So LeBron James decided to join Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. Let’s take a moment to let that digest a minute….In a world where we constantly criticize athletes for being all about themselves, money and their brand. James, perhaps the biggest “brand” superstar the game has ever known, joined another superstar and decided to take less money. Let me say that again, take LESS money. And he wasn’t the only one. Wade, a bona fide“brand” athlete himself also took LESS money and for what purpose? Not to win a title, but to build a dynasty. This is unlike anything the sporting world has ever seen. And I for one am excited to see what happens. There are so many questions. Will they win the Title next year? There is no reason to think they won’t. It was only a few years ago that we were all wondering about the “Boston-three-party” and we had the same questions. Can they co-exist? They don’t have the pieces now? Who will take over in crunch time? Is Doc a good enough coach to make this work? One title and a Game 7 loss in the finals a few years later and we know how that turned out…
The most important of these questions are can these two alpha dogs co-exist on the court together? I believe they can. Why? Because James is the only player I have ever seen who I feel can legitimately average a triple double for a season. And mark my words, he will within the next three years. Now he is no longer kicking it out to a wide open streaky Mo Williams or a reluctant to shoot Varejao. Instead he is passing to an assassin like Wade and a skilled all-star in Chris Bosh. Oh yeah, I didn’t forget about him, but Bosh is the second reason why this tri-fecta will work. Because even though the “hype” media sells him as a superstar, I am with basketball guru Bill Simmons when I say that Bosh is anything but. Don’t get me wrong, he is a nice player but let us take a closer look at his career:
His résumé: seven seasons, 11 career playoff games, one second-team All-NBA selection, never played in a big game in his life (He's never played in a Sweet 16, a Game 7 or even Round 2 of the NBA playoffs) other than the gold-medal game of the 2008 Olympics…If one more person refers to Bosh as a "superstar," I'm going to scream.
Simmons is right on point. Bosh is one of those guys who just happened to be thrust onto stardom because he was the best player on a mediocre team in a league where the era of the skilled big man has given way to the athletic swingman. Therefore because he is a “nice” forward he is thought to be better then he really is. But let’s be honest. Other than Gasol, Boozer and Lee can you name another forward that you would call legit? Even Duncan/Garnet seems to be on their last legs (literally). And this is why this Basketball social experiment will work. Because Bosh will never be the superstar and he doesn’t have to be. His profile will be raised while playing with James and Wade which in turn will make him feel like a superstar and I believe that will be enough. Don’t be surprised when the final numbers come out for their contracts that Bosh will be given the smallest contract. (But if Bosh gets disgruntled at any point, they will go down in flames.)
The next step is to add a few complementary players to go along with these three guys. Who’s to say that we won’t see the second coming of Rajon Rondo in third year PG Mario Chalmers? His job just got exponentially easer after all. And he is a collegiate champion who has played on a “team” which is what these guys are trying to create now. After all, it was James who said it best, “You become a superstar individually but you become a champion as a team.” To his critics who say that he doesn’t have the mental fortitude or trust in his game. Or that he is taking the easy way out, how easily you forget that all the great champions played with other all-stars and future hall of famers. Magic had Worthy, Kareem. Bird had Johnson, Parish, McHale and others. Isiah had Dumars, Laimbeer Rodman. Jordan had Pippen, Grant, Paxton and later Kerr, Kukoc, and Rodman. Shaq had Kobe, Fisher, Horry, who later had Gasol and Artest. Duncan had Robinson, Elliot, Johnson and later had Parker, Ginobli, and Horry. Hell, even Wade had a productive O’Neal. The point here is that to you basketball fans out there, I don’t even have to say more than the last nameof all those guys who helped these superstars win their titles. But in James’ seven seasons with the Cavs he only played with one other active all-star (Mo Williams: 2009 as a replacement for the injured Bosh) and a bunch of aging players.
This brings us to perhaps James’ biggest critic of all, Cavs majority owner Dan Gilbert.
His open letter to Cavs fans has reached a new level of disgust and blatant lack of Class: my comments in Blue.
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;
As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment. Never mind that all the proceeds of “The Decision” went to the Boys and Girls Club. I admire that J
ames recognizes his “brand” power and uses it not to make money not for himself but for Charity.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you. You already did when you didn’t surround James with players that could win a title.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you. You already did when you didn’t surround James with players that could win a title.
