I could write pages about what's happened, and strangely I have no idea what happened at the core of all this - what's going on in LBJ's mind. Yeah, he quit. He already looked funny in game 4. He passed up a lot of wide open shots in that game. No one wants to see him be a majority jump shooter, but he passed up a few more shots than I thought was necessary. Last night he went overboard. He passed up everything: jump shots, drives, motion w/out the ball, defensive intensity, etc. I've seen little things here and there that have bothered me since the Chicago series. I thought I was being a typical paranoid, nihilistic Cleveland fan considering our history of pro sports. But somehow they all seem to tie together now. The Chicago series was too close. 4-1. But they were all close games, and for the most part Lebron had to have incredible games. I was not optimistic looking forward. Boston, Orlando, and LA would be much tougher. The role players looked just as bad as last year. There have been random quotes here and there from the Cavs. Role players saying 'as long as LBJ is a superstar we're fine'. Harmless, right? Probably. But if you want to be paranoid, you can read it as 'we're depending on LBJ to carry us on his back'. If he can't play extraordinary don't expect us to show up. LBJ w/ differing opinions than Brown in press conferences. Last night you see Shaq saying something to LBJ and he's basically ignoring him. LBJ needed incredible games in the Cavs 2 wins this series. Mo is who we thought he was. Shaq is a shell of his former self. Jamison has been here for 1/2 a season. So maybe all these things have reached a conclusion in LBJ's mind. Total guess on my part. Maybe he was fed up playing 1 on 4, the media scrutinizing his elbow (he's damned if he says it effects him, and he's already been damned saying it's not a factor...just look around this board). The fans complain about the team's effort this series, but obviously most of that is focused on LBJ. Everyone gives the team a pass because we've seen it before. LBJ might be tired of the double standard. He changed a franchise and even an entire city, but it's still not enough. I'm not excusing him by any means. When you lay down like that in a game, there is no excuse. But if I had to make a guess on what's brought us to this point, well this is it. As for the fans, there will always be over reactionary, immature fans. You can't say we're immune to it about the Rockets here on ClutchFans. It's frustrating hearing everyone suddenly come out of the woodwork saying 'this is the real Lebron' despite seeing otherwise over 7 seasons. Seriously? LBJ has made Cavs basketball relevant after those ugly Fratello years (that's a compliment to Fratello BTW, he did great work considering what we had). I won't condemn his entire career and what he's done just because of one game. Even if he tanks and leaves as a disgrace in the eyes of many, I'm thankful he gave another reason to watch my favorite pro sport played in my birth city since those Price/Daugherty days. But let me be clear, he tanked last night, and he deserves all the criticism he gets FOR THAT GAME.
What I absolutely hate are Cavs homers who think Ferry is a genius. Yes, you read that correctly. Many Cavs fans regard Ferry the way we regard Morey. And many Cavs fans think Brown is a great coach too. The reality is there's been a steady rotation of garbage in, garbage out. I wish the Cavs kool-aid drinkers would wake up.
I am highly disappointed in the Cavs supporting case, I really believed with the team they had assembled they could win the title but they are getting exposed for what they are. Game 6 will be one of the bigger games not just for Cleveland future but the NBA's because could/will dictate a major shift in power for the next decade.
Ferry is a terrible GM the fact that he won GM of the year last year for getting Mo Williams (overrated player as I said before) and the re-signing of Joe Smith pales in comparison to what other GMs have done. I mean if Ferry was such a great GM why the long holdouts for both Pavlovic and Varejao, he really crippled this franchise with a lot of short sighted moves. Even their draft pick last year they picked some guy out overseas and because he was a first round pick they cavs are limited in what they can offer him (unlike second round picks) and his rookie contract wont be enough for the buyout so its like they really just wasted a draft pick and really hampered the chances of this prospect to ever make the NBA unless he gets a very low buyout option in his contract, but if he is any sort of real player you better bet that his team will make sure his buyout is high so they can keep him. That right that just screams terrible considering that there were players on the board that could have helped the Cavs this year. It must be frustrating for cavs fans to see.
