It's definitely time to tank. Lebron, Calderon, Green are all gone. Trade Love, Korver, etc. Hell, just cut Thompson and move on.
We can't lose that top 10 protected pick. We'll need it.
Of course the downside is all the media idiots that will say, "See! Look how bad the Cavs are without Lebron!" Even if we have like 2 players remaining from the roster where Lebron played.
I get your concern, but who cares what the media says about Cleveland at this point. The media reacts critically because it's their job. Blame Lebron, the fans, the city, the GM or whatever. Doesn't matter now.
Again, and this is more of a general comment, how many NBA cities would have wished for the 4 years like we just had? 85% would.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Big part of me wishes we'd bring back Blatt, I think he'd be perfect for a rebuilding team
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -John Wayne
3. Jazz 4. Lakers/Blazers/Spurs/Nuggets/Thunder/Pelicans/T'Wolves
That's ten teams that are playoff worthy. And the Clippers, Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Suns are at least trying to win (for now). That is a very deep conference.
Is it too early to start that 2019 NBA draft talk?
Not really. We don't necessarily have to "tank", we just need to draft smart.
In 2011-2014 we drafted: Kyrie, TT, Dion, Bennett and Wiggins
Realistically, we probably "should" have drafted: Kyrie, Jonas V/Klay Thompson/Kahwi, Andre Drummond, Oladipo/Otto Porter, and Wiggins/Embiid ... but our GMs tried to get too cute. We might of been better off if we just had a "fan poll" making our selections.
I'd say at least 4th. And that's assuming Lebron's body doesn't start acting mid-30's on him. He's not going to have the luxury of coasting through the regular season either. Before he could play 50% most the year, save himself for the playoffs and still breeze to a 4 seed. Now, if he's not on top of it, they might not even qualify for the playoffs.
Second or third, but I'm going by what I project as the best teams come the postseason, not number of regular season wins. The Rockets and Lakers are the only serious competition to the Warriors in the West. And the Lakers are really only included in that due to the spectacular performances Lebron has put up in recent postseasons.
It won't matter what the Cavs do. They are going to suck for a long, long time. But, certain Brown's fans will love talking about the draft and cutting players on the current roster w/Chips dancing in their eyes.
It's definitely time to tank. Lebron, Calderon, Green are all gone. Trade Love, Korver, etc. Hell, just cut Thompson and move on.
We can't lose that top 10 protected pick. We'll need it.
Of course the downside is all the media idiots that will say, "See! Look how bad the Cavs are without Lebron!" Even if we have like 2 players remaining from the roster where Lebron played.
Except Lebron might easily lose to GSW again in the playoffs, if not earlier. That's where the narrative might go when comparing legacies, especially now in LA.
At DT, context and meaning are a scarecrow kicking at moving goalposts.
It won't matter what the Cavs do. They are going to suck for a long, long time. But, certain Brown's fans will love talking about the draft and cutting players on the current roster w/Chips dancing in their eyes.
Better than giving my money hand over fist to a Pistons fan.
I think you're underestimating how skilled the kids are now a days. We have a good shot. But yeah, until the new CBA comes along, the league will be stacked. Maximum contracts have killed the league. The league has 20 superstars and they all want to play on the same 4 teams. ESPN reported that LeBron can generate a team 60 mil every year he's there. But he's only getting paid 30-40 mil? Something's not right there.
good point CHS ... the AAU game has made players BETTER individually. Skill level, shooting ability, athleticism, etc. are at an all time high.
there are also some major drawbacks to the AAU culture: selfish attitudes, super teams, and lack of competitiveness.
The psychology of the AAU game can be detrimental. I'm sure that the country only has a certain amount of 6'6+ guys, but they can't all be related to NBA players. I think AAU creates a barrier of entry for a lot of kids.
That said, what's different with the AAU culture that's different from John Wooden? I love John Wooden, the biggest takeaway I got from him though, was that you, yourself, is your greatest competition; no one else. AAU kinda does push that idea through these youth group super teams.
It's definitely time to tank. Lebron, Calderon, Green are all gone. Trade Love, Korver, etc. Hell, just cut Thompson and move on.
We can't lose that top 10 protected pick. We'll need it.
Of course the downside is all the media idiots that will say, "See! Look how bad the Cavs are without Lebron!" Even if we have like 2 players remaining from the roster where Lebron played.
