LeBron Says Contraction "would be great for the league"

[ManUp]

Not surprised that most chooses to go at Lebron's neck instead of admitting he's right.

Smaller League means deeper teams and deeper teams means better competition, better competition means Golden age type basketball (once the centers return, one day maybe  ). The Bobcats, Grizzlies, and Hornets should all go.

[Finkelskyhook]

Not surprised that most chooses to go at Lebron's neck instead of admitting he's right

Well, lets just have Stern bestow the messiah defacto commissionership.

The messiah is officiated like he's the NBA commissioner now. 

[OsirusCeltics]

Wow, LeDance is right for once

This is the reason why the 60's and 70's to me is the best era. Around that time the number of teams ranged from 8-15. Each team had about 3 to 4 Hall of Famers on it. It made games more competitive, which made watching the regular season more interesting. There was never  night off. It also made it possible for all of the 15 teams to get a chance to play in the NBA Finals

What joy or validation do you have if you beat teams that are not that good in the playoffs? The 2010 Lakers basically walked through their road to the Finals with the teams they faced. You think if that team played in the 80's against The Rockets, Sixers, Celtics, Magic's Lakers, and Pistons that they would have an easier time much less even go to the Finals? I think not

This to me is the reason why I even question Jordan's greatness. The Bulls had a very very good team compared to everyone else. The league at that time was very watered down, and the Bulls faced teams that were really not that good. This Is also why I think Bill Russell is sooooo underrated, in that he won 11 championships in an era that had an average of 3 Hall of Famers on each team in an 8 team league

[Snakehead]

Not surprised that most chooses to go at Lebron's neck instead of admitting he's right

Well, lets just have Stern bestow the messiah defacto commissionership.

The messiah is officiated like he's the NBA commissioner now. 

You can mudsling if you want but that doesn't change that LeBron's point is valid.  You aren't providing anything constructive that's for sure.

[LooseCannon]

I hope players union president Derek Fisher cheap shots LeBron for those comments.

You saw more teams in the 60s "get a chance to play in the NBA Finals" because six teams made the playoffs when the NBA had 8 teams and eight teams made the playoffs when it was a ten-team league.  Of the 18 teams in the NBA just before the NBA-ABA merger, 7 never made the NBA Finals in the 60s or 70s.  Of the eight NBA teams in 1960, two franchises (the Royals/Kings and Pistons) never made the NBA Finals in those decades.

I wouldn't want to contract any teams unless those franchises would still be in horrible shape if you gave them competent ownership and moved them to the best possible location that wants an NBA team.

[Snakehead]

I wouldn't want to contract any teams unless those franchises would still be in horrible shape if you gave them competent ownership and moved them to the best possible location that wants an NBA team.

I think you're viewing everything in a very simple and unrealistic way.  You can't just rip ownership away from these owners and put someone else in charge.  Who is to say that the new owner wouldn't be just as bad?  Again, it is easy to say with hindsight that owner A or B sucks but I'm sure they gave an impression that they were capable and they all have the money necessary. 

You also can't just move around these teams willy nilly.  There has to be a stadium that can support the team and that's a big issue.  Cities and states often have to pay for the stadiums to be built and money isn't exactly being thrown around.  For example, the Kings will probably be out of Sac soon because California has made it so that the state will not pay for the construction of a stadium which the Kings need.  There are other cities that might have interest in a team but it's not as simple as just tossing a team from city A to city B.  You also have to factor in attendance, which can be tough to do, because even good teams like Atlanta for example are not supported through attendance and that is not something anyone can control.  The Thunder are an example of successful movement of an NBA franchise, but the ability for the city to support a team it was tested first when the Hornets played in Oklahoma City for a season and the NBA saw that the fans there wanted a team.  You can't just guess that the fans will support a team because you never know.


I'm not saying there is not an American city that wouldn't support a moved NBA team right now, maybe there is one, but it's not like every city is capable and/or clamoring for its own NBA team.  The government has to put up money for that to happen and if you didn't notice state, federal, and local governments are operating at a loss in many areas of the country.

[Eja117]

Not surprised that most chooses to go at Lebron's neck instead of admitting he's right.

Smaller League means deeper teams and deeper teams means better competition, better competition means Golden age type basketball (once the centers return, one day maybe  ). The Bobcats, Grizzlies, and Hornets should all go.

Right. Because the all-star games are always so power packed and therefore competitive and entertaining.

[Snakehead]

Not surprised that most chooses to go at Lebron's neck instead of admitting he's right.

