Why a Laker fan says the LeBron situation is good for basketball

[M Dogg™]

I'm going to say one thing and hopefully people here can stay off LeBron for at least a second. I didn't like what he did to the City of Cleveland, I thought that it was selfish and very short sighted. But if LeBron was going to your team, no matter the team or no matter how much of a chance your team had a chance of getting him. If LeBron was going to your team, you wouldn't say anything. Bottom line is next year the Heat I don't think win the NBA title, the Lakers are too good and in their prime, the Heat don't have the tools to match up again the Lakers. Like Barkley said, He'd give a slight advantage to Wade and LeBron against Kobe and Artest, but he gives the Lakers the advantage with Bynum and Gasol and Odom over Bosh and Big Z. I agree with those that say Bosh is not a superstar. His a great talent, don't get me wrong, and I really really wished LA would have traded Bynum for him, I'd take him over Bynum, but his not on that Wade/LeBron/Kobe level, so it's not truly 3 stars vs. 1 star. Kobe is not as mismatch as people would like to think. Kobe has a star with him, Gasol is better than Bosh in my opinion, he has a higher basketball IQ, his a better passer than Bosh, and his gotten a lot tougher since his came to the Lakers. This will come down to the bench and post play of both teams. I look for the Lakers to win the match ups.

Side note, I'm personally over LeBron dissing Cleveland. I still don't like it, it's ill advice and to see so many Cleveland made videos praising LeBron hoping he'd deliver them a title is sad. I still think he would have won in Cleveland, it's just Kobe's time right now, but LeBron was getting frustrated and inpatient and like a true competitor, he is setting hiself up to win now, not next year but now. And I say that his doing exactly what his suppose to do. LeBron and Bosh going to Miami is not only a great move on their part, it's GREAT for basketball, it has people taking about the NBA in July, it has people hating LeBron, it brings interest. Just like the hate for Kobe in 2004 during the Super Lakers run and people rooting for them to lost. It's all about attention, just like people root against the Yankees. Also, LeBron and Bosh's move put control of the players in the hands of the players. For the first time, the players played GM, and said that instead of a team deciding their team and players threatening to leave if they don't get their way, the players will just get their way. People were mad at Kobe for wanting a trade and for online videos. Kobe was doing things old school way, making a fit until the team meets his demands. We expect these superstars to win with scrub teammates, and then diss them when they don't. And when Kobe speaks up, we call him spoiled, when his asking for the pieces to win. Same with LeBron, we expect him to stay on a team that continues to be built around him to win, but LeBron wants help. So when LeBron went to a team that gives him the help he needs, we crucify him. LeBron is taking control of his destiny, and is doing what is best for his career. I don't have to like it, in fact I don't, but I respect it, and this is good for the players. People well talk about spoiled athletes, but what we should talk about is how players these days are so business savvy, they are playing GM and not letting owners and teams do it for them. It's David Stern's worst nightmare

[Chamillitary Click]

This won't come down to bench play. There will never be a second where both Wade & LeBron will be off the floor.

It's ALWAYS going to be LeBron & Wade just shitting on teams. You can say "we have this, this & that", but you have no defensive answer for those two & they are two fantastic defenders themselves.

I guess it's a good thing you're optimistic, but sounds like a reach to me. Think about it, no matter where anybody went, even if LeBron went back to Cleveland & Bosh went with him alone, you'd still be saying how "We're still the favorite".

Basically what you're saying is, "All we have to do is beat the Heat & we're the champs", but you act like that'll be some walk in the park; stuck thinking big man advantage is going to make up for the GIANT mismatch LeBron & Wade post for you.

I don't know, the entire post just seems like you giving yourself some reassurance that you're still undoubtedly the favorite.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

i think its a toss up on who wins the title this year,  just like any year. You have the favorites of course. But there is no guarantee that these will be the two teams in the finals. There are so many things that have to go right for a team to be in the finals. And so many things that can go wrong that can derail that. The West had two teams in Portland and San Antonio that were majorly setback by injuries last year. Youd have to assume that will different this year (other than Oden...i fully expect him to be injured every year until he retires 5 years from now having played a total 300 minutes lol). You have an up and coming Thunder team who COULD be great this year. But they are young, and anything can happen. The Mavs of course will be good again. The Jazz will definitely be good again. The Nuggets will be very good.

