Lebron - Going Home

[el diablo]

I think people forget, that Bosh was "Kevin Love" in Toronto. A big who can drop 20 & grab 10, with outside range. That's not a skill that grows on trees. It's an asset that got two titled in Miami.  No player is winning a title by themselves. If Miami didn't pay Bosh, they're a lottery team today. At the same time, there is a salary floor in the NBA. If Bosh was on my Magic, they're a playoff team. So how does Bosh not make your team better?

[Spider-Dan]

That's a good point.  You can say that Love (as the best player on a crappy team)  is "clearly better" than Bosh right now, but put Love on any team where he's the third-best player on the floor (e.g. OKC) and I doubt you'd think so highly of him.

[Fau Teixeira]

I'm actually fairly impressed with what Pat Riley has done this offseason. You could make the case that losing the best player in the NBA for nothing in return is the worst possible thing to happen to any franchise in the league. Coming back with a roster that will probably end up as a top 3 seed in the conference as a result is quite the bit of work.

[Dave Gray]

Yeah, the HEAT come away from this looking good, IMO.  There was no saving Lebron and we're going to manage to put a competitive team on the floor next year.  I think that a 4 seed is what you're looking at (or thereabouts).  ...not championship calibur, but you can play spoiler.

I really respect the HEAT and this whole Lebron thing makes me like them even more.  They have it together.  They do things the right way.  Their philosophy, win or lose, is something to be proud of.

It makes me feel that we lost out on the greatest talent that this city will ever see, but we'll still bounce back because we have championship DNA.

[RichThrawn]

Yeah, the HEAT come away from this looking good, IMO.  There was no saving Lebron and we're going to manage to put a competitive team on the floor next year.  I think that a 4 seed is what you're looking at (or thereabouts).  ...not championship calibur, but you can play spoiler.

I really respect the HEAT and this whole Lebron thing makes me like them even more.  They have it together.  They do things the right way.  Their philosophy, win or lose, is something to be proud of.

It makes me feel that we lost out on the greatest talent that this city will ever see, but we'll still bounce back because we have championship DNA.

I disagree about the seeding.  With as weak as the East is, the Heat will be a #3 seed at worst.  I cab easily see them in the ECF next season.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Their division is pretty weak, so if Wade can play 20-25 minutes a game as a very good role player, Bosh turns into a 24/10 guy and everyone else does their part, they can still easily win their division. The Cavs are now the class of the East, but everything else is still a mess. I have no idea what is going on with the Pacers. The Bulls can't rely on Rose to walk, let alone play and the Atlantic is so crappy, the freaking Knicks have a very good shot of winning the division with Phil Jackson adding stability.

I would be surprised if the Heat returned to the Finals, but it wouldn't be the most mind boggling thing ever.

[Dave Gray]

I disagree about the seeding.  With as weak as the East is, the Heat will be a #3 seed at worst.  I cab easily see them in the ECF next season.

I don't see how you can say a #3 at worst.  They were a 2 seed with Lebron.  Chicago, Indiana, Cleveland are definitely capable of doing well....and don't discount Washington.

[Sunstroke]

Bosh turns into a 24/10 guy

Does turning Bosh into a 24/10 guy require your basic abra-cadabra sort of magic incantation, or is there a blood sacrifice involved?

[masterfins]

I don't see how you can say a #3 at worst.  They were a 2 seed with Lebron. 

Yeah I don't see how they could be a #3 at worst either.  Wade is on the downside of his career, and he sat out time last year to give him rest, now he would be forced to play more.  Don't discount Boston, they drafted a couple good players in the first round this year.

[RichThrawn]

I don't see how you can say a #3 at worst.  They were a 2 seed with Lebron.  Chicago, Indiana, Cleveland are definitely capable of doing well....and don't discount Washington.

The only reason they were #2 last seaSon is because the Pacers were frauds and playing lights out for a portion of the season.  Come spring we saw who they truly were.  Add five more games to the regular season and the Heat would've had the top seed. 

Chicago will never be the same without Derek Rose being what he used to be.  Washington will find a way to screw up what they currently have.  Cleveland scares me though with Erving and Wiggins and possibly Love teaming up with LeBron.

[Sunstroke]

Cleveland scares me though with Erving and Wiggins and possibly Love teaming up with LeBron.

LeBron, Love and Irving would definitely be impressive, but there is no way that Minnesota trades Love to Cleveland without Andrew "Ender" Wiggins coming back in the deal.

[RichThrawn]

LeBron, Love and Irving would definitely be impressive, but there is no way that Minnesota trades Love to Cleveland without Andrew "Ender" Wiggins coming back in the deal.

We'll have to wait and see on that one.  Minnesota has told Cleveland that any deal for love would have to include Wiggins.  Cleveland says they will not trade Wiggins.  We'll see who blinks first.

[EDGECRUSHER]

Does turning Bosh into a 24/10 guy require your basic abra-cadabra sort of magic incantation, or is there a blood sacrifice involved?

5-7 Virgins would have to die, I haven't run thorough calculations yet.

In all seriousness, he was a 24/11 guy his last year in Toronto. So, if, and I stress IF, he is the main focus of the offense again and it changes to suit his strengths, then it really wouldn't be a shock if he turns back into that.

[Phishfan]

We'll have to wait and see on that one.  Minnesota has told Cleveland that any deal for love would have to include Wiggins.  Cleveland says they will not trade Wiggins.  We'll see who blinks first.

This was old news by the time you reported it. Reports are that Cleveland has been offering Wiggins, Bennett & their first rounder next year but that Minnesota wants more than that for Love.

[el diablo]

I'm really amazed by all of this. People honestly think the Heat are a 3 seed at worst? Toronto, Indiana, Cleveland, Washington, Atlanta, and Chicago all have better rosters. Good luck getting out of the 1st round of the playoffs, let alone a 3 seed.