July 9, 2010 2:27 pm  |  111 Comments

The Aftermath

‘Detox’-ing from ‘The Decision.’

by Bryan Crawford / @_BryanCrawford

Pardon the Dr. Dre references but I just couldn’t help myself. Think about it, has there ever been anything more hyped and anticipated that (to date) has failed to deliver on the hype and anticipation than Dre’s Detox? Not until last night there wasn’t. And if you’re the type of person who believes everything they read in the paper and hear on TV, then LeBron James’ “Decision” to leave Cleveland shouldn’t have come as a surpLeBron Jamesrise to you. The burning of his jersey and his being hung in effigy shouldn’t have either.

Dan Gilbert’s reaction to it, well that’s another thing.

Personally, I thought it was pretty cool. We all imagine what owners say and think about players behind closed doors, but Gilbert’s comic sans scripted tirade—although clearly chopped and screwed—gave us a glimpse in to the mind of a billionaire owner who was pissed to see $200+ million dollars walk right out the door, all while giving him the middle finger…in PRIME TIME baby.

Tell ‘em why you mad, son!

So where does that leave us? The Miami Heat now has three of the best players in the NBA all on one team (Oooooh, scary!). To make room for this deal, they traded Michael Beasley to Siberia, er, Minnesota (sorry Myles), eliminating the one light-skinned, heavily tatted athlete with braids that Gloria James would potentially wink at; and the one person who’d be just crazy enough to wink back. LeBron can sleep a little easier at night knowing he doesn’t have to kill anybody in his new home now. Incidentally, I’m probably sure he would’ve tried to kill Delonte until Redz whipped out his guitar case and offered to play him a song first. So instead he settled for quitting on the Cavs and purposefully denying them a championship. And then just like that…he was gone.

Lots of people have said that with this triumvirate of epic proportions, the Miami Heat become instant NBA Champions. Well, if they had more than those three guys, Mario Chalmers, and two second-round draftees, I might be inclined to agree with that. There’s no question those three make up the core of what is sure to be the most talented and dangerous team in the NBA, well, once they actually have enough guys to call themselves a “team” anyway. But is this really a whip that puts all other whips to shame? I’m not so sure. On the championship side, history for the most part has not been kind to teams with three ultra-mega superstars, especially not ones all in their prime. But still, some are predicting multiple championships. I’m predicting a train wreck unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

Think Shaq and Kobe on HGH, the cream, and the clear.

And what about the rest of the League? Does anybody expect the teams who have the ability to compete to just lie down and tap out when Miami comes to town or when they have to roll through South Beach? I don’t. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers ain’t dead. Neither is Boston and Paul Pierce-and-nem. And you know Dwight Howard and Orlando will be pushed harder than ever by Stan Van Gundy who now haChris Bosh, Dwyane Wade & LeBron Jamess all the motivation he needs to try his damndest to knock Riles off his pedestal and rub his face in hair goo. Remember the movie Predator and those three dots you saw just before the victim got zapped in to smithereens? That’s what Bosh, Wade and James has pointed at them now.

And speaking of LeBron James…

His reputation, image, and brand will forever be tarnished. “Chasing” rings at 25? C’mon son. To quote Charles Barkley, “When I was 25, I wanted to do it by myself.” So by my count, that’s at least twice he’s quit something in the past two months. Game 5 in Boston and being “the man” on his own team. Seriously, can you really be called a King on someone else’s court? In someone else’s castle, uhm, “house”? Don’t they refer to it as “Wade County” instead of Dade County down there? Someone told me once (you know who you are) that when LeBron James embraces his inner sidekick, he’ll be fine. I took it as another “I hate LeBron” joke because even though I’m not exactly a fan, even I felt like he was either going to stay in Cleveland or go someplace where he could still be the focal point of a team, the face of a franchise, and lead them to a championship.

But I guess I was wrong.

Now, he really is less like Michael Jordan and more like Scottie Pippen.

After all, 3 + 3 does equal “6” you know.

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  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 2:45 pm
    Hater.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 2:49 pm
    We’re still friends, right, Eboy?

  • K.a. Posted: Jul.9 at 2:51 pm
    Lol at the delonte rimshot Tell em why u mad indeed :p

  • LeoneL Posted: Jul.9 at 2:54 pm
    On paper that team is scary even with those three guys. I’m not yet sure if they can win a chip together. Three all-stars, one ball.. <<<<<<<And look at that..

  • hangtime Hec Posted: Jul.9 at 2:54 pm
    Im I in the minority of heat fans that didn’t want Lebron James to sign with us?

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 2:55 pm
    Sorry, that’s the sad truth Bryan…..you would have had tears of ecstacy if he joined the Bulls, so stop your bulls*it. If you would have called Lebron joining three potential All-Stars (and then adding a 4th) in Chicago as a “step down” I’ll call you a liar. Plain and simple. You guys need to stop the pity party. You got a new baby don’t you, bro. Enjoy that….there’s nothing like it. I’m sure you are and that’s your focus. Mine too. Talking sh*t here is an outlet. You’ve proven to be a great writer writing about silly topics. Stop misdirecting your writing talents at the same subject over and over. He’s in Miami now…it’s his image, his life, his decision. If he chooses to be chided for it, so be it. He want’s to be “a Pippen” well, fu*k it, let him be that. Scottie had more pull and respect with 99% of the league that most everyone than his legendary teammate so I’m not sure where being “that guy” is such a letdown. You’re better than that. Maybe he’s not. I’ve sh*t on Kobe for years. It made me a “hater” because “he’s got the hardware”. Well, guess what, Lebron’s about to get some soon…..and maybe his first three can have astericks next to his as Kobe’s does cause he won’t have done it on his own. Time will tell.