Aside from the couple times the Cavs play the Lakers, the Cavs will get zero mentions by the media idiots next year.. though I'm sure they will put at least one of those games on national television in hopes of seeing the Cavs get embarrassed.
It's definitely time to tank. Lebron, Calderon, Green are all gone. Trade Love, Korver, etc. Hell, just cut Thompson and move on.
We can't lose that top 10 protected pick. We'll need it.
Of course the downside is all the media idiots that will say, "See! Look how bad the Cavs are without Lebron!" Even if we have like 2 players remaining from the roster where Lebron played.
Aside from the couple times the Cavs play the Lakers, the Cavs will get zero mentions by the media idiots next year.. though I'm sure they will put at least one of those games on national television in hopes of seeing the Cavs get embarrassed.
LeBron was the Cavs. There are a bunch of teams that are the same as the Cavs, the only difference was that LeBron was born near Cleveland.
Sucks, but I think most of us saw this coming. I do love this narrative that the national media is pulling, that we should all be on suicide watch, because Lebron is literally all we have.
Schefter's tweet yesterday was absolute gold. Of all the ESPN people I'd like to take a swing at, he's pretty high up that list...
I'm not mad about it. I'm not even really disappointed. I mean it's sad that this run is over. I don't believe Lebron will come back again. He may want to in his final years, but that doesn't mean it will work out that way. I think Lebron will probably finish his career in LA.
Man, I understand that it's Los Angeles, it's the Lakers, celebrities, Hollywood, Staples Center, etc.. but that team right now is not very good. I understand Kawhi Leonard is either going to be there at some point before the February 2019 deadline, or a year from now, but it's a bit of a waste of a year of his prime.. I get that the Cavs weren't some stacked team, but the team was built around his skills. They just didn't have enough to beat a team with 4 all stars. For all the ripping the national media did of the Cavs (which they probably won't do in LA), they're the only team that has been able to knock the Warriors 4 out of 7.
I wish the guy luck though. I understand that move is probably about a hell of a lot more than basketball. It's his life, and I've seen a few people on social media lose sight of that. If you're honestly mad at Lebron, you're probably mad at yourself about something as well.
The Cavs just drafted a talented point guard, they're going to have another high pick the next two years. The Browns are as talented as they've been in 20 years, and they have a competent QB with another young promising one to boot.
The Indians have world class pitching, and the right manager to win it all.
Ohio State is going to be a top 3 team next year in football.
But hey, the national narrative is that we should all be burning our jerseys (they want us to!) and sulking over our loss. I'm excited about all of our teams.
I saw some Cleveland radio people getting angered about the report that the Cavs are going to keep Kevin Love and try and be competitive. Lol, people believe anything they read. Kevin Love will be gone by the deadline. Tristan Thompson will be gone by the deadline. Basically anyone outside of Colin Sexton will be gone if there's interest. The Cavs tried to compete after losing Lebron the first time, and really lucked out because Griff pulled a rabbit out of a hat by gaining an extra lottery pick by taking Baron Davis' contract. I don't really think they'll make that mistake again.
I expect them to fully tear down this thing. I'm sure Dan will take heat because it will seem like he's trying to save money.
I'm definitely done watching the NBA (outside of the Cavs) for next year. Golden State is basically just killing my interest in the league. They have 5 all stars. They're well within the rules, but the league will be unwatchable next year. Lebron did us a favor. At least we don't have to deal with a June sweep again. Have fun Boston!
We're going to have to tank, but on top of that, we're also probably going to have to hit on a lower pick too. Obviously, that's really hard to do in the NBA.
It was an awesome run though. 4 straight finals. One of the most memorable nights in any of our lives.
People are mad that things ended the way they did. People are either blaming Dan or blaming Lebron, but I think both had to do things the way they did for it to work. The plan was never to build some 5+ year consistency model. It was to win at all costs. Lebron did not want to commit long term, which I understand. Dan took on bad contracts to maximize the chances of the team. Both did what they had repeatedly said they were going to do, win at all costs. They did. Some don't understand that doing it that way comes with consequences. I don't blame either guy. I think too often, even outside of sports, we all need a scapegoat, especially with social media making it even easier to do so.
