Cleveland Cavs at Milwaukee Bucks at 3pm

• 2quik4u

  

  nice shot
• jpake1

  

  I'm glad I'm dominating in fantasy basketball since LBJ is pretty much getting the day off.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  ^Yeah, the bench is playing very well.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  He's got 6 points, 2 boards and 5 assists at half--he might still get you a good game, only taken 3 shots. But you are dominating. I might end up losing my match up by the end of the night.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Anyways, since it's half time--back to the argument from before.
  
  After the best playoff performance ever and single handedly taking his team to the Finals, the Cavs obviously got swept by the Spurs. And this is a glaring difference between Kobe and LeBron...
  

  He looked back at the San Antonio sweep and knew it wasn't all the fault (or lack of talent) of his teammates. In those four games, he shot 36 percent from the field. In those four games, he made 22 turnovers. In those four games, he couldn't get to the basket as he wanted; he couldn't find the touch on his jumper. In those four games, he felt very human. "I need to definitely get better," LeBron said immediately after the Finals. "Once I get better, our team will automatically get better, and I know that. I have to do everything that I've done well and try to improve in order for us to be a better team next year."
  
  LeBron noticed the Spurs were daring him to shoot ... not just long distance from three-point range, but closer to the basket. They gave him open 18-footers. Open 15-footers. He even struggled at the foul line, making only 69 percent.
  
  "We went up against a better team in this series, and everybody has to be better coming into next season," LeBron said. "I have to be ten times better. Our team has to be ten times better. We have to be better. Me, as an individual, I have to be much better on and off the court, and that will carry our team to higher levels. I think it starts with me first and then it will trickle down to everybody else."

  He was 22 years old. THAT'S a leader. When Kobe's team got beat EARLY in the playoffs, he just threw his teammates under the bus and demanded a trade.
  
  That's from this article BTW:
  
  http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/11206/the-making-of-an-mvp
  
  A great article on LeBron.
• Trueblue23

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote: Anyways, since it's half time--back to the argument from before.
  
  After the best playoff performance ever and single handedly taking his team to the Finals, the Cavs obviously got swept by the Spurs. And this is a glaring difference between Kobe and LeBron...
  

  He looked back at the San Antonio sweep and knew it wasn't all the fault (or lack of talent) of his teammates. In those four games, he shot 36 percent from the field. In those four games, he made 22 turnovers. In those four games, he couldn't get to the basket as he wanted; he couldn't find the touch on his jumper. In those four games, he felt very human. "I need to definitely get better," LeBron said immediately after the Finals. "Once I get better, our team will automatically get better, and I know that. I have to do everything that I've done well and try to improve in order for us to be a better team next year."
  
  LeBron noticed the Spurs were daring him to shoot ... not just long distance from three-point range, but closer to the basket. They gave him open 18-footers. Open 15-footers. He even struggled at the foul line, making only 69 percent.
  
  "We went up against a better team in this series, and everybody has to be better coming into next season," LeBron said. "I have to be ten times better. Our team has to be ten times better. We have to be better. Me, as an individual, I have to be much better on and off the court, and that will carry our team to higher levels. I think it starts with me first and then it will trickle down to everybody else."

  He was 22 years old. THAT'S a leader. When Kobe's team got beat EARLY in the playoffs, he just threw his teammates under the bus and demanded a trade.

  Different situations though.
  
  Mitch told Kobe that if he re-signed, management would do anything they could to win now. Obviously they weren't doing that. That was the whole basis of the trade demand.
  
  None of the crap matters though, it was years ago.
• chicago510

  

  The Cavs are best when LeBron puts up 20-10-10, not 35-8-4.
  
  Whenever he gets everyone involved they seem to dominate.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Of course...different situations and now it doesn't matter.
• Trueblue23

  

  If you can't understand that those are different situations then wow.
  
  Wouldn't you be pissed SQ?
  
  
  
  Honestly who gives a shit.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  chicago510 wrote: The Cavs are best when LeBron puts up 20-10-10, not 35-8-4.
  
  Whenever he gets everyone involved they seem to dominate.

  I agree, their winning percentage is better when he has numbers like that--but it's about the rest of the team stepping up. LeBron tries to get them involved every game, sometimes they have it and sometimes they don't. Thankfully, most of the time they've got it but on the games when they don't his assists are down (because they aren't making shots, not because he doesn't pass as much--he'll still pass as much, but he'll demand the ball more often too) and he has to score more. He's one of the most consistent players in the league for sure--his teammates always know what they're going to get from him.
• Trueblue23

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote:

  chicago510 wrote: The Cavs are best when LeBron puts up 20-10-10, not 35-8-4.
  
  Whenever he gets everyone involved they seem to dominate.

  I agree, their winning percentage is better when he has numbers like that--but it's about the rest of the team stepping up. LeBron tries to get them involved every game, sometimes they have it and sometimes they don't. Thankfully, most of the time they've got it but on the games when they don't his assists are down (because they aren't making shots, not because he doesn't pass as much--he'll still pass as much, but he'll demand the ball more often too) and he has to score more. He's one of the most consistent players in the league for sure--his teammates always know what they're going to get from him.

  I agree too. Usually if he has huge numbers the other guys aren't performing they way they are capable of. Good team effort today.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Trueblue23 wrote: If you can't understand that those are different situations then wow.
  
  Wouldn't you be pissed SQ?
  
  
  
  Honestly who gives a shit.

  I can name a lot of people who would give a shit if the names in this discussion were switched around.
  
