It's official. Lebron chooses the Heat . . .

[Roy Hobbs]

It will take a year or two to gel, but I see this team winning multiple championships. Three top ten players on one team is scary.

Is Bosh a top 10 talent?

Wade's body holding up throughout will be hugely important. Certainly James and Bosh's durability is a boon to that team.

I'd say Bosh is in the top 10.  I don't like him as a center, but as a power forward I think he's okay defensively, and he's top-tier in terms of offense.

The top six is some mix of Lebron, Kobe, Wade, Howard, Carmelo, and Durant, I think.  Dirk might be #7.  I've got Bosh in the next group, and I think he'd be top-three of the remaining players.  #9 in points per game and #6 in rebounds per game has to get you into the top ten, right?

[LarBrd33]

Really really surprised...

The Big winner here?.... Pat Riley.   LeBron's legacy might take a hit, but Riley's legacy just went way way up.  I can't believe he convinced LeBron to go play in freakin Miami.  In my book... Pat Riley > Phil Jackson.   Phil just follows the best players to the best situation.   Pat has just proven he has a little Auerbach in him in building dominant teams.  

[muddy02]

I agree about Bosh being overrated. Pau is better,Dirk is better.. He's not a top 10 guy. Nasty to be the THIRD best on a team though.

i would honestly take (a healthy) Perk over Bosh for what they bring to the table as a total package.  And he's our FIFTH best player.

You'd be making a massive, massive mistake.

obviously you can't compare a PF to C in terms of scoring, but Perk does his role better than bosh does at his position.

Sorry - I just can't believe anyone who's watched them both play could possibly express this opinion with a straight face...

simply making the point that perk being our fifth best player is a better situation than Bosh being your third best player.

[FallGuy]

Gotta respect Lebron giving love to Boston (and Rondo and Perk in particular).

Also, interesting to see that all three of their stars are taking less than the max.  I mean, we hate Lebron's spectacle and ego, but can you hate on him for taking less money, and going to the city that gives him the best chance to win (even though he'll be partially over-shadowed by Wade.)

I'm having the same thoughts. Will have to sort them out but...

From a bball POV - it's the smart move and an admirable one.
From an ego fulfillment and media saturation POV - it's the worst night in league history.

I don't get why Miami gives LBJ a better chance to win than Chicago.  At best it's even.  I'd argue its tilted in favor of Chicago.

That said, I don't want to undermine his decision -- he clearly could have made more money in New York, and he did just put a high priority on winning.  That's good.  

It'll be interesting to see how the dynamic plays out in Miami, though.  There are lots of comparisons being made to the Celtics in 2008, but there are some big differences.  KG, PP and RA were at the tail end of their careers and willing to sacrifice.  LBJ, Bosh and Wade aren't quite there yet; Wade already has a ring so may be less hungry; LBJ has been and always will be searching for the spotlight -- you can't say the same about KG or Ray Allen.

Either of Miami/Chicago were excellent basketball choices. Miami will just take a year longer to ramp up. But their ceiling is higher (IMO).

I think we would like to talk ourselves into reasons why these guys won't sacrifice on the court or aren't hungry. But I think they're going to be great together... if not at first... then soon after. The improvements in talent are worth the chemistry bumps that are going to occur.

Pat Riley is some sort of genius.

[Onslaught]

I still think Boston is the team to come out of the east this year. Miami needs a bench before they win it all. That said, if this is what it takes to keep the Lakers from winning more titles then us then so be it. I hate James and don't care about the Heat. But I loathe all the Lakers.

[BballTim]

I think people are really kidding themselves thinking the Heat won't have a good enough supporting cast. You're all in denial thinking that. Sorry. They will build a great team.They will mesh perfectly. As much of egomaniacs Lebron and Wade are(WADE LOVES wearing his name on his face.lol)Lebron is a very unselfish player on the court. He makes other people better more than any other player in the Nba.

  Has he made Mo Williams better? Jamison? Moon? Parker? Anyone?

[Andy Jick]

Slick Riley is going to put himself back on the bench.  Spoelstra is a puppet waiting to have the hand pulled out from his behind, especially if this thing doesn't go according to plan.  It's not in Pat's blood to sit back and watch this thing from a box.

[Mike-Dub]

I still think Boston is the team to come out of the east this year. They need a bench before they win it all. That said, if this is what it takes to keep the Lakers from winning more titles then us then so be it. I hate James and don't care about the Heat. But I loathe all the Lakers.

Ditto!

[FallGuy]

I think people are really kidding themselves thinking the Heat won't have a good enough supporting cast. You're all in denial thinking that. Sorry. They will build a great team.They will mesh perfectly. As much of egomaniacs Lebron and Wade are(WADE LOVES wearing his name on his face.lol)Lebron is a very unselfish player on the court. He makes other people better more than any other player in the Nba.

  Has he made Mo Williams better? Jamison? Moon? Parker? Anyone?

He made Mo Williams an all-star.

He did a lot to make that CLE team better.

Unless you're impressed with their roster without LBJ.

[Andy Jick]

I also think this just elevated the incentive-meter for the Celtics.  If they needed any motivation, they just found it.

[Eja117]

I'm very happy that the decision was announced in the first 15 minutes instead of waiting till the end.

Talked to his momma and then he knew he'd be good? What are we, 12? What about that woman that had your kids?

I absolutely cannot shake the feeling that our Big 3 are directly responsible for this kind of superstar cartel communism thing

I found the whole thing extremely depressing.

[RebusRankin]

I'm surprised he did this in terms of the hit his rep and legacy will take.

In terms of it fitting, will Lebron decide to play an amped up version of Magic Johnson?

[Andy Jick]

I'm very happy that the decision was announced in the first 15 minutes instead of waiting till the end.

Talked to his momma and then he knew he'd be good? What are we, 12? What about that woman that had your kids?

I absolutely cannot shake the feeling that our Big 3 are directly responsible for this kind of superstar cartel communism thing

I found the whole thing extremely depressing.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery...

[Jon]

T-Mac and Hill in Orlando, T-Mac and Hill in Orlando, T-Mac and Hill in Orlando.

And yes I am wishing career-ending (or nearly so) injuries on the three of them. 

[muddy02]

WOW HOW CLASSLESS IS ESPN SHOWING HIS CAVS JERSEY GETTING BURNT!

i loved that part.  he needed to see it.