By ROHAN NADKARNI July 03, 2018 All right, so what we’re about to do here is purely the kind of thought experiment that made perfect sense for a fleeting moment after your brain had been lost in the free-agency sauce for 48 hours and all you can think about is seeing your family again. It’s been a crazy couple days in the NBA, starting with LeBron James agreeing to a contract with the Lakers, followed up by the Warriors essentially replacing JaVale McGee with four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins. This is all rather insane.
Now, there was something of a Boogie freakout in some corners of the internet after his signing was announced. Some people have since responded to the initial shock with more reasoned questions about how someone recovering from a torn Achilles can really raise the ceiling of a team that was probably going to win the title anyway. That’s not what we’re about to do here.
So let’s assume for a minute the Warriors get like 85% of Cousins by Christmas Day. That’s a giant improvement on any center they’ve had over the last four years. Assuming Boogie keeps his ego in check—and the Warriors’ culture seems to do a good job of that—the margin of error for this team went from small to infinitesimal.
What does all this mean for LeBron, though? Uh, as the headline of this blog would suggest, maybe he should consider getting the hell out of Dodge while he still has the chance. Let’s make the case for why LeBron should back out of his contract with the Lakers, DeAndre Jordan style.
DON’T WASTE A YEAR
LeBron James will turn 34 later this year. It sounds preposterous to say, but at some point this man will show his age. During his last postseason run, James still seemed to be at the height of his powers. So why should he sit back and concede this upcoming title to the Warriors? The Lakers already looked to be well behind Golden State, even before they signed Boogie. Los Angeles quickly went from a blank canvas capable of constructing a superteam to LeBron and a batch of his most memorable villains. James didn’t sign up for the Suicide Squad. Seriously, Magic Johnson is going to roll James out with Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo and Javale McGee? You know what the scariest part of that trio is? That McGee is probably the smartest signing out of the bunch.
Look, I know L.A. is being smart bringing in guys on one-year deals and keeping the books open next summer for Kawhi Leonard and perhaps another impact player. But what will LeBron’s game look like then? Once James starts to slip, the calculus for L.A. to build a title team could change dramatically. The painstaking photoshops of James flanked by Paul George and Kawhi really seemed possible this summer. Now, Leonard may be in a holding pattern while George is locked up in OKC. Dreams of an L.A. superteam have turned into the reality that maybe, just maybe, LeBron’s skills as a recruiter are slipping.
Ultimately, the clock is ticking on LeBron. As long the Warriors keep their core together, he will need to be surrounded by top-tier talent. If this was four years ago, I wouldn’t mind the Lakers’ strategy. But just because you secured a long-term commitment from James, it doesn’t mean you can afford to wait to put together a true title team.
ARE THERE BETTER OPTIONS?
Okay, so we’ve hopefully established that L.A. seems to be punting to a degree on a championship this year. Is there a better place for LeBron to play for a year? Yes, possibly even multiple options. The most obvious one is the Sixers. Sure, Philly may have to nix its own deal with J.J. Redick to bring in James, but the Eastern Conference is looking like the best place to be right now.
When James got to the Lakers, I thought he’d be playing with two more max stars, not a who’s who of veteran castoffs. With the Sixers, he can team up with two budding superstars, and they still have the pieces to trade for Kawhi themselves. I still don’t know if Philly is the best move long-term for James and his myriad interests, but if he’s looking to win a title next year, maybe he signs with the 76ers for one year, convinces Kawhi to join him for one epic ride, and then they both ride toward an L.A. sunset together next summer. A Simmons-Embiid-James-Leonard core would almost be guaranteed a trip to the title round in the East, and has a better chance against the Warriors than LeBron and a bunch of 30% three-point shooters.
WHAT ABOUT THE BACKLASH?
Well, a lot of people would certainly hate LeBron for doing this. But you know what? James is no stranger to drama. The Warriors have changed the rules. After all, LeBron hasn’t signed any contracts. He hasn’t thrown any lavish parties. He is perfectly within his rights to change his mind. And maybe it’s time for James to get a little bit of the villain streak back in his life anyway. Maybe LeBron is getting too comfortable with all the love he received during the playoffs. Aren’t people always telling you to get out of your comfort zone? Backlash is nothing new to James, and making the switch would add another incredible 15 minutes to the inevitable documentary about his career.
DO I BELIEVE ANY OF THIS?