  • Cheryl Posted: Jul.9 at 2:58 pm
    Listen, I can’t knock the guy for wanting to play with his buddies and try to build something they got a taste of in Beijing. This will work out for these guys and this franchise will be relevant for the next 5 or 6 years, at least. I am biased, I know, but I really don’t see why all the “he’s tarnished his legacy” stuff is so predominant. Shaq did it, and he’s still talked about as one of the greatest to play the game. With all his warts and shortcomings. After this dies down, all will be well with LeBron. And I’m sure he isn’t worried.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 2:58 pm
    And guess what, I still think the Bulls will be tough as hell and the Chicago/Miami rivalry is going to be epic, so indeed, we are still friends (if you’d allow me) cause I’ll like the sh*t talking interaction we can have with two much better squads to diss each other with.

  • namik Posted: Jul.9 at 2:58 pm
    The only beef I have with LeBron is that for someone with that much talent, its a copout to say “Oh hey I love winning SO much, I’m going to play with my best bud at his place because it makes me happy!”. He should WANT it to be all on him. Look at Wade, he sucked it up for 2 years, made sure he made it known he wasn’t happy with what was going on and then pro-actively made sure his team got better. That’s what makes legacies. I’m sure he’ll get a few rings out of this, but for someone who might just be one of the most talented players ever, this is a let down. And I’m not even a fan.

  • Old School Baller Posted: Jul.9 at 2:59 pm
    I saw their roster earlier and they look very thin outside of the Big 3. O’Neal and Beasley are gone. I also am not sold on Bosh. He is like the average chick who hangs out with Beyonce . . . she gets lots of attention from guys because of who her clique is (think Juwan Howard), but she can’t carry it on her own. This team as it is, is two years away from winning a title at best. Wade and Lebron are legit, but Bosh would get ethered by other power forwards deep in the playoffs.

  • Hussman25 Posted: Jul.9 at 3:00 pm
    Agreed @ Bryan! Especially w/ the Barkley reference! Wade-Batman, Bron-Robin, Bosh-Alfred… Hell get his rings but @ what cost??

  • Cheryl Posted: Jul.9 at 3:00 pm
    ^Count me in!

  • LA Huey Posted: Jul.9 at 3:02 pm
    You would have welcomed a 1x quitter to your team though. Sour grapes.

  • Zee! Posted: Jul.9 at 3:03 pm
    Nice article. There will be arguments on this move for some time to come. If Bron never wins, what will his legacy be remembered as? He sure as hell isn’t winning next season. And bottom line, if Bron really wanted to win, Chicago was the way to go. Hell, the Clippers starting 5 with him in it looked better than where he is now. Anyhow, like I said, great article Bryan.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 3:06 pm
    Actually Eboy, I was just trying to be funny. I’ve said many times that I would’ve taken LeBron but if he didn’t come it’d be no big deal with me. So there’s no sour grapes here if that’s what you’re implying. You guys got him, now let’s see what you can do with him. Unlike a lot of other people in Chicago, I’m more than pleased with Booz and I think we’re gonna beat up you guys anyway with what we’ve got. So let the (friendly) rivalry begin.

  • WangChung Posted: Jul.9 at 3:13 pm
    Damn…that Gloria James zinger is money. But please … bashing ‘Bron based on Chuck’s logic? Chuck did it his way, the ‘real’ way, and look where it got him.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 3:19 pm
    Relax Eboy, I was just trying to be funny, that’s all. What, you didn’t like my jokes? I’ve said all along that if Bron came to Chicago I’d take him, but if he didn’t, it was no big deal with me. Unlike many Chicagoans, I’m perfectly happy with getting Booz so you implying sour grapes on my part is false. Besides, I think we’re gonna beat up on you guys anyway with what we’ve got over here now. So with that said, let the (friendly) rivalry begin, sir!

  • red44 Posted: Jul.9 at 3:21 pm
    LeBron’s a ring chaser, bummer.

  • Cheryl Posted: Jul.9 at 3:25 pm
    Damn, Riley is the MAN! I’m just reading on the sun-sentinel that he’s working on a sign and trade with the Cavs for LBJ that will allow the Heat to be able to go over the “soft cap” and be able to sign Haslem, Wright, and Matt Barnes from Orlando, as well as Mike Miller. Now who’s the KING??? I think Pat just stole the moniker from James. Damn!

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 3:31 pm
    So, he wouldn’t have been ring chasing when he was contemplating Chicago, but he’s ring chasing in Miami?
    Nah, son was ring chasing no matter what, it’s just that most folks wanted the drama of him going to the Chi or NY and creating his own superpower, instead of joining the Justice League in Miami.
    If they win 7 rings together, ain’t nobody gonna frown at him anymore. Lol.

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 3:35 pm
    Cheryl
    You think Dan Gilbert will agree to that after the letter he wrote? He might, and if he does, Pat Riley is a FREAKING BEAST

  • peter Posted: Jul.9 at 3:35 pm
    Cheryl, the “tarnished his legacy” stuff in my opinion is more “changed his legacy”…i.e. he doesn’t want to be THE man on a championship team. Kobe wanted it so much people even claim he pushed Shaq OUT of town for that opportunity…it just changes things that’s all. If he went to Chicago, undoubtedly they have a great team, but no question hes the man. Miami is Wade’s team. He may win 10 championships as a pippen (and no one is arguing pippen didn’t have a great career, but he’s not Jordan…which was proven in 1995) but that’s not what he was expected to be. He was the chosen one, the King, the saviour of Cleveland sports. Things have changed that’s all.

