Champion Cavs

[G-Mo77]

Re: Champion Cavs

On point 1, I can't possibly see what's not to love. He maybe sacrificed an enduring legacy at Miami to go back to his literal and spiritual home to lead them to the promised land. Egos aside, it's a wonderful story.

On point 2 the stats might suggest otherwise. I'm a 90's kid myself, so it's hard for me to see anyone as better than Jordan, but I'm not sure if I'm just looking at it through rose coloured glasses. I guess this one is up for debate. My heart says Jordan, but my head says probably James.

Also, let's not slag him for the nickname "King" or for lapping up the accolades that come with it. I hardly think Jordan was the paragon of modesty either. But LeBron coaches his kids basketball games. I'd be surprised if Jordan even knew his kids names (that's just a gag).

I'll be honest I have more respect for now to come back home and win a title. Still not a fan at all.

Stats don't tell the full story. Jordan played through a tough defensive era, hell he had to go through the Detroit bad boys before he was crowned. Lebron and Kobe went through rules made for offence. Jordan in this era would own this league on the other end I have my doubts Lebron would be able to put up anything like he does now back in the late 80's early 90's. Kobe is the closest player I have seen to Jordan and I rate him higher than Lebron. It is apples and oranges though, Kobe and Jordan are comparable, James is more comparable to a guy like Magic.

[The Underdog]

Re: Champion Cavs

I'll be honest I have more respect for now to come back home and win a title. Still not a fan at all.

Stats don't tell the full story. Jordan played through a tough defensive era, hell he had to go through the Detroit bad boys before he was crowned. Lebron and Kobe went through rules made for offence. Jordan in this era would own this league on the other end I have my doubts Lebron would be able to put up anything like he does now back in the late 80's early 90's. Kobe is the closest player I have seen to Jordan and I rate him higher than Lebron. It is apples and oranges though, Kobe and Jordan are comparable, James is more comparable to a guy like Magic.

Stats may not tell the full story but Bron just averaged 29 pts 11 Reb and nearly 9 Assists in a 7 game NBA Finals against the team with best regular season record in NBA history at the age of 31. This is also the 6th straight season his team has played in the NBA Finals and he hasn't missed any of those games. He's essentially played an extra season in the past 6 years.
Sure Jordan is number 1 and you may not like him but he's a top 10 all time NBA player and probably top 5

[Remi Moses]

Re: Champion Cavs

The sports betting agencies are betting on a line for the number of arrests in Cleveland .
The line is 5,000

[Ozza]

Re: Champion Cavs

On the Jordan v LeBron debate...for me - it comes down to this...

Today when the scores were 89 all with a little over a minute to go - we didn't know whether LeBron would get it done or not.
If it was Jordan and the Bulls...everyone in the arena, and everyone watching at home knows that Jordan wins the game.
He never came back from 3-1 down, the series' never got that close.

LeBron is a freak. He has every attribute you could possibly want if you were trying to construct the worlds best player.
But Jordan's career was a Hollywood movie script.

[The Underdog]

Re: Champion Cavs

I'm still not sure anyone is claiming that LeBron is better than Jordan. Jordan is a pretty unanimous #1 as far as I can tell. But LeBron is an all time great regardless.

[comrade]

Re: Champion Cavs

Everyone knows it's Jordan at #1 then some daylight. But LeBron has massive claims for the #2 spot.

His NBA Finals was insane.

[EasternWest]

Re: Champion Cavs

I'll be honest I have more respect for now to come back home and win a title. Still not a fan at all.

Stats don't tell the full story. Jordan played through a tough defensive era, hell he had to go through the Detroit bad boys before he was crowned. Lebron and Kobe went through rules made for offence. Jordan in this era would own this league on the other end I have my doubts Lebron would be able to put up anything like he does now back in the late 80's early 90's. Kobe is the closest player I have seen to Jordan and I rate him higher than Lebron. It is apples and oranges though, Kobe and Jordan are comparable, James is more comparable to a guy like Magic.

Nice. Value your considered response. Hard to disagree entirely. Certainly Jordan came through a tougher era. It would've been interesting to see LeBron in those days. He's physically bigger and stronger than Jordan, but would he have had Jordan's mental tenacity? Not sure.

Either way, immense finals series. That block though.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Champion Cavs

Incredible series, nothing better than seeing teams like Cleveland and Leicester win, what a year we are having in sports and it's not even half way. It sure does dare us all to dream.....

