All those years all Cleveland had was defense. Lebron up until last year had always been the one and only scoring threat on the team. Just because you lead the league in D doesn't mean squat if you can't score more than you are giving up. That was the issue.
I'm not exactly sure what an "elite team" means. I think the label elite is more for talking about current teams and their status compared to eachother. That being said the Cavs would be one of the elite teams in the NBA (right now). In no way can you say one of the "best" when speaking more historical. Not even close. But for now, i guess i would say they are one of the elite teams in the NBA. Next year? maybe not.
If you lead the league in defense giving up 92 (just a random number) points per game, while your offense only puts 91 (again random number) points per game..... Even though you have the top defense, you will still have a rough road winning games. That was my point. That is how it was in Cleveland pretty much up until last season when there were finally other legitimate scorers added to the roster.
Win a title. Last year they ran through the regular season just as they are doing this year. But when it came down to a 7 game series in the Eastern Conference Finals, they got outplayed and out coached. Mo Williams and Delonte West are good, yes. But they are the second, third or 4th option in the Cavs system. The same situation for the Lakers? Odom, Bynum, Artest, Gasol.
So how many titles do they need to win to be "elite"? 1....2....3? And if they lead the league in wins all those years? With Lebron winning MVP's...is that what they need?
Absolutely they need to win championshipS! Nobody is going to remember how many regular season games they won. Who really cares? If they win 2 or 3 (or more) championships in this era they will be remembered as being a great team. If they don't? In 10 years who is going to remember how many points they let up or how many regular season wins they had? Think about teams in certain eras that stick out in your mind like the Celtics, Lakers, Yankees, 49ers, Cowboys etc.....
I am on the same page as you Trev. I think the Lakers are the better team, no doubt. Like you said, they're playing without Kobe AND Andrew Bynum. That's saying something. If both teams are healthy, the Lakers are the better team, no doubt. They're proven too
Lebron winning MVP's does absolutely nothing to bolster them to elite status. But winning atleast 1 would be a start. Right now, all they have accomplished in the last 5 years is one Title series loss and been a consistent competitor in the east.
Amare would be a big, big asset for the Cavs assuming they don't have to give up too much. Still not sure they can beat the Lakers, though. Buttttt, then again, are the Cavs even interested in winning it all this year or are they just trying to convince LBJ to stay?
I agree on the first part, although they HAVE beat the Lakers twice this year. And on the second part, I honestly feel it takes the former to make the latter even happen. No Championship = LBJ elsewhere.
Ill take Jamison as a consolation prize. He may mash together better then Amare would have anyways. Well see where this goes.
If we get Z back, I will be completely happy with this trade. Assuming he returns, give it up for Ferry for getting Jamison for a draft pick. If he don't, then thats business. I think Antawn will bring some good to the team.
While I like Jamison an awfully lot, and think this is a good pickup for the Cavaliers, this does very little towards keeping Lebron James in Cleveland. Jamison has three strong years left tops, and I'm not sure how that's going to bode well in the almighty mind of The Chosen One. Getting Amare would definitely have been more appealing to LBJ in terms of staying in Cleveland. As far as helping them this season, we'll see what happens. He runs the pick and roll and defends well and more importantly, is a good teammate.
Im excited. Im pretty sure well get Z back, unless the Mavs pick him up. Tonights loss was hard to swallow, but i can live with it. 43-13-15 out of Lebron is sick. Jamison will take ALOT of the pressure off LeBron during the game.
Larry Bird = 13 seasons in Boston, 3 titles, 3 MVP's Magic Johnson = 13 seasons in LA, 5 titles, 3 MVP's Michael Jordan = 13 seasons in Chicago, 6 titles, 5 MVP's Kobe Bryant = 14 seasons in LA, 4 titles, 1 MVP I see LeBron in this group.