The Heat are super talented and for sure can win it all. But it all comes down to how well they play together. Nobody has THREE players that you can honestly argue have as much talent combined as Lebron, Wade, and Bosh. But they need to play together. I think they will and I think their role players will look far better than what they are. I dont see the Lakers having the advantage over this team should they meet. I think this Heat team will be better than Boston, and most experts felt as if Boston was just as good as the Lakers and that whoever had homecourt would just win. Its just cliche to say that the defending champs are the team to beat. But thats stupid. Circumstances change and the team to beat changes. If Kobe broke his ankle and was out for the year, would the Lakers still be the team to beat because they won last year? No.

[M Dogg™]

This won't come down to bench play. There will never be a second where both Wade & LeBron will be off the floor.

It's ALWAYS going to be LeBron & Wade just shitting on teams. You can say "we have this, this & that", but you have no defensive answer for those two & they are two fantastic defenders themselves.

I guess it's a good thing you're optimistic, but sounds like a reach to me. Think about it, no matter where anybody went, even if LeBron went back to Cleveland & Bosh went with him alone, you'd still be saying how "We're still the favorite".

Basically what you're saying is, "All we have to do is beat the Heat & we're the champs", but you act like that'll be some walk in the park; stuck thinking big man advantage is going to make up for the GIANT mismatch LeBron & Wade post for you.

I don't know, the entire post just seems like you giving yourself some reassurance that you're still undoubtedly the favorite.

As long as the trophy sits in the Staples Center, I have no reason to think the Lakers will lose. I don't fear no "super" team. All this does is gives people that hate the Lakers reason to hope this year will be different than the last 3. We'll see, lets not talk until we actually see basketball next year. Until then I soak up my teams resent title.

But my greater point is that LeBron/Wade and Bosh did something that's good for basketball. In the end, some teams might even be eliminated, like the Grizzlies and god hopefully the Clippers, but that with players doing their thing the NBA will be changed. Before owners and GMs do the work and get the players. Now players are meeting and joining the same team. What is lost is that all three players took a pay cut. Before when a superstar took a play cut, they were praised in the media. I can honestly say that we should have some sort of respect for LeBron/Wade and Bosh, they took their careers and their legacies and put them on the line. If the Heat win a title next year, it's not because of any GM, in all honestly Pat Riley was a very lucky man, this trio was going to play together, BUT Riley found out a way to have them play with the Heat. Rumor has it that they were going to join the Knicks, but Riley found a way to bring that New York super team to Miami and many titles will fall on his lap. We are in a new era in basketball, we will see teams we could only dream of, and the concentration of power has forever changed. Before it was a team effort, then it became 2 men and role players. Now it will be Big 3's and role players. Their is no question the NBA is changing, it actually might have started with the 2008 Celtics, and it's time for everyone to catch up or end up in constant rebuilding.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

Oh yeah, and its good that people are talkin NBA in July. Of course. Its good to see players willing to take less money to win a championship. What I worry about is that this could be the beginning of something bad for the NBA. This could be the beginning of these superteams being created and leaving 90% of the league out to dry. Bottom line, if it was Memphis who had the capspace to make this happen...id be willing to bet we wouldnt see Lebron, Wade, and Bosh in Memphis. But cities like Miami, LA, NY are able to attract talent on the basis of being a big time city and a big time market. Agents tell their players to go to cities like that because your brand will take off. You will get exposure. Those are good cities for celebrities to be in. But will it really be good for the NBA if all the stars just gravitate to those cities and thats it?

[M Dogg™]

Oh yeah, and its good that people are talkin NBA in July. Of course. Its good to see players willing to take less money to win a championship. What I worry about is that this could be the beginning of something bad for the NBA. This could be the beginning of these superteams being created and leaving 90% of the league out to dry. Bottom line, if it was Memphis who had the capspace to make this happen...id be willing to bet we wouldnt see Lebron, Wade, and Bosh in Memphis. But cities like Miami, LA, NY are able to attract talent on the basis of being a big time city and a big time market. Agents tell their players to go to cities like that because your brand will take off. You will get exposure. Those are good cities for celebrities to be in. But will it really be good for the NBA if all the stars just gravitate to those cities and thats it?

You have a point, and that's the down fall. Also, that would mean LA would always get great free agents, but don't tell Chamillitary Click or Hack, because this is suppose to hurt LA. LOL... j/k.

For reals, we have to see how this turns out. I'm expecting some teams to suffer, and possibly not exist after 5 years, if not the next lock out. I think that will take care of  some of it, then we'd see what happens to the rest of the league. Some teams build around character and find players that fit a system, and it allows their teams to contently compete, like the Spurs. Some teams have a history of awfulness, then draft the right person to win it all, like Chicago and like how Cleveland wished their LeBron pick would have worked. So you never know. I would also argue that the NBA needs revenue sharing like the NFL had up until next year. Revenue sharing means that because the Lakers make the most money in the NBA and spend the most, they would put their money in a pot, along with all the other teams. Then the money would be split up so that every teams is making money. Big market teams in the NFL like the Cowboys hate it, but it's what keeps teams like the Vikings and Packers competitive. If each league truly wants to see competitive seasons, they would adopted this. It also prevents super teams like the 2004 Lakers, or the 2008 Celtics or the current Heat. But I highly doubt this would happen in the NBA, though it should.

