Links To The Present: April 3, 2010
2010-04-03
“That is because they seem to know how to conduct themselves during winning time, and they have been showing it for two years. The defense stretched and raised its intensity and the Hawks, like many teams in their position this season, just couldn’t deal.” [Brian Windhorst’s Game Recap]
“Hickson’s season arc has been the most impressive of anyone on the roster. His growth since last season is one thing. His growth since November is another. But his growth during these last five weeks without Shaq has been the most remarkable. He still makes mistakes and that tests the coach but he’s making way more plays than errors these days and the gap is only widening.” [Brian Windhorst’s Beat Blog]
Danny Green is the Cavs’ Union Representative. Really?
“The fans in Cleveland, though, saw James soar from the foul line for a tomahawk slam in the fourth quarter. That levitation-like slam followed a steal and preceded James swatting a shot so far from the rim it almost hit announcer Hubie Brown at half-court. Goal-tending was called, but the message was still sent …The Cavs are in a very good place as the playoffs approach.” [Pat McManamon on the Cavs Playoff Prospects]
John (Seattle): Adande, you must be the most confused guy in all the world. How does winning a championship make it MORE likely Lebron will leave Cleveland? How many players reach the absolute apex of their sport (mvp, championship, finals mvp) and then bolt for a vastly inferior (26 win) team that plays no defense and has no one with playoff experience? I think at the heart of this is just plain ‘ole condescension: “Cleveland doesn’t deserve or isn’t capable of earning more than one championship; dynasties must take place in markets that are worthy of them like NY or Chicago.” Feel free to justify yourself
J.A. Adande: If LeBron wins a championship this year he doesn’t owe Cleveland anything. (NOt that he does now, actually. He’s his own man). I just feel it would be easier for him to justify leaving if he said, I got you guys a championship. He would have delivered the city its first major championship since the 60s. For anyone to demand more of him would be selfish and greedy. Stop with the small-town paranoia. It’s about where LeBron wants to be, not what city deserves it. Did San Antonio “deserve” its success last decade more than NY? Not based on census counts, but surely based on basketball operations by the Spurs
Tweets To The Present:
“Antawn Jamison played in his 16th Cavs win since being traded. With Washington this year, he was a part of just 15 wins.” [Colin Zvosec]
“Cavs shoot 75% from behind the line? It truly is an Easter Miracle.” [realcavsfans]
“LEBRON, STOP TAKING THOSE TERRIBLE JU… oh.” [Noam Schiller]
“So…. Joe Johnson is going to save the Knicks?” [WayneEmbrysKids]
“Leon Powe draws more fouls than any undersized PF with bad kness who can’t jump should.” [CavsWITNESS]
BTW, since I brought up Simmons. If you haven’t come across this discussion of The Book of Basketball at NY Mag and are/were a fan of Simmons, I highly recommend it. Reading through the comments was one of the most cathartic experiences I’ve had in a month (as someone who’s been reading him for a decade and becoming increasingly frustrated with the level of effort of his analysis.)
Someone made the brilliant comparison of Simmons to Weezer, and concluded that he is in his Green Album phase. Probably one of the best analogies I’ve read in a while.
Tom,
i’ve always thought the same thing — It’s a dumb argument Bill Simmons like to bring up on his podcasts.
Who in their right mind leads a team to a freakin NBA title and then bolts to another team? Has that ever happened in the history of the league?
In one of his more colorful podcasts Windhorst really scoffed at the idea of the Cavs winning the finals and LeBron then leaving. Said it was downright ridiculous that someone wouldn’t want to defend a title.
What is funny about Adande is that he says LeBron doesn’t owe Cleveland anything, but yet thinks L.A. and New York are owed a great sports franchise. Why? If Cleveland isn,t why is L.A.? They aren’t. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of the world doesn’t live in L.A. or New York City…….and it’s mostly because they choose not to. Think about that.
Glad Adande tossed up that softball for me with the Spurs analogy…
Two guys cut from the Popovich mold which created that Spurs run of greatness are Danny Ferry and Mike Brown. Plus the Spurs built that great run around young (then) superstar Tim Duncan who could’ve gone anywhere. He’s still in San Antonio.
Thanks for countering your own point, Adande. Glad you’re here.
Adande is such a hack. I haven’t seen a colorful lede from one of his articles in years.