  I might be pissed--that doesn't have anything to do with anything. The fact is LeBron wasn't pissed, he didn't quit on his team--he led them to the Finals and then when his shitty team got knocked out he put it on himself. It's amazing because the vast majority of Kobe fans peg Kobe as that kind of guy and LeBron as something totally opposite.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Trueblue23 wrote: I agree too. Usually if he has huge numbers the other guys aren't performing they way they are capable of. Good team effort today.

  Definitely. They've been playing much better as a team the last 5-6 games--when they move the ball they're fun to watch--there are a lot of guys on this team that can pass the ball well.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  OUCH! GREAT move by the rookie--too bad LeBron put the ball in the 3rd row lol.
• Fly4Fun

  

  Jennings looks great... and that was a great little move he just pulled... too bad King James was there to deny him the bucket with a block!
• Trueblue23

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote:

  Trueblue23 wrote: If you can't understand that those are different situations then wow.
  
  Wouldn't you be pissed SQ?
  
  
  
  Honestly who gives a shit.

  I can name a lot of people who would give a shit if the names in this discussion were switched around.
  
  I might be pissed--that doesn't have anything to do with anything. The fact is LeBron wasn't pissed, he didn't quit on his team--he led them to the Finals and then when his shitty team got knocked out he put it on himself. It's amazing because the vast majority of Kobe fans peg Kobe as that kind of guy and LeBron as something totally opposite.

  I certainly wouldn't.
  
  The fact that you say LeBron wasn't pissed and didn't quit on his team shows that you don't understand what went on.
  
  LeBron wasn't upset because he had no reason to be upset. The Cavs were a very young team that nobody thought would ever make it that far, they chalked it up to a good learning experience.
  
  Kobe was upset because he was basically lied to. The Lakers passed up many good offers for high quality players. Trading Caron Butler to Washington for Kwame?? Really??! I know it ended up helping them aquire Gasol, but there is no chance in hell they did that on purpose. They lost Fisher because they told him he wouldn't play over Payton, then traded Payton to Boston for Chris Mihm.
  
  
  Let's say SQ works for Company A. SQ tells Company A that if they do not do something to improve the co. that he will bail and head to Company B. Company A complies, yet over a 3 year span does nothing to better themselves. That would result in a disgruntled employee, which is exactly what Kobe was.
  
  
  My whole point is that it's easy to say he quit on them when you don't understand what happened. I know what LeBron was going through after the Finals, and I have said NOT ONE BAD THING about him in that experience.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  Jennings is definitely sweet. Too bad for him the next big thing in the NBA is going to come into the league next year and steal most of his thunder.
• Trueblue23

  

  SQ_Crazies wrote:

  Trueblue23 wrote: I agree too. Usually if he has huge numbers the other guys aren't performing they way they are capable of. Good team effort today.

  Definitely. They've been playing much better as a team the last 5-6 games--when they move the ball they're fun to watch--there are a lot of guys on this team that can pass the ball well.

  What do u think about Shaq being there? It seems like they slow down too much when he is in the game and it is disruptive to their flow.. I know he will be very valuable come playoff time, but seeding is very important this year.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  I love Shaq here. He doesn't slow them down any more than usual. He isn't any slower than Z and he's been busting his ass because he doesn't have to play too many minutes. If you watch them regularly you see Shaq hustling up and down the floor most of the time. He's been a great player for us to have offensively and defensively he hasn't been terrible. I'm glad we have him, bottom line is he makes the Cavs better.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  And as far a seeding goes--it is always important for the Cavs because their home crowd is the best in the league at this point (most of the players seem to agree that the Q is the toughest atmosphere to play in--has something to do with how well they play there too). But it's not as important as it was last year--last years experience is going to be huge for guys like Mo, Delonte, Hickson. Having Shaq helps too--he clearly knows what it takes in the playoffs. But I don't see them making as big of a push for the #1 this year, but hey, they're right up there record wise so I'd say they're doing just fine.
• SQ_Crazies

  

  I also don't think it's as big a deal because I think the Cavs are without a doubt the best team in the East. I mean Orlando and Boston are both close, but I don't have any doubts that the Cavs are the best. Our biggest problem was match up issues and that has been solved--both by our moves and Orlando screwing themselves and not bringing back Hedo.
• hoops23

  

  I missed most of the game because of work, but looks like the Cavs have played some great all around ball today.
  
  I heard the Bucks got off to an 11-0 run to start the game? lmao..
• Tigerfan00

  

  Delonte was the man today and Id love to see him keep coming off the bench and give that boost when we need it, I really think that is his strongest role on this team. Anthony Parker also hit some big threes and has been a real solid option to go to. This team is really coming together and Gibson looks like a much different player this year and the bench this year is light years better then what they have had in any of Lebrons 7 seasons. Then you still have Leon Powe still to come back in a couple months to add to the depth the Cavs already have.
• hoops23

  

  Yep, supposedly Powe is looking good and may be ahead of schedule, though they said he won't be rushed into action.
• Trueblue23

  

  The Cavaliers posted a 101-86 victory at Milwaukee despite being outscored by 18 points with Shaquille O'Neal on the floor (39-21). Over the last 10 seasons, only two other starting centers were minus-15 or worse in a victory of 15 or more points: Kwame Brown for the Lakers in 2006 (minus-15 in a 111-94 win over the Timberwolves) and Mark Blount for the Celtics in 2001 (minus-16 in a 113-98 win over the Nets).