do kill LeBron when he's anything less than perfect, but it's hard to feel sorry for him the way he basically brought it on himself - and I just have to root against the team as a whole. Besides, them winning a title (or multiple titles) will only encourage more of the same from other teams, and does not bode well IMO for the future of the league.

Oh well, we'll always have Draft Night....

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I'm a forgiving person. When a person has earned a certain amount of public ridicule, and seemed to internalize at least part of it, I'm willing to forgive him. LeBron definitely meets the first threshold and possibly the second.

Also, he's an amazing basketball player with a fantastic game to watch, so I'm not rooting against him this year. Also, OKC has as many bandwagon fans as Miami, including one of my good friends, so I'm either neutral or leaning slightly towards Miami with my support this year.

I have moved past my Lebron hate. I like that he is reading books this season. He has silenced his critics and stepped up his play. willbcocks, I think he certainly did suffer last season and that's enough for me.

I still can't stand the Heat or Dwyane Wade. I don't like him at all. He is dirty, he flops, he whines, and I don't like his hold vibe. I can't stand his arguing every call. I can't stand him staying on the ground a long time when fouled. He exaggerates injuries and even fakes them to play to the crowd. I don't think I have ever disliked any other NBA player the way I dislike Dwyane Wade.

[montestewart]

Perhaps Wade has consciously ratcheted up the heel vibe to deflect criticism from his LeBro. Now that is a teammate.

I can't summon up the anti-LeBJ pitch these days, but still root against the Heat in the same way I do the Lakers, Cowboys, Patriots, and Yankees. Family's from Kansas/Oklahoma too, so it's easy to root for OKC. Too bad I'm backing a loser.

What's Lebron's reading list look like?

[sashae]

I still can't stand LeBron, but man... I cannot possibly demean his game. He's been absolutely locked in during the playoffs, totally on another level. Well deserving the ring, if they close out as it looks like they will.

[Severn Hoos]

What's Lebron's reading list look like?

Sorry, couldn't resist...

[dobrojim]

LOL sev

good previous post too

also agree with those who have pointed out how good LeTrav's game has been.
I do think OKC has made a strategic error by doubling him in the post last night.
Go ahead and give him his 2 rather than let their 3 pt shooters get clean looks.

[Ruzious]

See, even Sev admires Lebron now. I was down on Wade when he was pouting, and I think he's lost a half step, but I gotta give him credit for last night's game at crunch time while Lebron cramped up - he did the little things - making some great passes and hustle plays. One thing that bugs me about this series - Lebron and Wade get calls that OKC doesn't. With the number of times Westbrook has driven hard to the basket, it's hard to understand him not getting to the foul line more. Is that the difference in the series? I wouldn't go that far, but it's a concern. Harden's shooting slump is a bigger concern.

It is unfortunate that Westbrook was having maybe the best game of his career, and then makes maybe the biggest goof of his career with that intentional foul. How much blame should go to the coaches? I think you have to be yelling "No Foul!" at that point. It's an unusual situation with a 5 second shot-clock, and you can't assume your players are focusing on that.