  • WangChung Posted: Jul.9 at 3:37 pm
    In response to complaints that ‘Bron is a ring chaser, ring whore, etc.: Don’t all great players chase rings? Why make the chase harder for yourself? Ask Kobe how hard it is to win a chip. Just because the man is an unreal talent doesn’t mean that he has to necessarily take the harder path. Especially for a reason as frivolous as proving his ‘legacy’ to us Slam/ESPN weenies.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 3:38 pm
    ^Exactly @ Allen. Cheryl, don’t get your hopes up, Gilbert isn’t going to be agreeable to sh*t.

  • The Wize Posted: Jul.9 at 3:38 pm
    Funny shit and funny shit from eboy too. I am inclined to agree with you but it will be fun finding out if Triple Threat will be the new dream team. They may be short on players but won’t it be an attractive stop for all the journeymen out there? Stacked team + Miami (maybe minus the oily beach), sounds good to me (not that i am an NBA journeyman, just to make that clear). LeGone.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 3:39 pm
    Allenp, going to CHI or NYC would’ve indeed kept his status as “the man” intact and kept the pressure to deliver on his shoulders. That’s gone now in Miami. That much is very clear.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 3:39 pm
    @WangChung, unless you are forgetting how stacked the Lakers were when they won Kobe his first three rings, you’re talking out of the side of your mouth. Unless you are 18 and were only 8 years old then, that might be understandable.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 3:42 pm
    Bryan is full of it. He wouldn’t have been the man, according to you and many other Bull experts in the last few weeks, D-Rose and Noah are the second coming of Isiah and Rodman, so I’m not buying it. That IS Rose’s team…..Lebron would co-headline there to. Stop it. Unless everyone who said that they’d take Rose over Wade were lying too just a week or so ago.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 3:42 pm
    Eboy, I had a response but it’s not showing up. Short version… I was only joking. No sour grapes here. CHI will still beat up on MIA. Let the friendly rivalry begin.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 3:50 pm
    I NEVER said anything remotely close to that E. There’s no question Bron would’ve been the man here. None.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 3:53 pm
    Can I post comments if I can locate them that say otherwise? It’s your post, I don’t want to hijak it with old sh*t.

  • namik Posted: Jul.9 at 3:53 pm
    Anyone who said they’d take Rose over Wade weren’t lying. They’re just f*cking idiots.

  • Cheryl Posted: Jul.9 at 3:53 pm
    Whoo boy, this is gonna be a fun summer.

  • WangChung Posted: Jul.9 at 3:55 pm
    @Eboy: My point exactly. The point of my post is that slamming ‘Bron for taking an easier path shouldn’t be valid. Kobe got three with a stacked team, had a long drought in between, and two more with stacked teams. Stacked teams are a necessity to even contend (2006 Heat aside). Going to super-stacked teams might make your mission a bit easier.

  • namik Posted: Jul.9 at 3:56 pm
    Eboy, as someone who follows this team very closely, how do you see this working? Will there be an alpha-alpha or will they all just co-exist? And if there is an alpha, who is it, LeBron or Wade? Who gets the ball at the end?

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 3:59 pm
    I’m pretty conscious of what I say here E. But if you can find where I specifically said that Bron would be Robin to DRose’s Batman, be my guest.

  • peter Posted: Jul.9 at 4:00 pm
    Eboy, Rose is no Wade. Wade is unquestionably one of the top 3 players in the league. Rose is second tier at best. Chicago is immediately Lebrons team. Only players Lebron doesn’t supercede on a team? Kobe, Wade. Period. And aside from Shaq and Kobe (yeah they were arguably the best two players in the NBA), how exactly were those teams stacked? Unless you consider veterans and role players stacked. Oh wait, Isiah Rider was the next Jordan, my bad. (and I’m not 18)
    http://www.lakersuniverse.com/roster.htm
    http://www.lakersuniverse.com/roster2001.htm
    http://www.lakersuniverse.com/playoffs/roster2002.htm

  • Zee! Posted: Jul.9 at 4:01 pm
    Michael Jordan would have wanted to kick Dwyane Wade’s butt every spring, not play with him. This should be mentioned every day for the rest of LeBron’s career. It’s also the kryptonite for any “Some day we’ll remember LeBron James as the best basketball player ever” argument. We will not. Jordan and Russell were the greatest players of all time. Neither of them would have made the choice that LeBron did last night. That should tell you something. - An excerpt from a great article by Bill Simmons

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 4:03 pm
    So let’s see if my math is correct… Devalue Kobe for winning with Shaq. Celebrate Bron for trying to win with Wade and Bosh. Does. Not. Compute.

  • peter Posted: Jul.9 at 4:05 pm
    p.s. I google Lakers roster 2001…I have never been to lakersuniverse.com before I swear!

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 4:10 pm
    Bryan, you made that statement. If Kobe has equal credit for his three rings with Shaq, how is it Lebron would be short-changed for doing something similar in Miami? It’s the same argument on both sides.

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 4:13 pm
    I don’t think any reasonable person can say that Bron didn’t take the easy road. As one person I know put it, he became an opportunist instead of a competitor.
    That said, who knows how things will shake out in Miami.
    Say Bron comes in and transforms into Magic, except with Pippen’s defense. He runs the point in cruchtime and averages, 22, 12 and 10.
    Is he not the MAN on that team if that happens? I mean, everybody keeps saying it’s Wade’s team, but really they will determine whose team it is by how they play next season.
    I wanted Bron in the Chi, or maybe NY. Even NJ. I don’t like the Miami decision because they could have spread the greatness around and made the entire league more exciting. But, I respect his choice, and I’m interested to see how he uses the choice to motivate himself, and change his game. Seriously, he could turn into a true uber Magic right now, and that would be SICK.