Michael Jordan for me, had his wings on the wall growing up but Kobe close in second. Named my first son Kobe Michael.
Only because Michael Kobe just didn't go.

[Twodogs]

Re: Champion Cavs

Not a great NBA fan, but wonderful for the city after being so close with the Indians in the 90's

Not a big basketball fan although it has improved a lot as a game since I last watched it years ago. It seems a bit less predictable and games aren't as drawn out as they were when I stopped watching.

When Magic Johnson stopped playing and Jordan became the big deal it just the same winners all the time.

But anyway this series was great.

[westdog54]

Re: Champion Cavs

I can understand how he got fans offside with the Miami decision (I'm taking my talents to Miami) but you have to love the romance of him coming back at the top of his game to drag a squad that has been horrible for years since he left to the promised land, and beating one of the greatest teams ever to do it.

And his NBA Finals was possibly the best of all time including 2 x 41 point games when they were 3-1 down and a triple double in game 7 in the toughest road trip in basketball.

Just an amazing performance and will silence the critics once and for all.

That last block with 1:49 left was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen.

He had to sprint back to get there. Hard. To put it in perspective, he's taller and heavier than Tom Boyd. He runs at full sprint and then jumps for the block, and times it to perfection. A half second too late, the ball hits the backboard and he gets called for a goal tend. Instead it's an all time great NBA moment.

[Twodogs]

Re: Champion Cavs

That last block with 1:49 left was one of the most incredible things I've ever seen.

He had to sprint back to get there. Hard. To put it in perspective, he's taller and heavier than Tom Boyd. He runs at full sprint and then jumps for the block, and times it to perfection. A half second too late, the ball hits the backboard and he gets called for a goal tend. Instead it's an all time great NBA moment.

And the guy who had the shot becomes the NBA version of jerker Jenkins.

[Axe Man]

Re: Champion Cavs

I don't really agree with the comparisons to Leicester City. Sure Cleveland have been a struggling team for most of their history but they had the highest payroll in the NBA by some margin this season. Money bought a championship, not an underdog story for mine.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Champion Cavs

I don't really agree with the comparisons to Leicester City. Sure Cleveland have been a struggling team for most of their history but they had the highest payroll in the NBA by some margin this season. Money bought a championship, not an underdog story for mine.

For Cleveland, its moreso the tragic history with the city not having won a major championship for 52 years. Leicester was complete underdog yes. But there is a salary cap in the NBA so our story would be more on par with Cleveland than Leicester. Hell we may have the best two players in the comp in Bont and Stringer - 2 Lebrons! :-D

[Twodogs]

Re: Champion Cavs

The Lebron twins!

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: Champion Cavs

I can understand how he got fans offside with the Miami decision (I'm taking my talents to Miami) but you have to love the romance of him coming back at the top of his game to drag a squad that has been horrible for years since he left to the promised land, and beating one of the greatest teams ever to do it.

And his NBA Finals was possibly the best of all time including 2 x 41 point games when they were 3-1 down and a triple double in game 7 in the toughest road trip in basketball.

Just an amazing performance and will silence the critics once and for all.

I wanted him to win in Cleveland and a lot of that has to do with the bulldogs funnily enough.
When he went to Miami, he bailed on a city/team with a tragic past to team up with 2 fellow all-stars in a glamorous city. When he won titles it sent a message to players all around the world in all codes that the way to win is to take the easy route. This, in my opinion is akin to joining the desirable clubs in the AFL for a chance at success - i.e. Collingwood or the current successful teams i.e. Hawthorn, Geelong etc.

So when he chose to return to Cleveland i wanted that decision to be rewarded. The decision to stick with a team with the tragic past, that will have to win things the hard way. Because the message this sends is to stick with it, don't cop out and go the easy option and enjoy the journey because it will be that much more sweeter and meaningful when you succeed. I'm hoping Lebron's success with Cleveland is motivation for the players at the doggies - a number of them NBA fans - because seeing his joy and emotion in winning with Cleveland was 1000 times more than all his titles at Miami combined. What would you get more out of? Winning a flag for the dogs after being with them your whole career, or doing a Brian Lake and winning with Hawthorn in your first year? I know which one would be more meaningful.

Note: Obviously, there are mixed messages in Lebrons career as he did both leave to win titles the easy way and then return to win it the hard way. But his case is different in that he is a native of Cleveland. I'm not advocating players of the bulldogs to go join Hawthorn, win a flag and then return. It's the latest chapter in Lebrons career that needs to be advocated