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.
You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more. James won two MVPs and carried the Cavs the Finals followed by two consecutive years of the best record in the league. What more do you think you deserve?
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more. James won two MVPs and carried the Cavs the Finals followed by two consecutive years of the best record in the league. What more do you think you deserve?
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE" Not likely.
You can take it to the bank.
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels. Seriously? You were motivated to win a title by giving James absolutely no help to win a title. Then saying that he quit in the series this year against the Celtics when he had triple double in losing efforts? Maybe if you showed your “motivation” by putting players around him who can make a shot then you would already have a title and he probably never leaves.
Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there. James did die. He sacrificed everything to win for you. He gave it all every night for SEVEN YEARS and you couldn’t even bring in some complementary players to help him get it done. Do you actually think it was easy for him to leave?
Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become. What is more disloyal? To continue to grind for something that he may never get because after SEVEN YEARS he realized that the Cavs organization was not committed to winning? His actions are almost exactly what I would my children to learn from and grow up to become. Yes I want them to be loyal, but I would also be extremely proud to see my child give up Millions of dollars, Fame, Stats, recognition, status and to put his ego aside and NOT be selfish. To be happy and putting himself in a position to be successful as a part of a “team.”
Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become. What is more disloyal? To continue to grind for something that he may never get because after SEVEN YEARS he realized that the Cavs organization was not committed to winning? His actions are almost exactly what I would my children to learn from and grow up to become. Yes I want them to be loyal, but I would also be extremely proud to see my child give up Millions of dollars, Fame, Stats, recognition, status and to put his ego aside and NOT be selfish. To be happy and putting himself in a position to be successful as a part of a “team.”
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio. Sorry buddy, Ohio is cursed because free agents (in any sport) don’t want to go there.
The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.
Just watch.
Sleep well, Cleveland.Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....
I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:
DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue.... it’s sad that it took the best player in the league to leave for you to feel you have to re-double your efforts.
Dan GilbertMajority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers
Ouch…not classy. I think I addressed the points above but let me ask you Mr. Gilbert, where is the owner of the raptors bashing Bosh? Or Utah bashing Boozer? Or the Suns bashing Stoudemire? Nowhere to be found…Why? Because this is a business and they all have class. The right thing to do would have been to say you were hurt, but thank him for the seven great years. Man up son.
Anyway, this is an exciting time for the NBA. We have the possible makings of a Great Dynasty the likes of which we have never seen in this era. And because of that, no team will be scrutinized like this one. It is like combining the Yankees/Patriots/Lakers into one. Depending on your feelings you will either LOVE this team or LOATHE it and it is ok either way. If these guys don’t win multiple titles then this would be a major disappointment, but who is honestly going to bet against them?
Me? I’m justexcited to see how this team will pan out. As a fan of Basketball first and foremost, it excites me to see these amazing talents sacrifice their personal success for a chance to win not just now, but for years to come….oh and one more thing…one rumor flying around is that these three decided to do this back during the 2008 Olympics. And Chris Paul was in on it to join them after next year. That solves the problem of the point guard…It’s going to be an exciting
next few year.
Sounding Off: The Architect
Amen.
I completely agree with everything you wrote. All I can really think is: Since when is spending seven years of your life at one organization, communicating that you need more help, and continuing to work hard BOTH on and off the court considered betrayal? And who in this country has enough moral judgment to be angry at a young man for leaving AFTER his contract expired to go work with his close friends?
Does no one remember Kobe destroying the Lakers and demanding to rebuild them his way just a few years ago? He singlehandedly sent a hall of famer along with a host of solid supporting actors packing... Oh yeah, and LBJ is the selfish, greedy guy that wants to take the 'easy' way out. GIVE ME A BREAK! Anyone remember Kevin Garnett prior to Boston? Oh, that's right...you forgot that he 'betrayed' his team of TWELVE (12) years (Minnesota Timberwolves for those non-basketball fans) to take the 'easy way out' in Boston.
I'm sick of hearing people complain about his decision. He did nothing wrong, and certainly wasn't the first person to take a pay cut in hopes of winning a championship (wikipedia Payton/Malone...both of whom left teams they had been at for over a decade). It's a business. LeBron James decided to make a long term investment. Buy stock now, or be left behind...
