Cavs to build a Champion in Lebrons wake

[ATENEARS]

I lived in Detroit, doing two-stints of service there totalling 10 years between 1985-1996. I learned a lot about the NBA watching the Great Pistons 89' & 90 Championship teams claw there way to the top on the heels of the Bird/Magic era and just prior to the Jordan era. They found their window and they got it done.

 

I learned just as much watching them draft the "next Jordan" in Grant Hill, and then stand back and wait for him to carry the team such as Jordan did. That never happened, Hill just never had the cut-throat mentality.

 

The Pistons brought in Dumars as president of team operations shortly after his playing days were over in 1999. He quickly faced what appeared to be a setback for the franchise, as Grant Hill elected to leave the team for the Orlando Magic after the 2000 season. However, Dumars managed to work a sign and trade with Orlando that brought the Pistons Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins in exchange for Hill. Both quickly entered the Pistons' starting lineup, and Wallace would develop into an All-Star in the coming years. Conversely, Hill would play only 47 games in the following four seasons due to a recurring ankle injury. The Pistons would struggle to a 32-50 record as the holes still needed to be filled.

 

Dumars went out and enticed Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton to fill Hill's wake. They drafted Tayshuan Prince from Kentucky. They made the playoffs, but were swept by the Nets.

 

They fired Rick Carlisle and his conservative offense, and mostly because Hall of famer Larry Brown was available. Dumars acquired Rasheed Wallace, and the Pistons posted a 54-28 record and clawed their way to (and through Carlisle, who was now coaching the pacers) the NBA Championship game to face the L.A. Lakers, who featured Shaq, Kobe, Gary Payton & Karl Malone.

 

Playing sound 'TEAM' basketball, the highly underdog Pistons won the Championship in 5-games, handing the Lakers their lowest franchise playoff point total (68-points) in Game #3. The Pistons, didn't just get lucky, they posted double-digit wins in 3 of the 4 wins.

 

I lived in Detroit, and attended draft day parties with friends of mine who were all huge Pistons fans, for the Grant Hill Draft. I saw how high the city was about Hill, and I saw how down they were thinking the world ended when Hill boasted he was leaving to seek an NBA Championship elsewhere. No one could have forseen that the it would be the Pistons in just three-four short seasons later that would be the Winners without him.

 

Screw Lebron, this NBA game is much more about team play than one super-star. I keep reading all about this being a 'super-star driven league' ... bullshit, where is the 'Lebron, Kobe, or Dwayne' among the roster below?

 

Pistons 2004 Roster:

Billups, Chauncey

Campbell, Elden

Fowlkes, Tremaine

Ham, Darvin

Hamilton, Richard

Hunter, Lindsey

James, Mike

Milicic, Darko (draft bust?)

Okur, Mehmet

Prince, Tayshaun

Wallace, Ben

Wallace, Rasheed

Williamson, Corliss

 

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be back. To understand Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, one needs to study none other than how the Detroit Pistons were built in winning THREE Championships since 1989. Gilbert was a Pistons fan during these same eras and the Cavs have modeled themselves after the Pistons success down to almost every last detail of Quicken Loans Arena. Gilbert will not be denied and will do everything in his power to get this done.

 

Go back and review the Pistons failures to Birds Celtics (the famous Isiah turnover on the inbound pass, or Laimbeers phantom foul on Kareem in Game #6), to understand how you roll up your shirt sleeves and keep working to get an NBA title.

 

With that recipe, I'm almost hoping Lebron leaves ... it's in the cards for us.

 

RIP Grant Hill, ya douche!

[hoorta]

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be back. To understand Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, one needs to study none other than how the Detroit Pistons were built in winning THREE Championships since 1989. Gilbert was a Pistons fan during these same eras and the Cavs have modeled themselves after the Pistons success down to almost every last detail of Quicken Loans Arena. Gilbert will not be denied and will do everything in his power to get this done.

 

Go back and review the Pistons failures to Birds Celtics (the famous Isiah turnover on the inbound pass, or Laimbeers phantom foul on Kareem in Game #6), to understand how you roll up your shirt sleeves and keep working to get an NBA title.

 

With that recipe, I'm almost hoping Lebron leaves ... it's in the cards for us.

 

RIP Grant Hill, ya douche!

 

Same could be said for Carlos Boozer. If you caught Gilbert's post-season presser I have no doubt the guy is absolutely committed to getting Cleveland a Championship, and he has the cash to get it done. With the Cleveland Casino coming on-line he has to have more resources than any other NBA owner.

 

[nobuo]

Screw Lebron? The man who almost single-handedly turned around a franchise that was all but dead? Seriously, show some respect. If he goes, Cleveland will move on, but you cannot discount what he's done for the city of Cleveland and for the Cavs.

[ATENEARS]

If Lebron truely wanted to win an NBA Championship and that was first and foremost his main objective, then he should have put this thing behind himself and the franchise over a year ago and focused on a legit opportunity to get it done either last season or this season and immediate in future years.

