Around the League: Week 21 3/14-3/20

OE32 · Post by **OE32** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 8:04 am

ShelC wrote:Their FO is a mess because ownership bends over for LBJ every single time he wants something. Of course if you stand up to him, like Miami did, he leaves.

... but only for a while, apparently.

Post by **carey** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:23 am

ShelC wrote:Their FO is a mess because ownership bends over for LBJ every single time he wants something. Of course if you stand up to him, like Miami did, he leaves.

That would be the ultimate dick move. Force all those moves & then bail leaving nothing but the crap players you pushed for behind. Wow. His legacy is going to take a beating if he leaves.

ShelC · Post by **ShelC** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:42 am

FTW had a good article basically outlining that and asking why LBJ seems so unhappy. He's gotten everything he wanted (Wiggins traded for Love to "win now"), better role players (JR and Shump), a shotblocker (Mozgov), an extension for his boy/client (Tristan Thompson) and the coach fired for one he can control (Blatt for Lue). His fingerprints are all over the team, yet he's sulking every single day despite the Cavs being in 1st place. It's not like they're struggling to win and are 5th in the East, so what's his deal?

Post by **carey** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:47 am

ShelC wrote:FTW had a good article basically outlining that and asking why LBJ seems so unhappy. He's gotten everything he wanted (Wiggins traded for Love to "win now"), better role players (JR and Shump), a shotblocker (Mozgov), an extension for his boy/client (Tristan Thompson) and the coach fired for one he can control (Blatt for Lue). His fingerprints are all over the team, yet he's sulking every single day despite the Cavs being in 1st place. It's not like they're struggling to win and are 5th in the East, so what's his deal?

If I had to guess, he wanted to see Miami implode when he left and they haven't.

Or maybe it's because they are barely better than the Toronto Raptors?

Post by **Mori Chu** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 12:13 pm

I think he's mad because he isn't the center of attention in the NBA any more; Curry is. And his team isn't the alpha dog team in the NBA any more; the Warriors are. Even the Spurs are arguably better. And he knows, KNOWS, that his Cavs won't be able to win this year's title, which is something he hasn't been sure of for 5 straight years. That feeling infuriates him. He looks at his top teammates and he knows this team doesn't have what it takes.

Post by **Superbone** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 12:52 pm

He's a spoiled child. The King gets what he wants or he throws a tantrum.

ShelC · Post by **ShelC** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 1:37 pm

Seems like he's gotten what he wants and is still throwing a tantrum.

Post by **Superbone** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 3:30 pm

Sometimes things don't go your way even if you get everything you ask for. That doesn't stop a little brat from crying.

LazarusLong · Post by **LazarusLong** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 4:33 pm

I don't get a sense of cohesion with Cavs players as I do with the Warriors, the Spurs and even, to some extent, the Thunder. The Cavs seem to play with a joyless purpose of duty.

Post by **carey** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 5:44 pm

Superbone wrote:Sometimes things don't go your way even if you get everything you ask for. That doesn't stop a little brat from crying.

Reverse of the Rolling Stones. You can always get what you want, but you won't get what you need.

JCSunsfan · Post by **JCSunsfan** » Tue Mar 22, 2016 8:33 pm

carey wrote:
ShelC wrote:Their FO is a mess because ownership bends over for LBJ every single time he wants something. Of course if you stand up to him, like Miami did, he leaves.
That would be the ultimate dick move. Force all those moves & then bail leaving nothing but the crap players you pushed for behind. Wow. His legacy is going to take a beating if he leaves.

That's what you get when you let a player run the show. Imagine him screwing Cleveland twice. He would be hated beyond measure.

Ring_Wanted · Post by **Ring_Wanted** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 12:05 am

carey wrote:
ShelC wrote:FTW had a good article basically outlining that and asking why LBJ seems so unhappy. He's gotten everything he wanted (Wiggins traded for Love to "win now"), better role players (JR and Shump), a shotblocker (Mozgov), an extension for his boy/client (Tristan Thompson) and the coach fired for one he can control (Blatt for Lue). His fingerprints are all over the team, yet he's sulking every single day despite the Cavs being in 1st place. It's not like they're struggling to win and are 5th in the East, so what's his deal?
If I had to guess, he wanted to see Miami implode when he left and they haven't.