Sounding Off: The Rookie
I don’t care about the NBA.
I really don’t. Not even a little bit. I probably watched a grand total of 15 minutes of the NBA this year, and 10 of them were Game 7 of the Finals. I almost cared this summer during the Free Agency of Doom. I thought I cared, even said I cared, but on the night of “The Decision” I was too busy reading a book to remember to turn it on. I could have caught the SportsCenter recap of it that night, but I chose instead to watch Diamondbacks – Astros highlights on the MLB network.
My biggest problem with the NBA is that it that they aren't playing basketball. Oh sure, its some sport that vaguely resembles basketball, the general aspects of basketball are all there: one team tries to put the ball in the hoop more times than the other. However, the similarities between basketball and the NBA end there.
One of the reasons I love sports so much is that they are universal. The games played at the lowest levels resemble those played professionally. Granted, there are some differences, but the majority of the rules that apply to you in those leagues apply to the athletes who participate at the highest level. It allows those who have played to connect with the athletes even though they are not competing with them.
to the basket. Basic travel call.” Any youth league player, coach or official would back that statement. Not Lebron. He believed that it was a “bad call” and that “they need to look at it and they need to understand that’s not a travel.” Specifically he said that “I watched it again, and I took a ‘crab dribble’ which is a hesitation dribble, and then two steps.” This is how badly the NBA has perverted the game; one of the faces of the league has no idea what a basic travelingfoul is. The Wizards' Caron Butler seemed to find James’ statement lacking in credibility as well, commenting “’Crab dribble’ is when you, uh, travel…That’s the hottest thing on the market right now.” In order to clear up the confusion, I called Merriam-Webster and they are going to add the word “crab dribble” to their dictionary in 2011. The listing will look something like this:
crab dribble: vb 1 a hesitation dribble before taking two steps towards the basket in the sport of basketball. 2 see: traveling
My second complaint stems from my first one. I understand how excessive traveling and carrying calls could stall a game out and thusly lose viewers. The NBA is correct in their assertion that there is a certain flow to a game. Yet, when I turn the game on, there is no flow at all. This is because it’s impossible to have flow if every time the defense thinks about breathing on a player with a big name while he is headed for the hole, they get penalized. Although the nam
1) Kevin Durant (840)
Everyone who follows sports has a favorite athlete, and their exploits go on to be stuff of legend. When I was younger, I would spend hours alone shooting at my basketball hoop, recreating the epic buzzer beaters of Jordan, Bird and Thomas (ironically enough my team was usually down by 1 point). Soon the buzzer beater will be replaced by the free throw, with future generations practicing “clutch free throws for the NBA championship”.
While I’m on the subject of officiating, I’d like to touch on the pink elephant in the room in regards to the NBA. Tim Donaghy, a referee who admitted to fixing games for the mafia, fileda court document that claimed, among other things, that Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Kings was fixed. He claims that he “learned from Referee A that Referees A and F wanted to extend the series to seven games. Tim knew Referees A and F to be ‘company men, always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night it was the NBA’s interest to add another game to the series.” The Lakers won that game, attempting 18 more free throws than the Kings in the fourth quarter and went on to win the Title that year. Naturally David Stern has denied the accusation and attacked Donaghy’s credibility. Most people believe that the NBA is not fixed, however with all that evidence stacking up and all those stats you see, doesn’t just a little bit of that doubt creep into your mind? I mean, everyone wrote Canseco off after he named all those players in his book, and lo and behold every single one of them has been tied to steroids since then. What if Donaghy is actually telling the truth? While I’m not prone to conspiracy theories, there is a fair amount of evidence that suggests that the NBA may have successfully headed off one of the biggest scandals in the history of sports.
The NBA is the WWE with a ball.
Sounding Off: The Architect
Amen.
I completely agree with everything you wrote. All I can really think is: Since when is spending seven years of your life at one organization, communicating that you need more help, and continuing to work hard BOTH on and off the court considered betrayal? And who in this country has enough moral judgment to be angry at a young man for leaving AFTER his contract expired to go work with his close friends?