 

Lebron and I are equal, neither of us have lead an NBA franchise to a Championship, so I won't bow to him. I'm hoping he leaves rather than signs a short-term deal and puts a choke-hold on this city for any longer. Be a man and sign a seven year deal with your home town or at least give us your indication early enough so the Cavs can also become a major player in the Free Agent market.

 

Brett Farve and Tiger Woods are on the three-way call; they want their drama back ...

[BrownB499]

Not sure why LeBron's being held to a higher standard than any other former Cleveland stars

Colavito,Wilkins,Chambliss,Nettles,Sipe,Harper,Price,Thome,Ramirez,Sabathia,Lee.

.

all came...lost..left

Is it their fault? I don't think so...So why should LeBron be any different ? because he's from Akron ?

because he said he would win ? He tried.. it didn't work...now he moves on...It's Cleveland..everybody leaves!

[LeBrent]

Saying LeBron leaving wouldn't be the end of the world is fine...

 

But hoping LeBron would leave so that we have a better chance at winning is foolish.

 

So he doesn't have Jordan or Bird's killer instinct, he's still a 30-8-8 guy. You don't cheer for a once in a generation player to leave.

[CLEVELandMILIDH]

Adam_Schefter

 

Paul Silas, Lebron's first NBA coach, told the "Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000, he believs his former player will be leaving Cleveland

[Speedyd900rr]

Adam_Schefter

 

Paul Silas, Lebron's first NBA coach, told the "Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000, he believs his former player will be leaving Cleveland

 

 

Wasn't he let go? Thats like asking your x what she thinks of you.

[SJ_Browns]

Wasn't he let go? Thats like asking your x what she thinks of you.

 

seriously, who gives a crap what paul silas says??? all of a sudden, everybody is an "expert" on this situation and they all want to give their 2 cents about something they know nothing about.

 

 

[SJ_Browns]

if lebron leaves, then so be it, but it won't be because know it alls like silas and charles oakley said so.

 

i too believe that dan gilbert is dedicated to making the cavs a winner. listen to his end of the season presser. he's dedicated to building a winner and if lebron leavess, that still won't stop his plan of bringing a winner to c-town.

[ballpeen]

Didn't Jordan play for a lot less money so the Bulls could go out and get or keep Rodman and Pippin??

 

 

 

Anyway, it doesn't matter. If he stays....great....if he leaves, it shows the guy isn't as true as we would hope.

 

If he leaves, his first game back I would hope everybody dumps their James Jersey's on the court and then walk out....that or buy a ticket to support the team, then don't show up....I think it would be cool if there wasn't a person in the stands.

 

 

That would be a message.

[BrownB499]

if lebron leaves, then so be it, but it won't be because know it alls like silas and charles oakley said so.

 

i too believe that dan gilbert is dedicated to making the cavs a winner. listen to his end of the season presser. he's dedicated to building a winner and if lebron leavess, that still won't stop his plan of bringing a winner to c-town.

 

 

I agree ,but the first thing that has to happen is fire Mike Brown...but then what? The big names aren't coming unless LeBron stays,

and he's gonna drag this out well into late summer...cause he can, meantime Gilberts got to hire a coach that may or may not

need to meet Lebron's approval...talk about being held hostage.

[hoorta]

Not sure why LeBron's being held to a higher standard than any other former Cleveland stars

Colavito,Wilkins,Chambliss,Nettles,Sipe,Harper,Price,Thome,Ramirez,Sabathia,Lee.

.

all came...lost..left

Is it their fault? I don't think so...So why should LeBron be any different ? because he's from Akron ?

because he said he would win ? He tried.. it didn't work...now he moves on...It's Cleveland..everybody leaves!

 

Most of the guys you mentioned got traded, and didn't walk out via FA. Yeah, being hometown does make it different, and makes it worse, at least in my book. And it wouldn't be for the money either, should he leave. The Knicks can't offer LeBron a Sabathia deal like the Yankees did to get him in NYC.

 

LeBron's being held to a higher standard because he's essentially jerking the Cavs around big time, to his own benefit- in a way no other player on the team could come close to doing. It's starting to get real old, real fast. Was clearly pointed out in the PD by Windhorst. Just a couple of examples- Mike Brown's obviously a goner, LeBron stays, the Cavs can get any coach on the market, and might even have a shot at Phil Jackson. If we have to wait until August while LeBron does his glory tour having every team with cap space suck up to him, the big name coaches will already have other jobs or have no interest in a rebuild project if he leaves. The draft is also before the FA period, and it sure as hell would be nice to know if James is staying or taking a powder. Might just affect what we do just a tad, no?

 

I used to really like LeBron a lot more- thought he was pretty grounded, but the guy's rapidly developing a major case of fatheaditis.

