Classy. Disliking Lebron more with everything that comes out. I honestly started out with no ill will but now I just think he's a huge douche.
Riley should've anticipated what was about to happen if that's the case. I have to say that the Heat took the high road with Lebron who appears to be an egomaniac surrounded by problematic jock sniffers.
Apparently they didn't, due to what they were hearing from his crew. But even if Riley anticipated it, what do you do? You can't just renounce his rights. So he did the best he could given LJ's lack of commitment and hoped 4 years of Finals and 2 titles would be enough. For most players, it would've been. And maybe if Cleveland had actually hit on some of their picks, and lured a free agent or two the last 4 years, thus not having a way to clear the cap space, it's likely he'd still be here. It was just an unfortunate confluence of events.
The nugget I am interested in is Lebby's Gasol nugget.... I heard something about that, but never got any confirmation. it was just media rumor/speculation.
The "Heat brass were blindsided" bit is hard to believe. Stephen A Smith reported that Riley's "don't run" rant, which sounded like it might've been aimed at LeBron, came shortly after Riley was denied an in-person meeting with LeBron who reportedly gave him the "talk to my agent" kind of stuff. Add to this the fact that when LeBron did meet you in person he left without agreeing to anything. When you lay out all the stories in the timeline, it's very hard to believe they were 100% certain he was coming back. It just doesn't make sense. I think it was more a case of LeBron having all the leverage while the Heat had none. Their hands were tied until he made his decision. Him drawing it out held them hostage. What else were they supposed to do?
It wasn't clear what Dan was trying to say. That Gasol would've considered us if LeBron had spoken to him but LeBron wouldn't recruit anybody?
They certainly acted like they were certain. And again, if he knew he wanted to leave, fine. Just let us know sometime before July 11. It wouldn't have hurt him or Cleveland. They had that Jarret Jack trade lined up well before it was made. LeBron said nothing to inflict maximum damage on the Heat, who he knew would've been a major competitor had Riley had two weeks and $21 million in cap room. Maybe we get Luol Deng and Lowry. Or Deng and Greg Monroe. The bigger story here as we move away from the pain is how brilliantly the Heat and Riley responded to the hand they were dealt
Believe what you want to believe. The Fact is they were blindsided, Or they are some of the best actors anywhere. and you got your Stephen A Smith "report" wrong. Riley DID meet with Lebron face to face. The "Rant" came pretty close to after the exit meetings. Riley was denied a direct conversation with Lebron shortly after he opted out and was told to speak with Rich Paul.
Yet that is exactly how Riley proceeded into free agency; like a man oblivious to what was stewing inside his superstar player. It seems less than believable, but Riley seemed to not know how much LeBron had resented Mike Miller's amnesty, and the size of the grudge he carried about it. Riley also seems to have misread how LeBron simply gave up in game 4 of the finals and barely showed up in game 5. And, finally, Riley seems to have gone into this completely confident that forces favorable to the Heat (Dwyane, Bosh, Savannah, four straight finals) would outweigh any other factors for LeBron. I'm the farthest thing from an insider, and I have zero sources; but I am a devoted student of human behavior—forty years in management will give you that, if you're simply capable of shutting up and learning—and I do believe that Riley was 100% blindsided; whether it was when he finally began to realize the seriousness of LeBron's intent to return to Cleveland, or later when he got the official word. While I agree that James' way of handling the thing was douchey, I put the blame on Riley for not being as close to his best player as he is to Dwyane Wade.
I don't blame Riley for that at all, Lebron doesn't seem very approachable. I doubt he'll ever talk to Dan Gilbert again while playing in Cleveland for instance.
First, given all these "signs", do you think LJ's letter and reasoning for leaving is complete bs? Second, how do you know that Riley didn't try to get close to LeBron? I don't think LeBron particularly values relationships with management or coaches.
Well the good news is that Bronny still plays for Miami. He was in the AAU Fourth Grade Division I championship tourney this weekend playing for the Miami City Ballers.
I think the letter was a complete PR move so that general fans who don't spend their time on message boards with guys like Section (so basically 95% of fans) can't paint him as the villain and those who do as basically relegated to "bitter" or "angry" status.
I think if Denver put together a 4-5 year run like they did this year you could argue your point, but one great regular season isn't that special, lots of teams have done it and lost in a Superbowl. Buffalo's 4 year run was great, Denver's one year run? Nope, honestly I don't even think its all that defensible to call their run great, they lost in the first playoff game they played the season before and then lost one of the worst Superbowl games ever played. I mean that was 85 Patriots territory there. Sorry but I don't get the Marino comparison, if Denver is great for like 12 years I'll buy that argument but they have had a 2 season run with a 0-1 playoff run and a humiliating Superbowl loss, thats not greatness. Sorry it just isnt.
So if Denver had a 4-5 year run this years team would be great. Miami DID have a 4-5 year run but you can't say our team this year is great. Pick a side of the fence to be on....no offense intended. It's just frustrating trying to have serious conversations with you guys when we can't figure out what you even mean.
When you're the boss, if you want to get close, you get close. I know it's not Riley's style, but what I would have done was have a weekly session in my big office; me, Spo, B3, and maybe one other player, on a rotating basis. Plus, a different bottle of expensive hooch each week. Cater in some food. Call it a management council, whatever. But you establish a space in which everything is less formal, and anything can be said without repercussion. Grievances get aired, arguments get out in the open, ideas are exchanged—and that's the most important part—as a group, you get to know each other, discover motivations. More than anything, you pick up on what's unsaid, and you have a chance to draw it out into the open sometimes.
