Len
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#6's Return?
- Thread starter Rainman
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I don't see how he can have such a press conference without addressing the issue. You know that members of the press will ask him about it, so the only way to avoid that topic dominating future press conferences, etc., is just to address it squarely and publicly right out of the box. Talk about it before you get asked.
Frank Reynolds
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Has LeBron really matured? or is this all his PR team finally getting something right? To me, it appears that LeBron James has matured since we had him.
I'll say it again, we had him at the absolute pinnacle of his arrogance, and that can partially be attributed to our organization's handling of him, his first Nike contract, his family situation etc.
One thing you have to understand about LeBron is that at the end of the day, he's never had a father. He has taken care of his mama, his baby mama, his kids and all of his other immediate people for life. He's definitely always going to be "the man in his household. He brings home the fucking bacon.
If you had his talent, his status and situation growing up, there's no telling what kind of arrogant assholes we'd become either. If you know anything pertaining to psychology, you might have heard of the Stanford prison study. Basically there was a fake jail scene that was set up for weeks. All participants were civilians. Some people played the prison guards, other people played the prisoners. The study really illustrated the point that when you are in a position of power (the prison guards) people abuse those that are below them (prisoners) and generally act like assholes and abuse their status. We enabled LeBron James to ascend to the status of prison guard. We were all prisoners to all of his bullshit. He held us by the testicles for years and dragged us through the mud.
Windhorst basically broke it down like this:
I believe that LeBron's time with Hakeem Olajuwon had a serious spiritual impact on his game.
Hold on with Frank, bear with me, I know I write essays but this is a solid theory.
If you know anything about Hakeem, you'd know that he had a bitter loss in the NCAA championship to Patrick Ewing. Hakeem came into the league very raw, by the time his career was over he was an absolute maverick in the paint. Quite possibly the very best post game in NBA history from a technique, footwork, touch and mastery of the fundamentals. The basketball game might never again in its history see a talent like Hakeem in the pivot.
Hakeem lost countless heartbreaking series, very much in the same way that LeBron used to lose to the Celtics. Hakeem has a Cleveland moment about 5 times in 10 years where they are just about to taste the champagne and lose a gut-wrenching series. No matter how hard Hakeem used to work, he couldn't seem to get over the hump.
Going into his 10th season, Hakeem spiritually re-dedicated himself to his Islamic faith. Rather than any post move combination he could throw your way, what got Hakeem over the hump was his mental tranquility and inner peace that he gained from his faith.
Ten seasons after he first beat Olajuwon in the NCAA championship, Hakeem gets another crack at Patrick Ewing in the NBA finals only this time Hakeem emerges triumphant.
They show a scene that is quite possibly one of my favorite images of all time and that is Hakeem sitting on the scorers table and taking a moment to bask in all the glory. He didn't dance around like an asshole, fist pump like Jordan or any of your typical celebrations. He just sat on the scorers table looked up into the crowd of loyal fans and took in that moment with such grace and great joy over his achievement after failing for 10 straight years.
LeBron James is a student of the game. He knows and understands the history of the game. I'm sure he humbled himself to Hakeem. That's one instance where I can't see the ego maniac LeBron showing up. If Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird or any other maverick from the past wanted to give James guidance or advice, he'd lend them his ear.
I wonder if Hakeem really did break through to the kid from Akron. LeBron definitely had an inner calm last postseason that I hadn't seen from him in years past. He calmly delivered epic performance after epic performance and generally seemed uber engaged in every single postseason game.
Maybe perhaps he realized what an egomaniac he had become. He finally manned up and gave his heart and soul in the postseason and the results speak for them self. Remember seeing him reading books before the games? I don't think that was a publicity stunt. James finally grew up, matured and accepted accountability for his performance. It was almost like he shed that layer of skin.
Now he seems even calmer, he manned up and finished his business. I still think he feels that he has unfinished business in Cleveland. James has been quoted as saying he had to go to Miami, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Perhaps LeBron knows that we'd take him back whenever, that's why he ultimately left.
