LeBrons move to Miami, what next?
62What does the LeBron James signing do to the NBA and to him?
With the several important changes the NBA off season has endured, including Amare to the Knicks, David Lee to the Warriors, Dirk and Pierce staying with their original teams. Chris Bosh joining up with Dwyane Wade in Miami.
And then there’s LeBron.
Oh ya, he joined Miami too.
Firstly, a quick analysis of the previous changes. Amare going to the Knickerbockers. Good player, he can give them 20-25 every night and 8-10 rebounds a game. (Pssst, they had this already in David Lee….they should have kept him and let them both play on the team) Upgrade – slightly. Bigger name, more athletic.
David Lee to the Warriors, they have a lot of pieces to fill. I believe, Steph Curry is option 1 there, Lee can help out on the boards and gives them a legit scoring option in the front court. Upgrade –decent, they may win 33-36 games next season. Ellis and Curry in the backcourt is nice, get Lee involved with a Magette tandem, it can be interesting.
The guys who stayed with their teams – good for them. They all went up a notch on my likeable list. They showed a strong loyalty, in a time period where loyalty isn’t approved as much anymore.
Bosh going to Miami with Wade, made a ton of sense to me. Wades game and Boshs game should mix nicely. Adding him alone brings this team to a 55 win team next year and strong contender. Now add defending NBA MVP LeBron James to the mix. The team has the talent that could sincerely threaten the 72 win Bulls. I think they end more with 68-70 wins (big let down)
Was what “The chosen one” did last night, wrong?
Let’s lay it out like this, because there are so many facets to examine in this whole story.
His fans Cleveland has had more than its share of terrible luck, karma, tragedies, picks your term for it. I understand the fan is hurt and angry at LeBron, he was your chance. He was the King who brought life back to your team; he brought them back from the dead. He gave 7 great years, All-Stars, MVP awards, game winning shots, publicity to the city, he was homegrown.
But, in the end, does it matter if you don’t win it all? Isn’t that the point of all of it? Winning? And Cleveland wasn’t doing that when it counted. Sure they were a tough team during the season, were always exciting to watch. But, playoffs changed everything. Would it be better if he stayed and scored and smiled and never won the whole thing? Ask Karl Malone how that worked out for him. He ended up latching on to the Lakers in one last heartbreaking ditch effort to win one at the age of 40. Would that have been better for LeBron?
His loyalty In this day and age, it’s extremely rare to find that player who stays with a team for 10+ years. In any sport. They all move around, get traded, and a lot of it is about the cabbage. In LeBron’s case, it wasn’t. He could have stayed in Ohio and got 30mill more. He took a pay cut to have a better chance at winning a title. Quickly, try to name 8 athletes who have stayed with their one team for their entire career (10+). After Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, it starts getting a little tougher doesn’t it? I favor loyalty; I think it’s the decent and admired thing to do. But it’s a different time and era than when I was growing up and who you signed with, was where you played your career with.
His priorities Obviously winning the title. This was proven with above example.
His legacy this is the biggest problem I have with the whole thing. He will now be known as “he needed to go where another team was stacked to win it” IF they win it. LeBron is a fantastic player with a wide array of skills. Wade skill set is similar, scorers, passers, defenders, hustlers…and they handle the ball a lot. This can be difficult to change. Bosh, not so much, low post guy, compliments both, he wins best in this situation. He comes from 40 win (218-222 last 5 years)Toronto and goes to a better team. His game is entirely different from both.
Can James and Wade coexist with their styles? People bring up Boston a few years ago with their big Boston three party. They signed aging veterans who were all looking down the barrel of title-less careers. They made a desperation move, that worked out, because they all knew the window was shrinking.
These guys? Not so much. Ages 25-28, they are still in their primes. Lighting it up, carrying teams, each one of them. Wade wins, they all came to him, to give him a hand on a shabby team that needed help. By career averages, they average 72 pts a game, between them, along with 21 rebounds and 16 assists.
