Links To The Present: April 2, 2010
2010-04-02
“That envelope of comfort and protection he enjoys in Northeast Ohio is a big part of the James story, a part that many might not understand when they project what James is going to do this offseason, when he can opt out of his contract and hit the free-agent market.” [Brian Windhorst looks at what Cleveland offers LeBron]
“When you win in New York you are immortalized,” Checketts said. “LeBron will win in Cleveland if he stays and be revered for a long time, but it still wouldn’t equal what winning one or several in New York would mean to him.” [From Ian O’Connor’s LeBron to NY Article]
“But for Ian O’Connor to sit in front of his computer and type out that hatchet job on the city of Cleveland – to proclaim his obvious bias towards wanting LeBron in New York and seek the opinions of “experts” like Willis Reed, Mark Messier and Donnie Walsh – is lazy at best. At worst, it’s an embarrassment, an obvious attempt to draw attention to himself and his employer and an insult to not just Cleveland, but basketball fans everywhere, including those in New York.” [Dan Labbe didn’t like O’Connor’s article]
“If Ian O’Connor’s article was meant to bait people into arguing, then it worked. I bit. Still, I think this is an opportunity for Cleveland to show some self confidence and calm. As Andrew pointed out yesterday, there is nothing for us or the Cavaliers organization to be ashamed of. In the end, the decision still comes down to LeBron doing what he wants for whatever reasons he chooses.” [Craig @ WFNY admits being baited]
“In a league of jaded superstars, LeBron James’ decision might be based on the noblest of reasons: the number of trophies — not the number of dollars.” [Larry Coon on the value of Bird Rights]
“The Cavs, though, remain the overwhelming favorite to get LeBron’s signature, mainly because owner Dan Gilbert’s deep-pocketed determination to make sure LeBron is always surrounded by a title-contending supporting cast will be hard to walk away from. LeBron needs championships (plural) on his résumé to truly reach global-icon status and Gilbert has proven he’s willing to spend whatever it takes (witness all the extra salary Cleveland took on in February to acquire Antawn Jamison) to make sure LeBron has that opportunity. LeBron can also sign that shorter deal everyone’s talking about to ensure the Cavs’ commitment doesn’t change.” [Marc Stein on LeBron’s 80% chance of Staying in Cleveland]
NBA Playbook with a look at the Cavs late game execution against the Bucks.
“Coach Mike Brown admitted he had increased the number of foul shots for his team, which ranks last in the league in free-throw shooting at 72.1 percent (1,432-of-1,987.)” [Mary Schmitt Boyer on Free Throw Woes]
“Stars gave their increased commitment, volia, Team USA was back on top. Now, after all the rousing camaraderie, and flag-draping, of 2008 faded, the same old problems are back: Players have lives, the rest of the world is a serious threat, and no one wants to mess with his bank on account of helping out the Statue of Liberty yet again. LeBron James may have the silliest excuse, but really, it gets to the heart of the matter: When it comes to USA Basketball, has anything really changed?” [Bethlehem Shoals on LeBron Skipping the Olympics]
Charley Rosen pits LeBron against defenders of yesteryear in his Q & A.
Tweets to the Present: (follow me @tompestak)
“Gotta love ESPN. They need to pimp their new local website – ESPN New York – and to do so they put LeBron in a Knicks uniform.” [George M. Thomas]
“I can’t recall when a team had the league’s best record and yet saw @ESPN photoshopping him into another uniform. Never.” [Jamil Smith]
“If the NBA is going to fine Kevin Garnett 25k everytime he’s seen cussing on TV he’ll be broke a year from now.” [Brian Windhorst]
LeBron is skipping the World Championship this summer, not the olympics like your write up says.
I never heard any journalists following the ’08 gold medal campaign say it was anything other than a team jointly led by Lebron and Kobe. There were endless clips on TV during the summer of Lebron acting as coach on the court during practice, and players consulting Kobe, and visa versa., There was that interview of them together, as captains… I dont think anyone but the most rabid of Kobe fanatics would want to rewrite history to erase Lebron’s part.
As for who was the better player during the tournament, Tom put it rather succinctly.
No one is blocking anyone’s comments. With WHAT did you PROVE anything?
That’s nice. My comments must be approved now because I proved someone wrong.
