Comments on: Because I would be remiss to not weigh in…

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 16 May 2010 22:15:48 +0000

you say its an impossiblilty that lebron wouldnt want to play in houston, i say its highly improbable, the lure of a championship with a team built by the best GM in the game and an owner willing to do whatever necessary to win and the CHINA EFFECT really doesnt make it seem like playing for the Rockets is some kind of wasteland torture, this city is chock full of professional athletes and for whatever reason they sure like living here, and not just the native teams' players so if lebron really loves cleveland, and its a mutual understanding that he needs to move on why wouldnt he participate in a S&T and help the team stay competitive? Saying the Cavs would just let him walk for nothing as almost a pride allusion is confusing. I do know that the houston rockets as an organization arent afraid of trying to make a splash, and when they do its usually for the biggest fish in the game. a chris bosh signing is the antithesis of what the team does, bosh is the only 'star' that some feel we can get, when in fact he would not get the team closer to a championship by subtracting the essential role players needed, and bosh alone has never shown the heart or determination to be a leader of a team, and limited playoff experience screams underachiever, if some of you feel its such a slam dunk then why cant bosh get his team into the playoffs and lebron with similar supporting casts routinely advances? so we will throw the same amount of money at bosh that lebron and d wade will command … why? just because we can or just so that we can stay in the news? why not just hang in there until the all star break next year and give the current nucleus + Yao a chance to mesh? Rahat you yourself have said that the current team plus a healthy Yao is still not a championship contender? i beg to differ. Morey has assembled a team that works like a machine, and all the moves were predicated by having the big guy back, with AB penetrating, the outside shooters and luis' mid-range game all direct compliments to what Yao does on the court, add one of the best benches in the league and you have a pretty damn good team. What do you make of the Hakeem Olajuwon pep talk that supposedly he gave lebron at the end of game 5? I know Dream is becoming more sought out by current players for advice and demonstration of skill moves and footwork, but im pretty sure while he's at it he would give a little nudge about playing in H Town. Anyone who says they wouldnt want lebron james as part of the houston rockets is one card short of a full deck regardless of the percentages you cant pass up on a generational player.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 16 May 2010 01:30:22 +0000

I find it hard to praise someone with the audacity to tattoo “Chosen 1″ on his back and “Gifted Child” on his chest. Sure, we know he's good, but does he have to be so arrogant about it?

By: Gene

Gene — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:54:28 +0000

Didn't Kobe mailed it in in that 2nd half of Game 7 vs Phoenix? Rahat even mentioned the game in the post.

By: bob schmidt

bob schmidt — Sat, 15 May 2010 06:33:06 +0000

It may not matter where LeBron goes, there may be something toxic about his presence on a team. His team gave up in the 4th Quarter, and somehow, he seemed to accept it. I can't imagine Kobe, MJ, or any of the greats reacting as he did. Was that just my imagination?

LeBron will move on, and to a team with a coach and personnel that share his hunger for success. Bosh will end up in Houston, but only if the Raptors are not outrageous in their trade terms. Otherwise, Houston will patiently sit on the sidelines ready to pick up “bargain” pieces as they surface. When the dust settles after the draft and summer trades, we are going to see some interesting new power lineups in both conferences.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 15 May 2010 02:25:52 +0000

This is probably my favorite post since you started. I like your style; elitist at worst, urbane at best. It's also not a coincidence the one that sounds the most like you're sitting on a couch reflecting on the game, maybe eating cheetos, stirs a solid reaction.

By: rahat_huq

rahat_huq — Sat, 15 May 2010 01:55:46 +0000

Bingo. It's why, while I appreciate the sentiment, I completely disagree with Adande's piece from earlier today comparing Lebron to Garnett. For Kevin Garnett, the metric to measure success was a title. There were no historical implications attached to his legacy, and thus, no matter what form it was achieved, he was granted salvation just by obtaining it. It's not the case with Lebron – if he wins less than 3, he's a failure.

By: Jack

Jack — Sat, 15 May 2010 01:51:07 +0000

Regarding the logic that LeBron won't leave because he's only 25:
I think the problem here is that unlike practically any other athlete ever, LeBron isn't expected to win only one or two championships. For most star athletes, being only 25 years old means that even if they make a mistake and sign for 5 or 6 years with an awful team, they still have several years left to find a team to win a championship with. LeBron, on the other hand can't afford to waste ANY time if he wants to win as many championships as Kobe or Jordan.
People who say that LeBron has time to burn are making the mistake of applying conventional wisdom (although one could argue that it's not actually wise) to the best player in the league.

By: Jordan

Jordan — Sat, 15 May 2010 01:22:00 +0000

I love the Articles! Red94 you are a huge part of my Basketball life! But i find it hard to believe that the Cavs will not participate in a sign and trade. If Lebron is outta there, and i feel the same way, the Cavs will be destroyed if they don't do anything to get some young players back. I agree that he will not come to Houston but we defiantly have the best trade package for the Raptors and Chris Bosh. Lebron will go play for Pat in Miami, share the spotlight in New Jersey or cause the biggest turn around in sports franchise history and go to the Clippers.

By: rahat_huq

rahat_huq — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:33:35 +0000

it's only entertaining with marv albert's voice

By: jason b.

jason b. — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:13:45 +0000

Brilliant stuff... especially the final thought on LeBron running out of time. I have been making the same argument to my friends recently.

But not an Orlando fan? Not a fan of a ridiculous rate of points per possession; of mesmerizing perimeter ball movement around a dominant center? Well, maybe you should take a gander at this: http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=3968 ... Look familiar?