Smaller League means deeper teams and deeper teams means better competition, better competition means Golden age type basketball (once the centers return, one day maybe  ). The Bobcats, Grizzlies, and Hornets should all go.

Right. Because the all-star games are always so power packed and therefore competitive and entertaining.

Wow... do you understand that All-Star games are not competitive because they are a meaningless game with players that do not even play together?  How would every team being better on average not make for greater competition?

[Eja117]

Not surprised that most chooses to go at Lebron's neck instead of admitting he's right.

Smaller League means deeper teams and deeper teams means better competition, better competition means Golden age type basketball (once the centers return, one day maybe  ). The Bobcats, Grizzlies, and Hornets should all go.

Right. Because the all-star games are always so power packed and therefore competitive and entertaining.

Wow... do you understand that All-Star games are not competitive because they are a meaningless game?  How would every team being better on average not make for greater competition?

Because if you follow this through to it's natural extreme end you would just have two teams. I don't think that would be a very fun league.  I don't really think there's really a perfect number.  

I think nick had the best point about teams in markets that don't support their teams or want them would possibly be contraction targets, but there are still other cities, like Seattle that probably would want them and they should get a chance.

You wouldn't be so in favor of contraction if they put the Celts up on the chopping block and were like "Oh. It's just a cold city.  It's really more of a Red Sox, Patriots town and even when the Bruins are doing great they compete pretty well with the Celts."

If you are willing to put the Celts up on the chopping block on equal terms with all the other teams then maybe you have a point.   But I'm not willing to run the risk of having the Celts taken away from me and my kid and see no immediate reason that a team should be taken from some other guy and his kid either just so Lebron can have the league he wants. Who the hell does he think he is? The chosen one?

[Eja117]

Lebron:

"Hopefully the league can figure out one way where it can go back to the '80s where you had three or four All-Stars, three or four superstars, three or four Hall of Famers on the same team," James said. "The league was great. It wasn't as watered down as it is [now]."

Who, besides the Celtics and the Lakers, met that standard in the 80's? Today, the Lakers and the Celtics again are the only two teams that meet that standard. Nothing has changed. The league is no more watered down than it was in the 80's.  Any dilution that occurred by expansion was off set by improvement in talent, and influx of European professionals.

On the other hand, a contraction of one or two teams would obviously improve the league from a competitive POV. 

Exactly. He just wants there to be less teams for him to go through and probably doesn't realize how the Celts were made. Talent doesn't just happen. It takes a coach and GM.


Also during the 80s the NBA basically had a talent base of 250million people to draw on. Now they have a talent base of about 4 billion.   Things are plenty talented and competitive. That's why the "Dream Team" has been beaten handily many times now.

[dpaps]

Not surprised that most chooses to go at Lebron's neck instead of admitting he's right.

Smaller League means deeper teams and deeper teams means better competition, better competition means Golden age type basketball (once the centers return, one day maybe  ). The Bobcats, Grizzlies, and Hornets should all go.

Right. Because the all-star games are always so power packed and therefore competitive and entertaining.

This is just a god-terrible analogy. Has absolutely nothing to do with what is being discussed.

[dpaps]

Lebron:

"Hopefully the league can figure out one way where it can go back to the '80s where you had three or four All-Stars, three or four superstars, three or four Hall of Famers on the same team," James said. "The league was great. It wasn't as watered down as it is [now]."

Who, besides the Celtics and the Lakers, met that standard in the 80's? Today, the Lakers and the Celtics again are the only two teams that meet that standard. Nothing has changed. The league is no more watered down than it was in the 80's.  Any dilution that occurred by expansion was off set by improvement in talent, and influx of European professionals.

On the other hand, a contraction of one or two teams would obviously improve the league from a competitive POV. 

Exactly. He just wants there to be less teams for him to go through and probably doesn't realize how the Celts were made. Talent doesn't just happen. It takes a coach and GM.

You really think Lebron thinks contraction would be good because there would be less teams for him to have to go through??? That's really what you think??? Just absurd.

He's really worried about having to go through Minnesota and Charlotte this year. He knows he can never get by Corey Brewer and Darko's Twolves so his only way to a ring is getting them contracted... I'm sure thats what Lebron's thinking.

I mean come on, think at least a little bit.

Contraction would make other teams stronger. If anything it would make Miami's run more difficult because all the weaker teams would get stronger since they would get the best players from the contracted teams. 

[Eja117]

Lebron:

"Hopefully the league can figure out one way where it can go back to the '80s where you had three or four All-Stars, three or four superstars, three or four Hall of Famers on the same team," James said. "The league was great. It wasn't as watered down as it is [now]."

