LeBron's decision was a smart one.

He no longer has to carry 90% of the load. The role players on Miami are all better than the starters he started with on Cleveland. His goal is to win championships, so this was the smartest career move he could have made for himself. It's clear that's all he wants too, otherwise he wouldn't have left. I'm sure he knew he would be hated for switching teams, but to a man that just wants championships, that shit doesn't matter. I'm truly happy for the man now that a lot of it is said and done.

Also take note how every other superstar that traded to other teams didn't get half the shit he got for leaving. CP3 to play with that deep squad, Howard got some shit for going to LA.

he's just lucky he doesn't have to play the rockets cause we'd crush his dreams.:D

It might have been the right decision. But he did it the wrong way.

Clearly it's easier to win a Championship with Wade and Bosh. But his success is not as meaningful as it would have been had he managed to do it in Cleveland. He's accomplished a great deal and I absolutely don't want to sound like I'm belittling winning Championships and MVPs no matter the team you do it for. But he himself is not the hometown hero in Miami like he was as a Cav. He wasn't just a ballplayer there, he was a pillar of the economy that people depended on, a symbol of hope for a state that wasn't just down in sports but in life. He will never be as socially and economically as significant as he could have been and to me that's the missed opportunity.

And just on the court, I prefer to see more competitive spirit in superstars. HE should have been looking to surpass Wade's ring count, not enhance it.

Certainly doesn't make him a bad guy and I'm not judging him as such I just feel like he could have been a lot more significant than he is/will be, even though he is and will be an all-time great.

[QUOTE=NBAller]He no longer has to carry 90% of the load. The role players on Miami are all better than the starters he started with on Cleveland. His goal is to win championships, so this was the smartest career move he could have made for himself. It's clear that's all he wants too, otherwise he wouldn't have left. [B]I'm sure he knew he would be hated for switching teams[/B], but to a man that just wants championships, that shit doesn't matter. I'm truly happy for the man now that a lot of it is said and done.[/QUOTE]

i dont think he had any idea of the vitriol that would come his way. no idea.

Funny, how getting role players to play for you is an easy task for him now. That shows how was Cavs' FO pathetic.

that remains to be seen


if he won a title and finals mvp in cleveland during a real season and not a lockout. it would be worth 50000000 times as much


i think he would have gotten atleast one there.... if he wins a few more in miamia and atleast one without wade... then itel be a good decision

Great, he won rings.

But I don't he will get any respect or appraise for it. This year they will win. So what? Ain't nobody's impressed.

Congrats Lebron, you sabotaged your own career. Have fun with those rings.

[QUOTE=Real Men Wear Green]Clearly it's easier to win a Championship with Wade and Bosh. But his success is not as meaningful as it would have been had he managed to do it in Cleveland. He's accomplished a great deal and I absolutely don't want to sound like I'm belittling winning Championships and MVPs no matter the team you do it for. But he himself is not the hometown hero in Miami like he was as a Cav. He wasn't just a ballplayer there, he was a pillar of the economy that people depended on, a symbol of hope for a state that wasn't just down in sports but in life. He will never be as socially and economically as significant as he could have been and to me that's the missed opportunity.

And just on the court, I prefer to see more competitive spirit in superstars. HE should have been looking to surpass Wade's ring count, not enhance it.

Certainly doesn't make him a bad guy and I'm not judging him as such I just feel like he could have been a lot more significant than he is/will be, even though he is and will be an all-time great.[/QUOTE]

:applause: great post

He's playing alongside 2 top 15 players in the league, 2 other all star starters. Not to mention the career leader in 3pters in Ray Allen along with superb role players in Battier & Chalmers.

This HEAT team is more stacked than any championship team in the past 15 years.

[QUOTE=TheMarkMadsen]He's playing alongside 2 top 15 players in the league, 2 other all star starters. Not to mention the career leader in 3pters in Ray Allen along with superb role players in Battier & Chalmers.

This HEAT team is more stacked than any championship team in the past 15 years.[/QUOTE]

And their offense and defense are still entirely dependable on him.

For example Bosh/Wade (without James) combo is net negative. One would say that two top 15 players + 3 great role players would be able to be at least somehow positive.