The notion of him being the center of our universe again doesn't sit well with me. That's certainly how the media would construe it, but I wonder if the Cavaliers would try to adapt a different mission statement this time around. We're building with Irving, not around Irving. I think by that time Kyrie will already be drawing national attention. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the PG headlines in a few years read: Rose vs Irving vs CP3 battle for the NBA's best PG.
Just like how James joined Wade, this time he'd be teaming up with Irving, a player that earned his reputation on his own accord, without James.
I'll say it again, we had him at the absolute pinnacle of his arrogance, and that can partially be attributed to our organization's handling of him, his first Nike contract, his family situation etc.
One thing you have to understand about LeBron is that at the end of the day, he's never had a father. He has taken care of his mama, his baby mama, his kids and all of his other immediate people for life. He's definitely always going to be "the man in his household. He brings home the fucking bacon.
If you had his talent, his status and situation growing up, there's no telling what kind of arrogant assholes we'd become either. If you know anything pertaining to psychology, you might have heard of the Stanford prison study. Basically there was a fake jail scene that was set up for weeks. All participants were civilians. Some people played the prison guards, other people played the prisoners. The study really illustrated the point that when you are in a position of power (the prison guards) people abuse those that are below them (prisoners) and generally act like assholes and abuse their status. We enabled LeBron James to ascend to the status of prison guard. We were all prisoners to all of his bullshit. He held us by the testicles for years and dragged us through the mud.
Windhorst basically broke it down like this:
- Early in James' career, he went from being a person of potential to later on being considered a man with expectations on his shoulders.
- LeBron was generally pretty clutch, but he's not so clear cut clutch as Paul Pierce, Bryant, Billups.... He sometimes makes a passing play, and people percive that he's scared of the moment. Shades of grey pertaining to his clutchness.
- LBJ Wade and Bosh thought that Miami was going to steam roll through the post season. Not 1,2,3......
- Windhorst genuinely believes that LeBron James choked in the series vs Boston. That theory was validated again when LeBron choked the year later vs Dallas.
- The absolute apex of LeBron's bitterness and arrogance was "at the end of the day, they gonna have to wake up and have the same life they had yesterday, meanwhile I'm gonna do what ever the fuck I want"
- Going into the 2012 season LeBron had to re-analzye why he just "pissed down his own leg" two years in a row.
- Going into that season LeBron re-focused on the love of the game. He didn't let the media distract him the way he did the season after "the decision"
I believe that LeBron's time with Hakeem Olajuwon had a serious spiritual impact on his game.
Hold on with Frank, bear with me, I know I write essays but this is a solid theory.
If you know anything about Hakeem, you'd know that he had a bitter loss in the NCAA championship to Patrick Ewing. Hakeem came into the league very raw, by the time his career was over he was an absolute maverick in the paint. Quite possibly the very best post game in NBA history from a technique, footwork, touch and mastery of the fundamentals. The basketball game might never again in its history see a talent like Hakeem in the pivot.
Hakeem lost countless heartbreaking series, very much in the same way that LeBron used to lose to the Celtics. Hakeem has a Cleveland moment about 5 times in 10 years where they are just about to taste the champagne and lose a gut-wrenching series. No matter how hard Hakeem used to work, he couldn't seem to get over the hump.
Going into his 10th season, Hakeem spiritually re-dedicated himself to his Islamic faith. Rather than any post move combination he could throw your way, what got Hakeem over the hump was his mental tranquility and inner peace that he gained from his faith.
Ten seasons after he first beat Olajuwon in the NCAA championship, Hakeem gets another crack at Patrick Ewing in the NBA finals only this time Hakeem emerges triumphant.