  • j.deneer Posted: Jul.9 at 4:13 pm
    Why is everyone hating so bad on LeBron and his “decision”? Is it not the point of professional sports to win championships? Playing with 3 good friends and winning at the highest level would be incredible. If chasing rings is worse than going to another team and not winning, then I’m out. This team is going to make a serious run, and good on them. I think its more impressive that these 3 “franchise” players are willing to share the spotlight and play together, than be the “man” on their own team and try to lead an inferior squad to glory. These guys have it figured out, setting a great example for the youngsters, especially if they do win a few championships.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 4:14 pm
    to Zee……Michael did kick the sh*t out of all his “friends” in the league season after season. He’s now viewed as a co*ksucker for it and even brought their names up in his HOF speech to spite them for never being as good as him, according to the dummies who speak without thinking, claimed that makes him a bitter old bit*h. So which is it? Be friendly and go play with your boys, take less money than you could have got for being loyal and win some ringsand be a spineless loser or piss on everyone and their mother and keep being a prick even after you leave the game as you win your rings and make your legend? See what I did there? You’re quoting Bill Simmons too, you should never post here again, btw.

  • j.deneer Posted: Jul.9 at 4:14 pm
    I will say that the broadcast was as lame as it gets.

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 4:15 pm
    Wait, who gives Kobe equal credit?
    Kobe gets a lot of credit, but those were Shaq’s teams. Is that point up for debate in some alternate universe?
    People, we don’t know whose team this is, and we won’t know until they play some games. We have no idea who is going to kill next year and who is going ot struggle to get acclimated.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.9 at 4:18 pm
    Every Laker/Kobe fan, Allen, that shouldn’t have been hard to piece together, my man.

  • peter Posted: Jul.9 at 4:23 pm
    Allenp, i think credit for rings and whose team it is are different things. You can’t say that Shaq would have won those rings without Kobe and vice versa. They both may have not won a couple without Robert Horry or Fisher. But it was unquestionably Shaqs team. Miami is (as of now) Wade’s team. He’s been there 7 years. Lebron may be the best player on this new team, but its still Wade’s. Remember when people were saying Scottie had overtaken Michael (i.e. 1998)? It was still always Jordan’s bulls.

  • peter Posted: Jul.9 at 4:24 pm
    Eboy, you can be a fool. What has Shaq ever won without Kobe (or Wade)? He was the perennial king of being swept if my memory serves.

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 4:27 pm
    @ebay how could you say its equivalent to kobes first 3 rings…lets stop all the this only shaq shyt…like in the 2 pressing series with sacremento shaq was fouled out 2 games out of 7 in the series..you know who cleaned up kobe thats when we first understood why kobe and shaq will eventually have issues cause he noticed that he was the man..shaq just makes it a bit easier no lie…but this is no comparison three players at any night to have 30…i cant count on my fingers how many 30 point games this season gasol has had but im sure its not many …and if he was alone he would have more so that brings the balance between two players …but with 3 players its hard to see..and lebrons choice has lop sided basketball shyts not fun no more..however i do agree with you on one thing it would have been the same if he went to chicago and bulls fans would have love it!!!

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 4:27 pm
    Go read my 3:19 post E. He’s yours now so you have to defend him. I get that. Don’t wanna argue. This was fun for me to write, that’s all.

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 4:29 pm
    excuse me eboy lol

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 4:33 pm
    Peter
    Before this deal, did you think Bron was better than Wade?
    If you did, why would Wade become the “man” on the team simply because he’s been there longer? Was Amare the “man” on the Suns team because he’d been their longer than Nash?
    Was Paul Pierce the “man” because he’d been there longer than KG?
    Was David Robinson the “man” because he’d been there longer than Tim Duncan?
    Was Rasheed Wallace the “man” because he’d been there longer than Pippen?
    No, they weren’t considered “the man”. That’s because they weren’t the best player ont heir team, no matter how long they had been there.
    And next year, we will decide who is the “man” based on who plays the best.
    People seem to forget that, or rather they’ve decided it doesn’t matter.

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 4:35 pm
    eboy was wrong. The Lakers never had three players like the heat, although they were stacked for a while when Shaq was getting swept.
    But, Peter, Shaq was getting swept in L.A. with Kobe on his team. They were getting swept together, even if Kobe was a youngster.
    Shaq was always the difference maker in L.A., he’s the one who made defenses adjust the most. The fact that some of y’all deny that is pissing my off a little.

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 4:38 pm
    its almost blatant how you dont mention bosh…kobe and shaq is not a good comparison.. and the heat team will slowly become great proise that which will make it better than any lakers roster for that last 15 years homie…! next year i hope Melo go to the east on the knicks so he can play him more times a year and SLAUGHTER like he did this pass season…

  • slamfan4life Posted: Jul.9 at 4:44 pm
    Kobe was questioned for 3 out of the 5 rings because of Shaq, I wonder if the same is going to happen to LeBon………………….

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 4:45 pm
    @ allen p….first off the reason why paul pierce was teh best player …because hes usally the focal point of thier offense his ability to post or face up made him more of threat ussally to most teams..not that kg didnt bring the intensity but if intensity alone one games turiaf would of been had 6 rings….the reason why wade is better cause he already proved that he can go to the big show and perform….to be honest matters the way u look at it but wade played the celtics way better than your man quitting antics against the celtics…and the passion to carry your team wade has more fire!

