The Lebron Thread (2015-16 Pt. 4)

[PaulieWal]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/mdotbrown/status/750032793451765760[/tweet]

[JLei]

Reading some of the portability stuff in the POY thread with regards to Lebron (the ball dominant mumbo jumbo) has me thinking what an enigma Kyrie is.

Lebron doesn't really reduce Kyrie's effectiveness and Kyrie has had his most productive stretches as an NBA player (2015 second half, 2016 playoffs) next to a ball dominate Lebron.

Kyrie is going to go one on one anyways but you want him to pick and choose his matchups vs. just do it vs. everyone. Bron taking the ball out of Kyrie's hands a lot of the time takes away a lot of the damaging possessions. And he let's Kyrie just bust people up on transition and on mismatches and that's where he's actually unstoppable.

When he has the ball every possession you quickly see the Cavs stagnant and Kyrie become a lot less effective.

It's odd that you have a ball dominant player that is actually better when he gets the ball less vs. all the time. While other PG's increase in value the more the ball is in their hands. These 2 are only scratching the surface of learning how to play together. But honestly it's pretty clear that Lebron makes Kyrie significantly more valuable even though the conventional wisdom/ argument is he doesn't.

[tone wone]

Reading some of the portability stuff in the POY thread with regards to Lebron (the ball dominant mumbo jumbo) has me thinking what an enigma Kyrie is.

Lebron doesn't really reduce Kyrie's effectiveness and Kyrie has had his most productive stretches as an NBA player (2015 second half, 2016 playoffs) next to a ball dominate Lebron.

Kyrie is going to go one on one anyways but you want him to pick and choose his matchups vs. just do it vs. everyone. Bron taking the ball out of Kyrie's hands a lot of the time takes away a lot of the damaging possessions. And he let's Kyrie just bust people up on transition and on mismatches and that's where he's actually unstoppable.

When he has the ball every possession you quickly see the Cavs stagnant and Kyrie become a lot less effective.

It's odd that you have a ball dominant player that is actually better when he gets the ball less vs. all the time. While other PG's increase in value the more the ball is in their hands. These 2 are only scratching the surface of learning how to play together. But honestly it's pretty clear that Lebron makes Kyrie significantly more valuable even though the conventional wisdom/ argument is he doesn't.

The guy went to the finals with Eric Snow and Larry Hughes, won MVPs with Mo Williams and Dolente West, won titles and MVPs with Wade and just won a title with Kyrie.....yet people still question his ability to play with other ball-handlers?

Its just nonsense at point. How many different types of guards does he need to win with for his "portability" to not be questioned?

[WinisKing]

Well maybe no ring this year, Gsw new death squad is probably the best ever, but they won't gun for any regular season games with gutted depth.

MVP is up for grabs, Bron please, get the 5th

[Dupp]

Lebron should just go to the Spurs to **** the Warriors. I wouldn't even be mad.

[Dupp]

Agreed. I'm off the CP for Kyrie bandwagon, but fully committed to Love for Millsap now. It would be the perfect addition imo.

Why would ATL do that though?

Dwight-Love is a pretty good front court

Yeah a trade for them makes sense now. Unfortunately a trade with Boston makes no sense now as a love horford fc is awful

[PaulieWal]

Thinking about something I heard from Simmons on one of his recent podcasts the last time that you had 4 top 12-15 players on one team (Curry, KD, Green, and Klay) was in the 60s with BR's Celtics. That's really, really scary for the league.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/750103397424992256[/tweet]

[LikeABosh]

Agreed. I'm off the CP for Kyrie bandwagon, but fully committed to Love for Millsap now. It would be the perfect addition imo.

I definitely think Cle moves Love, but I don't think they'll move him so quickly. They might wait and see how the season develops.

Would Ibaka/filler be a crazy target?

It would now but apparently we did discuss this trade scenario with okc.

The nba season just got so boring, the west is as weak as the east now.

Well, not now, but at the trade deadline? Orlando does some strange **** sometimes

[LikeABosh]

Lebron should just go to the Spurs to **** the Warriors. I wouldn't even be mad.

