So I assume you were never a fan of the NBA in general?

 

No man, I've always loved the NBA. I'm a football guy at heart, but I've always enjoyed watching the NBA over anything else on TV. It started with Jordan and Shaq.

 

But, LeBron's always been my guy. I was in middle school the first time I saw him play in HS, and just became a huge fan. I guess it's kind of sad, but what can you do? I've had some of the best times of my life going to Cleveland to watch games, and to be honest no other NBA experience really compared for me. It is/was so fun to go and watch the Cavs the last few years.

 

Heck, me, Spikes and my brother decided to change our vacation plans last year from going to L.A. to going to watch the Cavs and Orlando in the ECF with good seats. Maybe it wasn't just the Cavs for me, I guess I just truly enjoyed sharing the experience and fun with those two, and the trip last year was the funnest week of my life, even though Cleveland is a sad little city.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's just going to be different. Chicago, New York, or where ever will never appreciate LeBron like the city of Cleveland did. It took 7 years and for LeBron to quit on the team for Cavs fans to finally say something bad about him. Look at how hard I've defended him in the past. That's not going to happen in his next stop. The first time he flames out in NY he's going to get crucified, failing to deliver a championship in Chicago will have people saying he'll never be Jordan. He didn't have to be anything but LeBron in Cleveland. Every year Cavs fans, myself included had the belief that he could carry the team to the title, even though many felt that he didn't have a great sidekick. It's just a sad day, as far as sports goes IMO.

A Celtics/Lakers finals would be a great series.

Ahhh Cats, you can't leave. What about John Wall, Derrick Rose, Cousins, Kobe, Melo, CP3, Deron Williams, Rondo, JJ Redick, KD, Brandon Jennings, your secret favorite Western Conference team the Portland Trailblazers. Say it ain't so, Cats, you can't go. We have to watch Kobe get 7 rings.:thumb:

 

Ah the NBA without LeBron w/ the Cavs, really isn't my scene. My goodness, I've become a Cleveland "doom and gloomer".

Go Celtics!!

 

I was listening to ESPN Radio a couple of weeks ago and the guys on (it was the weekend, so I don't know them) were talking about how the Celtics were absolutely no threat to the Cavaliers... I laughed then, and I'm smiling now.

Has anyone been listening to Jamal Mashburn on ESPN? He said he got double teamed all the time in the NBA. A buddy of mine had a funny comment about that on my facebook when I posted it, but I don't think I can repost it on here.

 

But, when in his NBA career was Monster Mash a guy that teams stayed up at night worrying about preparing for?

Has anyone been listening to Jamal Mashburn on ESPN? He said he got double teamed all the time in the NBA. A buddy of mine had a funny comment about that on my facebook when I posted it, but I don't think I can repost it on here.

 

But, when in his NBA career was Monster Mash a guy that teams stayed up at night worrying about preparing for?

 

Mash was always a 20+ PPG guy when healthy. Unfortunately, that wasn't too often.

Has anyone been listening to Jamal Mashburn on ESPN? He said he got double teamed all the time in the NBA. A buddy of mine had a funny comment about that on my facebook when I posted it, but I don't think I can repost it on here.

 

But, when in his NBA career was Monster Mash a guy that teams stayed up at night worrying about preparing for?

 

Yeah, that comment was hilarious, but Mashburn, Jimmy Jackson and Jason Kidd made the Mavericks nasty before Dirk Nowitzki was there. They were fun to watch. Unfortunately, egos got in the way and they had about a good 2 season run. Mash was always good for 20+ when on the court most of his career. He was automatic. Not flashy, not a top ten highlight, but he was an efficient scoring machine until the very end.

Mash was always a 20+ PPG guy when healthy. Unfortunately, that wasn't too often.

 

Yeah, that comment was hilarious, but Mashburn, Jimmy Jackson and Jason Kidd made the Mavericks nasty before Dirk Nowitzki was there. They were fun to watch. Unfortunately, egos got in the way and they had about a good 2 season run. Mash was always good for 20+ when on the court most of his career. He was automatic. Not flashy, not a top ten highlight, but he was an efficient scoring machine until the very end.

