The End of an Era. James to leave East, from Celtics dominance.

[Erik]

Man, some of y’all have balls galore.  It’s ONE game.  Cleveland wins the next game and today is easily forgotten.

hey Mr. Skeptical

you can enjoy the blowout today!

I enjoyed the hell of the game.  But I’m not ready to pronounce James dead.  There’s a difference.

You’re just not extrapolating what next year’s result will be based on this blowout. OP is referring to next season. Anyone with estimation skills can predict that the Celtics will be unstoppable with current lineup plus Kyrie and Gordon. Nothing incredible about it.

Ah, you’re right.  Of course, the premise still faulty because west as good or better than east but if he does leave Cleveland, he may have to choose wisely.

Premise, though, is that he runs to a better team, not escapes the East for the West. The only reason it’s West is because Philly seems like a lateral movement (unless they somehow pry Kahwi with garbage).. no other East team has the cap space to form a super team. If he goes to Houston (probably better than the current Celtics — so add him and Kyrie/Gordon and it’s a good fight) or Lakers along with 2 other stars, he’s now able to win titles again. He’s currently stuck in Cleveland with no upside at all.

[Tr1boy]

The best thing Lebron can do is stay and receive the beating in return

Would be the best to beat Lebron in a playoff series, just before he retires

that would be truly magic

[droopdog7]

Man, some of y’all have balls galore.  It’s ONE game.  Cleveland wins the next game and today is easily forgotten.

hey Mr. Skeptical

you can enjoy the blowout today!

I enjoyed the hell of the game.  But I’m not ready to pronounce James dead.  There’s a difference.

You’re just not extrapolating what next year’s result will be based on this blowout. OP is referring to next season. Anyone with estimation skills can predict that the Celtics will be unstoppable with current lineup plus Kyrie and Gordon. Nothing incredible about it.

Ah, you’re right.  Of course, the premise still faulty because west as good or better than east but if he does leave Cleveland, he may have to choose wisely.

Premise, though, is that he runs to a better team, not escapes the East for the West. The only reason it’s West is because Philly seems like a lateral movement (unless they somehow pry Kahwi with garbage).. no other East team has the cap space to form a super team. If he goes to Houston (probably better than the current Celtics — so add him and Kyrie/Gordon and it’s a good fight) or Lakers along with 2 other stars, he’s now able to win titles again. He’s currently stuck in Cleveland with no upside at all.

You think Philly is a lateral move?  I mean, the fit isn’t great with Simmons but Embiid alone makes it better than Cleveland.  And I don’t see how Houston works as they dknt have the space to sign him.

[Roy H.]

I certainly hope Boston is perceived as being a tougher out than GSW / Houston.

[Sophomore]

The best thing Lebron can do is stay and receive the beating in return

Would be the best to beat Lebron in a playoff series, just before he retires

that would be truly magic

Beating him this year works for me. Even better if next year he goes to Houston to join a super team but we beat him again in the finals when Hayward and Kyrie come back.

[KG Living Legend]

 Philly GM don't read this.

 Trade Fultz, Bayless, Justin Anderson, Draft picks for Kawhi.

 Sign James.

 Overpay for Smart to screw Celtics



 

[Roy H.]

 Philly GM don't read this.

 Trade Fultz, Bayless, Justin Anderson, Draft picks for Kawhi.

 Sign James.

 Overpay for Smart to screw Celtics

Salary cap?

[CelticsElite]

https://mobile.twitter.com/BR_NBA/status/995783508718010369/photo/1

[LarBrd33]

Staying east makes the most sense.  Golden State will be unstoppable for the foreseeable future.

[liam]

Houston has 21 million in cap space but I think that is Chris Paul's money...

[Phantom255x]

 Philly GM don't read this.

 Trade Fultz, Bayless, Justin Anderson, Draft picks for Kawhi.

 Sign James.

 Overpay for Smart to screw Celtics

*Spurs read trade offer*

Spurs:

[Sophomore]

 Philly GM don't read this.

 Trade Fultz, Bayless, Justin Anderson, Draft picks for Kawhi.

 Sign James.

 Overpay for Smart to screw Celtics

*Spurs read trade offer*

Spurs:

Too right. If Kawhi is healthy the Spurs will get MUCH better offers.

[GreenFaith1819]

Not yet.

Game 2 will be KEY - Celtics MUST stay in the trenches, dig in and continue FIGHTING.

Keep that BAR FIGHT mentality.

[SparzWizard]

Remember when the Pacers won Game 1 against the Cavs?

Yeeeeah  It is far from over. Celtics need to do work in Game 2.

[Vermont Green]

Watching the game, it appeared to me that the Cavs didn't really care.  It looked to me like they were playing a Thursday game in January.  They would play decent defense for a pass or two but then just kind of give up and leave a Celtic wide open.

I got to wondering if the team, exclusive of LeBron, don't care about making the finals to lose to whoever wins.  They are sick of LeBron and have figured out that he is leaving after the season anyway.  Why help him add another finals to his legacy.  Losing in the finals is not going to change anyone else's legacy.

I was shocked watching the game.  I think they are a better team, much better than what they showed but I just didn't see even a hint of fight from them.  LeBron was walking up the floor, the rest were standing around watching.

I did not see any of the Toronto games.  What happened?  How did they beat them so easily?  LeBron said he wasn't concerned.  Hmmmm.