 

[cambridgeho]

He must feel entitled or something. If he dont leave for the money, then I comend him. To mnay times in sports the Athlete disregards the failing franchises record and only cares about the money. Lebron is already loaded and he knows it, "he is filthy rich". He wants to win a title for sure, but that shit dont come easy to anyone. I have loved what he has done for the city of Cleveland, but we have had our hearts broken before. He will pretty much not be welcomed anywhere in OHIO if he leaves, but we really dont know if he is leaving for sure either. I just hope the actual GM doesnt wait to add play ers in FA, and then LBJ leaves anyhow. I wish we could get Evan Turner this year. He is going to be really good.

[CLEVELandMILIDH]

Wasn't he let go? Thats like asking your x what she thinks of you.

 

theres probably alot of truth in what ur x thinks of u,who would no u better, maybe some people are just to thick headed or not willing to admit the truth

[CLEVELandMILIDH]

Browns Legend Jim Brown Thinks LeBron James Will Leave Cleveland

 

AUTHOR: Steve DiMatteo | IN: Browns | COMMENTS: 1 Comment

 

Even Jim Brown, the best player in Browns history and arguably the greatest running back in NFL history, has a say when it comes to what LeBron James will do this summer. Brown is of the belief that James will leave town, but it doesn’t stop there. According to Brown, the Cleveland fans and media are the ones driving James away.

He brings up the idea that expectations were too high and for us to analyze and “say humiliating things” about him, despite what he has done for the franchise, is, as Brown puts it, “an atrocity.”

 

The people of Cleveland have never been hard on LeBron during his time here – until this past postseason, Cleveland fans would have happily jumped off a cliff if he so desired. The reason everyone is analyzing Lebron James is within reason; James essentially gave up on the team during the series against the Boston Celtics.

To lose by 32 points at home is inexcusable, and LeBron didn’t seem all that upset about it. It is this nonchalant attitude that Cleveland fans can never accept and will rightfully call a player out on. The backlash on LeBron has been deserving, and if he can’t handle a little criticism, that’s too bad.

[hoorta]

Browns Legend Jim Brown Thinks LeBron James Will Leave Cleveland

 

AUTHOR: Steve DiMatteo | IN: Browns | COMMENTS: 1 Comment

 

Even Jim Brown, the best player in Browns history and arguably the greatest running back in NFL history, has a say when it comes to what LeBron James will do this summer. Brown is of the belief that James will leave town, but it doesn’t stop there. According to Brown, the Cleveland fans and media are the ones driving James away.

He brings up the idea that expectations were too high and for us to analyze and “say humiliating things” about him, despite what he has done for the franchise, is, as Brown puts it, “an atrocity.”

 

The people of Cleveland have never been hard on LeBron during his time here – until this past postseason, Cleveland fans would have happily jumped off a cliff if he so desired. The reason everyone is analyzing Lebron James is within reason; James essentially gave up on the team during the series against the Boston Celtics.

To lose by 32 points at home is inexcusable, and LeBron didn’t seem all that upset about it. It is this nonchalant attitude that Cleveland fans can never accept and will rightfully call a player out on. The backlash on LeBron has been deserving, and if he can’t handle a little criticism, that’s too bad.

 

The fallacy in Brown's thinking is, as you stated- he's positing that LeBron is above criticism. Jordan would have been breathing hellfire in the interview room if one of his Bulls teams had laid a stinker like that at home in the playoffs.

 

BTW, the best critique of LeBron's play (where he really has to improve upon- it's what Kobe still has the edge on him) came from a guy on ESPN, and I have to agree with him- is LeBron's a fraction of a second slow reading the play, and knowing when to get rid of the ball. How many times in the Boston series did we see him drive into double and triple teams, and either make a bad pass, or turn the ball over? So would you rather work on that this summer LBJ, or go out and make movies, have owners suck up to you, and hang with your buddies JZ and Buffett? Nope, you're not Jordan yet LeBron- and if you don't ramp up the intensity, you're destined to be another Karl Malone.

 

One of the reasons Mike Brown is going to be gone is he couldn't stop LeBron from running the show on the court. Way, way too much of LeBron playing one on five letting the shot clock drain down to a couple of seconds, and hoisting up a three while the other guys just stood around and watched.

 

[BrownB499]

One of the reasons Mike Brown is going to be gone is he couldn't stop LeBron from running the show on the court. Way, way too much of LeBron playing one on five letting the shot clock drain down to a couple of seconds, and hoisting up a three while the other guys just stood around and watched.

 

I read somewhere that Phil Jackson's success with Michael and Kobe comes from his ability to get production from the rest

of the team.

He knows what he's getting from Kobe every night,he can count on Kobe...getting the rest of the team to contribute while Kobe

does his thing is the key.

 

I'm not sure if there's anyone out there right now,other than PJ that can convince LeBron that his super stardom has to be

structured in order for "HIS" team to be champions.

And if I remember right Phil struggled trying to sell this concept to Kobe the first couple of years.

[ATENEARS]

I thought that I would bump this thread for those who can't see the recipe needed to win a Championship before LeBron ever does.