2010 NBA Off-Season Thread

[Diet Water]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

I don't think that the disparity in supporting talent between the Celtics in '08 and the Heat next year can be understated. I'm not discounting the talent of Wade, Bosh, and James, but you need real support for those guys. They don't have a center either, and you need those to be successful IMO.

The real "big" teams are in the East, true, but talent-wise, the West is so much deeper and I honestly think (forgetting that I cheer for the Lakers) that they will have a much harder road to the finals than any team in the East.

West is definitely deeper, but the top teams in the East are quite a bit better than the top teams in the West. Not to mention the Suns and Jazz both lost a key player this off-season. Lakers may have a more difficult time in the regular season, but once the playoffs start they should have a relatively easy time getting back to the Finals.

Yes the Celtics definitely had the better supporting cast, but obviously the Heat will make some more signings before the season starts. It will be interesting to see if anyone of note will sign for the Vet minimum. Heat definitely have the better "Big 3" though. It will be an interesting season.

[Antithesis]

Fair enough points. We'll see how it goes but I still think that Lakers/Bulls is the most likely finals scenario for next season at this point.

[trackercowe]

He could of at least let Cleveland know he was going to Miami last week. He says he made his decision today, but I highly doubt it.

The Cavs had zero chance to go after other players, and are more than screwed for the next couple years.

Real classy guy.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

He could of at least let Cleveland know he was going to Miami last week. He says he made his decision today, but I highly doubt it.

The Cavs had zero chance to go after other players, and are more than screwed for the next couple years.

Real classy guy.

To be fair, he probably made up his mind when Bosh and Wade did or shortly after.

He has absolutely zero class. We saw his true colours tonight. Selfish, classless and a coward.

He didn't have the balls to tell the teams himself he wasn't going there, or to thank Cleveland personally.

He's to scared to go out there are win a couple by himself, instead having to go to a huge trio. Like it or not with Jordan, Pippen and Rodman they all had their own jobs. Jordan was THE man, Pippen was the sidekick and Rodman defended and rebounded like crazy. This is just a cluster of unreal talent hoping to gel. They're all number one options for playoff teams, although Bosh is more in the Gasol echelon where he's most effective as a 2nd option next to greatness.

Selfish in that he only talked about himself tonight. I know, it's his night, but all he did was toot his own horn. Everybody knows how great you are and what you mean to prospective teams and the Cavs.

[missdpuck]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

He could of at least let Cleveland know he was going to Miami last week. He says he made his decision today, but I highly doubt it.

The Cavs had zero chance to go after other players, and are more than screwed for the next couple years.

Real classy guy.

Didn't he say a talk he had with his mother today finalized his decision? Blame mom......

[MRCboicgy]

My personal feelings: he can sign wherever he wants, but if you are going to move to a different city don't have an ESPN hourlong special about it.

1-hr special to announce you are staying in your hometown long term at a discount = lame but kinda sentimentally cool.

1-hr special to announce you are joining your superfriends = lame, toolish and self serving

[flames_1987]

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gi...er_100708.html

Open letter from Cavs fans from majority Owner Dan Gilbert to Cavs fans, espn has confirmed this is real. Some of the highlights

"This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment. "

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

"The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma. "

[socalwingfan]

My favorite line from the letter:

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

[flames_1987]

Honestly, it might be written in the heat of the moment but I think it's good marketing. Cavs fans are obviously angry and pissed off, cliche answers and statements simply do not fit for this event. Good for him.

[transplant99]

As much as the Cavs owner may feel betrayed and hurt by Lebrons decision, he is WAY out of line with that nonsense. He needed to step back and gather himself before such a scathing attack on a person that is still within the league he represents. Completely unprofessional and likely to end up with the single largest fine in pro sports history IMO.

[Regorium]

I'm still not scared of them, as an Orlando Magic fan.

Who's going to shoot and rebound?

Wade and Lebron both love to gamble for steals. I can't wait to see Bosh screaming at them as he gets into foul trouble every game.

I think the Bulls with Boozer are a bigger threat. You can never underestimate a guy with a heart as big as Noah's. They still have a lot of cap space to get some depth, and Boozer is a great complementary piece.

[socalwingfan]

I'd also put Boston in that group, I think Boston has enough in them to beat them in the playoffs with little difficulty

[zarrell]

Originally Posted by transplant99

As much as the Cavs owner may feel betrayed and hurt by Lebrons decision, he is WAY out of line with that nonsense. He needed to step back and gather himself before such a scathing attack on a person that is still within the league he represents. Completely unprofessional and likely to end up with the single largest fine in pro sports history IMO.

Are you kidding? This is what makes sports so great. Fans of a team should have a healthy hate for players on another team. It makes for great rivalries. I'm not much of a basketball fan, but I'd love to check out the first game that the Cavs and Heat play in Cleveland.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

I'd also put Boston in that group, I think Boston has enough in them to beat them in the playoffs with little difficulty

Even now that he's lost a step, KG would still own Chris Bosh in a 7 game series. Guy has more hunger and desire to win in his pinky finger then Bosh has all together.

[troutman]

Have GMS and drafting become irrelevant in the NBA? All your plans mean nothing when top free agents can collude to play on the same team.

[flames_1987]

More Dan Gilbert!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/s...r_espn_5365793

Says Lebron quit on the Cavs in the playoffs! Awesome

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by zarrell

Are you kidding? This is what makes sports so great. Fans of a team should have a healthy hate for players on another team. It makes for great rivalries. I'm not much of a basketball fan, but I'd love to check out the first game that the Cavs and Heat play in Cleveland.

blah, rivalries are made on the court, not by letters from fat owners.

The owner is more classless than the player!

[flames_1987]

I think it's awesome and going to result in a massive fine. But hell, he's speaking from the heart, not thinking about anything he's saying and prob. speaking for almost all Cavs fans.

[GirlySports]

Speaking from the heart but he's delusional.


So, where was that championship-winning level of motivation of Dan Gilbert the last 7 years? and his new greater level of motivation and guarantee are greater than the loss of his best player. Fans can be pissed cause they just observer. The owner had control and failed.

Somehow empty words substitute for actual achievement? LeBron is a but Gilbert sunk lower.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

Have GMS and drafting become irrelevant in the NBA? All your plans mean nothing when top free agents can collude to play on the same team.

You can give them a good team and they won't be free agents. Raptors and Cavs failed.