No, not really. I’m the guy who said the Lakers always made the most sense for LeBron. Do I still believe that? Maybe less than I did when James initially made the announcement. In all seriousness, Los Angeles has somewhat dropped the ball on building a great team around James. But Kawhi is still out there, and next summer will have a bigger pool of high-impact free agents to pick from. Even if L.A. already had Leonard and Boogie was shot into space, the Warriors would have been title favorites this year. The Lakers’ apparent strategy of targeting next summer as the time to make huge splashes has its merits, even if it seems risky to put a soon-to-be 34-year-old LeBron James in a holding pattern for a year. But if there were ever anyone worth betting on, it’s LeBron.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
good point CHS ... the AAU game has made players BETTER individually. Skill level, shooting ability, athleticism, etc. are at an all time high.
there are also some major drawbacks to the AAU culture: selfish attitudes, super teams, and lack of competitiveness.
The psychology of the AAU game can be detrimental. I'm sure that the country only has a certain amount of 6'6+ guys, but they can't all be related to NBA players. I think AAU creates a barrier of entry for a lot of kids.
That said, what's different with the AAU culture that's different from John Wooden? I love John Wooden, the biggest takeaway I got from him though, was that you, yourself, is your greatest competition; no one else. AAU kinda does push that idea through these youth group super teams.
I'll tell you the big difference: attention.
Wooden would preach the importance of self-improvement and self-responsibility in order to fit into the TEAM ... each individual member.
AAU culture is about ME. What can I get from this? ... no talk of team ball, loyalty to your real team, etc
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
good point CHS ... the AAU game has made players BETTER individually. Skill level, shooting ability, athleticism, etc. are at an all time high.
there are also some major drawbacks to the AAU culture: selfish attitudes, super teams, and lack of competitiveness.
The psychology of the AAU game can be detrimental. I'm sure that the country only has a certain amount of 6'6+ guys, but they can't all be related to NBA players. I think AAU creates a barrier of entry for a lot of kids.
That said, what's different with the AAU culture that's different from John Wooden? I love John Wooden, the biggest takeaway I got from him though, was that you, yourself, is your greatest competition; no one else. AAU kinda does push that idea through these youth group super teams.
I'll tell you the big difference: attention.
Wooden would preach the importance of self-improvement and self-responsibility in order to fit into the TEAM ... each individual member.
AAU culture is about ME. What can I get from this? ... no talk of team ball, loyalty to your real team, etc
I find these comments heartening and enlightening.
Just read an article in a local paper last week. It was about a guy named Ralph Ruffer, a coach at Fairview H.S. near here.
(he died last summer - after falling, breaking his wrist while umpiring a baseball game....long story short, he fell, broke his wrist, showed it to some trainer and said "I'm going to have to go to the hospital. After the game. He finished the game. Had a heart attack in the umpires room shortly thereafter.)
He was hard core.
I'm digressing. Sorry. He started a summer basketball league back in 1980? 1982?
Kids from possibly 25-30 teams/schools played in it. 1 rule he had was there would be 2 kids from the same school on a team. 8 member teams - so you were playing with 6 guys, from 3 different schools, as well.
I had a blast playing in that league for 3 years.
Anyhow, the article delved into AAU ball a bit. Area coaches chimed in.
And, basically? They all agree with what you wrote: AAU makes players better INDIVIDUALLY - but not when it comes to TEAM.
They commented on "instead of working on defense, free throw shooting, fundamentals" etc - kids are focused on scoring points in games.
Yeah, D4life, coaches around here think like you do. AAU is about ME, not about team.
I somehow posted this in the Schobert thread earlier. I guess my doctor visit was worse than I thought.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
good point CHS ... the AAU game has made players BETTER individually. Skill level, shooting ability, athleticism, etc. are at an all time high.
there are also some major drawbacks to the AAU culture: selfish attitudes, super teams, and lack of competitiveness.
The psychology of the AAU game can be detrimental. I'm sure that the country only has a certain amount of 6'6+ guys, but they can't all be related to NBA players. I think AAU creates a barrier of entry for a lot of kids.
That said, what's different with the AAU culture that's different from John Wooden? I love John Wooden, the biggest takeaway I got from him though, was that you, yourself, is your greatest competition; no one else. AAU kinda does push that idea through these youth group super teams.
I'll tell you the big difference: attention.
Wooden would preach the importance of self-improvement and self-responsibility in order to fit into the TEAM ... each individual member.