Or maybe it's because they are barely better than the Toronto Raptors?

If I had to guess I'd say it is frustration from knowing that he can't beat the Warriors or the Spurs. He knows his team is not good enough. His stars are flawed, his role players are mediocre, his coach is not Pop. All that while he purposedly put a huge burden on his shoulders as both the prodigal son and the messiah (and knowing he can't run away a second time). It has to be smothering to LeBron.

LazarusLong · Post by **LazarusLong** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:20 am

carey wrote:
Superbone wrote:Sometimes things don't go your way even if you get everything you ask for. That doesn't stop a little brat from crying.
Reverse of the Rolling Stones. You can always get what you want, but you won't get what you need.

great song off of Stones' best album ...

JCSunsfan · Post by **JCSunsfan** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:31 am

Ring_Wanted wrote:
carey wrote:
ShelC wrote:FTW had a good article basically outlining that and asking why LBJ seems so unhappy. He's gotten everything he wanted (Wiggins traded for Love to "win now"), better role players (JR and Shump), a shotblocker (Mozgov), an extension for his boy/client (Tristan Thompson) and the coach fired for one he can control (Blatt for Lue). His fingerprints are all over the team, yet he's sulking every single day despite the Cavs being in 1st place. It's not like they're struggling to win and are 5th in the East, so what's his deal?
If I had to guess, he wanted to see Miami implode when he left and they haven't.

Or maybe it's because they are barely better than the Toronto Raptors?
If I had to guess I'd say it is frustration from knowing that he can't beat the Warriors or the Spurs. He knows his team is not good enough. His stars are flawed, his role players are mediocre, his coach is not Pop. All that while he purposedly put a huge burden on his shoulders as both the prodigal son and the messiah (and knowing he can't run away a second time). It has to be smothering to LeBron.

He is trying to do it all himself, player, coach, gm. He obviously trusts no one else. But that is LeBron's MO. He doesn't surround himself with capable professionals. He would rather hire some guy that sells t-shirts out of the back of his car. THATS a guy he can compleletly control. LeBron has major trust issues.

Imagine the player LeBron could be if he could just focus on basketball. If he allowed a competent GM to surround him with decent players. Instead he meddles into the jobs of everyone around him and makes it difficult for them to do their jobs. He does everything that people complain Robert Sarver does, but he is a PLAYER.

Ring_Wanted · Post by **Ring_Wanted** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 10:25 am

Same syndrome that plagued Vince Carter when he ascended to superstardom in Toronto. By buddies stay, pay whatever, disregard salary cap flexibility, assets, etc. If the teammates are worth it he could get away with it, but that's rarely the case. Tristan's extension was beyond ridiculous. Shumpert's highly questionable too. 107M invested.

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 10:35 am

Ring_Wanted wrote:Same syndrome that plagued Vince Carter when he ascended to superstardom in Toronto. By buddies stay, pay whatever, disregard salary cap flexibility, assets, etc. If the teammates are worth it he could get away with it, but that's rarely the case. Tristan's extension was beyond ridiculous. Shumpert's highly questionable too. 107M invested.

Could be worse. You could have 2 PGs under contract for $140M, when neither is a PG.

Ring_Wanted · Post by **Ring_Wanted** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 10:42 am

Could be much worse. You could have a depleted roster and not own your pick until 2019.

Cap · Post by **Cap** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 11:12 am

You could? Is the Stepien Rule not in force anymore?

Hermen · Post by **Hermen** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 12:30 pm

I believe you can still swap them?

Post by **Mori Chu** » Wed Mar 23, 2016 12:48 pm

Cap wrote:You could? Is the Stepien Rule not in force anymore?

The Stepien rule is still in effect. The Nets technically do have picks in every other draft, but they've traded them in swaps to other teams. So they will have *a* pick, but it will be some other team's pick, likely much worse than Brooklyn's own. So in effect they found a loophole in the Stepien rule and effectively gave away all of their ultra-valuable 1st rounders for 4-5 straight years. What a nightmare.

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