James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team?

[Boob-No-More]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

LeBron, as a younger, not-as-polished player, took a worse team in a way-more-loaded Eastern Conference to the NBA Finals. I think they'll be ok.

The advantage of playing in the East is they have the entire regular season to figure it out. In the East, they can finish below .500 and still make the playoffs. So, no sense of urgency after 3 games. They've got 79 more before they need to start playing up to their ability. If getting their asses handed to them in early November wakes up some of these young guys, they will be better off come April, May and June.

BNM

 

[Stevenson]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

It's an interesting theory, and I would buy it, except that I was at the game last night and LeBron could not buy a basket.

 

[RoyToy]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

As I said in the game thread, I thought it was obvious LeBron sort of quit on the team last night. He did not look interested in playing at all, and almost looked kind of pissed off.

Not surprised to see this article come out.

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Kyrie's already signed the super-max contract extension...he literally cannot make another dollar more at any point in the next 6 years if he plays like vintage Earvin Johnson or vintage Earl Barron.

You could be right with Waiters and Thompson, although if 3 Olympian dudes can't keep them in line then there are other problems.

Waiters could be a move-able piece for the Cavs, I bet he could garner a good vet.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

You know B-Dog, sometimes I think you, myself and that Nikolocolopocapus guy are the only ones with brains here.

"Brains," lol...

 

[Mediocre Man]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

He played like crap right? He's so amazing, I think people should allow him a bad game, now and then. The thing is, I think it did matter. you'll see tonight, he will beat the Jazz all by himself. You don't think he pulled aside the starting backcourt and told him he better get the ball tonight every time down the court? Once they pull away from Utah, he'll go back to the passing LeBron, but I can guarantee you he gets at least 15 in the first quarter,

My point is that he has chosen not to beat teams by himself to send a message early in the season that his team needs to play as a team

 

[BigGameDamian]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

As I said in the game thread, I thought it was obvious LeBron sort of quit on the team last night. He did not look interested in playing at all, and almost looked kind of pissed off.

Not surprised to see this article come out.

Yep I agree. Irving was playing for himself.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Young guys on rookie scale contracts wanna get paid. Winning is nice too, but the idea that they're going to willingly sacrifice their numbers (which definitely hurts them in a contract negotiation) for team success isn't going to be an easy sell.

I think Cleveland is going to have a tough road to hoe getting to a championship, if Lebron can cajole and mold them (including Love) into winners that might be the crowning achievement of his career.

1,000,000% this. Cleveland, even before Love, are a completely selfish team. Each and every one of them, excluding LBJ, are "me first players". If LBJ can sway them into a team philosophy, there would be no team in the NBA that can beat them. Not only will LBJ have a few more titles, he would be cemented as the greatest ever to play the game. Even more than Jordan

 

[BrianFromWA]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Regardless of how I feel about it, do you think that if James wins, say, 4 titles over the rest of his career to get to 6 wins (all as the prime dog, not like Ray Allen on the Heat or something)...would he be considered the greatest, or would someone bring up, "yeah, but you lost in the Finals 3x"?

 

[BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Regardless of how I feel about it, do you think that if James wins, say, 4 titles over the rest of his career to get to 6 wins (all as the prime dog, not like Ray Allen on the Heat or something)...would he be considered the greatest, or would someone bring up, "yeah, but you lost in the Finals 3x"?

Pretty good question. The older generation will never accept he was better than Jordan but the newer generation of fans might. I think when it's all said and done LeBron will be the superior player on the individual level but will be more hated (despite being way more likeable than shit head Jordan).

 

[magnifier661]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Regardless of how I feel about it, do you think that if James wins, say, 4 titles over the rest of his career to get to 6 wins (all as the prime dog, not like Ray Allen on the Heat or something)...would he be considered the greatest, or would someone bring up, "yeah, but you lost in the Finals 3x"?

Lost in the finals X3 say you?

 

[BrianFromWA]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Pic doesn''t work, but exactly.

 

[andalusian]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

You know B-Dog, sometimes I think you, myself and that Nikolocolopocapus guy are the only ones with brains here.

You lost me after "I think"

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Regardless of how I feel about it, do you think that if James wins, say, 4 titles over the rest of his career to get to 6 wins (all as the prime dog, not like Ray Allen on the Heat or something)...would he be considered the greatest, or would someone bring up, "yeah, but you lost in the Finals 3x"?

Some contend that Magic was a better player overall than Jordan, and he lost in the finals four times ('83, '84, '89, '91). Of course, he also won 5, and that was all over a 12- year span.

