Wouldn't there chances this year to win a title been way better? Lets say Lebron stayed in Cleveland and the Heat are pretty much the same they are now but without Lebron. Would anyone have been surprised if they beat an old injured Boston? Wouldn't they beat the Heat which have even less depth without Lebron? Wouldn't they be favorites this year against the Magic who had nothing outside of Howard? The only problem would probably be Chicago, but at least they would be almost mirror images of each other (defense, rebounding, depend on 1 superstar), so it would almost be about who just has the better runs. Then the Lakers are out of it in the West. I'm not trying to say Lebron made the wrong decision. As far as winning goes, he's better off in Miami in the long-term. But I believe the way this season has went shows that it was far from impossible for this team to have won it all.
Wouldn't there chances this year to win a title been way better? Lets say Lebron stayed in Cleveland and the Heat are pretty much the same they are now but without Lebron. Would anyone have been surprised if they beat an old injured Boston? Wouldn't they beat the Heat which have even less depth without Lebron? Wouldn't they be favorites this year against the Magic who had nothing outside of Howard? The only problem would probably be Chicago, but at least they would be almost mirror images of each other (defense, rebounding, depend on 1 superstar), so it would almost be about who just has the better runs. Then the Lakers are out of it in the West. I'm not trying to say Lebron made the wrong decision. As far as winning goes, he's better off in Miami in the long-term. But I believe the way this season has went shows that it was far from impossible for this team to have won it all.
. Not a chance. Lebron lost a step. Cleveland blows
heck no. if miami didn't sign the free agents, i doubt boston and orlando could've traded their players. This teams went into panic mode once miami got the free agents. Big z/shaq were leaving anyway, and there was no superstar/all star left in the Free agency that would help cleveland to go over the finals. They could've got to the 2nd round at best, bulls would be greater than the cavs.
well, it's widely assumed that Lebron would've stayed if he was able to convince Bosh to join him. that would mean Wade would prolly left Miami, or Amare or Boozer woulda joined him. we will never know in any case what the situation in the east would've been if james decided differently. so many teams would move differently depending on how James' decision went. so it's really hard to second guess what would've been.
Even if the Heat don't win it all this year ... look how long the Mavs have tweaked their team/system over the years, and now it looks like it finally paid off by raping the Lakers in the playoffs.
Shaq/Kobe took several years to work too. The Heat's opportunity will come even if they fall to the Bulls or in the Finals. Riley is no dummy, he'll address weaknesses as time goes on.
Last edited by Soundwave : 05-16-2011 at 04:26 PM.
well, it's widely assumed that Lebron would've stayed if he was able to convince Bosh to join him. that would mean Wade would prolly left Miami, or Amare or Boozer woulda joined him. we will never know in any case what the situation in the east would've been if james decided differently. so many teams would move differently depending on how James' decision went. so it's really hard to second guess what would've been.
Wade/Bosh were already set on the Heat.
Amare was not going to choose Cleveland over NYC. Boozer wasn't coming back to Cleveland and even if he did ... big whoop. Not beating the Celtics/Bulls with that.
heck no. if miami didn't sign the free agents, i doubt boston and orlando could've traded their players. This teams went into panic mode once miami got the free agents. Big z/shaq were leaving anyway, and there was no superstar/all star left in the Free agency that would help cleveland to go over the finals. They could've got to the 2nd round at best, bulls would be greater than the cavs.
That's a pretty significant overstatement. Boston acquired front court depth as a result of the rebounding disparity in the Finals, in hopes of matching up with the length of the Lakers. Orlando didn't make any substantial moves until a few months into the season, which was more a result of the team playing lackluster basketball and having a disappointing record than anything else. In fact, Orlando had split the season series up to the December 18th trade which brought Arenas and Turkoglu into the fold.
There is too much to speculate on concerning LeBron staying in Cleveland. The Cavaliers success would hinge entirely on off-season trades once again and if LeBron hadn't left threats similar to the 2007 Kobe incident would have likely gone down, where he'd demand a trade if the front office didn't scour heaven and earth to bring him the talent needed to win.
The only problem that Cleveland had was lack of athleticism IMO. I thought the role players in Cleveland suited LeBron well. They weren't talented, but LeBron is at best when he isn't working with very talented players but with very hard working players.
Lebron stays in Cleveland: Cavs in 2011
