LeBron made the easy and obvious choice to leave Cleveland

[Coach34]

you can debate as to whether he should have gone to Chicago or Miami, but getting out of Cleveland was an easy choice.

Miami has supermodels, high class strippers, and the beach- Cleveland has women that work in auto parts stores
Miami has more nightlife on a random Tuesday night than Cleveland has on its best night of the year
Miami is Don Johnson, Cleveland is Drew Carey

Miami will attract FA's and have people that want to go there. Cleveland will have people that have no other choice but to be there.

Roll on LeBron

 

[Coach34]

you can debate as to whether he should have gone to Chicago or Miami, but getting out of Cleveland was an easy choice.

Miami has supermodels, high class strippers, and the beach- Cleveland has women that work in auto parts stores
Miami has more nightlife on a random Tuesday night than Cleveland has on its best night of the year
Miami is Don Johnson, Cleveland is Drew Carey

Miami will attract FA's and have people that want to go there. Cleveland will have people that have no other choice but to be there.

Roll on LeBron

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

he went where he now has the best chance to win. And I think that's why you play the game.

 

[Hanmudog]

How do you figure they had no shot at winning a title? Maybe if LeBRon had shown up in those lastfew games against the Celtics he would have had a title already?

I will go on record right now saying that Miami will not win the title next year.

 

[57stratdawg]

you can debate as to whether he should have gone to Chicago or Miami, but getting out of Cleveland was an easy choice.

Miami has supermodels, high class strippers, and the beach- Cleveland has women that work in auto parts stores
Miami has more nightlife on a random Tuesday night than Cleveland has on its best night of the year
Miami is Don Johnson, Cleveland is Drew Carey

Miami will attract FA's and have people that want to go there. Cleveland will have people that have no other choice but to be there.

Roll on LeBron

And I even like Drew Carey

 

[RobbieRandolph]

nt

 

[DowntownDawg]

...is just a bunch of overpaid, spoiled athletes jogging around and not playing any defense for 3.5 quarters. If a team finds itself in a close game midway through the 4th, they might give some effort.

Exhibit A: Your Lakers this year. They knew they could turn it on when they had to. Regular season means nothing.
Exhibit B: This year's Celtics.
Exhibit C: The Dallas Mavericks most years. They play with more effort than most and win a buttload of regular season games but flame out in the playoffs.
Exhibit D: The Grizzlies when they were a playoff team under Fratello. They played good defense and won in the regular season, but it was apparent pretty quick that they were no match for anybody in the playoffs when the superstars start caring.

It's what's wrong with the NBA. The regular season is more meaningless in the NBA than any other sport.

 

[Ivehadbetter]

Not saying he should have stayed...

 

[thelaw]

but to say it didn't play a part would be ridiculous: by signing with Miami he gets to keep MILLIONS more than he would have had he stayed in Ohio (5 mil and change in state income taxes), New Jersey (10 mil) or New York (12 million). Apparently Florida has no state income tax, so that 96 million he just signed for stays more intact. From a money standpoint, you'd be stupid not to go to Miami.

Plus as has already been mentioned, with Bosh and Wade there and being one of the most hyped basketball stars in history, it only figures you'd want to win championships. You can't blame him for leaving at all.

 

[Hanmudog]

I don't disagree with most of that but the fact remain that the Cavs did win 60 plus games and were one of the top teams in the NBA. To say that Cleveland had little chance to win a title like OP4 said is crazy.
Also, Mike Brown was the Cavs biggest problem and he got fired. Byron Scott is a pretty good coach (hell he took the Nets to the Finals) so leaving Cleveland was not a no brainer.

 

[KurtRambis4]

*

 

[DowntownDawg]

...that the Cavs did not have the team around Lebron to consistently beat the Magic with Howard, the Celtics (even though they are getting old), and now the Heat with Wade and Bosh. Lebron tried to get Bosh to Cleveland, but he wouldn't come.

Lebron wants to be known as the best of all time (which he'll never be in IMO). He needs to start winning rings to even get in the discussion. He might could've won a title in Cleveland, but he couldn't do it consistently with that supporting cast.

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

you can debate as to whether he should have gone to Chicago or Miami, but getting out of Cleveland was an easy choice.

Miami has supermodels, high class strippers, and the beach- Cleveland has women that work in auto parts stores
Miami has more nightlife on a random Tuesday night than Cleveland has on its best night of the year
Miami is Don Johnson, Cleveland is Drew Carey

Miami will attract FA's and have people that want to go there. Cleveland will have people that have no other choice but to be there.

Roll on LeBron

 

[Coach34]

Cleveland has had the best regular season record the last 2 seasons, yet can't even reach the Finals.
Cleveland was not going to attract a top FA- Boozer to Chicago, Amare to NY, Dirk staying in Dallas- where was LeBron going to get some help?

By going to Miami, the Heat now have the two best players in the Eastern Conference on the same team. Adding Bosh gives them a very good inside presence. Miami has a higher ceiling than Cleveland ever will. Players will take less to live in Miami and play ball- they won't do that in Cleveland.

