[nightkhan]

Originally Posted by coh4777

Totally agree with you on this. So many haters out there it's unbelievable! While I think it would have been beyond awesome if LBJ had stayed in Cleveland and carried a mediocre (at best) team to a championship, what was the real liklihood that would happen? He needed a legitimate sidekick to get him there and as much as he tried to get Chris Bosh to join him, it didn't happen. So at the point what what are his choices? Stay in Cleveland and feel the love but very likely no rings? Or go to where he can win now and in the future? AND be taking LESS money to do it! He doesn't care about the moeny, his legacy or his stats because he wants to WIN, and isn't that what we ultimately expect from an athlete? And also let's be real here, Kobe does not win without Shaq and later Gasol. Magic does not win without Kareem and company. Bird does not win without McHale and company. Drexler does not win without Hakeem. KG, Pierce and Allen do not win until they are together. You could even argue MJ does not win without Scottie. It is so hard to win championships in the NBA. Look at Malone and Stockton. Look at Nash and Dirk. Do you think LeBron wanted to end up like them? Immensely talented but lacking the pieces around him to win? Hell no! I totally respect his decision.

Now maybe the WAY he did it was hurtful for Cavs fans, but he gave them 7 amazing years. They were a perenial backwater franchise that were lucky to even get him in the first place, and while I can understand the bitterness, they should also be grateful to LeBron for all the work he put in there.

And finally, seeing Dan Gilbert's reaction only further justifies LeBron's decision to leave. Would you want to work for a guy who flies off the handle like that when the chips are down? I mean seriously, what was that??? I'm sure it was a side of Mr. Gilbert that LeBron had seen during their time together and if so, I would imagine it had at least some impact on his decision. Miami has got a solid owner and great management, something that Cleveland sorely lacks. If the Cavs are huffing and puffing about winning a championship now, where was that fire and passion when you had the greatest player for the last seven years???

i think the main backlash is due to how he handled everything. he played everyone and then created a huge circus spectacle out of the ordeal, ultimately embarrassing cleveland on national tv. kinda like someone stringing a bf/gf along, teasing them, and then bringing them out to the middle of the school yard and breaking up with them in front of everyone.

best way to do it is to just have done it respectfully for cleveland, let them know your intentions, and keep the media to a minimum. sure he did what's best for himself, but didn't have to break so many hearts along the way.

the other thing is yea everyone needs a scottie to help them win. he tried doing that with bosh, but in going to the heat with wade and bosh, he's basically saying he's running to them for help. he could've gone to knicks and worked together with stoudemaire to lead the team and build up the franchise. or could've gone to the bulls and worked with boozer and lead the team. or obviously stayed with cavs and lead them to a championship, although much harder. but now he's ran off to heat, basically giving up "the challenge" that he claims he's always up for, and playing their bitch.

whoever handled his PR basically did a shit-filled job. in the end he came off looking like an egomaniac, whereas he could've just made his decisions known early and quietly without having to draw everyone in for an hour long waste of time.