[Sccit]

This won't come down to bench play. There will never be a second where both Wade & LeBron will be off the floor.

It's ALWAYS going to be LeBron & Wade just shitting on teams. You can say "we have this, this & that", but you have no defensive answer for those two & they are two fantastic defenders themselves.

I guess it's a good thing you're optimistic, but sounds like a reach to me. Think about it, no matter where anybody went, even if LeBron went back to Cleveland & Bosh went with him alone, you'd still be saying how "We're still the favorite".

Basically what you're saying is, "All we have to do is beat the Heat & we're the champs", but you act like that'll be some walk in the park; stuck thinking big man advantage is going to make up for the GIANT mismatch LeBron & Wade post for you.

I don't know, the entire post just seems like you giving yourself some reassurance that you're still undoubtedly the favorite.

As long as the trophy sits in the Staples Center, I have no reason to think the Lakers will lose. I don't fear no "super" team. All this does is gives people that hate the Lakers reason to hope this year will be different than the last 3. We'll see, lets not talk until we actually see basketball next year. Until then I soak up my teams resent title.

But my greater point is that LeBron/Wade and Bosh did something that's good for basketball. In the end, some teams might even be eliminated, like the Grizzlies and god hopefully the Clippers, but that with players doing their thing the NBA will be changed. Before owners and GMs do the work and get the players. Now players are meeting and joining the same team. What is lost is that all three players took a pay cut. Before when a superstar took a play cut, they were praised in the media. I can honestly say that we should have some sort of respect for LeBron/Wade and Bosh, they took their careers and their legacies and put them on the line. If the Heat win a title next year, it's not because of any GM, in all honestly Pat Riley was a very lucky man, this trio was going to play together, BUT Riley found out a way to have them play with the Heat. Rumor has it that they were going to join the Knicks, but Riley found a way to bring that New York super team to Miami and many titles will fall on his lap. We are in a new era in basketball, we will see teams we could only dream of, and the concentration of power has forever changed. Before it was a team effort, then it became 2 men and role players. Now it will be Big 3's and role players. Their is no question the NBA is changing, it actually might have started with the 2008 Celtics, and it's time for everyone to catch up or end up in constant rebuilding.

i dunno what you're talking about, man...the nba ALWAYS had big threes. Bill Russel-John Havilcek-Bob Cousy/Sam Jones...Wilt Chamberlain-Jerry West-Elgin Baylor...Magic-Kareem-Worthy...Bird-McHale-Parrish.........well, I guess it's just been the Celtics and Lakers...but still, this whole big three hype aint soemthin new.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

This won't come down to bench play. There will never be a second where both Wade & LeBron will be off the floor.

It's ALWAYS going to be LeBron & Wade just shitting on teams. You can say "we have this, this & that", but you have no defensive answer for those two & they are two fantastic defenders themselves.

I guess it's a good thing you're optimistic, but sounds like a reach to me. Think about it, no matter where anybody went, even if LeBron went back to Cleveland & Bosh went with him alone, you'd still be saying how "We're still the favorite".

Basically what you're saying is, "All we have to do is beat the Heat & we're the champs", but you act like that'll be some walk in the park; stuck thinking big man advantage is going to make up for the GIANT mismatch LeBron & Wade post for you.

I don't know, the entire post just seems like you giving yourself some reassurance that you're still undoubtedly the favorite.

As long as the trophy sits in the Staples Center, I have no reason to think the Lakers will lose. I don't fear no "super" team. All this does is gives people that hate the Lakers reason to hope this year will be different than the last 3. We'll see, lets not talk until we actually see basketball next year. Until then I soak up my teams resent title.