 

Guy I remember his days in Dallas with Kidd and Jackson. They called them the "J" brothers or something I believe. I just thought it sounded kind of cocky from him.:lol::thumb:

Has anyone been listening to Jamal Mashburn on ESPN? He said he got double teamed all the time in the NBA. A buddy of mine had a funny comment about that on my facebook when I posted it, but I don't think I can repost it on here.

 

But, when in his NBA career was Monster Mash a guy that teams stayed up at night worrying about preparing for?

 

Obviously you didn't watch him when he played for the Mavericks and when he played for the Charlotte Hornets. The only time in his career that he didn't average over 20 points was in Miami. He was double teamed all the time with the Hornets. He was an all star and had several near misses. His injuries kept him from having a great career.

Guy I remember his days in Dallas with Kidd and Jackson. They called them the "J" brothers or something I believe. I just thought it sounded kind of cocky from him.:lol::thumb:

 

Oh. My bad. You are younger than me so I was thinking you may not have known. :walk:

Oh. My bad. You are younger than me so I was thinking you may not have known. :walk:

 

Like I said earlier, I've been watching the NBA since I was in diapers. I can vaguely remember Jordan vs. the Suns in the Finals. :thumb:

Everyone is piling on Lebron James, but no one seems to want to give the Celtics credit. They played great defense. And BTW, they have 3 guys that maybe Hall of Fame players. They are older, but they know how to play and compete and win. Oh and BTW Rondo played unbelievably well. The Cavs got a horrible supporting cast around James. Bringing in Shaq and Jamison were both bad moves. Cleveland hasn't done anything to get players around James to win championships with. Lebron James has to play unbelievable to win against good teams.

Obviously you didn't watch him when he played for the Mavericks and when he played for the Charlotte Hornets. The only time in his career that he didn't average over 20 points was in Miami. He was double teamed all the time with the Hornets. He was an all star and had several near misses. His injuries kept him from having a great career.

 

No I remember most of his career. He was a very good player, he just made it seem like he was a borderline HOF'er. I like Mash, I just think he's a little high on himself when he talks about the NBA.:thumb:

Everyone is piling on Lebron James, but no one seems to want to give the Celtics credit. They played great defense. And BTW, they have 3 guys that maybe Hall of Fame players. They are older, but they know how to play and compete and win. Oh and BTW Rondo played unbelievably well. The Cavs got a horrible supporting cast around James. Bringing in Shaq and Jamison were both bad moves. Cleveland hasn't done anything to get players around James to win championships with. Lebron James has to play unbelievable to win against good teams.

 

The Celtics absolutely deserve credit. I think most people are just in awe of the fact that LeBron didn't seem to play up to his potential. I don't even know if you could call it choking, he played so bad.

 

As for the Cavs, they may not have a great roster but it's not for not trying. Danny Ferry has made any and every trade he could possibly make. The Cavs have had two problems the last 7 years. #1 they've had no cap space, meaning that they could only sign mid-level players or players for the vet's minimum. Or they could do trades, but they haven't had great pieces that anyone would want in return for a star player. Guys like Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, Darius Miles, Ricky Davis don't have great trade value other than when their contracts are expiring.

 

I understand the Shaq move and I don't fault it. I do fault the Jamison move though. On top of the fact that the Cavs were playing their best basketball of the season when they made the trade, they also replace a guy that played great with LeBron in Hickson, with a guy that is old, inconsistent and cannot defend. Amare would have been a great trade for the Cavs, or really a guy like Troy Murphy that was rumored would have been better IMO. A guy that can come off the bench, stretch the floor and Murphy actually isn't a bad rebounder either.

 

What more could the Cavs have done, besides maybe paying Boozer a fair contract 6 years ago?

In his press conference, LeBron hit over and over again that the Celtics had a great game plan, the Celtics' coaches gave them a great game plan, the Celtics game plan kept them on the perimeter. Didn't sound like much confidence in what his coach was trying to do and basically said the Cavs got outcoached.