What do you think about Lebron???

[ByRd]

Im just curious as to how people view Lebron now. I have never been the biggest fan of his but admit he is a great player and good to watch but this whole process and decision he made, has left a sour taste & you cant help but feel he gave up and admitted defeat that he couldnt strive and struggle to get that title.

I think NBA fans wanted to "witness" LeBron's journey as a player in the NBA. Here was a guy that has the talent to become one of the all time greats. He had the chance to do something very special for a city that never gets lucky. If LeBron brought ONE title to the cavs, he goes down as one of the best to ever do it.

But he took the easy way out. He took the path of least resistance to get to a title. He has teamed up with 2 of the best players in the game and at 25 years old, seems like he hit the panic button and admitted he cant be the man and get a team there, the journey was cut short.

We can no longer watch LeBron James evolve as a true star. The challenge to be one of the best (if not the greatest player) is over and done with. No matter what he does in Miami, it won't be the same as what Duncan did in SA or what Jordan did in Chicago or even Kobe getting back on top recently etc.

If the guy wants a ring, goodluck to him but i feel that discussions between he and the other greats cant be brought up anymore. No matter what he achieves in Miami, he will always have this hanging over it and how he couldnt win at the cavs and if he does win (which many expect) then we all saw it coming so its not that special.

Im not trying to bash him or anything but just interested to know how people think this will effect his legacy and standing in the game.

 

[ByRd]

Found a good article relating to Lebron and the decision:

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebrondecision070910

 

[Ridders]

I guess I'll still like the guy, as he's just so damn good to watch. But the way he killed Cleveland on Live TV; well it will take me some time to get over it. But I'm sure I will some day.

I know people are saying that because of this move, Lebron can't ever be compared to the other greats. I honestly think that this might unleash the real Lebron. I created a thread a while ago and said whether Lebron was compared to the wrong MJ. We all wanted him to become this all-powerful perimetre scorer. But thats not really Lebron.

Lebron is such an unselfish player, perhaps of the most unselfish superstars in the league. He was born to be a playmaker. It just comes natural to him. Problem that he's faced is that in Cleveland he never had a great scorer next to him, so eventually he had to do both, be the major scorer as well as playmaker. Now that he's paired with a dominant scorer in Wade and another good scorer in Bosh, I think we'll see near triple double Lebron.

And I can understand why people would be disappointed with that. It may seem like he's taking the easy way out, but I kinda see it as Lebron finally embracing what he really is. He is Magic, not MJ. And now that he has come to that decision, I think he can take the next step as a player.

Can't wait to see him play for Miami.

 

[ByRd]

He will obviously play better but that is because of the superstars around him, he doesnt need to have that pressure of carrying HIS team and leading them to a title, even if he does put up the stats, people will expect it and it wont surprise anyone.

He is a great passer and they will be good to watch but i think he wont be in the discussion anymore, to go to someone elses team at such a young age and admit defeat in yourself that you couldnt get the job done just proves that the desire and hunger is not as strong as it is for the other greats.

He should not be compared to the likes of Jordan, Duncan, Kobe etc. as those guys stuck it out with there teams (for better and worse) and took their teams to the top. I just think that Lebron sold himself short and we will never see him develop into the player he could of been as life is only going to be easier now as he doesnt have the pressure of being "the man" each night and leading his side to a title.



Also, the whole process and how he went on national tv etc. was just pathetic imo and showed the true character of the man, that it is always about himself and that he just cares about being the most known and biggest athlete of all time, there is the difference between he and the rest.

 

[Ridders]

I do agree that there is something to be said about carrying YOUR team to a title, like the greats that you mentioned did. And in that respect, I agree that it will look unfavourably on Lebron's legacy, that he couldn't win for Cleveland.

And it does appear that Lebron is selling himself short. But look at it this way. We always yearn for players to win titles. We always want players to sacrifice to win titles. Isn't that what Lebron has done? I wonder how big an ego hit it is for him to have to join someone else's team, plus he's probably going to get slightly less than the max.

I guess I'm just choosing to look at it a different way, and I'm probably in the minorty. Lebron's finally come to grips with what he really is, and with that acknowledgement, he can unleah his inner Magic.

 

[Big Mick]

While I respect his talents, I personally hope he busts out and never wins sh*t but that wont ever happen...I mean we've never seen this before. Three absolute superstars of their talent level all together...i mean come on.

But the way he just totally dissed his home town on National TV is disgraceful.

He will never be looked at in the same eyes in my opinion.

This is D.Wade's team...and will always be.

LeBron James will be Scottie Pippin...congratulations LeBron...you are now a second fiddle player..and hope you are treated as such with a reduction in all your "Extra" cash.