AAU culture is about ME. What can I get from this? ... no talk of team ball, loyalty to your real team, etc
I find these comments heartening and enlightening.
Just read an article in a local paper last week. It was about a guy named Ralph Ruffer, a coach at Fairview H.S. near here.
(he died last summer - after falling, breaking his wrist while umpiring a baseball game....long story short, he fell, broke his wrist, showed it to some trainer and said "I'm going to have to go to the hospital. After the game. He finished the game. Had a heart attack in the umpires room shortly thereafter.)
He was hard core.
I'm digressing. Sorry. He started a summer basketball league back in 1980? 1982?
Kids from possibly 25-30 teams/schools played in it. 1 rule he had was there would be 2 kids from the same school on a team. 8 member teams - so you were playing with 6 guys, from 3 different schools, as well.
I had a blast playing in that league for 3 years.
Anyhow, the article delved into AAU ball a bit. Area coaches chimed in.
And, basically? They all agree with what you wrote: AAU makes players better INDIVIDUALLY - but not when it comes to TEAM.
They commented on "instead of working on defense, free throw shooting, fundamentals" etc - kids are focused on scoring points in games.
Yeah, D4life, coaches around here think like you do. AAU is about ME, not about team.
Thanks for the info Arch. I'm a high school varsity head coach myself ... it's a pretty consistent thought among coaches.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
I just find it so ironic that an article I read, about here - N.W. Ohio - and coaches (probably from about an 8 county area or so) were saying the same thing some of you said.
I played in the Fairview summer league. The coaches quoted in the article loved the league, for myriad reasons - but it was mainly due to it wasn't about "me", it was about team. I can't really explain it any better.
I just find it so ironic that an article I read, about here - N.W. Ohio - and coaches (probably from about an 8 county area or so) were saying the same thing some of you said.
I played in the Fairview summer league. The coaches quoted in the article loved the league, for myriad reasons - but it was mainly due to it wasn't about "me", it was about team. I can't really explain it any better.
My area is NW Pennsylvania ... I would say 95% of the coaches I know would say the exact same thing ... and the other 5% of them haven't been in it long enough haha
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
I read an article yesterday that had me thinking: is it possible that the Lakers could miss the playoffs?
At first I thought it was dumb, but I actually don't think it's THAT crazy.
Take a look at the West:
1. Golden State - heck, when they even miss a SHOT I'm surprised 2. Houston - may take a step back without Ariza, but they're still a contender 3. Oklahoma City - I think they'll improve a little bit with some chemistry 4. Utah - Mitchell will improve and they have a nice nucleus to continue 5. Portland - they are the Toronto of the West. Good players. Will win 60% of their games, but won't contend. 6. New Orleans - yes, they lost Cousins, but with Davis, Holliday, and Randle they're a playoff team 7. Minnesota - they have a really good core. Towns, Butler, Wiggins. Tough to see them missing the playoffs. 8. San Antonio - the Leonard ordeal will keep them in limbo, but don't discount Pop's will and their culture. 9. Dallas - they'll be improved. They added Doncic and Jordan. Plus, Dirk's last year may propel them. 10. Denver - a sneaky good team in the west. Can beat anybody. 11. Phoenix - they signed Ariza and drafted Ayton/Bridges. Add them to Booker. They're a playoff contender.
Not to mention they Clippers are formidable, Memphis is not a pushover with Conley/Gasol, ane even Sacramento looks to be improved.
My point: yes, the Lakers have Lebron ... but it is not a forgone conclusion that they will be an elite team in the west. He's going to have to bring it EVERY night, except now it's against better teams. It might not end up being a wise basketball move.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
A human LBJ with injury is reasonable to expect. A longer recovery time might be needed with a dose of caution added.
Point is, who is giving you time off, a night you don't dress and sit the bench? I just think the spiral is going to get him out there sooner. His "half healthy" is better than many players' good nights. Freakish in that.
But age. It could unravel quickly when it starts. It could happen here, most certainly it might. But he might play longer here.
Just a guy to beat. Find some dudes who don't need to be carried who know the score. This Cavs fan is putting it into idle.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
Sucks, but I think most of us saw this coming. I do love this narrative that the national media is pulling, that we should all be on suicide watch, because Lebron is literally all we have.