Oh, god. Imagine how awful the finals would be. Lebron is the only reason the east has been competitive the last few years

[JulesWinnfield]

If Durant had gone back to Oklahoma City, I'd be entering this season respecting Golden State, SanAntonio and OKC as the only legit threats as a Lebron/Cav backer. Even though Lebron has consistently owned OKC, you still had to respect their talent level and possible upward trajectory, plus that dominance over them wasn't guaranteed to continue for eternity... This move now obviously trims that list by one....

If the Warriors suffer a season ending injury to any of their big 4 in the 100 or so games they need to get through before the Cavs have to worry about them, it's almost like killing two birds with one stone. This move could potentially go from something that appeared to pose an extremely daunting task, to one that opens the door to possibly the easiest road Lebron has had with one misstep...

I'm not rooting for injuries (obligatory disclaimer) but they happen, and they aren't fatal diseases. Nobody is dying here. The dubs still need to stay healthy. It's not a guarantee. And if they don't this move could actually wind up aiding the Cavs

[Dupp]

I definitely think Cle moves Love, but I don't think they'll move him so quickly. They might wait and see how the season develops.

Would Ibaka/filler be a crazy target?

It would now but apparently we did discuss this trade scenario with okc.

The nba season just got so boring, the west is as weak as the east now.

Well, not now, but at the trade deadline? Orlando does some strange **** sometimes

I guess it could be an option if the offense struggles with both biz and serge. I don't really see it making a huge difference against warriros anyway.

[MisterHibachi]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/750103397424992256[/tweet]

This is the thing. KD joined a super team, LeBron is the super team.

[JulesWinnfield]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/750103397424992256[/tweet]

This is the thing. KD joined a super team, LeBron is the super team.

This. It's both puzzling and nauseating to see how many people don't see a distinction. And not just mouth breathers, even includes some people I otherwise have respect for. There is a clear difference, even if you think the difference only lies in a matter of degrees, we're talking about many degrees. And the 'can't beat em join em' aspect is what really puts it over the top. It really set in now after stepping away for a few hours and not thinking about it as I watch the fireworks and enjoy the 4th... Coming back to it now it finally feels real and set in. I can't believe he did this even though I expected him to do it. Can you expect something and still simultaneously be surprised by it? I mean damn.

[The Realist]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/HPbasketball/status/750103397424992256[/tweet]

This is the thing. KD joined a super team, LeBron is the super team.

This. It's both puzzling and nauseating to see how many people don't see a distinction. And not just mouth breathers, even includes some people I otherwise have respect for. There is a clear difference, even if you think the difference only lies in a matter of degrees, we're talking about many degrees. And the 'can't beat em join em' aspect is what really puts it over the top. It really set in now after stepping away for a few hours and not thinking about it as I watch the fireworks and enjoy the 4th... Coming back to it now it finally feels real and set in. I can't believe he did this even though I expected him to do it. Can you expect something and still simultaneously be surprised by it? I mean damn.

It's just Lebron hate, people literally wish to see a 73-9 team get Durant just for Lebron not to win the title and become the GOAT. I know people, and especially fans of NBA, are idiots, but I refuse to believe the reason people "can't" see this is insufficient intelligence.

[MisterHibachi]

It's pretty telling that for all the talk of the East being weak, even KD wants no part of being in the same conference as LeBron.

[bondom34]

Just.
Beat.
Them.

[PaulieWal]

Just.
Beat.
Them.

Not sure how anyone beats this team unless Curry or KD are injured during the PS....(I am not hoping for injuries but if they are all health I expect them to win a title easily).

[Larry David]

It's all about having one more truly great two way big man

I love Kevin but if he can get us that so be it

[RSCD3_]

Just.
Beat.
Them.

That's gonna be a tall order, odd though just last week I thought there's nothing the cavs or lebron could do that would surpass coming back from down 3-1 to beat a 73 win team and then durant joins them. I mean that's like managing to kill a mountain lion with a small knife and then an actual lion shows up.

[bondom34]

Just.
Beat.
Them.

Not sure how anyone beats this team unless Curry or KD are injured during the PS....(I am not hoping for injuries but if they are all health I expect them to win a title easily).

He's weak. He's beatable.

My question is who takes the blame when they lose.