He had a chance to do something noone in Cleveland has ever done. Bring a title to that city. He was a hometown boy and to leave?....just admits he thinks that city is doomed to failure. That city and franchise is in rabble right now.

He'll learn that Miami is just a dirty city anyway. I hated it there. All freakin dirty Latino's and Mexicans that just stink. Definitely not what they portray on TV.

 

[Big Mick]

BTW - they are about to introduce the players in Miami now.

Interesting to watch live:

http://www.nba.com/live1/

 

[Big Mick]

Far out. They have done nothing together yet.

But they have already received the keys to Miami...and the keys to Miami Beach.

Fair dinkum

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Agruably the best trio to have ever played a game of basketball? Didn't realise this was MJ, Magic and Bird on he 92 Dream Team.

 

[edabomb]

I reckon he'll probably go down in history just behind Pippen as the best second fiddle to play the game.

 

[Ridders]

I think using the Jordan-Pippen analogy for Wade-Lebron isn't really accurate. I mean both guys are pretty much equal on talent, if not Lebron being slightly better. Plus their probably the two best players in the game.

Tbh I think the Wade-Lebron duo is going to change the way we think about a player heirachy. Everyone is so accustomed to the Option 1 and 1A stuff, the Jordan-Pippen heirachy, that we're just not used to a team that has two players that are both the alpha dogs in their own way.

 

[edabomb]

I think using the Jordan-Pippen analogy for Wade-Lebron isn't really accurate. I mean both guys are pretty much equal on talent, if not Lebron being slightly better. Plus their probably the two best players in the game.

Tbh I think the Wade-Lebron duo is going to change the way we think about a player heirachy. Everyone is so accustomed to the Option 1 and 1A stuff, the Jordan-Pippen heirachy, that we're just not used to a team that has two players that are both the alpha dogs in their own way.

Shaq and Kobe were both alphas for 3 or 4 seasons at LA.

I was using the Pippen analogy in terms of what they'll achieve, not really ability.

 

[Ridders]

Shaq and Kobe were both alphas for 3 or 4 seasons at LA.

I was using the Pippen analogy in terms of what they'll achieve, not really ability.

But we still consider that as Shaq's team, those as Shaq's titles.

If the Heat end up going on a 3 peat, who's titles are they going to be?

I mean sure Miami will always be Wade's town since he established himself prior to the Miami Thrice, but I don't think I could differentiate between Wade and Lebron on who's titles they are.

 

[edabomb]

But we still consider that as Shaq's team, those as Shaq's titles.

If the Heat end up going on a 3 peat, who's titles are they going to be?

I mean sure Miami will always be Wade's town since he established himself prior to the Miami Thrice, but I don't think I could differentiate between Wade and Lebron on who's titles they are.

From what I've read nearly everyone is regarding it as Wade's team as of now. That could change during the season, but if Wade puts up 25ppg + I think that'll remain the same.

I know I'll always regard them as Wade's if they win.

 

[Ridders]

Fair enough, I guess I'm just more up in the air about this stuff then most.

Hypothetical.

Wade averages 28 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg
Lebron averages 22 ppg, 8 rpg, 10 apg.

Who's team is it?

 

[Big Mick]

Wade's.

He's won a title there. He's won an NBA Finals MVP there.

He's established there.

The kids wear his jerseys.

Its his team with James as the compliment.

The biggest winner in this is Bosh. These two are going to make him look like a superstar.

 

[ByRd]

LOL just to prove how arrogant these guys are did anyone see in the parade where they were introduced what type of sh!t they were saying.

"It's gonna be easy." - James

"Goodluck guarding both of us" - Wade

I think every other team in the league just heard that crap and you know its gonna be in HUGE bold letters in every locker room, cant wait to see this team fail.

 

[Ridders]

So Lebron is Wade's compliment even though he is probably the better player?

 

[ByRd]

So Lebron is Wade's compliment even though he is probably the better player?

Yes, cause Wade is already established there, he won that town a title and was finals mvp. No matter what James does, people will always refer to this as Wades team

eg. with the Yankees in baseball, the team is still Jeters team despite Rodriguez being there.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

LOL just to prove how arrogant these guys are did anyone see in the parade where they were introduced what type of sh!t they were saying.

"It's gonna be easy." - James

"Goodluck guarding both of us" - Wade

I think every other team in the league just heard that crap and you know its gonna be in HUGE bold letters in every locker room, cant wait to see this team fail.

If there's one thing I know without a shadow of a doubt about Kobe, it's that he would have been watching all of this happen over the last 48 hours, pull the Kobe jaw-out face, head to the gym and worked for something crazy like 8 hours sraight on his game. And he'll do that again tomorrow. And the next day. These 3 am-egos in Miami are justing fueling his fire.