LeBron James Discussion: Not Returning To The Lakers

Lol, I didn’t even catch he said that. I get the confusion I think, though, it’s ”Mamma Jamma”, not “Momma Jamma”. Some people spell mom like “mama”, so yeah, I think. As for LeBron’s shot, I don’t know if he was trying to bank it, but it did look like it to me in the moment. He was running with a lot of momentum, and a straight on floater at that angle is as bad as it gets, that’s a recipe for rattling in and right back out. Watching the replay many times, I do think he meant to bank it, it’s a perfect bank angle, a long layup. A crazy difficult shot still, but he made it look easy, which makes me think he planned to do it as soon as he started driving towards the hoop.

 

Great Photo! Just Ridiculous...

 

If LeBron makes the Finals again, which seems almost certain at this point, I’m wondering if (and why) he leaves Cleveland. He’s a god there, and he will not have an easier road to the Finals anywhere else except for maybe Philly. Every year it’s the same script. Joke of a first round opponent, Toronto falls apart, the C Bags reach him, but are missing half their team and he beats them easily. Why leave that? Even if you lose to the Warriors or Rockets, you’re getting to the Finals every single season, and you’re always a Curry or Durant injury and Draymond suspension away from a ring.

 

It's a good point.

He may also hate Cleveland. and the ownership there. That team is clearly not built to win and they have little hope of giving him a winner. If Paul George joins here, we're already looking at a 40+ win team without him. With him? We're looking at a 50+ win team with a higher ceiling than that.

I'd also argue at this point that the West isn't significantly harder than the East. Both sides are now top heavy, but there's really only two competitors for a title this year: Golden State and the Rockets if Golden State has a bad day. If that's the case, then who cares if you're in the East? You're going to end up in the same place anyway and you're still a Durant or Curry injury away from the Finals. Then you get to face a weak East team in the Finals.

 

I don't think Philly is a great spot for LeBron. As talented as those kids are, the fit isn't that great. Embiid can stretch the floor, but is he comfortable out there compared to inside? LeBron is still primarily a driver, Simmons is useless off the ball.

Our players are more versatile even if they're not as top shelf talented. I think LA is a better spot (assuming George comes too).

That being said, if he went to Philadelphia, I'd be fine with that. I have no faith in Philadelphia at all.

 

I agree with therealdeal, I don't see Lebron as a great fit on Philly. LA is much better suited for him roster-wise. Lonzo can actually play off ball, and if you get PG here as well it's going to be a beautiful offense.

 

He may hate Cleveland, but I’m not sure that he hates it enough to not want to finish out his career there. Does he really want to leave and have that fan base hate him again? I agree that the West is too-heavy, but I think that’s still a big deal, because that means the difference between the Finals every season, with some lucky bounces leading to a ring, or maybe the WCF every season. As a team that was stuck in the WCF for years with Shaq and Kobe, we know all too well what it means to finally break through and get to the Finals, you have a shot once you’re there.

That’s the only reason I put Philly ahead of us as well, if they were in the West I’d put us as a better destination. We have the better roster for LeBron, but we also have the Warriors and Rockets in our conference. In the East, it’s now pretty much been proven that LeBron, one other all-star caliber player, and a bunch of guys off the street, will get you to the Finals in the East. LeBron, a Kyrie/Wade, and that other all-star caliber player is enough to win it. The Cavs aren’t in great shape, but they aren’t out of the question unable to go get LeBron one more player in a trade. That’s all my point was, that I don’t see why it’s assured he leaves Cleveland now. Maybe going forward he doesn’t want to do as much work as he is now, or maybe he won’t be able to, which is a big consideration, but for now he seems good with it.

 

I think another factor is: I'm not positive he beats the C Bags right now. His team is awful with little hope at improving. Maybe the way he sees it he needs more freedom and the team needs more freedom. In that case, it'd be a massive mistake to stay in Cleveland. That team is built he way it's going to be for at least 2 more years. Does he have 2 years to play with JR Smith and Jordan Clarkson as his guys? I don't know.

We'll see I suppose. I have a strong suspicion he's leaving still.