1. Pay attention. We’ve never seen anything like this before in professional sports. Rarely in this media-saturated age do we get a chance to see any scenario in sports that hasn’t been played out multiple times in history. With Lebron/D-Wade/Bosh in Miami we are seeing something truly unique. Three top 15 players (and 2 of the top 3) playing together on one team in their prime in unprecedented; the closest we’ve seen are the Kobe and Shaq years in L.A. If you look to those L.A. teams as the paradigm to work from you have to believe that we are in for basketball at an incredibly high level as well as a great deal of drama eventually. Whatever happens we are witnessing sports history.
2. Back off Lebron in regards to Cleveland. Why should any one individual carry the weight of responsibility for a major city on his shoulders? Is it Lebron’s fault that the city’s economy went in the tank? That crime is high? How does this have anything to do with Lebron? I don’t personally know anyone who at 25 wouldn’t leave their hometown for a job with the elite talents in their field, particularly not when it involves a move from the frigid midwest to Miami Beach. This isn’t a moral issue; it’s a matter of a better opportunity in a better location. Few things in sports are more understandable. Furthermore, last year during the playoffs the fans of Cleveland booed Lebron James after he had the first mediocre (not even bad, just not stellar) game in the playoffs he had as a Cav. Read that again. They booed. And now they are burning his jersey in the streets. Cleveland fans, at least those booing and burning, deserve Lebron leaving.
3. This speaks highly of Lebron’s desire to achieve the most he can as a basketball player. We have seen what he can do as an individual talent and we are very impressed. Now it is time to see how high he can climb as a (the?) member of an elite unit. Does every hero have to be not only willing but committed to going it alone? Why do we as basketball fans demand one man do it all when our greatest heroes, generally speaking, come in tandem. Jordan – Pippen. Magic – Kareem. Bird – McHale – Parish. Russell – Cousy. Really, we can go on as long as we want. More credit to Lebron for realizing his greatest potential is in the context of this group, not on the fringe by himself. That he was able to see this at 25 years old and while still at the peak of his physical prowess indicates a very rare maturity as a professional athlete.
Now for predictions:
1. They probably won’t win the East next year. They have an incredible top three but you play 5 at a time and most teams like a solid 7 to 9 man rotation. Jordan and Pipper needed HoGrant, Paxson/Kerr, Cartwright, etc. Kobe and Shaq needed Fisher and Horry. So give them a year to use their mid-level cap exception and sign some vets looking for one more run. Once we get to that spot with their roster can be rounded out with title-hungry vets and mid-level free agents look out. This should be a dynasty.
2. I don’t think the rest of the NBA will concede the next 10 years to the Miami Heat. I’m predicting that ultimately tonight begins an NBA arms race wherein the teams with deep pocketed owners begin to assemble their own super rosters in an attempt to meet this challenge head on. What that ultimately means is that talent is going to be consolidated in a small number of teams. Thus we will very likely see a situation like in baseball where there are a few haves while the rest of the league becomes have-nots, merely providing a venue for the competitors. Could we see a Carmelo Anthony/Dwight Howard/Chris Paul roster in the near future? Is that good for the game? I don’t know. But I think it’s very likely the future of the NBA.