They show a scene that is quite possibly one of my favorite images of all time and that is Hakeem sitting on the scorers table and taking a moment to bask in all the glory. He didn't dance around like an asshole, fist pump like Jordan or any of your typical celebrations. He just sat on the scorers table looked up into the crowd of loyal fans and took in that moment with such grace and great joy over his achievement after failing for 10 straight years.
LeBron James is a student of the game. He knows and understands the history of the game. I'm sure he humbled himself to Hakeem. That's one instance where I can't see the ego maniac LeBron showing up. If Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird or any other maverick from the past wanted to give James guidance or advice, he'd lend them his ear.
I wonder if Hakeem really did break through to the kid from Akron. LeBron definitely had an inner calm last postseason that I hadn't seen from him in years past. He calmly delivered epic performance after epic performance and generally seemed uber engaged in every single postseason game.
Maybe perhaps he realized what an egomaniac he had become. He finally manned up and gave his heart and soul in the postseason and the results speak for them self. Remember seeing him reading books before the games? I don't think that was a publicity stunt. James finally grew up, matured and accepted accountability for his performance. It was almost like he shed that layer of skin.
Now he seems even calmer, he manned up and finished his business. I still think he feels that he has unfinished business in Cleveland. James has been quoted as saying he had to go to Miami, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Perhaps LeBron knows that we'd take him back whenever, that's why he ultimately left.
The notion of him being the center of our universe again doesn't sit well with me. That's certainly how the media would construe it, but I wonder if the Cavaliers would try to adapt a different mission statement this time around. We're building with Irving, not around Irving. I think by that time Kyrie will already be drawing national attention. It wouldn't surprise me at all if the PG headlines in a few years read: Rose vs Irving vs CP3 battle for the NBA's best PG.
Just like how James joined Wade, this time he'd be teaming up with Irving, a player that earned his reputation on his own accord, without James.
Last edited:
col63onel
Brad Daugherty Fan Club
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Most raw talent, maybe. But we are still awful defensively. Even adding an All-NBA defender wouldn't change that.
Frank Reynolds
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Wow man. So you don't think with Gee James Thompson and Varejao you'd have a semi decent defense?
Waiters has potential to be good defensively and we might even go and draft Nerlens Noel in June.
Defense is all about want and desire. Defense can be found easier than elite offensive players like Kyrie, Wade, James Harden....Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker etc.
Our problem with LeBrons teams was never about defense it was about having potato head offense.
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What defensive potential Waiters may have, our backcourt defense right now is pretty bad. I think that's a major hole that has to be filled with a plus defensive starter at the 2, because a semi-decent defense isn't going to win championships even with LBJ, Thomas, and AV up front.
I personally have a man-crush on Indiana's Victor Oladipo right now. Vicious backcourt defender with great range and athleticism, and shooting over 60% from the field -- over 50% from 3. Unfortunately, he's rising up draft boards, and if his shot keeps coming along, I'm guessing he's going to be a top 10 pick.
gratefuldead
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I wonder if next cavs heat game if someone got a Lebron come home chant going... It would probably make national sports news.. Lebron come home or come home Lebron while he is at the line shooting??? I dunno but we could amp up the Lebron to Cleveland buzz pulling off a chant like that
CodyL1121
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That would be incredible. I wonder what his reaction would be.
"Suckers, even they still love me and I exaggerated an elbow injury and quit on them ha!"
Possibly?
Jack Brickman
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We should do a "Run Home, Jack" chant. More subtle and a nice chance to sneak in a movie reference.
CodyL1121
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Even if he did quit, why couldn't the REST of the Cavaliers team pull it together? Maybe because....they weren't a playoff team without him? If he did quit, I'm not blaming the ENTIRE loss on him. I'm blaming the loss on the ENTIRE Cavaliers team.
Leaders lead, he was the leader.
I run a warehouse, trust me, if I lay down on the job, the job don't get done.
Just saying he is that good, that if he tanks it, the Cavs could not overcome that. What a shame he couldn't leave it all out there on the floor, maybe we would not be even talking about him comming back.