Will we still see explosive electrifying plays by Wade and James? The 40 pt nights? The constant threat of one going off and lighting it up? Can we see a team with 2 big scorers on it ( Bird and McHale, Pierce and Walker(weren’t expecting that one were you?) Jordan and Pippen) both dropping 20+ a game. Which is extremely rare these days. It’s possible, they can both take over like that. I can see them both scoring 20-25, Bosh dropping 15-18 a night. This could be something special. Hated, by many who don’t like the dominant teams, but it will be special.
Expectations Nothing less than numerous championships. If they don’t win at least 3 over the next 5 years, this was a waste of time, money, and excitement. I expect great things, they are professionals they should manage, unless there is Shaq-Kobe fallout over leadership (which is a possibility) this team should be amazing for years to come.
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Will Miami be able to put anyone on the court with their big three who can score, rebound or defend on a pro level? Can three players and nine castoffs really expect to win a title? It took four years for the Lakers to win a title after adding Wilt Chamberlain to a team with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. By the time they won, Baylor was gone. Pat Riley knows this--he was there.
James mentioned the possibility of players taking a pay cut and joining them for a chance of winning with the Heat. Who does he have in mind? Would any of the game's best complimentary players (a Shawn Marrion, Eric Dampier or Tayshawn Prince--if players of their ability were available, for example) take a pay cut to do the grunt work while these three arrogant stars hog the ball and the credit? Maybe there is an aging veteran still looking for a title who might give them a look, but why not go to LA, Boston or Orlando instead if you're going to take a pay cut to play for a winner?
When they traded away Michael Beasley to "make more salary room" for James and the others, they demonstrated that the rest of their team will be filled with guys like Mario Chalmers--a good player FOR THE MONEY. Can Miami win with eight more guys like Chalmers on their roster? Does anyone believe Bosh, James or Wade would EVER share the ball with a roster full of guys like Chalmers? They might for the first few weeks or a month, but from then on it's gonna be nine guys watching three players shoot. They'll get reamed by the big three for not "pulling their weight" when they don't hit the three shots a game they will get, and they'll get reamed again when guys like Bill Walker won't be able to shut down Paul Pierce. (Walker is probably available for a good price if the Heat are interested, BTW.)
Miami is gonna see a LOT of zone, and I hope they are all working on their jumps shots. Nobody is going to let Wade or James drive to the basket because they were in the corner guarding Chalmers or someone like J.R. Giddens (who I'm sure is available). Unless Riley pulls off a miracle, Wade and James are about to become jump shooters, and that will be a shame.
Sportscasters speculated that James might become MORE of a complete player--with guys like Wade and Bosh, the wondered if we might see James increase his assists, but I don't see it. He'll only increase his assists if he can pass out of a double-team to a double-teamed Wade. James won't get ten assists throwing the ball to Chalmers, and that will be the only guy open.
Hey, how about dusting off Gilbert Arenas and Allen Iverson? They're both looking for a gig. Or Stephon Marbury? He's probably ready to leave the Chinese league or wherever he's playing. These are the kind of choices Riley and the Heat will have, and it will be amazing if they can put enough talent out there to force opponents to guard anyone beyond Wade, James and Bosh.
Will Miami have any hope whatsoever at defending on a high level? Wade, Bosh and James might think that they will get to play fewer minutes if they're together, but who are the Heat gonna send in to give them some rest?
The Heat strategy for building a winner is so risky it defies comprehension, but who knows--it might even work! It will certainly offer some good moments for fans, but how many of the fans will be rooting AGAINST the Heat?
Well.... sorry for the rambling comment. I may sound bitter, but I'm not. I can"t wait to see how this all plays out.
Mike
Ecoggins, I agree, role players are vital to any team working as a unit. Every championship team has the scrappers, the shooters, the guy you know is going to do the little things when it comes down to it.
I honestly, would have preferred to see the big names follow James into Cleveland. Ya know what really leave sa bitter taste in my mouth? Is not even "The Decision" to leave, but the build up and the way it went down. Bosh didn't catch any slack about leaving his team, nor did Amare Stoudemire. But the days and weeks leading up to this were amazing, and the world shutting down for "The moment" was almost rather absurd, and did come off as pretty egomaniacal as well.
