My Crazy Thought On Cavaliers

[Phantom255x]

I know this will sound like an extreme hot take and I'll probably draw the ire of some particular posters on this forums for saying this, but here goes:

I think Lebron will purposely lose the Cavaliers this Raptors series.

Why?

Well, for one thing, this Cavaliers team is DEFINITELY NOT beating the Rockets or Warriors in a Finals (unless half the Rockets or Warriors get injured leading up to the Finals). So that would be a 6th Finals loss for Lebron.

On the other hand, if Lebron leads CLE past TOR, but then ends up losing to a Celtics team (w/o Kyrie even playing) or PHI, then it may look real bad for him. If Lebron is seriously considering going to Philly this summer, then while joining them this summer will already paint some doubts about him, having him join PHI AFTER PHI beats him in the ECF would look almost as bad as KD's snake move IMO. Meanwhile, if Kyrie's team somehow beats CLE in the ECF W/O Kyrie even playing, that would look really, really bad too.

In a way, losing this series to TOR is probably his "safest" way of escaping the masses of doubters, as the media and most fans seem to believe Lebron has "zero help" and so that would sound like a legitimate excuse if they lose this series to a deep Toronto team after ALL he did in the Pacers series (w/o Lebron, CLE loses that series in 5 easily).

Some conspiracy theorists even wonder if Lebron thinks it's worth going 200% for a team that's just not built to win it all. He's had stellar games no doubt (Game 7 included), but if Lebron needs to literally score 40+ points a game for CLE to have a chance to win a game, then that's just not a good recipe for success.

Either way, I think Lebron will certainly monitor how the PHI-BOS series goes and see how the Warriors and Rockets do on their end (health wise), but I wouldn't be surprised if TOR wins the series in 6-7 games (though I think ultimately CLE wins in 6 IF Lebron is feeling it).

[Donoghus]

Well, you're spot on with the "crazy" part.

[Phantom255x]

Well, you're spot on with the "crazy" part.

Of course. Need to spice up the forums with some crazy thoughts with the 2 days off bet. games 

[hpantazo]

I think Lebron is going to continue to work as hard as he can to win in this postseason, even though he knows he can't beat GSW or Houston. He wants to make it obvious that it was not his fault once the Cavs get eliminated and he bolts to wherever he decides to run off to. He can say he gave it his all and put up amazing stats but the roster sucks and has no potential to be upgraded as he looks at his final years of potential contention coming up, and he would be correct.

[pearljammer10]

Well, you're spot on with the "crazy" part.

Yeeup.

[footey]

Wow. Just don’t believe Lebron is wired like that. He thinks he is capable of beating anyone, even the Warriors. And his legacy is enhanced more by making it to the finals 8 years in a row even if they eventually lose.

[Fafnir]

My first thought on reading this post is the nickname some use for 76ers twitter, "infowarz".

This would fit in well there.

[Phantom255x]

I think Lebron is going to continue to work as hard as he can to win in this postseason, even though he knows he can't beat GSW or Houston. He wants to make it obvious that it was not his fault once the Cavs get eliminated and he bolts to wherever he decides to run off to. He can say he gave it his all and put up amazing stats but the roster sucks and has no potential to be upgraded as he looks at his final years of potential contention coming up, and he would be correct.

Yeah, TP, that could be true as well.

Wow. Just don’t believe Lebron is wired like that. He thinks he is capable of beating anyone, even the Warriors. And his legacy is enhanced more by making it to the finals 8 years in a row even if they eventually lose.

Yeah, but you have to wonder if, after averaging a 30 point-triple double in last year's Finals and still losing in a pretty non-competitive 5 games he thinks he has a better chance this year at all if it's against Golden State again. Maybe against HOU, but not GSW even if Curry is just 70%.

[tonydelk]

You never know with Lebron but I can't see him quitting on the Cavs like he did in the 2010 playoffs against the C's.  At this stage in his career he has to show he can still carry a team and work his ass off until the very end.  I believe you can see his frustration with this team.  He doesn't look like he's that connected to them.  I known they've had very little time to play together but this Cavs team does not strike fear into anyone and he knows that.  If he wants to win he has to go to a better coached team who has more talent around him.

<http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2010/07/dan_gilbert_says_lebron_james.html>

[celticsclay]

He is going to be 34 in 6 months. He is not throwing seasons away to dictate his next move (and I am pretty into NBA conspiracies in general).

I also find it pretty hilarious that people have gotten so over the top with this Philly rumor.

[Phantom255x]

He is going to be 34 in 6 months. He is not throwing seasons away to dictate his next move (and I am pretty into NBA conspiracies in general).

I also find it pretty hilarious that people have gotten so over the top with this Philly rumor.

