The Cavs without Lebron would win 20 games MAX Mo Delonte Wally Ben Wallace Big Z bench: gibson , hickson HAHAHAHAHHAAH
There are college teams that could beat the Cavs without LeBron. Being a fan of a team like that has to be so completely nerve racking. On one hand you have the best player in basketball and whatever hopes for greatness that come along with that. On the other hand you have a team whose success is COMPLETELY reliant upon that player's health in a league where all it takes is an awkward landing or bad collision to end a season. Uggghhh......thank GOD i'm not a Cavs, Hornets or Heat fan. (OKC, Atlanta and Minnesota to a lesser degree as well. All three teams would be lucky to win a game without Durant, JJ and Jefferson. In the Minnesota example that's already the case)
I can't see that team even winning 10 games without Lebron. The fact that the addition of a second tier point guard in Mo Williams was able to impact that big of a difference on the team just exemplifies how bad that lineup is and how little help he has had. It's like you're just finally giving him a decent player for some help and they explode. Gotta disagree here. In a superstar dominated league, I would gladly be a fan of the team with the best player in the game. No matter how bad your GM is, you know you will be in contention. The anxiety of Lebron leaving is a totally separate issue.
He's a great player no doubt, but Mo Williams isnt a scrub, Ilgauskas isn't a scrub, and Delonte West is a solid player. Their Bench players aren't that bad either. To Say that the Cavs record of 44-12 is only because of Lebron is completely wrong. http://www.82games.com/0809/STSORT18.HTM The Efficiency and effectiveness of their bench players ranks FIFTH in the NBA.
This is a very good point. It's really amazing that last night's game was the first time in his career that Lebron didn't have an assist. That's fairly routine for Kobe.
Please provide this list of all the star players who have won championships with less support than Lebron has.
Nobody said LeBron was the SOLE reason they are 44-12. The point is that team would sink into the lottery without him. The reason the other players are so efficient is because (SURPRISE!) they all play off LeBron. Playing with him is the best thing that's happened to any of their careers.
Anyone who thinks Cleveland would make the playoffs without Lebron is flatout delusional. The only way it happens is if you replace him with another superstar and even then they may make the playoffs but they wouldn't be contending like he has them contending.
Sure, it's great to have one of the top three players in the league but the point is you're always an awkward landing, bad collision or freak injury away from your season being ruined. The Cavs, Hornets and Heat are all toast without those guys. Just saying I would prefer to be in the boat where my team could at least survive without my best player. Championship aspirations usually go out the window in that scenario but at least finishing above .500 with your remaining talent is the goal I would strive for as a GM. That's a good indication that you're putting enough talent around your franchise player and as a Rockets fan I love the fact that Morey got that memo.
LeBron sure has a lot of fans here. I bet they would win 40 games without the mighty crustacean. Delonte West has been balling, Mo Williams is pretty damn good, Big Z still causes match up problems that few centers can deal with, and Wally can still hit the open 3 (and hit step back jumpers...but only against Hedo Turkoglu). Not to mention that they play pretty impressive D. Any team that puts that kind of commitment to D has a chance to do something, just ask the Rockets last year.
I'm glad you made the comparison to the Rockets. I think that without Lebron, the Cavs would be a lot like the Rockets were when BOTH T-Mac and Yao missed significant time a few years ago. And we all know how horribly that season went.
Without LeBron there defense wouldn't be that great. Not necessarily because LeBron is missing but the effort probably wouldn't be there because realistically they wouldn't be contending for anything. And they win 40 games without LeBron? Gotta be kidding me.
Forgot to mention this. You mentioned Wally's 3 point shooting. How do you expect him to get all those open shots without Lebron being there?
Exactly, the Rockets had just enough talent to always lose. But over the course of an entire 82 game season, things would get very ugly in Cleveland.