Schefter's tweet yesterday was absolute gold. Of all the ESPN people I'd like to take a swing at, he's pretty high up that list...
I'm not mad about it. I'm not even really disappointed. I mean it's sad that this run is over. I don't believe Lebron will come back again. He may want to in his final years, but that doesn't mean it will work out that way. I think Lebron will probably finish his career in LA.
Man, I understand that it's Los Angeles, it's the Lakers, celebrities, Hollywood, Staples Center, etc.. but that team right now is not very good. I understand Kawhi Leonard is either going to be there at some point before the February 2019 deadline, or a year from now, but it's a bit of a waste of a year of his prime.. I get that the Cavs weren't some stacked team, but the team was built around his skills. They just didn't have enough to beat a team with 4 all stars. For all the ripping the national media did of the Cavs (which they probably won't do in LA), they're the only team that has been able to knock the Warriors 4 out of 7.
I wish the guy luck though. I understand that move is probably about a hell of a lot more than basketball. It's his life, and I've seen a few people on social media lose sight of that. If you're honestly mad at Lebron, you're probably mad at yourself about something as well.
The Cavs just drafted a talented point guard, they're going to have another high pick the next two years. The Browns are as talented as they've been in 20 years, and they have a competent QB with another young promising one to boot.
The Indians have world class pitching, and the right manager to win it all.
Ohio State is going to be a top 3 team next year in football.
But hey, the national narrative is that we should all be burning our jerseys (they want us to!) and sulking over our loss. I'm excited about all of our teams.
I saw some Cleveland radio people getting angered about the report that the Cavs are going to keep Kevin Love and try and be competitive. Lol, people believe anything they read. Kevin Love will be gone by the deadline. Tristan Thompson will be gone by the deadline. Basically anyone outside of Colin Sexton will be gone if there's interest. The Cavs tried to compete after losing Lebron the first time, and really lucked out because Griff pulled a rabbit out of a hat by gaining an extra lottery pick by taking Baron Davis' contract. I don't really think they'll make that mistake again.
I expect them to fully tear down this thing. I'm sure Dan will take heat because it will seem like he's trying to save money.
I'm definitely done watching the NBA (outside of the Cavs) for next year. Golden State is basically just killing my interest in the league. They have 5 all stars. They're well within the rules, but the league will be unwatchable next year. Lebron did us a favor. At least we don't have to deal with a June sweep again. Have fun Boston!
We're going to have to tank, but on top of that, we're also probably going to have to hit on a lower pick too. Obviously, that's really hard to do in the NBA.
It was an awesome run though. 4 straight finals. One of the most memorable nights in any of our lives.
People are mad that things ended the way they did. People are either blaming Dan or blaming Lebron, but I think both had to do things the way they did for it to work. The plan was never to build some 5+ year consistency model. It was to win at all costs. Lebron did not want to commit long term, which I understand. Dan took on bad contracts to maximize the chances of the team. Both did what they had repeatedly said they were going to do, win at all costs. They did. Some don't understand that doing it that way comes with consequences. I don't blame either guy. I think too often, even outside of sports, we all need a scapegoat, especially with social media making it even easier to do so.
Very nice post in general. There's one part that's off though and it's this:
Quote:
The Cavs tried to compete after losing Lebron the first time, and really lucked out because Griff pulled a rabbit out of a hat by gaining an extra lottery pick by taking Baron Davis' contract. I don't really think they'll make that mistake again.
This was Chris Grant's excellent move and in no way were we trying to win back then. It was a pretty much a 'strip everything down' blatant tank job only exceeded in that regard by the 76ers afterward.
Based on what the Cavs did.. it kind of worked. Basically Chris Grant is the one who set up a favorable cap situation, and acquired all the assets, and then Griffin used them. I think people forget that sometimes.. these assets we've (often carelessly) sent out in trades these last several years didn't just show up out of nowhere. Chris Grant never got enough credit even if some bad picks were made along the way.
Even then, it's not exactly clear who made some of the picks... e.g. it was reported recently that Chris Grant was the only decision maker in the Cavs organization to be against the Anthony Bennett pick. Everyone else was on board. It was never clear to me why you'd ever take a 6'5" (without shoes) power forward with poor jump shot and weight, vision, and motivation problems #1 overall but that's water under the bridge.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/iVP5Po2.png)
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif)
I guess my doctor visit was worse than I thought. 