If Lebron leaves CLE, I think he's either going Philly or Lakers.

He could go Spurs or Rockets but they'd have to do a ton of wheeling and dealing (or a big sign-and-trade) to fit him into their roster and cap. Unless of course Lebron is willing to take a steep pay cut (doubt it).

[Emmette Bryant]

Well, you're spot on with the "crazy" part.

Yeeup.

I really wish that I had ignored this thread.

[Moranis]

He is going to be 34 in 6 months. He is not throwing seasons away to dictate his next move (and I am pretty into NBA conspiracies in general).

I also find it pretty hilarious that people have gotten so over the top with this Philly rumor.

If Lebron leaves CLE, I think he's either going Philly or Lakers.

He could go Spurs or Rockets but they'd have to do a ton of wheeling and dealing (or a big sign-and-trade) to fit him into their roster and cap. Unless of course Lebron is willing to take a steep pay cut (doubt it).

Or he opts in and gets traded to Houston, much like Chris Paul last year.  Something like Anderson, Gordon, Tucker, Onuaku, Qi for James and Smith would seemingly make sense for both teams.  Cavs get some salary relief, credible players, and some young guys for James, who would be leaving anyway, and Smith (who I'm sure they wouldn't want without James). 

Rockets then get to keep Capela and Ariza and would enter next year with Paul, Harden, Ariza, James, and Capela as the starting 5, with Smith, Johnson, Hilario, Black, Green, Mbah a Moute, and whatever other vets they can sign.


As for this thread, it would be much easier for James to go to Philly if he eliminated them from the playoffs.  He wouldn't be joining a team that put him out, he would be joining a team he put out and made them better.  Also, there is almost no way the Cavs could beat Golden State this year, but I'm not so sure they couldn't beat Houston as they do match-up better with them.  Harden and Paul would obviously be a problem for the Cavs, but they can contain everyone else and both Harden and Paul are prone to having terrible games in the playoffs.

[celticsclay]

He is going to be 34 in 6 months. He is not throwing seasons away to dictate his next move (and I am pretty into NBA conspiracies in general).

I also find it pretty hilarious that people have gotten so over the top with this Philly rumor.

If Lebron leaves CLE, I think he's either going Philly or Lakers.

He could go Spurs or Rockets but they'd have to do a ton of wheeling and dealing (or a big sign-and-trade) to fit him into their roster and cap. Unless of course Lebron is willing to take a steep pay cut (doubt it).

Or he opts in and gets traded to Houston, much like Chris Paul last year.  Something like Anderson, Gordon, Tucker, Onuaku, Qi for James and Smith would seemingly make sense for both teams.  Cavs get some salary relief, credible players, and some young guys for James, who would be leaving anyway, and Smith (who I'm sure they wouldn't want without James). 

Rockets then get to keep Capela and Ariza and would enter next year with Paul, Harden, Ariza, James, and Capela as the starting 5, with Smith, Johnson, Hilario, Black, Green, Mbah a Moute, and whatever other vets they can sign.


As for this thread, it would be much easier for James to go to Philly if he eliminated them from the playoffs.  He wouldn't be joining a team that put him out, he would be joining a team he put out and made them better.  Also, there is almost no way the Cavs could beat Golden State this year, but I'm not so sure they couldn't beat Houston as they do match-up better with them.  Harden and Paul would obviously be a problem for the Cavs, but they can contain everyone else and both Harden and Paul are prone to having terrible games in the playoffs.

Yea I can see Houston also. However, I still think Lakers make far and away the most sense. They showed enough improvement from their young guys over the course of the season that they can be very good complementary pieces if they are not moved. Kuzma, Ingram, Ball are all legit. George definitely wants to go there, and I think he would play great with Lebron. Lebron also wont get any grief if he goes to the Lakers and will probably start popping up in some more movies and shows.

I can also say as a guy that went to penn state, I know a lot of 76ers fans that are pretty adamant they don't want Lebron on the team. They feel like Simmons, Embiid, Fultz, Saric a top 10 pick this year and someone like Leonard/Thompson/Mccollum they can get with their cap space in the next year or two will allow them to compete for many championships while still getting the people of the process their credit. If Lebron goes, they think Simmons and Embiid and the process will never get its' due credit and it will become all about him while also offering the risk of Lebron acting like Gm and demanding more vets for young players. The psychology of this stuff is fascinating, but I am pretty confident this isn't just one or two philly fans that feel this way.

[PhoSita]

I don't think LeBron will ever purposely lose anything.

But I do agree that LeBron is probably pretty close to folding the way he did in 2010 against the Celts if the Raps get up in this series and his teammates continue to provide little if any serious support.