2013 was peak LeBron but this Cavs team is the best he has played on. Specifically last years version.
Wade and LeBron only worked because of talent. As pieces it was never ideal.
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NBA Finals 2017 |OT| Same As It Ever Was
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Wade and LeBron only worked because of talent. As pieces it was never ideal.
I guess half of the league should retire then.
Vault Dweller 111
Member
You've come a long way since predicting Cavs in 5 yesterday. Lol
I want to see James and CP3 on the same team.
RareFantasy64
Member
Lebron isn't half of the players in the league. Is he content with just racking up stats and making millions for the next 5 seasons where he'll accrue more losses in the finals and not win another championship just because he has 3 rings?
If those black jerseys couldn't save them yesterday, it's over. Lebron looked like Love was the only person he could count on to do any thing. How do 3 starters for that team fail to put up 10 or more points in this sort of situation?
It wouldn't make sense at all. Kyrie is like a perfect compliment to Lebron on offense.
PadWarrior
Member
Battier was the heats iggy.
That was supposed to be Tristan Thompson, but if you mean a wing, someone who can make life hard on Durant and be good enough to not get Tony Allened on offense, that's hard to find. Does Ariza do it, or do you need more than that? Maybe Shumpert can do something offensively at home.
Lebron would trade the Cavs vets wholesale for one series of Battier. Dude would have a hard bound 500 page book on Durant ready before the post season even started.
Not sure Battier can check Durant. He would at least not let him dunk 9 times a game. Too much height though.
Can anyone in the league check KD if LeBron can't? Probably Gianis is the only one with a shot if I had to guess. Good luck finding a guy like that for the Cavs though.
Still a 2 way player who can cover space like Draymond and knock down 3s is the only improvement the Cavs can really make. Again good luck finding that guy. Not a lot of them exist.
Cleveland gonna ask KD to be their next chapter confirmed.
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
This is an insane statement. It's very far from perfect but to say statistics don't apply to sports or that probability gets tossed out the window is a very ignorant statement.
bigboss370
Member
get Westbrook on Cleve
I could see the Greek Freak giving him problems.
He is the only guy that has a shot. Not many 7 footers that can guard on the perimeter...
Vault Dweller 111
Member
But really how cool would it be if Curry went to the Bucks or something?
For the good of the league.
For the good of the league.
DontBeThatGuy
Member
True. You would have to clone him.
Actually thinking about it, Kawhi could? I means he's not leaving Spurs obviously but he could.
TheOfficeMut
Unconfirmed Member
If I was a player I'd say damn the league, I go where I get paid the most and have the greatest likelihood of winning a chip.
Let other teams figure out how to better manage and acquire assets.
LyleLanley
Banned
"LeBron should retire" is one of the stupider takes in this thread. It's rather impressive.
Ninja Scooter
Member
Dude is in his prime still, and about to cash in on a mega max deal that will pay him $30-40 million a year until he's 40.
But the L's! What if he loses next year! And the year after that? AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT.
LyleLanley
Banned
Why take all that money and more trips to the finals when you can just retire though?
PadWarrior
Member
Haha so true about Battier.
https://theringer.com/2017-nba-playoffs-finals-game-2-warriors-cavaliers-takeaways-7f860d8d146c
LeBron stopped attacking after halftime (he attempted just one shot in the fourth quarter), and the rest of the Cavs werent able to pick up the slack. Lues strategy in this series seems to be based on the belief that LeBron is a 25-year-old who can run and gun with the younger Warriors stars, not a 32-year-old who has to pick and choose his spots carefully. While James may get an extra burst of energy from the Cleveland crowd in Games 3 and 4, his endurance will be a key story line to watch if the Cavs continue playing at Golden States preferred uptempo pace.
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
I don't think his precious ego can take more losses in the finals. He's just that delicate.
LyleLanley
Banned
RareFantasy64
Member
He is already brutally raked over the coals for having lost so many finals appearances already.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-M518RMopM
A number of people can make life very hard for Durant, ask Tony Allen. The idea isn't to block his shot, that's impossible...
instead it's you that's blocked, no that's right. The point is people have made life hard on Durant before and Battier would be face guarding him, not looking to block his shot.
LyleLanley
Banned
By idiots though.
esmith08734
Member
LeBron retiring? He's still the best player in the league, though. Come on with these posts, lol.
That's all you can do but it's almost impossible to be left on an island against a superstar like KD. It's pretty hard for a whole team to stop guys like that.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-M518RMopM
A number of people can make life very hard for Durant, ask Tony Allen. The idea isn't to block his shot, that's impossible...
instead it's you that's blocked, no that's right. The point is people have made life hard on Durant before and Battier would be face guarding him, not looking to block his shot.
Put someone on an island with a LeBron, KD etc and bad things will happen.
LyleLanley
Banned
Durant has never beaten Smart in the playoffs. In fact, if my research is correct, he hasn't even scored a basket against Smart in the playoffs.