It was a complete no-brainer

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

the rest of the east has gotten better, and the Cavs weren't. They ownership had 7 years to put talent around Lebron, and they failed. It would be stupid of him to stay. Best record in the regular season? Sure, in the weaker East (which is now much better) against teams like the Celtics who basically shut it down regular season. Playoff basketball is much different than regular season. And of course the Celtics shut him down, he is the only person they had to guard, what with Jamison going 1/15 and **** during games. He has a MUCH, MUCH better chance at a title now.

 

[Liverdawg]

Will I have to pull for the Heat?

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

Bulls when they got Rodman and won 72 games. Not comparing the teams themselves, but the electric atmosphere around the team. Even in crappy regular season road games the crowds will be so electric it will help both teams.

 

[Hanmudog]

For a normal player, I agree it was a no brainer. For a player who aspires to be the greatest of all time, it was not. Even if LeBron wins a title in Miami (which he won't) his legacy is shot to ****. He comes off looking like he couldn't do it without the help of another MVP (Wade). James will just go down in history as one of the better players and not among the best.

Simply said, if Jordan managedto sign as a free agent with the Pistons back in the day and won a couple of titles with Isiah Thomas. Would he still be seen like he is today?

 

[jcdawgman18]

I don't disagree with most of that but the fact remain that the Cavs did win 60 plus games and were one of the top teams in the NBA. To say that Cleveland had little chance to win a title like OP4 said is crazy.
Also, Mike Brown was the Cavs biggest problem and he got fired. Byron Scott is a pretty good coach (hell he took the Nets to the Finals) so leaving Cleveland was not a no brainer.

Be honest. You wouldn't do that at all and you know it. Would you trade Boston's cast other than Rondo or Pierce for Cleveland right now? Of course not. Same for Orlando and same for the Heat once Wade was coming back and bringing along Bosh. I wouldn't even trade Chicago for Cleveland BEFORE they got Boozer.

So LeBron was supposed to stick with that? Don't give me "Kobe stuck with the Lakers through tough times, because A) he tried to force a trade and B) he created those times by running off Shaq. And do you think that if Jordan hadn't have had Pippen he would have stuck with the Bulls? If Bird didn't have McHale, Ainge, Parish, etc he stays with the Celtics? If Magic doesn't have Kareem and Worthy, you think he stays a Laker? LeBron is the only guy whose cast didn't include at least one other guy who was very, very good.

From a basketball sense, this move was a no brainer. He couldn't settle for the status quo.

 

[Hanmudog]

I don't disagree with most of that but the fact remain that the Cavs did win 60 plus games and were one of the top teams in the NBA. To say that Cleveland had little chance to win a title like OP4 said is crazy.
Also, Mike Brown was the Cavs biggest problem and he got fired. Byron Scott is a pretty good coach (hell he took the Nets to the Finals) so leaving Cleveland was not a no brainer.

Be honest. You wouldn't do that at all and you know it. Would you trade Boston's cast other than Rondo or Pierce for Cleveland right now? Of course not. Same for Orlando and same for the Heat once Wade was coming back and bringing along Bosh. I wouldn't even trade Chicago for Cleveland BEFORE they got Boozer.

So LeBron was supposed to stick with that? Don't give me "Kobe stuck with the Lakers through tough times, because A) he tried to force a trade and B) he created those times by running off Shaq. And do you think that if Jordan hadn't have had Pippen he would have stuck with the Bulls? If Bird didn't have McHale, Ainge, Parish, etc he stays with the Celtics? If Magic doesn't have Kareem and Worthy, you think he stays a Laker? LeBron is the only guy whose cast didn't include at least one other guy who was very, very good.

From a basketball sense, this move was a no brainer. He couldn't settle for the status quo.

You are assuming the Cavs would have stood pat. Cleveland's ownership has tried to bring players in with LeBron. They brought in Jamison and Shaq this year. Mo Williams was a freaking All Star and you guys act like he wasTwany Beckhamor something.
I think players did not want to come to Cleveland this year because they knew LeBron was leaving. He was not interested in helping the Cavs bring in players.

Players get pissed at management and want help all the time but they don't conspire with other free agents to build a team somewhere else. SureKobe forced the Lakers to go get Gasol. LeBron could have done something similar had he wanted to.

 

[Coach34]

For a normal player, I agree it was a no brainer. For a player who aspires to be the greatest of all time, it was not. Even if LeBron wins a title in Miami (which he won't) his legacy is shot to ****. He comes off looking like he couldn't do it without the help of another MVP (Wade). James will just go down in history as one of the better players and not among the best.

Simply said, if Jordan managedto sign as a free agent with the Pistons back in the day and won a couple of titles with Isiah Thomas. Would he still be seen like he is today?

Jordan didnt win a title until they added the pieces around him- Cleveland is not doing that. Jordan had Pippen- Scottie made the 50 greatest players list- Cleveland doesnt have that player on their roster. Chicago also added Rodman- widely considered one of the best rebounders to ever play the game- Cleveland doesnt have that player.

