NBA Playoff Thread

I don't know LeBron James or what he's thinking. But... no, no chance.

With most athletes, getting a big contract isn't about the money itself. It's just a way of keeping score. They are competitive, they want to be the best, and a max contract says you are one of the best. The endorsement money doesn't make that up.

 

Wow, just going to LA will net LeBron $50 million to 75 million MORE than he'd make off of endorsements by signing elsewhere?

Also, I laugh at the notion of Kobe being ready to play Robin to LeBron's Batman. If you think Kobe should be Batman in that situation, I laugh at the notion of LeBron playing Robin, too. Nevermind that the Lakers roster, unless totally retooled, will be total garbage in three years.

Also, Kobe and Pau Gasol are signed through 2014, and in combination with LeBron's max extension after the 2013 season (in your scenario), those contracts would suck up virtually all of the Lakers' cap room.

With the collective bargaining agreement expiring after either of the next two seasons, I'd argue that, if LeBron would entertain the idea of being a Laker, there's just too much uncertainty out there. There seems to be legit talk that the NBA will institute a hard salary cap, which would also put a wrinkle in your scenario.

 

Can't Cleveland offer LeBron the most money? I swear I saw a graphic on ESPN that said Cleveland can offer something like 125 mil over how many years and the other teams with enough cap room can offer around 90-95 mil.

 

Zippy chance.

 

You are right and its the exact reason why Wade will stay in Miami. Wade getting divorce and since they were married when he was in college, there probably isn't a pre-nup.

 

Oh Lord. Grow a pair, fanboi. This is what happens when superstars come up short. This is all part of the journey. It's funny how The LeBronettes feel the criticism of him is somehow unfair -- the same criticism that made virtually every NBA superstar better when they went on similar journeys. Kobe Bryant had to eat shovels full of shit for years before he earned the universal respect of people. Prior to that, Jordan got just as much grief.

If you want to wear the crown, if you say you're going to be a global icon, you can be teased a little bit when you lose in the second round of the playoffs despite the best record in the league.

 

He certainly failed in this playoff series. And, frankly, that's all many people are gonna remember about him this season. Ain't fair, but that's how it is.

 

If you sign off on a marketing campaign that is "We are all witnesses!" then you can take a little shit in return when we've all witnessed you get bounced from the playoffs two years in a row despite the best record in the NBA.

 

Facts: In Game 2, James was mediocre, in Game 5, horrible beyond belief, and in Game 6, just OK. The criticism he gets for this particular series is completely warranted. One point I will say on his behalf. The notion that a superstar makes the players around him better works in reverse, too. A collection of stiffs will eventually drag down said superstars performance. A star can make OK to excellent players better, but there's not much he can do to help a weak player. It was one hell of a lot easier for Larry Bird to make Kevin McHale a better player than it was for him to improve Rick Robey

 

Oh Noes! Only three more years of contention with this group!

But every single other title team stays a winner for years and years! The Rockets had no rebuilding to do a couple years after their titles!

Can't add much to the group smackdown of floridafandork.

I don't get why the Knicks are so easily dismissed as a landing spot for LeBron. LeBron and Bosh/Stoudemire would make NYC a destination for "I'll take less to play there" free agents.

Adande again:

http://espn.go.com/blog/TrueHoop/post/_/id/15905/you-cant-spell-king-without-kg

 

Cavs fire Mike Brown.

 

Defending the "it's all on the superstar" talk by saying "it's just what always happens" is a little lame, to me.

It wouldn't happen if sports fans quit doing it.