Does no one remember Kobe destroying the Lakers and demanding to rebuild them his way just a few years ago? He singlehandedly sent a hall of famer along with a host of solid supporting actors packing... Oh yeah, and LBJ is the selfish, greedy guy that wants to take the 'easy' way out. GIVE ME A BREAK! Anyone remember Kevin Garnett prior to Boston? Oh, that's right...you forgot that he 'betrayed' his team of TWELVE (12) years (Minnesota Timberwolves for those non-basketball fans) to take the 'easy way out' in Boston.
I'm sick of hearing people complain about his decision. He did nothing wrong, and certainly wasn't the first person to take a pay cut in hopes of winning a championship (wikipedia Payton/Malone...both of whom left teams they had been at for over a decade). It's a business. LeBron James decided to make a long term investment. Buy stock now, or be left behind...
Sounding Off: The Rookie
You two have both written fascinating pieces on this subject. Unfortunately I don’t have much to add to what you both already wrote, however, I do have a confession to make to both of you.
I don’t care about the NBA.I really don’t. Not even a little bit. I probably watched a grand total of 15 minutes of the NBA this year, and 10 of them were Game 7 of the Finals. I almost cared this summer during the Free Agency of Doom. I thought I cared, even said I cared, but on the night of “The Decision” I was too busy reading a book to remember to turn it on. I could have caught the SportsCenter recap of it that night, but I chose instead to watch Diamondbacks – Astros highlights on the MLB network.
However, I was moved by the passion you both displayed, and it brought back memories of a time when I had once cared about the NBA. When I was younger, I was that kid in the teal Pistons jersey shooting hoops and reliving the days when Thomas and Dumars ruled the court. I was up late watching the new and improved Bad Boys win the title in 2004 and the year after when the Spurs snatched the title from their hands.
Oddly enough, I’m still a basketball fan. I enjoy watching and playing the sport very much. I have a yearly March Madness tournament and I tried to attend as many Michigan basketball games as I could.The problem does not lie within the sport itself, it’s the organization that has taken this game that I like and destroyed it.
My biggest problem with the NBA is that it that they aren't playing basketball. Oh sure, its some sport that vaguely resembles basketball, the general aspects of basketball are all there: one team tries to put the ball in the hoop more times than the other. However, the similarities between basketball and the NBA end there.
One of the reasons I love sports so much is that they are universal. The games played at the lowest levels resemble those played professionally. Granted, there are some differences, but the majority of the rules that apply to you in those leagues apply to the athletes who participate at the highest level. It allows those who have played to connect with the athletes even though they are not competing with them.
But the NBA has completely warped the game of basketball into something I no longer recognize. The league has slowly bent rules, allowing for small infractions in an effort to “preserve the flow” and “make the game more exciting”. There is only one small problem with that, because now players are moon walking from the 3 point line to the hoop. Traveling and carrying are two of the more fundamental rules you learn when you’re playing the game as a kid, and they no longer exist in the NBA. And when it does get called, the players are outraged that the ref would have the gall to penalize them. Lebron all but spat in the face this rule after a traveling penalty was called on him that cost the Cavs a win against the Wizards in 2009. When asked to explain the call, the officials response was "3 steps on the move to
to the basket. Basic travel call.” Any youth league player, coach or official would back that statement. Not Lebron. He believed that it was a “bad call” and that “they need to look at it and they need to understand that’s not a travel.” Specifically he said that “I watched it again, and I took a ‘crab dribble’ which is a hesitation dribble, and then two steps.” This is how badly the NBA has perverted the game; one of the faces of the league has no idea what a basic travelingfoul is. The Wizards' Caron Butler seemed to find James’ statement lacking in credibility as well, commenting “’Crab dribble’ is when you, uh, travel…That’s the hottest thing on the market right now.” In order to clear up the confusion, I called Merriam-Webster and they are going to add the word “crab dribble” to their dictionary in 2011. The listing will look something like this:crab dribble: vb 1 a hesitation dribble before taking two steps towards the basket in the sport of basketball. 2 see: traveling
My second complaint stems from my first one. I understand how excessive traveling and carrying calls could stall a game out and thusly lose viewers. The NBA is correct in their assertion that there is a certain flow to a game. Yet, when I turn the game on, there is no flow at all. This is because it’s impossible to have flow if every time the defense thinks about breathing on a player with a big name while he is headed for the hole, they get penalized. Although the nam
e on the back of the jersey generally makes an impact on how a player is officiated in every sport, there is no professional league that employs favoritism like the NBA.