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 4:55 pm
    Breeze
    The year the Celtics won a championship, Bron took them to seven, and gave them 45 in a Game Seven. Wade was just as up and down as Lebron against the Celtics, and was openly seen pouting during the series.
    Paul Pierce was not better than KG in 2008. I refuse to argue this. As a total player, KG was the best player on the team and it was his team from the moment he got traded. This shouldn’t even be a debate.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 5:02 pm
    So KG saying it was P2’s team was all for show, Allenp? The fact that you refuse to acknowledge that MIA is indeed Wade’s team and saying we won’t know whose it is until next season is the very reason why this is a bad situation waiting to happen.

  • Zee! Posted: Jul.9 at 5:02 pm
    Eboy, consummate sack licker that you are, i would guess you would miss the point of what I was saying. First and foremost, MJ will be viewed as one of if not the greatest competitors in the history of the game, and will be viewed as one of the best because of how he overcame the ass whoopins Detroit and New York were dishing him and worked harder and eventually rose to the top. You as someone who admittedly still has Jordans DNA residuals on your top lip should understand why this will always look kind of silly for Bron to do. But then again d-bags like you never make sense. And for half the trash you post on here, please stop breathing. Body yourself. And didn’t you say you weren’t posting on here anymore? You lame. How’d that Celtics prediction of beating the Lakers go this year? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Go blow a corpse.

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 5:06 pm
    Allen when you say his (team) is its cause he puts the best numbers are just cause hes the tallest one? how is it not debatable when you talking by a guy as in KG that never scores 30 never has more than 18 and 8 maybe 20 10 on a good night….if he was the undisputed best celtic player he would of got the bill russell award like the game you mention with lebron that he had 45 i believe i remember pierce having a great game 40 points with winning shots made..when it gets late in the 4th the ball goes to your best player and the ball sure wasnt in kg hands…they lost this series to the lakers because pierce was getting pressed by ron ron…im sorry i just dont agree with kg is teh best player.. and defiantly dont believe lebron is just teh undisputed best player ..why cause hes has mvps cause he alot more in season accolades…na im good with wade til im proven wrong.

  • vtrobot Posted: Jul.9 at 5:15 pm
    who will be the top and who will be the bottom? will bosh join in, or just watch? zzzzzzzzzzz. p.s. the C’s have been KG’s team since he arrived. i don’t care how long PP has been here.

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 5:20 pm
    yeah but wheres your facts behind the notion that its KG team like he doesnt put up better numbers ..how is he more important than pierce..like you cant just say whatever just cause it sounds good…i need facts details …cause without pp i dont seem them winning anything..

  • Earl Posted: Jul.9 at 5:23 pm
    1 Jordan (Wade), 1 Pippen (Bosh), And 1 Magic Johnson (LeBron). Cool! Why don’t people like this?? :)

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 5:25 pm
    If Boston was KG’s team then when they won the ’ship he would’ve gotten Finals MVP. I distinctly remember a number of you saying that was validation for LA being Shaq’s team when they went on their runs and for Miami being Wade’s team when he won with Shaq. Now it’s different all of a sudden. You guys are hilarious.

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 5:26 pm
    @ thanks bryan cause these dudes picks in chooses what makes a players validation… i dont say much but come on be real about it …

  • The Seed Posted: Jul.9 at 5:30 pm
    Great Article, hit key points and his legacy is tarnished. Kobe played a HUGE role in those 3 rings with Shaq. Kobe used to kill the Spurs and Kings who Tim Duncan dominated Shaq and Vlade Divac used to get Shaq in foul trouble. Shaq could not shoot any free throws, so handle the ball in close games in the 4th quarter. KOBE. Some of yall need to rewatch those 3 titles with Kobe/Shaq. If you rewatch each series you will see Kobe did his thing against the best of the west. People only remember Shaq dominating the East scrub centers. So Kobe gets shortchanged, but if you check Kobe numbers in the NBA finals with Shaq, alot of yall will be surprised. Go watch the games, then you talk, ask the Blazers, Spurs, Kings about Kobe in the playoffs. Even Chris Webber said Kobe was always the difference not Shaq. Shaq was dominate because East NBA Finals team centers sucked.

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 5:30 pm
    thanks bryan these dudes pick and choose when they want to consider players validation…like kobes not the best player of the last decade easily …and like paulp aint boston best player…and like lebron is the most famous player ever with out winning shytt…its wades team …live with that ..

  • vtrobot Posted: Jul.9 at 5:31 pm
    i’m not saying that PP isn’t a huge part of the C’s, and he’s actually probably taken for granted a little bit sometimes because he usually quietly does what he does (with the occasional proclamation to LA fans) and often against amazing SFs. i’m just saying that the most important C’s player for the 2008 season was KG. it would have been a totally different team and different atmosphere without him. even though i’d still call it “KG’s team” the balance is definitely shifting with injuries and age and i would say that RR was the most important C this past year. it’s not always about numbers.

  • Breeze Posted: Jul.9 at 5:32 pm
    co sign seed to ….you right re-watch those series in the west they would never got out the west….

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 5:42 pm
    Vtrobot, you don’t unseat a guy who had been the face of the franchise for 10 YEARS as “the man.” I don’t care if they brought in Kobe Bryant instead of KG, that’s P2’s team. Period. KG even said it during the intro presser. RR is the most important C’s player right now, but it’s not his team either. As long as P2 is there Boston is his squad.

  • Zee! Posted: Jul.9 at 5:43 pm
    I love how cats forget how Shaq used to foul out of hella games when he was with LA. And he would do it in the finals (vs Indiana) and during the playoffs. Who do you idiots think kept the Lakers in those games? Kobe. But whatever, keep hating.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 5:44 pm
    Same thing in Miami. Those guys came down there to play with DWade, he didn’t go to Miami to play with them. This is common sense guys.