[QUOTE=TheMarkMadsen]He's playing alongside [B]2 top 15 players in the league[/B], [B]2 other all star starters[/B]. Not to mention the career leader in 3pters in Ray Allen along with superb role players in Battier & Chalmers.

This HEAT team is more stacked than any championship team in the past 15 years.[/QUOTE]

Why're you counting Bosh and Wade twice?

[QUOTE=Real Men Wear Green]
Certainly doesn't make him a bad guy and I'm not judging him as such [B]I just feel like he could have been a lot more significant than he is/will be, even though he is and will be an all-time great.[/B][/QUOTE]
Disagree. Bird, Magic and MJ all won with stacked teams. Olajuwon and Dirk who won with much inferior supporting cast definitely isn't seen as great as these guys were.

This is no longer a debate really. Miami had better talent, a better organization and simply a better city.

[QUOTE=Trollsmasher]Funny, how getting role players to play for you is an easy task for him now. That shows how was Cavs' FO pathetic.[/QUOTE]


- reigning DPOY Ben Wallace?.....Shaq?.....Jamison?....

- when Cavs picked up Jamison ( allstar caliber player who played great against the Cavs in the playoffs).....everyone said it would put Cleveland over the top and easily make them Championship contenders..

- and it did!!!...they won 66 games and lost to the ECChampions in the ECFinals! in a close series.( lost 1 game by 1 point and another in OT)

- Cavs had a great team.....and were close to winning a title.....until Lebron left.

[QUOTE=HoopsFanNumero1]Why're you counting Bosh and Wade twice?[/QUOTE]
He meant Westbrook and Durant last year:pimp:

Leaving Ohio for Florida is pretty much always a sound decision.

[QUOTE=TheMarkMadsen]He's playing alongside 2 top 15 players in the league, 2 other all star starters. Not to mention the career leader in 3pters in Ray Allen along with superb role players in Battier & Chalmers.

This HEAT team is more stacked than any championship team in the past 15 years.[/QUOTE]

So ****ing what? If they switched LeBron with you, they'd be significantly worse. Have some respect.

[QUOTE=kennethgriffin]that remains to be seen


if he won a title and finals mvp in cleveland during a real season and not a lockout. it would be worth 50000000 times as much


i think he would have gotten atleast one there.... if he wins a few more in miamia and atleast one without wade... then itel be a good decision[/QUOTE]

lmao, what?

It'll be a good decision if he wins one without wade? . they teamed up with the same goal in mind and that's to win championships. that was the decision, how the **** is that even close to being a bad decision?

The man wants championships, he doesn't want to be your ideal basketball player that you think all superstars should be.

If his supporting cast in cleveland didn't suck so much he probably wouldn't have left.

[QUOTE=Trollsmasher]And their offense and defense are still entirely dependable on him.

[B]For example Bosh/Wade (without James) combo is net negative. One would say that two top 15 players + 3 great role players would be able to be at least somehow positive.[/B][/QUOTE]
Who cares about that +/- shit. What's their record without any of their superstars?

should have signed with Dallas

Cavs would have traded him.

wont get respect from real bball fans. leshortcut is a hoe

[QUOTE=pegasus]Who cares about that +/- shit. What's their record without any of their superstars?[/QUOTE]

What was Clevland's record when he was out and what's Miami's record when he's out?

Yes it was. People will say it hinders him by teaming up but it actually is making him even bigger by doing so. Even with the talent he plays with, he is still considered by and far the best player in the world. He is playing out of his mind. People wondered whose team it would be but he has clearly taken this team. He is the leader. He is dominating the game and playing it right. How he left will always be sour but in just a few short years, most people are starting to forget how he left. Winning heals all and the more titles he wins, the less people will care how he left (except Cavs fans)

I thought this thread was going to be about LeBron's decision to start wearing 3 headbands instead of 2.

He should've won in 2010, and definitely would've won a few around this time if he stayed in Cleveland. Look at how weak the East is.

He could've won but he bitched out.

[QUOTE=ProfessorMurder]He should've won in 2010, and definitely would've won a few around this time if he stayed in Cleveland. Look at how weak the East is.

He could've won but he bitched out.[/QUOTE]

This. Guy quit against Boston AND nobody will ever convince me otherwise. I don't fault him for any of the years prior to 2010, though.