I dont think it does **** to his legacy. He will win a title or two in Miami. Shaq had Kobe. Kobe has Gasol. Jordan had Pippen and more. Magic had Kareem and Worthy. Bird had Parrish, McHale, and other very good NBA players on his team. ****- Walton was a 6th man for them.

Batman has to have Robin to bail him out from time to time

 

[DowntownDawg]

....the only way Lebron could really surpass Jordan would be to win a bunch of rings with nobody around him - a la Cleveland.

However, I think he saw that that was damn near impossible and decided it would be better to just start winning rings. He went to the place that he thought best allowed him to do that.

Personally, I think he should've gone to Chicago. I think the supporting cast there would've been enough for him to start winning titles, but there aren't any huge name guys with him. He could've preserved the legacy AND won titles. I am guessing Jordan's shadow was too much there.

 

[mstateglfr]

For a normal player, I agree it was a no brainer. For a player who aspires to be the greatest of all time, it was not. Even if LeBron wins a title in Miami (which he won't) his legacy is shot to ****. He comes off looking like he couldn't do it without the help of another MVP (Wade). James will just go down in history as one of the better players and not among the best.

Simply said, if Jordan managedto sign as a free agent with the Pistons back in the day and won a couple of titles with Isiah Thomas. Would he still be seen like he is today?

So do i understand your point is that he should have stuck with Cleveland or gone to a team without an elite cast around him so he could win it 'on his own', thus cementing his legacy?

I personally think good decision making shouldnt be knocked, but hey im crazy like that. Its a much better idea to continue taking the weight of the entire team on your back and running into a brick wall each May. Yes, thats much smarter.

If he stays in Cleveland and continues to not have enough around him to get it done, his legacy will be the greatest player to never win a title.
...not too sure why that is appealing.

 

[Irondawg]

Basically what he said is that he doesn't feel he's good enough to carry a team. I think the Cavs messed up a little bit by not firing Brown before last season.

The Heat are Dwayne Wade's team - even with LeBron there it's Wade's team.

If it was only about winning championships it's the Heat, if it's the best chance to lead your own to team to the championship it was the Bulls. If he wanted to be know as a guy who could carry a franchise it was the Cavs. If he wanted to be a media sensation it was probably the Knicks or Nets.

But I find it hard to say "its about the championship" when he played some very uninspired games during the last playoffs. Bad game are one thing, but he didn't put forth a bunch of effort in several of them.

Finally I think if he could have gotten Bosh to Cleveland (and I do think he tried) he would have stayed.

 

[jcdawgman18]

So that leaves the Cavs with a rotation of:
1: Mo Williams
2: Mike Miller
3: LeBron James
4: Antawn Jamison
5: Anderson Varejao

6: Anthony Parker
7: Jamario Moon
8: JJ Hickson
9: Delonte West

And that's supposed to compete for championships? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cleveland couldn't do anything else, either, because they're capped out</span>. Mo Williams is making almost 9 million a year. Varejao makes almost 7 million. They overpaid for guys who are role players at best, not sidekicks.

Cleveland has no one to blame but themselves. They weren't smart about their moves. They just made moves to say "see, we did something" instead of actually building a team over the last 4 years or so.

 

[jcdawgman18]

But I find it hard to say "its about the championship" when he played some very uninspired games during the last playoffs. Bad game are one thing, but he didn't put forth a bunch of effort in several of them.

Other than game 5 of the Boston series, when did he play "uninspired"? In game 6, even though they lost, he had a triple double that included 19 REBOUNDS. Last time I checked, you have to put forth some pretty good effort to rebound like that, especially against a team that emphasizes rebounding like Boston.

 

[Irondawg]

Cleveland was capped out partly b/c they kept trying to keep him happy and add players during each year...taking guys like Mo and Jamison b/c Lebron wanted immediate help.

Just didn't work out for them

 

[Hanmudog]

But I find it hard to say "its about the championship" when he played some very uninspired games during the last playoffs. Bad game are one thing, but he didn't put forth a bunch of effort in several of them.

Other than game 5 of the Boston series, when did he play "uninspired"? In game 6, even though they lost, he had a triple double that included 19 REBOUNDS. Last time I checked, you have to put forth some pretty good effort to rebound like that, especially against a team that emphasizes rebounding like Boston.

LeBron played awful by his standards. He also had 9 turnovers to go with those 19 rebounds in the last game. You could just tell by looking at him that his mind was somewhere else. Stats don't always tell the story. Many talking heads saw this.

 

[mstateglfr]

Basically what he said is that he doesn't feel he's good enough to carry a team. I think the Cavs messed up a little bit by not firing Brown before last season.

The Heat are Dwayne Wade's team - even with LeBron there it's Wade's team.

If it was only about winning championships it's the Heat, if it's the best chance to lead your own to team to the championship it was the Bulls.

I do love how he is both called an egotistical self centered diva and called a player that admits he cant carry a team on his own so he must join others to play together and give up the status of having 'his' team.

Those 2 things just cant coexist, yet James is viewed as being both.

He is apparently selfaware enough to realize he cant reach the mountaintop on his own and is slammed for admitting such. And he was slammed for apparently not being a team player and being too self centered.

Damned either way i guess.