I am trying to avoid the sports sites today, and the radio/ESPN has already started talking about where #6 stands amongst the greatest players of all time, especially with the sick numbers he posted this post-season. I have a different take then most(because I am part of the Cleveland minority). I don't believe that LBJ should be praised in the same company as MJ, Magic, Bird, or Bill Russell. I would rather you put him in the category of history that Shaq will reside in at some point. Both will finish their careers with amazing stats, and both will have multiple rings. What separates them from the first list is that Shaq/Lebron are free agent mercenaries whose price is rings, as opposed to the first group who remained on the teams that were formed by savvy GM work, where they were drafted, and fought through the bad times to get to the good times.
Often I hear comparisons of Miami with the first Big 3 in Boston. There is a difference, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett were acquired in Boston by trades, the Miami team was formed in some hotel in China while they were spitballing at the Olympics. This won't mark the genious of Pat Riley, or the story of how LBJ overcame adversity in Cleveland to make them a championship team, this is the story of a very talented player(maybe the best SF of all time), who took the easy way out to get to a quick ring. Shaq was in Orlando and made it to the Finals(didn't win), and then wanted out to LA where he would be a movie star. Now the difference here is that Kobe Bryant wasn't as established a player like Wade and Bosh
were when LBJ went down to South Beach. However, Shaq got to join Phil Jackson, and he got his rings. Then he traveled to Miami to get Wade his first ring(Wade was a superstar then). The next shot he got at free agency he traveled to Cleveland, and then following that to Boston. Always looking for a ring, but also always looking to be paired with other superstars as opposed to staying put and letting superstars come
to him or letting the team be built.
LBJ is more of a Shaq in the history of the NBA, than a Jordan. Just my opinion, like it or hate it, I think it reins true more so than comparing him to the others. Sure the others had other hall-of-famers, but they became hall-of-famers as a team, not as free-agents who formed an all-star team with collusion.
In other news....
- Buffalo is looking to trade some of their draft picks for a wing player. They still feel they are close to contention, and I agree. They still got one of the best goalies, and a lot of injuries this past year got them off to a slow start. However, they still came back to almost make the playoffs. So the names you hear linked to the Sabres are Bobby Ryan and Rick Nash. I think with Nash's no-trade clause, that may be a tough one to get, unless he is serious about just wanting to win. Bobby Ryan could be a possibility for them depending on who gets Zach Parise who will be the top paid free agent.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets are going to be one of the most important teams this off-season. They have a high draft pick, have the biggest trade piece in Rick Nash, and their name better be linked to every backup goalie in the NHL. Nickolas Backstrom is the guy that I want, and a young goalie. I am hearing that the Kings, and Canucks backups are both pretty good, but they aren't going to start anytime soon. So if you get Backstrom for this next year, and then let the young guy take over. The draft doesn't have any high rated goalies really, so the Blue Jackets need to make a move on that front. Oh wait, they have Rick Nash and want to trade him, don't you think the Flyers, Sabres, Rangers, and whomever else they are speaking to has a quality goalie somewhere in their system? That should be priority #1!
- Oh yeah that was a little hockey talk for ya.
- Indians are looking solid heading down to Houston. I think Minute
Maid Park will make the bats look good, and keep the confidence rising.
This is a good series to watch, because next year Houston will be an AL
team and we will see a lot more of them. The players on Houston to
watch is Wandy Rodriguez(trade target), Brett Myers(trade target for
another contender), Jose Altuve(young guy), and Chris Johnson(young
guy).
- The Indians traded former 1st rd pick Beau Mills to the Reds for
cash. Tough draw for Mills who had his own following amongst Tribe
fans, but he was blocked on the roster by Grimmace, LaPorta, and
Canzler. When you are a 3rd string 1B at AAA, its just time to start
new elsewhere. I am not sure what the Reds goal is though, even if he
takes off like Brandon Phillips did when we gave him away, Joey Votto is
still their 1B, so Mills is blocked from getting to the MLB there too.
Tough draw.
- NBA draft is Thursday, who ya got being picked by your favorite team?
- Cleveland - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist(4th), Fab Melo(The Cuse),
William Buford(OSU), and Darius Miller(UK)
- Indiana - John Jenkins(Vandy)
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