LyleLanley
Banned
Did Durant stay in the West because he was too cowardly to face Smart? You have to assume so.
Hyperactivity
Banned
Defense. Those Heat teams played defense and switched everything like they were post-playoff-switch-having-been-flipped Cavs, and did it well, 24/7.
But yeah this Cavs team needs one peak Battier ASAP. Shumpert and JR are their closest thing to 3-D players, Shump is meh on offense at best, JR has disappeared and is too small to guard KD
He took Lebron out at the beginning of the second when LBJ usually plays. Game 1 he was out there with a bench unit, was gassed, and Draymond/Klay/Bench stretched a 5 point lead instead of Lebron closing it. He also played Shumpert on Durant which was much more successful than the Warriors counter of Livingston on Lebron.
That's 2 very good adjustments. It was hard to keep track in the second half because it was all a non stop highlight until the Warriors buried them, but Lebron finished with 40 minutes despite sitting the end of the game. That's common to all of Lebron's coaches, when they're in the shit the answer tends to be more Lebron.
So you could nitpick at that, the bigger problem is the pace was off the charts both games. Maybe you slow it down despite Shumpert for Tristan making sense if Tristan is bad again. Maybe Durant fades, he's working just as hard after all. Maybe the home crowd and possibly a lead in the second half carries them. Shoot up Lebron with more horse steroids, send him to some extra hot yoga classes, I don't know.
You think Lebron really gives a shit? I'm not even a Lebron fan and I can't believe I have to defend him smh.
Dude doesn't give a shit anymore. Yes, when he first came to the league he had pressure on him. He was the supposed next GOAT, gonna win one for the land, etc. He couldn't. In part because he had a shitty cast. And he got "brutally raked" over and over.
So he went to the Heat. And lost. Brutally raked again and again. Then he won, etc. and went back to Cleveland.
Then he lost. Backlash was there. Pressure was there.
And last year he beat a (injured and worn down) 73-9 team. Pressure was off.
What's left for him? Tie Jordans rings? Tie Kobe's? If he doesn't so what? He's content, I think it's obvious. And this point he just wants to see how far he can go, what type of legacy he can leave. He's already breaking tons of records every year. If he loses to quite possibly the greatest team of all time, it happens. But Lebron isn't a quitter, if he loses this year there will be a shake up next year in Cleveland. And if they don't win next year expect more adjustments.
And maybe I'm wrong but I think Lebron actually enjoys basketball, and the game. Getting paid (to do what you enjoy) sounds pretty good to me.
Vault Dweller 111
Member
If it wasn't for the dreadful bench, I would've included the 2011 Heat in the rankings as well. MVP-Tier Wade and LeBron were so much fun together.
Gully State
Member
I don't understand why the Cavs would try to play faster. If you're going to play Lebron 40 min, you're doing him a huge disservices by making the game a track meet Keep the game close with defense, slower pace and play the whole shot clock.
Taking Tristan off the floor means it's West and McAdoodoo instead of Zaza and Javale, which is a big advantage.
It means Shumpert on KD. Lebron gets rest and he's able to roam and help, which he's great at.
But they also play faster small, which tends to happen. Has anyone even tried playing small and slow? Heat were bottom 2 in pace towards the end and the biggest guy on the floor was Lebron, Bosh just happened to be taller, didn't help him any getting run over on defense.
More Shumpert, maybe boot JR for him, but give Thompson another chance.
I dont follow NBA that much, but the little that I watch of KD made me always think of him as the Anderson Silva (on its prime) of NBA. He just does the things without effort, everything seems easy for him. Their style is so so so similar, I can't not notice it everytime. Now I see someone posting that the only one that could guard him is... a clone of himself. Just like Anderson Silva. The guy is a beast. They are.
I am now rooting for a 4-0 for the Warriors even though I like L. James (terrific guy!). Curry is another one that seems to be palying top notch lately. Hopefuly I will have time to watch one of the games live (not happening if it will be a 4-0 though).
I am now rooting for a 4-0 for the Warriors even though I like L. James (terrific guy!). Curry is another one that seems to be palying top notch lately. Hopefuly I will have time to watch one of the games live (not happening if it will be a 4-0 though).
Has no one in her pointed out the nice move/countermove done by Lue and Kerr?
Dray has his 4 fouls, Lue does the smart decision and puts Frye at C thinking Zaza would be put in
Kerr did a smarter move and put KD there, breaking everything apart
Nice to have a 7'0 SF who can play PF or C if need be
Dray has his 4 fouls, Lue does the smart decision and puts Frye at C thinking Zaza would be put in
Kerr did a smarter move and put KD there, breaking everything apart
Nice to have a 7'0 SF who can play PF or C if need be
Durant didn't join the Celtics because he knew Smart would be the MVP of that team. It all makes sense.
PadWarrior
Member
Yea KD is not fair lol.
I did this once in 2k lol.
Thats not how you spell Isaiah Thomas
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