But my greater point is that LeBron/Wade and Bosh did something that's good for basketball. In the end, some teams might even be eliminated, like the Grizzlies and god hopefully the Clippers, but that with players doing their thing the NBA will be changed. Before owners and GMs do the work and get the players. Now players are meeting and joining the same team. What is lost is that all three players took a pay cut. Before when a superstar took a play cut, they were praised in the media. I can honestly say that we should have some sort of respect for LeBron/Wade and Bosh, they took their careers and their legacies and put them on the line. If the Heat win a title next year, it's not because of any GM, in all honestly Pat Riley was a very lucky man, this trio was going to play together, BUT Riley found out a way to have them play with the Heat. Rumor has it that they were going to join the Knicks, but Riley found a way to bring that New York super team to Miami and many titles will fall on his lap. We are in a new era in basketball, we will see teams we could only dream of, and the concentration of power has forever changed. Before it was a team effort, then it became 2 men and role players. Now it will be Big 3's and role players. Their is no question the NBA is changing, it actually might have started with the 2008 Celtics, and it's time for everyone to catch up or end up in constant rebuilding.

i dunno what you're talking about, man...the nba ALWAYS had big threes. Bill Russel-John Havilcek-Bob Cousy/Sam Jones...Wilt Chamberlain-Jerry West-Elgin Baylor...Magic-Kareem-Worthy...Bird-McHale-Parrish.........well, I guess it's just been the Celtics and Lakers...but still, this whole big three hype aint soemthin new.

Im sure even you see the difference in this though. This is the first time 3 marquee players (with 2 of them being considered 2 of the top three players, or at least perimeter players in the league) decided to all go to the same team together. Kareem was already a Laker for what, 3 years and LA was able to have the first pick in the draft and take Magic. And the others likewise. No other big three has really done it this way. I think thats M-Doggs point. That we could see other FA's taking this same route.

Houston had a nice big-three but the same thing, it wasnt done this way. Drexler was traded for. Barkley was traded for. Even the Lakers trying to create a big-four. They signed Malone and Payton through free-agency. And that was probably the closest thing to this Heat situation as far as all star/ HOF free agents converging on one team. But Malone and Payton were far past their primes.

[Bch]

This won't come down to bench play. There will never be a second where both Wade & LeBron will be off the floor.

It's ALWAYS going to be LeBron & Wade just shitting on teams. You can say "we have this, this & that", but you have no defensive answer for those two & they are two fantastic defenders themselves.

I guess it's a good thing you're optimistic, but sounds like a reach to me. Think about it, no matter where anybody went, even if LeBron went back to Cleveland & Bosh went with him alone, you'd still be saying how "We're still the favorite".

Basically what you're saying is, "All we have to do is beat the Heat & we're the champs", but you act like that'll be some walk in the park; stuck thinking big man advantage is going to make up for the GIANT mismatch LeBron & Wade post for you.

I don't know, the entire post just seems like you giving yourself some reassurance that you're still undoubtedly the favorite.

[7even]

You have a point, and that's the down fall. Also, that would mean LA would always get great free agents

That is definitely the case. The Lakers have a history of doing shady moves they can only do because they are the Lakers. That's a fact. I bet they will get a major FA soon after the Kobe/Gasol/Artest is over in 5 years.

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

You have a point, and that's the down fall. Also, that would mean LA would always get great free agents

That is definitely the case. The Lakers have a history of doing shady moves they can only do because they are the Lakers. That's a fact. I bet they will get a major FA soon after the Kobe/Gasol/Artest is over in 5 years.

Its partially because they are the Lakers...partially because they are in LA. Every agent in the world would tell his clients to go to LA. Its hollywood. Its exposure.

[westsiderider323]

You have a point, and that's the down fall. Also, that would mean LA would always get great free agents

That is definitely the case. The Lakers have a history of doing shady moves they can only do because they are the Lakers. That's a fact. I bet they will get a major FA soon after the Kobe/Gasol/Artest is over in 5 years.

Its partially because they are the Lakers...partially because they are in LA. Every agent in the world would tell his clients to go to LA. Its hollywood. Its exposure.

and rings

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

You have a point, and that's the down fall. Also, that would mean LA would always get great free agents

That is definitely the case. The Lakers have a history of doing shady moves they can only do because they are the Lakers. That's a fact. I bet they will get a major FA soon after the Kobe/Gasol/Artest is over in 5 years.

Its partially because they are the Lakers...partially because they are in LA. Every agent in the world would tell his clients to go to LA. Its hollywood. Its exposure.

and rings

true. But Boston has more rings, and LA is still by far the more popular destination for big names.

[Man On The Moon]

Mark my words: The Heat will not win the Championship this upcoming season.

[Shallow]

Obviously the biggest thing for basketball this up coming season is LA vs Miami in the finals. Kobe vs Lebron. Riley vs Jackson. The only thing I can think of that could trump this would be a very underdog Cleveland Cavs winning it all (especially with some country bumpkin white guy coming out of nowhere to lead them). But that's not gonna happen, so the NBA wants what the world expects.