 

[RR7]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

I hope more stars intentionally lose games against us this year.

 

[KingSpeed]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Young guys on rookie scale contracts wanna get paid. Winning is nice too, but the idea that they're going to willingly sacrifice their numbers (which definitely hurts them in a contract negotiation) for team success isn't going to be an easy sell.

I think Cleveland is going to have a tough road to hoe getting to a championship, if Lebron can cajole and mold them (including Love) into winners that might be the crowning achievement of his career.

Yea. In the case of the Boston Big 3 and the Miami Big 3 is that those players had already proven themselves so they were fine with playing team ball. Irving and Waiters haven't.

 

[KingSpeed]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Lost in the finals X3 say you?

Kobe has only lost in Finals twice.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Yea. In the case of the Boston Big 3 and the Miami Big 3 is that those players had already proven themselves so they were fine with playing team ball. Irving and Waiters haven't.

Well I guess this ends the Irving vs. Lillard dispute.

 

[Strenuus]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Yea. In the case of the Boston Big 3 and the Miami Big 3 is that those players had already proven themselves so they were fine with playing team ball. Irving and Waiters haven't.

someone please make a compelling argument as to why waiters is good. i havent seen anything to warrant a reason for being a 1a with irving, as this post loosely suggests.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

I hope more stars intentionally lose games against us this year.

Hahahaa me too

 

[magnifier661]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

someone please make a compelling argument as to why waiters is good. i havent seen anything to warrant a reason for being a 1a with irving, as this post loosely suggests.

He serves food well

 

[Rhal]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Regardless of how I feel about it, do you think that if James wins, say, 4 titles over the rest of his career to get to 6 wins (all as the prime dog, not like Ray Allen on the Heat or something)...would he be considered the greatest, or would someone bring up, "yeah, but you lost in the Finals 3x"?

When remembering past champions I never hear about how many times they lost but how many times they won. I dont think its something anyone will harp on except when comparing him to Jordan.

 

[BigGameDamian]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Cavs lost to Utah today. The interesting stat is Irving had 0 Assts and 34 points.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Cavs lost to Utah today.

The NBA will say it was more of a non-win.

 

[magnifier661]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

He played like crap right? He's so amazing, I think people should allow him a bad game, now and then. The thing is, I think it did matter. you'll see tonight, he will beat the Jazz all by himself. You don't think he pulled aside the starting backcourt and told him he better get the ball tonight every time down the court? Once they pull away from Utah, he'll go back to the passing LeBron, but I can guarantee you he gets at least 15 in the first quarter,

This!!!

 

[riverman]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

This only proves that our starters threw both the Kings and GS games so the bench would contribute if that's the logic that bails you out of poor performances

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

Cavs lost to Utah today. The interesting stat is Irving had 0 Assts and 34 points.

Lebron has 2/3 of their assists... By getting four.

 

[handiman]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

LeBron, as a younger, not-as-polished player, took a worse team in a way-more-loaded Eastern Conference to the NBA Finals. I think they'll be ok.

I don't know why people so regularly disparage that Cleveland Finals roster. It was well-balanced and featured three all-stars that all complimented each other pretty well. They even played defense. This current Cleveland squad is a mess. People disagreed with me this summer when I said LeBron would be frustrated with his two co-stars being among the worst defenders in the league, and that the Love-Irving pairing isn't necessarily any better in the short-term than Wade-Bosh as their careers wind down.

 

[bluefrog]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

LeBron's less than stellar defense:

 

[H.C.]

Re: James threw the game last night playing a passive-aggressive mission for the team

My biggest problem with the Cav's big 3 is Kevin Love.
The guy just doesn't play defense.
He was matched up vs Lopez all night and not once did he put his hands up to contest the shot.
When he was matched up vs Aldridge.. Aldridge had flashbacks of Terrance Jones trying to guard him.
Won't even mention what happened when the other hustle guy was vs Aldridge..

Kevin Love puts up numbers.. He can shoot the 3 at a high clip.. Has a decent jump hook as his go-to-move. But his defense is....

I mean I hate Chris Bosh. Never will like him... However I will give the guy credit.
He sacrificed a lot for the heat on the offensive end and took the challenge defensively to guard the post.
Cavs have Andy V-(not going to attempt his last name).. But he's no post defender... Honestly his best post defense is his hair.. Maybe it'll distract someone...
The Cavs need a post defender. Play slows down in the playoffs... Even if they turn up the defensive pressure... The Spurs will throw it to Duncan and everyone knows how that turns out...

They have Brenden Haywood. But is he the answer there? Will he get playing time?