Originally posted on 06/22/2012:

Quote Originally Posted by icancount2one View Post
The real villain is the man who took the hometown hero, potential GoAT, and refused to get him any supporting staff whatsoever. Dan Gilbert just wanted to maximize his bottom line, and didn't give one fukk about a championship. If LeBron didn't leave in the douchiest way possible, Gilbert would have been run out of Cleveland by now.
Are you a young child? Were you watching basketball 9 years ago? Gilbert bent over backwards for Lebron, bringing in player after player, making trade after trade all in an effort to keep Lebron happy. Gilbert was spending more money than he made because he wants to win. Him and Mark Cuban paid top dollar in luxury taxes every year trying to win a title. Cleveland was always in the top 3 in money spent above the cap. Your post is patently false. Get your facts straight.


http://www.aolnews.com/2010/02/19/11...ay-luxury-tax/
Cavaliers: $14.8 million. No surprise here: Danny Ferry has to pay a premium to get the type of players LeBron James needs to be surrounded with heading into the summer of 2010.


Lebron could have won in Cleveland but he didn't have the confidence and resolve. He also didn't really care about winning, he was more concerned about dancing and having fun. He was the biggest problem with Cleveland not gaining top free agents. He would never commit to the Cavs long term so free agents wouldn't commit. He never recruited players to come to Cleveland yet once he got to Miami he was meeting guys at the airport. Bosh wanted to come to Cleveland but Lebron never broached the idea. Amare Stoudemire wanted to come but Lebron didn't even want him on the team. Lebron sandbagged the Cavs in many ways that he probably didn't even know at the time. He has grown up in the past few years but he was pretty immature when he was in Cleveland.

Cleveland won 66 and 61 games 2 years in a row. What was missing? Lebron in the playoffs. He would become a no show when it was crunch time. He also had flaws in his game, no post up moves, not guarding the teams best player on defense, settling for fade away jumpers/3 pointers. These flaws showed up last year in Miami as well. Even this year it was questioned whether Lebron had enough help. What made the difference this time? Lebron finally looked in the mirror and admitted that he was holding himself back. Once he overcame his own deficiencies he was able to win a title. Good for him but no doubt if he played in past playoffs like he played in this one he would have more rings at this point.

Blame Danny Ferry for being a horrible GM or Mike Brown for being an average coach but Dan Gilbert is a good owner that does not mind spending money. Don't believe what you hear in the media.