Who, besides the Celtics and the Lakers, met that standard in the 80's? Today, the Lakers and the Celtics again are the only two teams that meet that standard. Nothing has changed. The league is no more watered down than it was in the 80's.  Any dilution that occurred by expansion was off set by improvement in talent, and influx of European professionals.

On the other hand, a contraction of one or two teams would obviously improve the league from a competitive POV. 

Exactly. He just wants there to be less teams for him to go through and probably doesn't realize how the Celts were made. Talent doesn't just happen. It takes a coach and GM.

You really think Lebron thinks contraction would be good because there would be less teams for him to have to go through??? That's really what you think??? Just absurd.

He's really worried about having to go through Minnesota and Charlotte this year. He knows he can never get by Corey Brewer and Darko's Twolves so his only way to a ring is getting them contracted... I'm sure thats what Lebron's thinking.

I mean come on, think at least a little bit.

Contraction would make other teams stronger. If anything it would make Miami's run more difficult because all the weaker teams would get stronger since they would get the best players from the contracted teams. 

Yes. I think Lebron is basically about trying to take the easier road.  You really think he wants things to be harder for him?

A watered down league didn't stop him from creating his own little cartel and it won't stop his buds from trying to make theirs so I'm just not really sure what he's worried about....other than maybe being traded to sunny Minnesota in case he fails in Miami.

[dpaps]

Lebron:

"Hopefully the league can figure out one way where it can go back to the '80s where you had three or four All-Stars, three or four superstars, three or four Hall of Famers on the same team," James said. "The league was great. It wasn't as watered down as it is [now]."

Who, besides the Celtics and the Lakers, met that standard in the 80's? Today, the Lakers and the Celtics again are the only two teams that meet that standard. Nothing has changed. The league is no more watered down than it was in the 80's.  Any dilution that occurred by expansion was off set by improvement in talent, and influx of European professionals.

On the other hand, a contraction of one or two teams would obviously improve the league from a competitive POV. 

Exactly. He just wants there to be less teams for him to go through and probably doesn't realize how the Celts were made. Talent doesn't just happen. It takes a coach and GM.

You really think Lebron thinks contraction would be good because there would be less teams for him to have to go through??? That's really what you think??? Just absurd.

He's really worried about having to go through Minnesota and Charlotte this year. He knows he can never get by Corey Brewer and Darko's Twolves so his only way to a ring is getting them contracted... I'm sure thats what Lebron's thinking.

I mean come on, think at least a little bit.

Contraction would make other teams stronger. If anything it would make Miami's run more difficult because all the weaker teams would get stronger since they would get the best players from the contracted teams. 

Yes. I think Lebron is basically about trying to take the easier road.  You really think he wants things to be harder for him?

Again, you completely miss the point. Let's use some logic. You really think contraction makes Lebron's path to a ring the easier road???

[hpantazo]

Lebron:

"Hopefully the league can figure out one way where it can go back to the '80s where you had three or four All-Stars, three or four superstars, three or four Hall of Famers on the same team," James said. "The league was great. It wasn't as watered down as it is [now]."

Who, besides the Celtics and the Lakers, met that standard in the 80's? Today, the Lakers and the Celtics again are the only two teams that meet that standard. Nothing has changed. The league is no more watered down than it was in the 80's.  Any dilution that occurred by expansion was off set by improvement in talent, and influx of European professionals.

On the other hand, a contraction of one or two teams would obviously improve the league from a competitive POV. 

Exactly. He just wants there to be less teams for him to go through and probably doesn't realize how the Celts were made. Talent doesn't just happen. It takes a coach and GM.

You really think Lebron thinks contraction would be good because there would be less teams for him to have to go through??? That's really what you think??? Just absurd.

He's really worried about having to go through Minnesota and Charlotte this year. He knows he can never get by Corey Brewer and Darko's Twolves so his only way to a ring is getting them contracted... I'm sure thats what Lebron's thinking.

I mean come on, think at least a little bit.

Contraction would make other teams stronger. If anything it would make Miami's run more difficult because all the weaker teams would get stronger since they would get the best players from the contracted teams. 

Yes. I think Lebron is basically about trying to take the easier road.  You really think he wants things to be harder for him?

Again, you completely miss the point. Let's use some logic. You really think contraction makes Lebron's path to a ring the easier road???

obviously contraction would make Lebron's path much, much harder, unless you somehow think all the available players would somehow magically go to miami, which is not possible.