Professor Jay, does World Wide Wes really have LeBron under his control? I always thought LeBron was his own man and made his own decisions? If so, this would severly tarnish his legacy.
i actually was on a flight back from houston of all places and only caught the first half. he played the first half like he did game 2 where he was EXTREMELY hesitant once again. doesn't he know when he plays like that, his team sucks? however, my friend did make this same claim when we talked about the game later yesterday night: lebron quit on his team. if he did, it's a shame. but knowing how competitive he is, i wouldnt' think so. i think his elbow needs 2 days rest at least for it to be fine. and he's unsure how to go about with this elbow right now unless it feels really good. hopefully lebron shows up in game 6 and deliver. game 5 was easily one of the worst games of his career (in arguably his last game in cleveland too).
then he should eff those fans and go to another city. he has done so much for that city, but give them a championship and you know he wants to do that. if the fans are going to crucify him for one bad game, lebron will leave with no hesitation.
I have no idea, I never thought he did, but I wouldn't count it out. I'm continually amazed at the influence Wes has. What has always worried me is that Lebron surrounds himself with his core group of friends. That's fine, and it's great that they're all loyal. The problem is they're also very young and inexperienced in business and life. When you hang with Lebron that's a different type of reality and you aren't aware of all the sharks trying to bite a piece of his empire. I felt he was always susceptible to bad influences because he trusts his friends, and it would be a matter of time that his friends may be too trusting of the wrong person.
and isn't a coincidence his best game was in game 2, where he had 3 days of rest? they need to give that elbow A LOT of treatment please. no lebron = no win. this cavs' supporting cast sucks on a major level. the lakers/magic/suns/celts can all afford to have their best player(s) have C level games and more often than not come out victorious. this should tell you how much lebron does for this team.
wow if the supporting cast sucks how the hell were they able to reel off 60+ wins in 2 consecutive seasons (thats a large amount of games) and were able to be in first place? put just as much blame on him that his teammates/coach deserves for sucking it up in the playoffs when they need him most. Didn't they sweep through the first 2 rounds last year and got wacked by the Magic? Every year he faces lottery teams in the first round who barely make it to the playoffs...its almost like a first round bye. Dude just crumbled when the pressure is on...typical Lebron..did it in international play as well before Kobe got on board
LeBron has poor mid-range, you pack Gasol and Bynum inside and you take away his 75% offense. The other 25% being the pull up 3 pointers. A big Z is a perfect center for him. A bunch of sharp 3 pt shooters, take away double team. Cavs may not be most talented individually, but it's a perfect combination to help him get the stats. To win a championship is another story. It's hard to win a championship when you are a two tricks pony, and one trick isn't so reliable right now.
I don't know what's more surprising to me. That LBJ quit on his team or how much of a lashing his own fans put on him. I don't really like the kid much b/c of his showboating and his disrespect for other teams but to hear his own fans crucifying him to a point they want him gone is just rediculous and not thinking rationally. The Cavs wouldn't even be called a team without LBJ. With that said, his current team stinks bad. I'm not making excuses for him and think he should be criticized for it. But seriously, he is a 2nd option away from a championship which ferry failed to give him. Moo William? That's just laughable. They're comprise of some pretty good role players, but no true 2nd option...that's the problem. Having a bad coach who likes to have his assistance does all of the Xs and Os for him doesn't help either. One more thing. If he decided to jet for whatever reason, the Bulls is the best destination for him if he truely want to contend for a very long time. I'm out.
My question here would be... How would this type of situation change if Lebron was in New York??? Cleveland has done everything and brought in everyone they can to help him win in crunch time and he still cant pull it off. Sell out crowds every night.... They will give him a max deal and probably try everything they can to build more pieces. If he goes to NY then It will be the same song and dance...
Yea he should get a pass for having a bad game, but thats not the point. The point is it looked like he didnt give a damn rather his team won or not.
LeHype's fans are laughable. Cavs wins is because of LeHype, Cavs fails because, well, his teammates suck. Typical.
I'm confused the King should never b accused of quitting. U guys are giving Tony Allen no credit. He played Lebron as good as anybody. The guy choked when it counted. How can you blame his supporting cast when the SAME cast had the best record in the regular season. NOW its they're fault