Micky Arison, Pat Riley, Erik Spoelsta. Two great & unselfish players in Wade and Bosh, who's only motives are to win. South Florida living? It was a no brainer.

As it sounds out it is looking like the best thing he has ever done...

[QUOTE=ProfessorMurder]He should've won in 2010, and definitely would've won a few around this time if he stayed in Cleveland. Look at how weak the East is.

He could've won but he bitched out.[/QUOTE]

He would never of won anything with that roster...

[QUOTE=ReturnofJPR]I thought this thread was going to be about LeBron's decision to start wearing 3 headbands instead of 2.[/QUOTE]


:roll:

[QUOTE=NBAller]So ****ing what? If they switched LeBron with you, they'd be significantly worse. Have some respect.[/QUOTE]


You're right if they replaced Lebron with ME they WOULD be worse..

damn i guess they aren't as stacked as i though :roll:

[QUOTE=TheMarkMadsen]You're right if they replaced Lebron with ME they WOULD be worse..

damn i guess they aren't as stacked as i though :roll:[/QUOTE]

They are 'stacked'. I don't think anyone will dispute that. I'm sure the HEAT themselves will be the first to say so, like Artest has said about the Lakers.

That's the whole point of the decision. That's why it's a smart decision........

If you have anything but winning on your mind, then you aint thinking right.

He did it the wrong way, but he had the right to leave. He was never going to win a championship there. His life and career is more important to him than what you people think of him.

[QUOTE=ProfessorMurder]He should've won in 2010, and definitely would've won a few around this time if he stayed in Cleveland. Look at how weak the East is.

He could've won but he bitched out.[/QUOTE]

He could have beat Boston had he played anywhere near his usual level after getting the 2-1 lead, and they would have matched up better with Orlando than they had the previous year, but Cleveland did not look like they were in a great position to win titles after 2010, much less a lock.

Look at the 2010 team, Shaq was 38 and would be 39 the next season, Z and Anthony Parker were 35 and Jamison was 34. Those were 4 of their rotation players from 2010. They tried building around Lebron with veterans, and did contend for 2 seasons, but those players barely had any time left. Cleveland had struck out pretty much every time they tried to get one of the big free agents and as long as they had Lebron, they were going to be too good to get a lottery pick.

Saying he definitely would have won a few is a strange assumption considering it didn't look like they were going to be better than they had been in '09 and '10.

The bitched out thing is ridiculous as well. He played out his contract, had a ton of suitors, and picked what he thought was the best situation. That's the whole point of free agency. He earned his ring as much as anyone with the level he played at last season.

[QUOTE=ShaqAttack3234]He could have beat Boston had he played anywhere near his usual level after getting the 2-1 lead, and they would have matched up better with Orlando than they had the previous year, but Cleveland did not look like they were in a great position to win titles after 2010, much less a lock.

Look at the 2010 team, Shaq was 38 and would be 39 the next season, Z and Anthony Parker were 35 and Jamison was 34. Those were 4 of their rotation players from 2010. They tried building around Lebron with veterans, and did contend for 2 seasons, but those players barely had any time left. Cleveland had struck out pretty much every time they tried to get one of the big free agents and as long as they had Lebron, they were going to be too good to get a lottery pick.

Saying he definitely would have won a few is a strange assumption considering it didn't look like they were going to be better than they had been in '09 and '10.

The bitched out thing is ridiculous as well. He played out his contract, had a ton of suitors, and picked what he thought was the best situation. That's the whole point of free agency. He earned his ring as much as anyone with the level he played at last season.[/QUOTE]
Good objective, logical post man. More posters in here needed like you. If I'm correct you rep the lakers, yet you give respect where respect is due. No over blown dick sucking or hate spewing idiocy. Rep to you sir if i could give it.

[QUOTE=ShaqAttack3234]He could have beat Boston had he played anywhere near his usual level after getting the 2-1 lead, and they would have matched up better with Orlando than they had the previous year, but Cleveland did not look like they were in a great position to win titles after 2010, much less a lock.