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 5:54 pm
    You don’t remember me mentioning Finals MVPs, so I don’t know who you’re talking to.
    KG set the defensive tone for a team whose whole identity was based on defense. He was a bonafide superstar, who was willing “fit in” in order to be an example for everyone else. He was the vocal leader, the one who set the tone for how the team would play offense and defense. The fact that people are talking about stats to justify whose team it was is inane.
    KG was the heart and soul of that Boston team. Pierce was the better scorer. KG made that team great, not Pierce and not Ray Allen. I can’t believe this is debate.

  • TRUTH SYRUP Posted: Jul.9 at 5:55 pm
    SUCKER MOVE FOR LEBRON!! WHY PUT A CAP ON YOUR POTENTIAL? “NOW YA JUST A STATISTIC”

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 5:58 pm
    Breeze
    My comments had nothing to do with numbers. Look at the list I provided you, the players I named were clearly the face of the franchise, the undisputed leaders on the floor, even if they didn’t put up the best numbers. Being the man does not mean you have to put up the best offensive numbers. I means you are the one in charge of the team. The team’s success rests on your shoulders. The team’s total success.

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 6:00 pm
    KG came off averaged 22 and 12, and took a step backwards to fit in. But it was KG who brought that defensive attitude, while increasing his shooting percentage in reduced numbers and being the ultimate teammate. I can’t believe cats are going by stats.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 6:02 pm
    My last 2 comments shut everything you’re trying to sell about Boston being KG’s team down Allenp. And you’re usually the most accurate and level- headed person in these debates. Now you’re on a tip that’s just patently ridiculous.

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 6:04 pm
    And Magic got drafted to the Lakers.
    Kareem averaged more points and rebounds, but it was Magic’s team.
    Just because one player changes locations, like Scottie did with Portland, doesn’t mean they can’t be the “man.”
    It’s not just about stats, it’s not just about who was there first. It’s about who has the larger imprint on every game. Who is the obvious leader, who carries the load. And you can’t know that until they actually play some freaking games.

  • JTaylor21 Posted: Jul.9 at 6:09 pm
    Some fool said that pippen showed he wasn’t jordan by what happend in 1995 without MJ. what, name one chip that MJ won fron 84-90 by himself. None. Jordan couldn’t win sh*t without pip anybody who says different is MJs estranged mistress. Pippen in 95 had one of the best all-around years in L history and was a bad call away from going to the ECF and playing the pacers. So where are you getting at. People like to downgrade what pip did just to gas up MJ even more. the man doesn’t need anymore ballsuckers okay.

  • Allenp Posted: Jul.9 at 6:11 pm
    Byran
    Your argument boils down to “he’s been here longer, and he has better stats.”
    I’m saying that’s a BS way to determine who is the leader and “man” on a team.
    It’s fine if you disagree, it doesn’t bother me. We have different standards on how we determine a team’s leader and who is the man. I don’t think longevity and stats outweigh what I actually see about team chemistry and who is the alpha dog when watching team’s play, and I think the same thing has been true every year that KG’s played in Boston.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.9 at 6:24 pm
    Allenp, I never brought stats into my argument. Sure, KG brought an element of toughness that’s was needed in Boston, and Ray Allen was a sniper that every team needs. But P2 was/is the face of the Boston franchise long before those guys came. Therefore, it’s his team. Nobody says “Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics.” That’s my argument.

  • brill Posted: Jul.9 at 7:53 pm
    i believe SLAM listed pippen as top 50 of all time. men lie women lie numbers dont. kobe wasnt facing massive double teams because shaq was. its crazy how four yrs ago ppl were bashing kobe but now somehow he is the model for whats ‘right’ in the league. and all this talk about lebron taking the easy way out is crazy too. all those lakers and boston teams were stacked to the brim with talent. jordan had a fellow hall of famer to run with. and i dare anyone to say jordan would’ve one without pippen. and history wasnt kind to kobe when he pushed shaq outta town only to be the suns whipping boy. how can a whole nation change their opinion on a person in a hour. lebron didnt commit a crime! he did what he thought was best for himself. the cliche ‘only god can judge me’ fits so well here.

  • Chi - O Posted: Jul.9 at 7:54 pm
    I’m a fan of basketball which makes me a fan of Lebron’s skills. What I hate is the package he’s been presented as and the 1990 WWF characteristic/antics he pulls. This “Decision” put an exclamation mark on the person I thought he was and will probably be a better fit for him. He’s not the King but rather a musketeer. He has the physical ability and talent to hold the King title, which is why people were fooled, but Lebron doesn’t possess the inner makeup… Yet. He should excel in this new role by being able to defer to others. His fans will say see he’s the best b/c he made a cold assist, actually he just passed up the taking the winning shot on a team where he would be considered “the man”. Taking that shot as the Man a la Kobe, M.J., Bird, R. Miller means you got the ball and 75% will take THE SHOT which the other team must figure how to stop. Lebron still may have the ball, and I’m sure will hit some of those shots, but he will be more of the We Man than The Man. If things go right and Lebron stays health he should end his career as one of the best players/teammates in the league history. Maybe later in his career when he’s tired of acting amazed at every reverse layup and wants to be ranked with most dominate winners he’ll shift into “The Man” role. Only time will tell.

  • LetsGetIt Posted: Jul.9 at 8:17 pm
    @Bryan Crawford. Dont even bother explaining yourself you’ll never get through to these people. Bron F-ed up. Yea theres a chance they’ll maybe win a title but as far as his legacy he’ll won’t be playing to his potential (I bet his numbers would have been better than Mike’s when it’s all said and done) and neither will DWade. They both will have to dumb-down their skills beacuse they’re both play makers who have had they ball in their hands for the last seven years. I just don’t see this working out at all

  • dell harper Posted: Jul.9 at 11:22 pm
    can i get an allen iverson as a 6 man?!!? where’s al davis when you need him???

