BuzzerBeater Forums

LBJ's last 2 years in Cleveland:
*regular season*
'08-'09
CLE
81 81 37.7 9.7-19.9 .489 1.6-4.7 .344 7.3-9.4 .780 1.3 6.3 7.6 7.2 1.1 1.7 1.7 3.0 28.4
'09-'10
CLE
76 76 39.0 10.1-20.1 .503 1.7-5.1 .333 7.8-10.2 .767 0.9 6.4 7.3 8.6 1.0 1.6 1.6 3.4 29.7
..both MVP seasons...

...and post season

'08-'09
CLE
14 14 41.4 11.4-22.3 .510 1.9-5.8 .333 10.6-14.2 .749 1.4 7.8 9.2 7.3 0.9 1.6 2.1 2.7 35.3
'09-'10
CLE
11 11 41.8 9.6-19.2 .502 1.8-4.5 .400 8.0-10.9 .733 1.4 7.9 9.3 7.6 1.8 1.7 2.1 3.8 29.1

Those are incredible numbers MJ/Big O-type numbers. Bottom line is, LBJ wasn't the problem.....Dan Gilbert was the problem. And frankly, your expectations that players SHOULDN'T be worried about their brand is ridiculous given the nature of ANY business, but especially the entertainment business (e.g. NBA).

I understand as a Cavs fan you felt stabbed in the back...but just like loyal players like one of my favs Derek Fisher, felt stabbed in the back by the Lakers for letting him go, and eventually replacing him with someone the same age and worse D (Steve Nash) - It works both ways. Thats the nature of the business. There IS no loyalty. Only $$$.

*Quick Point* LBJ took LESS money to go to the Heat because he felt he had a better chance with Pat Riley and the Heat. So its also about winning. LBJ proved (this season) if you put REAL players around him, his team will win championships. Its just too bad Dan Gilbert didn't seize the opportunity of having one of the greatest players for 7 years.

Good luck this season.

Last edited by gfunkxxx at 7/17/2012 4:04:33 PM

Gilbert didn't have LBJ for 7 seasons, FYI. He bought the team a couple years after he was drafted. He inherited a team with very bad assets outside of LBJ. It took the front office a few years just to get rid of debts and turn the team around. By that point, LBJ was already dead set on leaving to be with his Olympic buddies and it made it near impossible to attract quality free agents to the team so they were forced with trading more future assets to acquire them. The Cavs were the best regular season team in the NBA in 2009/2010 and Lebron choked against Boston plain and simple.

My point was that LeBron was exclusively worried about his brand. It took him 9 years to develop any semblance of a post game with that massive frame?

LBJ took less money to go to the Heat because he wanted to play with his pals Wade and Bosh. Plus, he figured he would become an international brand on the level of MJ in the Miami market so he would make his money back. It was outside his thinking that he would be despised for the way he left Cleveland.

Finally, Nash is 10x the player right now at 40 years old than Fisher ever was in his prime, even including his poor defense. Lakers let Fish go in a cap move, totally different than Lebron leaving even though I know you only meant it as an example of no loyalty.

That is how I think of it as well, which is why I won't use the points until I am sure that I will get the best player in the draft (who will certainly be of more value than 210,000). I would say the top 3 players in any random draft generally sell for more than $200k. Plus, I value training my own players or at least American players.

I am not so worried about TKs 48k PG as I am his 40k PF. He is shooting 60% from the field on the season.

I love you...

my face when I saw this -> http://www.buzzerbeater.com/match/46066193/boxscore.aspx

:D

Gotta love coming back from camping and realizing that I not only lost both league games, consrquentally dropping from 3rd to 5th place, but also that I did not hit the set lineup button, so I not only lost, but also screwed up my minutes and ENTH. Sweet.

aaww... Atleast you had fun camping right?! :D

Last edited by Lemony at 7/18/2012 12:18:07 PM

Yeah. Not a big deal, I wasn't really even contending this season.

Kimble fouled out...I HATE YOU

I will never scrimmage with you ever ever ever again >:c

Last edited by Lemony at 7/19/2012 10:45:25 PM

Ok, so he had 5 years with a top 10 all-time talent (2 of which LBJ single-handed took them to the finals). It took him a few years to get rid of debts? Come on, man. That team started spending the moment Gilbert walked in the door. The just spent on the wrong players. Slow. Old players. (e.g. Illgauskus, Donyell Marshall, etc).

Also, you're saying by 2005 LBJ knew he was going to....but I seem to remember a whole 2009 season, plus summer (with the Decision being the culminating point) where there was non-stop speculation about where LBJ was going (or if he stays). The situation clearly played out in the summer when D-Wade (and Pat Riley) went out and recruited Chris Bosh first, then LBJ.
Dan Gilbert, in the summer of 09, had the opportunity to recruit Bosh and D-Wade and bring him them to Cleveland...and HE CHOKED! He blew it. And at the end, he released a vile public statement that showed his poor character and his contempt or lack of caring for LBJ's interest. Most owners would have been gracious for the 5 years, 2 finals, 2 mvps that the hometown boy gave him....but Gilbert (and Cavs fans) felt ENTITLED for LBJ to stay home and muddle around in mediocrity. It was garbage.

LBJ was an international brand the moment he stepped foot on an NBA court. Heck, his Junior/Senior year in HS he (his brand) was being exploited by Nike and ESPN (TV and Jerseys) as a TEENAGER! For an NBA player its all about your brand. You can be angry at it LBJ for playing 'the business game' if you want, but thats the nature of capitalism. Its me first. No loyalty anywhere.

You clearly didn't get my point regarding Fisher vs. Nash. Yes Nash is a better player. My point is that teams show a lack of loyalty all the time, and its deemed a good business decision and doesnt get the same character attacks that players get when they make moves in THEIR best interests. My example of Fish and the Lakers proves this point.

Also, speaking of Nash, its curious how he didn't receive the same kind of media attacks that other free agents (e.g. LBJ, D-Howard, you name em) get when they BAIL on their team to go to a winner. Not only did Nash leave, but he went to the Suns main rival, the Lakers. You talk about LACK of loyalty. It gets glossed over because, well...he's Steve Nash. Sickening.

Sorry man, missed your post. Life's been hectic.

Yeah, saying that he was going to win a 5,6,7, championships wasn't the smartest thing...but it was clearly hyperbole. Its like your kid telling you he's gonna be president one day. Wishful thinking. But hey, Heat have won 1 already, and could win several more before its all said and done.

I thought you were going to CT me for some reason