Doesn't seem like a Lebron thing to do. I could see Bosh/Wade loving that but Lebron just doesn't seem like that type of person.
I guess, but I think Riley is a "chain of command" guy. If there is a problem regarding on-court issues, you go to Spo. I suppose if it's not resolved at that level, it gets escalated. Even if they had done this, if LeBron's people were telling the Heat he was coming back then they had no reason to disbelieve it. After the season LeBron went on vacation and then almost immediately went to Vegas for his camp. Maybe Riley figured he just didn't want to be bothered while on vacation and was letting his agent handle things. In addition to the texts to LJ personally, I'm sure Riley told Rich Paul who the Heat was targeting and that Rich Paul told Riley he would get the message to LeBron.
LeBron said that he doesn't care about ownership/management or coaches. Just players. According to Lebby that philosophy was something that gave the Heat pause as stability of management was one of their key selling points. And it's proven to be true. Cleveland has failed ownership and inexperience at both the GM and coach roles, yet LeBron didn't care. Didn't even talk to those guys. The Cavs will either do what and his guys want or he has the sword of damacles over their head every year.
Word is LeBron and Riley never had much of a relationship from the beginning. Riley talked about keeping him at arms length. It doesn't seem like LeBron really ever cared to spend any time or even talk basketball with Riley from what I've heard. I wonder if Section can confirm or deny this.
Unless you're measuring ownership failure in terms of championships, I'm not sure how you can back up that the Cavs have failed ownership. Additionally, if that is your measure of success/failure, you can't really say you're a failure until all your opportunities at a title are exhausted.
Yea, if only Cleveland hadn't remained flexible in their cap in anticipation of a FA class that would likely include 4 of the best 15 NBA players (at worst top 15), one of which is not only the best player in the league but has strong ties to the general area.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11244244/maverick-carter-says-push-lebron-james-return-cleveland Maverick Carter gets his 15 minutes in the sun. "We" enjoyed it Maverick? Are you the Turtle, Johnny Drama or the E in this Entourage?
Actually you didn't remain all the flexible. You signed Jarret Jack to a large deal that you had to dump along with other cheap assets to open up a max slot. Had the Cavs really felt bullish about their 2014 chances (and let's face it, they should never feel so bullish, even now) they never would've signed Jack. Fact remains, if Cleveland was not available as an option, LeBron is probably still here, presuming that essay was at all true.
Lebron James, much like a lot of great athletes, Wade included.....complain...A LOT. It's hard to not just dismiss gripes as regularly scheduled BS.
Getting to four consecutive finals is a helluva accomplishment no matter how you slice it. Their place in history can be argued for days....in the end what does it really matter. They got 2 titles in that span, if Bron stayed it may have been more it may not have. Too many hypotheticals to work through. I'll say this and you can quote me, if Miami makes the finals this year it will IMO be one of the greatest accomplishments in NBA history in my time.
No **** Captain Obvious, it would be the first time that happens since the merger. You know..I would be really impressed if Aliens landed in my backyard and then made the next post for me on this forum.
wHo iS tHiS lEbRoN yOu SpEaK oF aNd iS hE yOuR lEaDeR? P.S. i aM nOt eMpErOr vOluNtIa froM tHe pLaNeT dOUcHeAsIA, i aM tHe eArThLiNg sEcTiOn 126.
I know this is off topic but does anyone else really hate the way ESPN covers the NBA? Their analysts were all completely lost on the Lebron decision, Brian Windbag was telling Colin Cowherd 20 minutes before the SI essay went public that Lebron was probably going to stay in Miami. The NBA Countdown panel is also absolutely awful, Bill Simmons and Mike Wilbon are horribly biased and Wilbon is a huge jock sniffer. Sage Steele looks visibly uncomfortable, she looks like she hates everyone on the panel. The show is terrible.
I think ESPN was waiting for Miami to react like Cleveland fans did back in 2010, they were drooling. I remember watching ESPN later that day when Lebron announced he was going back home to Cleveland, ESPN had a segment down here in Miami. They found a site with something burning in the background and multiple comments were made about "maybe they're burning Bron jerseys back there", and "call us back if they are burning anything OTHER than Lebron jerseys." Stupid Dan Lebetard gets on camera and starts spouting "they're going to be mad down here in miami, they are going to blame the coaches, they are going to blame the owner, they are going to start pointing fingers..." I'm relieved that everyone took the news in stride and isn't reacting like the sky is falling.
Vegas also takes into Account home court advantage for which Cleveland will be a very tough place to play, that fanbase is going to be pro-active inside the building to make noise, combine that with how their lower bowl is built relative to the court, it means it's truly going to be a tough place for opponents..
Those numbers are outdated, and winning teams make for a good home court. Cavs fans are as bandwagon as they come.
When the best player in the world knows in his heart he's out after the series, you might as well raise the white flag before it. Got started, he dogged it plain and simple..THATS why I don't like him, hell he even did it to your team 5 years ago. The competitive nature for which you need to beat a high caliber team like the spurs would have to be pure, that heart was spoiled sir..
