LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

I agree with this and it’s why I think the whole “I don’t care what numbers he puts up, he’s not playing well” is a little crazy. I’ll admit he hasn’t played up to his standards but people act like his production doesn’t mean anything.

The truth lies somewhere in the middle and obviously numbers aren’t everything but they also can’t be ignored. From my view as someone who has followed LeBron’s whole career closely, I’m pretty content with what I’ve seen from him. Most of the negatives are effort related or come from being on a new team and the LA spotlight.

As a huge fan of his, there’s been a few times where I thought he was done as one of the best players in the league, and he’s always come back from it to prove me wrong. Obviously the older he gets, at some point he won’t bounce back but at this point I’m not gonna doubt him until important games are played and he looks different.

To me, he looks the same as he always has in recent years especially on a new team where it takes him a while to settle in. I think a lot of the worries here are a little overstated.

 

Finally some rational people.

 

26.4 pts, 7.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists. Yeah, I'm good with Old Man Lebron.

 

Can we ban all of them?

 

Another thing: how worried are you guys that we won‘t get any of the top FAs next summer and thereby become completely reliant on Ball‘s/Ingram‘s development if we are to have any shot at a chip during Lbj‘s 4 years? What do you think of the rumours that other stars don’t want to play with him? In other words, can anyone calm me down? thanks!

 

That's my fear as well.

 

We have 2 more years of this version of Lebron left; after that, there will be a steep decline, IMO. By that time, we better have another All-Star or 2 in the mix...

 

it's why i was puzzled about our reluctance to bid higher on leonard or even get seriously into bidding on butler. clock's ticking on lebron as a top-tier nba player. he still is, but he may not be two years from now.

 

Now I do agree that there should be some sense of urgency with the team to get him a true running mate. We honestly need to be firing on all cylinders next year. Any viable trades have to be considered.

 

This!

Think back to the previous regime...other than a nashty trade, no one in their primes had the balls to link up with Kobe in free agency (appropriately, Zo helped recruit Bron tho). So prolonging/exploiting Kob's twilight was a goddamn travesty and a complete wasted opportunity.

Bron's the dude that committed 4yrs to us while other free agents didn't even grant us meetings and used us to leverage better deals with other teams. Yet some of y'all s***ting on Bron...for what exactly? The last regime? The last 5 years of playoff obscurity? Y'all were seriously happy with that hot mess?

The current product was a massive roster overhaul and y'all expected us to dominate from the jump? You guys are complaining about this team compared to the trash we were relegated to yesteryear?

Yall can panic and prematurely call this a poor investment...but not me. I rather invest in a guy that invested in us...in good faith, on top of that. Large stretches of his consecutive playoff run were done with durability liabilities like Love/Kyrie. Y'all think an underlying blood condition wasnt present and didn't impact Bosh in Miami?

Bron needs some horses, just like Magic needed his showtime posse of Kap,Riles and Kobe needed Shaq, Pau, Phil.

Missed free throws is inexcusable and a cause for concern. But resting a bit on defense during the regular season after 8 straight Finals runs (see the slight drop off of current DPoY Gobert in Utah in this early season) is a much earned pass and y'all tripping if you think he's anywhere close to playing 100%.

#LakersBawl

 

I think LeBron is made your frustration is despite the fact that the kids are pretty good, they are still learning how to play the game of basketball.

With AAU basketball, followed by a single year of college, and then being thrust into the spotlight with no veteran guidance, it’s not been exactly a recipe for success in Los Angeles.

It would not surprise me if A major trade happens at the deadline for another star. Someone who is learning curve is already finished, knows where to be and win on the court, but still has the skills and athleticism in tact for a major playoff run. We’re actually not that far from being a contender.

 

maybe Kemba?

 

I'll take Middleton and ship out Ingram/change for another tier 2/3 lvl type of "star." Middleton isn't a sexy name but his 3/D game is there but thats not all he can do, he can create his own shots, basically a guy that we'd hope BI could be one day at this point.

 

I think a guy like Kenna would be a Star here.

I’ve always liked Middleton.

There are moves that can be made outside of Leonard, Durant, etc. I trust the team is doing its dilligence on that front.

 

Exactly. Especially those parts. Lebron literally saved our summer and that's no exaggeration.

We were taking shots all over thanks to George. A team with our history couldn't even get meetings with guys. We've struck out on free agents time and time again.

Lebron took a chance on us at this point. That is the reality. He could've gone anywhere and everyone on here knows it. We've had poor management, poor coaching, poor personnel moves, etc etc etc.

So no, I'm also not longing for the old days and shedding tears over guys we have lost and could lose moving forward. I liked several guys who aren't here now. I like winning more than any of them though so if that's what it takes to get us back in the playoffs then so be it.

Lebron "not taking it seriously," "losing a step," etc is still almost putting up a triple double. Again, I'm good with that.

After all these years of potential, development and "in five more years such and such will be an All-Star, just you wait" I am enjoying watching at least one guy who can put up numbers today.

 

Sure there are some skirts still, but there's plenty of men in this league. And here is what those men say about Bron:



Don't know if you heard about what's happening in the Bay, but here are couple guys that wouldn't mind playing with Bron.



We cleared a max spot next summer... And here is what supposedly happened this summer to get that Kawhi/Bron partnership going....



Per Woj on June 28th:

Then think about how AD signed with Klutch/Rich Paul, even tho it's a given he'll get the supermax from NO. Also consider that this is the final year before he can force a trade as a defacto expiring deal next year (via a player option).

I'm not sure I calmed you down with that news but when I first heard it, it got me turnt up. Either way, I hope it changed your state of mind....speaking of which, change that handle bro haha.

 

Guy in Golden State shirt for the max, 4 years. Do it Rob.

 

This post needs 100 likes minimum. Literally best post in a while