Look at the 2010 team, Shaq was 38 and would be 39 the next season, Z and Anthony Parker were 35 and Jamison was 34. Those were 4 of their rotation players from 2010. They tried building around Lebron with veterans, and did contend for 2 seasons, but those players barely had any time left. Cleveland had struck out pretty much every time they tried to get one of the big free agents and as long as they had Lebron, they were going to be too good to get a lottery pick.

Saying he definitely would have won a few is a strange assumption considering it didn't look like they were going to be better than they had been in '09 and '10.

The bitched out thing is ridiculous as well. He played out his contract, had a ton of suitors, and picked what he thought was the best situation. That's the whole point of free agency. He earned his ring as much as anyone with the level he played at last season.[/QUOTE]

This is why you're my favorite poster here. You always provide a fair objective argument. There's no agenda here.

[QUOTE=iamgine]Disagree. Bird, Magic and MJ all won with stacked teams. Olajuwon and Dirk who won with much inferior supporting cast definitely isn't seen as great as these guys were.[/QUOTE]
1: It's not just about rings. The first group has a lot more MVPs than the second.

2: If it didn't matter how the rings are won no one would mention James having to join Wade.

3: You didn't address a very important part of my post. The social and economic significance he had for Cleveland and Ohio were huge.

Always going to tarnish his legacy for me. I can't watch a guy who is probably the best player in the world, and probably the best pure basketball overall talent in history from a skill and physical standpoint...run to join a team that was going to be good enough to win with him or without him, when he had multiple other choices to join and could've joined other superstars/stars like Blake Griffin, Brook Lopez, Derrick freakin Rose, etc....and he joins 2 other superstar players including his chief rival...Can't watch that and be impressed by him.

I've played basketball, and the history of the game supports the fact that playing with good/great players makes you better. It's no accident that Lebron/Wade/Bosh are shooting career highs...teams have to cover you differently because of who you play with. It's no accident that Durant is shooting at a career high, playing with a top 10 player like Westbrook.

It's one thing if it happens sort of organically, but that's clearly not the case here. He simply took the easy way out, and that's fine, but don't expect me to respect your accomplishments as much as I do some other greats. Even his MVP trophy this year means less to me.

It's like if the Lakers had Shaq/Kobe and cleared enough space to pick up Tmac in like 04. It's not a knock on Shaq/Kobe, Tmac was the one to join and make things easy for himself to finally get over the hump.

I'm actually enjoying watching the Big 3 play, its fun for the league, brings eyeballs to the screens. However, don't read me this guy's stat sheet and tell me how he's everything for the Heat when 2 others have sacrificed to really highlight him, and a plethora of replacement stars could take James' spot and the Heat would be the favorite to win it all.

[QUOTE=Real Men Wear Green]1: It's not just about rings. The first group has a lot more MVPs than the second.

[B]2: If it didn't matter how the rings are won no one would mention James having to join Wade.[/B]

3: You didn't address a very important part of my post. The social and economic significance he had for Cleveland and Ohio were huge.[/QUOTE]

People only do that because they're trying to discredit his accomplishments. It's kind of like when people say Kobe didn't earn his first three rings because he played with Shaq despite making huge contributions in the 2001 and 2002 playoffs.

I think this team has a chance to be great and among the greatest in the modern era. Why not go for being the greatest on a great team. His style of play matches that moreso than him trying to be GOAT. He's just more suited to be called the GOAT team player than just GOAT.

I really don't think anybody will look back and say Wade and Bosh were great compliments to Lebron. He still had to lead his team in rebounds, assist and points (avg) for close to 300 games now. They're all play like SF's when you really look at it. Wade isn't really a shooter. Pat Riley kept plugging away to make the team what it is now. It seems like all of the major contributors are having a career year. The team is like an extension of Lebron whereas, in Cleveland it was a team he had to save. They know how to win, have fun together and he gets to be with lifetime friends. In life you rarely get the Lebron situation unless you make it happen. You will acquire pain getting there, but you will have that in your bad situation for a longer period of time anyway.

If you come out of a tough situation or place in life, you always know that it is better to be in a better situation than trying to change what is around you. You give those who have invested in you a chance but you don't owe them your life. It isn't disloyal if folks are making millions off of you either when you are the cream of the crop. You earned your place to be the most desired person in your field, you earned whatever perks come with that.