This is a list of the top 10 players ranked by free throws attempted in the 2010 regular season (the parenthesis indicate the amount of free throws attempted during the season).*
This is a list of the top 10 players ranked by free throws attempted in the 2010 regular season (the parenthesis indicate the amount of free throws attempted during the season).*
1) Kevin Durant (840)
2) Dwight Howard (816)
3) Lebron James (773)
4) Dwayne Wade (702)
5) Amar’e Stoudamire (632)
3) Lebron James (773)
4) Dwayne Wade (702)
5) Amar’e Stoudamire (632)
6) Carmelo Anthony (612)
7) Chris Bosh (590)
8) Dirk Nowitzki (586)
9) Corey Maggette (551)
10) Gerald Wallace (544)
*Take note that the top 3 players averaged over 10 free throws per game.
7) Chris Bosh (590)
8) Dirk Nowitzki (586)
9) Corey Maggette (551)
10) Gerald Wallace (544)
*Take note that the top 3 players averaged over 10 free throws per game.
So, when Wade, James and Bosh signed with the Heat, 3 of the top 7 leaders in this category are now on one team, and last year they attempted a combined 2065 free throws. The slogan for this new super team should be “Root for us, we’re going to get all the calls anyway!”
Of the 10 players I just listed, only Maggette was not an All Star. And, just in case someone wants to use him as an example, Kobe Bryant came in at #11 with 541 (3 less than the #10 spot) and he ranked #1 in free throws attempted in the playoffs with 183 (his teammate Pau Gasol came in second with 158). That’s right, the two best players on the team that won the championship were also #1 and 2 in free throws attempted during the playoffs. It’s even harder to argue against some bias if you look at the stats from Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers defeated the Celtics 83-79 to win their second title in a row. With the roster the Lakers had this year, I don’t think anyone would dispute that the better team won that series, but my problem lies within how they won it. At the end of the game Kobe Bryant had attempted 15 free throws, Pau Gasol attempted 13, as a team the Lakers attempted 37 free throws.Think about that, 37 free throws in a game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Celtics? They attempted two more free throws as a team than Kobe attempted by himself. The Celtics took 17 free throws and the Lakers took 37, a difference of 20, and yet the Lakers only managed to win by 4 points.
Everyone who follows sports has a favorite athlete, and their exploits go on to be stuff of legend. When I was younger, I would spend hours alone shooting at my basketball hoop, recreating the epic buzzer beaters of Jordan, Bird and Thomas (ironically enough my team was usually down by 1 point). Soon the buzzer beater will be replaced by the free throw, with future generations practicing “clutch free throws for the NBA championship”.
While I’m on the subject of officiating, I’d like to touch on the pink elephant in the room in regards to the NBA. Tim Donaghy, a referee who admitted to fixing games for the mafia, fileda court document that claimed, among other things, that Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and Kings was fixed. He claims that he “learned from Referee A that Referees A and F wanted to extend the series to seven games. Tim knew Referees A and F to be ‘company men, always acting in the interest of the NBA, and that night it was the NBA’s interest to add another game to the series.” The Lakers won that game, attempting 18 more free throws than the Kings in the fourth quarter and went on to win the Title that year. Naturally David Stern has denied the accusation and attacked Donaghy’s credibility. Most people believe that the NBA is not fixed, however with all that evidence stacking up and all those stats you see, doesn’t just a little bit of that doubt creep into your mind? I mean, everyone wrote Canseco off after he named all those players in his book, and lo and behold every single one of them has been tied to steroids since then. What if Donaghy is actually telling the truth? While I’m not prone to conspiracy theories, there is a fair amount of evidence that suggests that the NBA may have successfully headed off one of the biggest scandals in the history of sports.You know, I think I finally figured out what the NBA is. There is another "sport"
out there that involves fake refs and staged competition. Another federation of athletes that sold away the legitimacy of their sport in favor of higher entertainment values. They have colorful casts of characters who perform every night even though the script already says who is going to win and who is going to lose.
The NBA is the WWE with a ball.
