SoxFan562004

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:33 PM) Hollinger had them at 61 with ten replacement level players and the trio playing 36, 36 and 32 MPG. If they get ANYONE that can put up a PER above 10, that would suggest they might get close. However, it's far from a lock and the playoffs are another story. that's my big feeling on this too, there are going to be some bad teams in the NBA during the regular season, but the playoffs are a whole different world

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:31 PM) That is incredibly pathetic and unprofessional in my opinion. So much, in fact, that I have a hard time believing it is authentic. I agree about doubting it being real, but we also are not privy to what LBJ and his camp said to the Cavs, he could have blown smoke up their ass during the whole process, and that weird shift from Shaw to Scott at the last minute leads me to believe there was some LBJ influence and promises

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:30 PM) Yep. And he's got a point. if that is real that is fantastic.

QUOTE (hitlesswonder @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:29 PM) I'd put money on it. Paul will be the point guard on that team at some point. Miami is going to be dynasty on the order of the Russel Celtics. again, I think you are going to have a lot of the have not owners joined by some of the have owners really take a stand against this sort of thing in the new CBA

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:26 PM) So I wonder if the rumor that Bosh, Wade, LeBron and Paul decided to play together at the 2008 Olympics was true and we see Paul join that team in the next couple of years as well. unless he's willing to take a big discount in pay it would be hard, and that's under the current CBA, the next one will be tougher on things like this IMO... my guess would be a harder cap with an expansion of the bird rule basically letting you sign your own FA for a vast amount more money than any other team without it hitting the luxury tax.

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:24 PM) One thing that bothers me about all the LeBron bashing is this... Who among us would be ripping on LeBron if the three had them had chosen the Bulls instead to pull this off with? I can only imagine the ingenuity that would be on display in defense of LeBron, had that been the case... I would have been thrilled as a Bulls fan, but I also would have not been able to ignore the perception by a lot of people that is going on.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:22 PM) Yes. Between minimum salary players and the fact that they're certain to deal Beasley now to fill another hole, I wouldn't be surprised if 72 wins fell. OK, I see them in more the 60-65 range and still having to have a raging battle or two in the playoffs.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:17 PM) And even when LA and Boston built their 3 star teams, other teams thought they had a shot. Boston had to go to 7 games in every series except the finals to win their ring. Boston and LA went to 7 games this year. LA even got a first round scare this year. just curious Balta, do you think the Heat are a lock to win the NBA this year? I think that is where we disagree a little, I think they are certainly a great team, but I also think this is far from a sure thing.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:16 PM) You know...if this puts any sort of dent in NBA marketing/revenue next year, or in pre-2011 season ticket sales...this just may have made ending the lockout even harder. I think that's a good point. If season ticket sales go down elsewhere in the league because fans aren't interested in seeing their 7th seed team get their heads knocked in by the tip top teams it could be a real fierce battle amongst the owners as well as between the owners and players.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:15 PM) This isn't the first time this has happened though. This Miami thing is just a natural extension of what's been going on in LA and Boston. it's an extension but a major jump

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:13 PM) Yep, i think this is the future of the NBA. This is going to keep happening until somebody puts a stop to it. it depends on how this plays out

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:12 PM) Does anyone think some other group of players will try and unite to form another Superteam? I would watch out for Jay-Z putting something together with those Nets in the next 1-2 years... well the stars really aligned well for this, Carmello could be in play next offseason, but Durant is signing a 5 year extension which locks him down for awhile.

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:10 PM) Well duh, Im talking about players not positions. there's nothing really major left out there, I imagine they would still try and shop Deng to see if they can get something for him.

i think I'm being a little misunderstood in this thread because I'm being too choppy with my posts... I think the three of these guys together is dynamite and has a chance to win titles, however, I don't think it's going to be a rampaging team that is going to tear through the NBA for the next 5 years. Also, I haven't really thought what I think about how this effects Lebrons "Legacy" I'm just pointing out that there is a perception out there that he's taking an easy way out and I think that's going to stick with him.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:04 PM) I don't think so. He'll be able to coast for weeks at a time without the team missing a beat. 38 MPG will be totally different than 38 MPG three years ago. he has to be healthy through the playoffs though, someone like Dwight Howard isn't going to escort him to the ground softly because LBJ and Bosh are on the floor

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:03 PM) Change his game...like say, having 2 of the other best players in the NBA make sure that he never has to take a hard hit again? how are they going to stop that? If he drives he will get hit

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:02 PM) This is why Jackson has never had a legitimate chance of landing an NBA coaching job. is he on ESPN? ESPN is going to spin this anyway they can, they have a huge contract with the NBA and need this to work out

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:00 PM) Lebron might never see a double team for the rest of his career. I say this with all respect to Wade, I think he is a great and dynamic player, but IMO and others opinions he is either going to have to change his game in 3-4 years or he will fall off the table quickly

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:56 PM) I'm just saying that people are so quick to say Jordan is Greatest of All Time, but if LeBron goes out and wins 10 rings, then maybe he would deserve it. let's have him win one, two and three then he can enter the conversation.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:55 PM) good, Shaq is terrible now and just clogs up the middle. A big man with range, like what you saw with R. Wallace last year, would have been a better fit. exactly, I am kind of surprised by that, the Heat will be at their best when these 3 are playing a dynamic style of game and Shaq is going to weigh that down.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:54 PM) It's possible to have a different perception? Didn't he come out and say exactly "I'm doing this to win a championship"? You can quibble with his methods, but from his own mouth, that's exactly what he's doing. yes, many people can have many different perspectives, and I see the argument of him going to win championships, but also I hear and read what a lot of other people are saying, my main argument is this hurt his chances with a portion of the public to be amongst the all time greats

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:45 PM) I agree, but you have to remember you're talking with a lot of Bulls fans right now. Am I a Bulls fan? Yes I am, but I am also a person who can be objective and look at things through my unclouded eyes and also hear and read what others are saying

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:52 PM) Magic and Bird didn't fail elsewhere because they were surrounded by great players their whole careers. If Cleveland had given Lebron a good supporting cast he almost certainly would have never left. I'm arguing perception here, and it's already started... to call my arguments "absurd" like palehouse chose to doesn't make sense when there's a lot of pundits and the public out there already writing/saying similar things... perception is reality and a lot of people are going to see him bolting to a team with two other names to try and win a championship.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:44 PM) You do realize that Magic played with 2 other HOF players pretty much his entire career don't you? Didn't hurt Magic or Larry Bird playing with a ton of other HOF players. They were clearly the best players on the floor. Some nights Kareem would take over, or McHale, or Parrish or Worthy etc etc. These arguments are absurd. Michael wouldn't have won s*** without Scottie. There's no reason LeBron won't be the best player on the floor most nights. yeah, I'm well aware of who Magic played with and of course no one guy can win an NBA title by themselves, they need at least one great/HOF caliber player around them with a good supporting cast. I am talking more about overall perception and it's already out there, many people are going to think he had to run to a team with two other superstars to try and win titles.

QUOTE (ZoomSlowik @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:39 PM) The Bulls okay, but the Nets won 12 games last year. That roster is two deep and Devin Harris is injury prone. People also seem awfully quick to crown OKC as well considering 7 teams in the west had a better record than them and their starting center is Serge Ibaka right now... that's an up and coming team, look how much trouble they gave the Lakers in the playoffs