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/08/olym/men/teamPlay/team/p/openNodeIDs/6591/selNodeID/6591/teamnumber/379/fe_teamPlay_teamAccuStat.html You’ll notice LeBron shot 60% to Kobe’s 46%. His True Shooting Percentage annihilates Kobe too. He had 30 assists to Kobe’s 17 42 rebounds to Kobe’s 22 19 steals to Kobe’s 9 8 Blocks to Kobe’s 4 Kobe took a shameless 53 three point shots against slow white European players and shot only 30% on them. LeBron took half that, and made 46% of them. Despite taking 21 less shots than Kobe, LeBron outscored Kobe. I realize Kobe hit 2 big shots in the gold medal game. But to say LeBron didn’t “lead” Team USA to Gold because of… Read more »
“That’s the craziest thing I have ever read.”
C’mon. Because Kobe had a good gold medal game down the stretch? I’m not going to take that away from him, and I’m very thankful he came through. That said, this team had the footprints of Melo, Lebron, and Dwayne Wade all over it. “Go back, watch every game, and admit to your lie.”
Mark stick around – I have a response for you at halftime
“He led Team USA to Gold at the olympics, it’s up to a younger generation of stars to don the Red White and Blue now. ”
Go back, watch every game, and admit to your lie. That’s the craziest thing I have ever read. You can say that if you mean LeBron led Team USA to a bronze in 2004, but it’s absurd to say anyone but Kobe led them to gold in 08.
@Issac – LOL, there is at least one email like that in every Rosen email-bag. @Everyone – Those in NYC think LeBron going there is a self-fulfilling prophecy. I think they are going to be in for a surprise. The Cavs organization has been A+ the last 3 years. @Mark – As a Cavs fan I don’t want him to play for Team USA anymore, especially not if he has to it every single summer. He led Team USA to Gold at the olympics, it’s up to a younger generation of stars to don the Red White and Blue now.… Read more »
““In a league of jaded superstars, LeBron James’ decision might be based on the noblest of reasons: the number of trophies — not the number of dollars.” [Larry Coon on the value of Bird Rights]”
The opposite goes for Team USA.
“Email”… I should have said “article” in reference to his keyboard excrement, not email. Sorry about that.
The audacity of O’Connor’s email is insulting. I can understand that he wants LeBron in New York, but it’s his tone that New York is some basketball mecca that’s a joke. The Knicks haven’t won more than 40 games since 2001. They haven’t won a championship since ’72. And yes, they were Jordan’s bitch much like the Cavs were, without the miracle buzzer beater highlight. “… it still wouldn’t equal what winning one or several in New York would mean to him.” Give me an f’ing break. What, exactly, would it mean to LeBron? His connections to New York run… Read more »
watching that play (lovingly referred to by krolik as the KRAKEN) over and over again makes me wish mike brown would come up with more off-ball plays for lebron. lebron gets so much separation on that backscreen, that i imagine there are about 50 different ways to get him the ball so he can score.
I cant believe Charley Rosen actually printed this “question”: As an NBA sports journalist, you are peerless! No one but you has the technical and analytical insight to so expertly dissect the game and its players. I worry, though, that when you are watching a game, you are so consumed with the X’s and O’s that you don’t get a chance to actually enjoy the game. So prove me wrong, Charley, and tell me which players and what aspects of the game you find entertaining, and why? – Mark J. Pellegrino, MD Cmon charley… have some modesty. (and stop emailing… Read more »
^ Good idea. However, without ESPN, I would have never discovered this wonderful blog. Let’s just say that only some people at ESPN are inherently evil.
That O’Connor article was effing stupid. 1) The major compelling reason for LeBron to come to New York seems to be that the Knicks will suck without him. 2) There’s a seeming assumption that as long as LeBron is playing on the Knicks, a championship is guaranteed. The fact that there aren’t 6 championship banners hanging in the Q right now suggests otherwise. 3) The second most compelling reason for LeBron to come to New York seems to be that a championship will be more meaningful than it would be in Cleveland. WHAT? That’s such an insane sentiment. Winning Cleveland’s… Read more »
If Lebron resigns with the Cavs this summer … I suggest Cav fans spend the entire day faxing EPSN their middle finger.
I guess no one in the media listened to the video I linked to yesterday, where LeBron says he’s not stopping until he brings a Championship to Cleveland. Remember when these media frenzies used to happen after LeBron wore a yankee cap or answered questions about Free Ageny?