  • dell harper Posted: Jul.9 at 11:24 pm
    this is gonna be really good or really bad. jordan era bulls good or portland jailblazers bad.

  • bill breedley Posted: Jul.9 at 11:38 pm
    funny how cleveland gave lebron everything he wanted and still couldnt deliver. a relatiely decent guard in mowilliams, second scorer in tawn and the third best center in the league in shaq. gilbert even gave him a yes man coach so he could control everything. boy just could not deliver. funny how everyone said every year they were the favorites and were stacked, but everytime there was a letdown the team was full of holes. finally the cavs fans have realied the biggest hole in their team was the one in ledouche’s chest. boy just didn’t have heart. he never had the genes that runs in mj, kobe, bird and magic. lebron is the second coming indeed of the doctor. superhuman skills and the flare to fill the highlight reel but nothing really more than that when the powder clears up. being the best showman and the best player are two different things. hate the cavs but got to pity how ledouche treated that city

  • dell harper Posted: Jul.10 at 12:06 am
    will his image really be tarnished? think about it: lebron actually has the chance to average a triple double next season. he may coast with a 20 10 and 10 but you can bet he’s gonna give the cavs 40 plus. wade, bosh and james’ field goal % may all go up 2 to 4 points next season. they gotta get some complimentary pieces, which is probably gonna be the hardest part. you know who the pressures on? coach eric. if they hovering around .500 come allstar break pat gonna rick james catdaddy. this is scary. south beach may legalize prostitution with all the partyin’ that’s gonna be goin’ on down there.

  • James Posted: Jul.10 at 4:10 am
    everybody is crazy lebron is not running away from anything he wants to win the cavs sucked their roster was horrible kobe couldn’t win a tittle with that roster when kobe had a roster like that in 04 he won 34 games lebron won 60 games 2 years straight….and he isn’t going to be the sidekick to wade he is going to be like magic johnson doing everything….no one can stop that man end of story

  • franc Posted: Jul.10 at 5:58 am
    go s*ck a c*ck bron!
    im just here to hate!
    LoL!

  • T-Money Posted: Jul.10 at 6:20 am
    It was widely agreed amongst sport writers that Bron was better than Wade before Thursday night and somehow that has changed? You can say that Wade is the face of the franchise because he’s been in MIA longer but he can’t be the man of a team that doesn’t exist yet. Let the games play out.

  • larrylegend Posted: Jul.10 at 7:08 am
    Dr. Dre references r never a bad thing…

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.10 at 7:23 am
    T-Money, those guys didn’t go to Cleveland to play with LeBron, they went to Miami to play with Wade. When they step into the arena and look at the championship banner that’s hanging in the rafters, who put it there? End of discussion.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.10 at 7:35 am
    T-Money, had they all went and played in NY or NJ, then you’d have a better argument. Like Lil Wayne said, “I be sitting courtside in DWYANE WADE’S HOUSE.”

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.10 at 7:42 am
    Uhm….wow, that’s a part of it Bryan but if you think THAT is the only thing that made them choose Miami, then your jaded views about Lebron are clouding EVERY other factor that played into hos decision. I SAW what the presentation was going to be to these guys a week before the draft (yes, I have a connection to the franchise that put me on to it) and there wasn’t any way that these three cats weren’t going to make this place their home….Pat had that lined up and the one championship banner that hangs there was secondary in the pitch to what they were (are) trying to create for them. I think the long-term results on and off the court are going to shut down everyone but the fanboys criticisms by the end of year two, but we’ll see.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.10 at 7:59 am
    A giant hanging mural of Bron & Wade, right, Eboy? Yeah, I know. You told me. But again, Wade recruited them to come to HIS team. “This is my house”, “Wade County”, come on man. You of all people should get what I’m saying in this regard. That is unless you want DWade to step aside and let Bron take over as the face of Miami? I’m not saying that would necessarily be a bad thing down there for the franchise, but it’ll create dissension and you know what that means, right? No rings. Why? One, because of the in-fighting and two, we all know Bron can’t deliver those.

  • Eboy Posted: Jul.10 at 8:13 am
    No, not the mural, B. And I do get what you’re saying. History has been forgiving to athletes that were criminals so I think there’s still time for a 25 year old superstar to change some perceptions.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.10 at 8:14 am
    Look Eboy, I don’t wanna come off as a hater here. I have no beef w/Miami. You guys have one of Chicago’s finest down there and I’ve rooted for them from the day he set foot there. That said, I’m actually conflicted about this. I want Wade to do well and get as many rings as possible. At the same time, as you know, I don’t like LeBron. So the Miami bandwagon, I cannot and will not ride. I’m forced to root against you guys even though I don’t really want to, and I hope you understand why. But from a purely basketball standpoint, any two of those guys would’ve been great, but all three I think kills it. Time will tell, and we’ll certainly be discussing this down the line.

  • Eduardo Posted: Jul.10 at 8:36 am
    I’m an LBJ fan and must admit, if Kobe had this same Cav’s team he would have won a championship. He’s jut got more desire to win and if his team mates aren’t picking up he’ll let them know about it. Everyone’s saying that Dan Gilbert should have surrounded LeBron with better players, you don’t get the best record in the league 2 years in a row with a bad supporting cast. It’s not like LeBron was surrounded like McGrady’s Magic in 02-03, KG’s Timberwolves for most of his career excluding 04, Pierce’s Celtics for his first 10 years. LeBron was always continuously getting built around, which people don’t understand. Dan Gilbert invested in Special Training Facilities, hand selection of team mates just to keep him happy, and more… that we all probably never would have know of. Can’t blame the guy for leaving to recapture his high school Family feel of play and to win it with good friends, and respect his championship reasons, just really disappointed that he made a spectacle of what deep down inside he already knew he was leaving. And to do that on National TV on a 1hr Special. It’s sad to see that LeBron’s last few games seemed like he gave up on the team because he didn’t want to win a Ring then leave the following season. Kobe on the other hand would have shot that ball every single time he touched it to try to make his team win to compete against the best! From a sad LBJ fan.