What a world we live in today.
Thanks for the comment!
Mike, we have discussed Mario Chalmers before, LOL...you know I like his game!! I was glad to see him "making the cut" to make the team. His skill set will be important to the Heat (I think), he is a solid PG who is young, has a decent shot, and plays good defense. I hope he plays well, and becomes an important cog in the machinery that has become "Miami Thrice".
And as far as fans rooting AGAINST them? I think the Heat just became the team, that alot of people will want to see lose. People, for the most part, don't like the over spending - build your team with cash - own all the best players mind set. Hence why the Yanks are so abhorred by so many (another subject, for another day).
It is going to be a real interesting season though, and makes anticipation for the NBA season a little higher than usual.
Thank you for the comment, Mike!
Miami Thrice! That's great! I was wondering what this group would be called--they had to have a nickname. I saw in the papers that Derek Fisher is considering playing for the Heat. That would be a great first acquisition if they signed him.
I find myself looking forward to the season a bit more than usual, also!
Mike
First off when is the NBA season? It can not come soon enough. For me it all came in prospective when they were all wearing there jerseys last night. LeBron James and D-Wade on the same team, are you kidding me? There is no more letting 1 get there points and stopping everyone else. This team is going to be amazing and i can not wait to watch them. They will get other players, Mike Miller i heard is 1 (great shooter) and they don't need a point guard really, just more shooters and big men, who in there right mind wouldn't want to play with this team? What is going to happen now is we will see a lot more zone defense being played but can that even slow them down? WOW just thinking about this team gives me chills. Another thing is the raptors and cavs did a sign and trade so that even gives them more freedom for getting players. I am not going to lie i am now a Miami Heat fan, yes i am jumping on the band wagon already.
I want to see 70 to 75 wins lol
ecoggins Level 4 Commenter 22 months ago
Add Kobe and Michael Jordan to the list of those who stayed with the same team their entire careers (even if Jordan took a couple year hiatus).
The only member of the Heat that can make this work is Pat Riley. He had an All-Star team in LA with Kareem, Magic, and Worthy but was able to surround them with excellent role players like Rambis, Byron Scott, and Michael Cooper. However, Kareem, Magic, and Worthy all played different roles as well.
The Philadelphia 76ers in the late 70s and early 80s had perhaps the most talented team ever assembled with Dr. J., McGinnis, Darryl Dawkins, Lloyd "World Be" Free, Maurice Cheeks, and Andrew Toney and Bobby Jones coming off the bench, but there were not enough balls to go around. After the 76ers unloaded Free and brought in Moses Malone they finally won a championship, but only one.
Bird and McHale played different roles, one was a power forward and the other was small forward who could rebound and pass the ball. They also were surrounded with a well-balanced supporting cast like Dennis Scott and Center Robert Parrish.
Even the current Celtics fantastic trio of Garnett, Pierce, and Allen play different roles which is why it works and why they made it to two NBA Finals in three years. If they had given the ball to Rasheed Wallace more down the stretch of game seven they would have a second championship.
The main problem with this combination trio is that Wade and James play the same style of game; they both play the same roles for their teams. Riley will need to come up with a mature cast of supporting role players to make this team win more than one complimentary championship (complimentary of Kobe's retirement). Picking up Laker guard Derek Fisher might be a good first step. Few understand the clubhouse leadership Fisher gives the Lakers and as the player representative for the whole league, he seems to command respect from others around the league as well.
The final questions here are whether the trio will show up 48/82.
Final note: it seems James is not a clubhouse leader nor a man to make up his own mind. With his talent, Wade and Bosh should have joined him in Cleveland. If James was willing to take a pay cut to go to Miami, he would have done so in Cleveland so Wade and Bosh could have joined him. But, Bosh said no way to the town by Erie Bay and James had to comply or be left out in the cold. It looks like King James bowed his head in deference to Bosh's and Wade.