  • Eduardo Posted: Jul.10 at 8:42 am
    Cav’s fans may have a glimmer of hope though. It’s ironic that when a great player all of a sudden leaves to join better team mates in their prime their former team actually does quite well in the future. Grant Hill left Detroit in 2000 and happened to win it all in 2004. McGrady left the Magic in 03/04 and look at how great they’ve become. Marbury left Phoenix. It’s unfortunate to say that these players while in their prime when they left also diminished quite fast. So you never know Cav’s “The Real Chosen One”, might be just a few years away. Will actually be quite cool because it will almost seem like a real life sports play of Star Wars if that happens.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.10 at 8:49 am
    You’re right on the Star Wars reference, Eduardo. LeBron James just became the Anakin Skywalker of this ish.

  • T-Money Posted: Jul.10 at 12:20 pm
    If Kobe was on the Cavs they would have never had the best record in the L and they would have exactly the same number of championships that they have right now. You can argue until you’re blue in the face but it is what it is. / Bryan: you’ve described why Wade is the FACE of the team. But what if LeBron outplays him next year and is more vocal, still Wade’s team? There’s a reason why LBJ was the #1 FA, he was better than Wade before Thursday and he is better than Wade today. They joined an EMPTY team because they had decided to all play together. There’s not another team in the League that could have created the cap space for all 3, not even Chicago or NY. Let the season play out, if it’s Wade’s team ON the court then it’s Wade, if it’s Bron then it’s Bron. I couldnt care less about their legacy and their image and how their carrer paths can be compared to Jordan’s, I’m talking basketball. (BTW, as Jukai pointed out Kevin McHale was asked if Bird would have accepted to play with Magic and he said that he didn’t know, that it was hard to say…) / One last thing: rings cure everything. Big deals, career defining events become trivial when you start stacking.

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.10 at 1:08 pm
    T-Money, I’ve made it a point moving forward to not argue with commenters with no common sense. So this is my last response to you… Miami was not an EMPTY team. NJ was, NY was, but DWade wasn’t going anywhere. LeBron is his sidekick now and whatever happens ON the court it’s still Wade County and Dwyane Wade’s house. That’ll never change unless they send him packing. There can only be one Alpha. There’s a reason why there’s only one Silverback Gorilla per tribe. DWade is the Alpha and if Bron tries to be too, there will be problems. But, he’s not an Alpha anyway and this move proves it. And If you don’t care about legacy, etc, that’s fine, I’m sure you’re not alone. But if they do win it all, whether 1 or 6, if Kobe gets an “*” because of Shaq, then Bron does too. His apologists will be OK with whatever he does, but the realists will continue to call a spade, a spade. It’s certainly not too late for him to repair his image from the damage this spectacle has caused, but it’ll never be forgotten. Gone…

  • hoopistani Posted: Jul.10 at 1:14 pm
    bryan’s hating indeed, but it’s still the truth

  • Bryan Crawford Posted: Jul.10 at 1:16 pm
    Oh yeah T-Money, one last thing… DWade has already referred to them as “Roomates who can help clean up and help pay the bills.” He’s not relinquishing his house to anybody. Sorry…

  • ciscokid707 Posted: Jul.10 at 2:25 pm
    Who cares “who’s house it is” we as fans are the ones dubbing it “Wade County” or Lebron as “King”. Aside from getting paid, every player in the NBA cares about WINNING, bottomline. Every pathetic Cavs fan is acting like a psycho ex girlfriend, burning his jersey, taking down murals of him. I’m glad he left Cleveland for the mere fact that the fans tried to throw a guilt trip at him to try and get him to stay…..Pathetic. This is professional sports….there is no loyalty anymore. More power to him!!! I hope it works and he finally gets his ring!!

  • J-Bird Posted: Jul.10 at 4:05 pm
    Lebrons daddy DWade promised him a championship, ha ha!!

  • T-Money Posted: Jul.10 at 7:51 pm
    The silverback gorilla argument is a sophism. Just because that’s the way it is for gorilla tribes doesnt mean it have to be this way for a basketball team. I’m not saying that James WILL be the leader or even that there will be a clear leader or that Wade can’t be the leader. What I’m saying is that we don’t know. This is a brand new team with the same uniforms. Let the games play out. Wade will be on more billboards (at least at first) but then it’s going to be about on court performance (and it might STILL be Wade but time will tell)

  • Eduardo Posted: Jul.10 at 11:47 pm
    If it’s about Rings Chicago had the best chance right now and for the next 4-5 years. Even they said it will take time to build this team. But they are a massive threat though for the title. Hopefully none get injured as otherwise that will crumble their hopes as they’ll have no other players outside of this elite 3. I like the Heat but I can imagine Kobe right now relishing the thought and potential to beat this team as to him it’s more about the competition of beating better players and to be the best. All the best to them.

  • Eduardo Posted: Jul.10 at 11:50 pm
    Always thought Chicago would have been the better place business wise too. Even to a none NBA Fan people refer to Chicago as basketball because of Jordan. When I think of Miami and when the common person thinks of Miami they think of Beaches, Cocaine Cowboys, and Will Smith “Miami”. Maybe the movie role that James was going to appear in was the next Miami Vice.

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