Why the three headed monster of South Beach may be good for the Lakers and bad for LeBron

Let’s first clear the air – regardless of who they sign to play around the Miami Thrice, or how many hours it takes Pat Riley’s goons to convince soon to be ex-coach Eric Spoelstra that the Heat’s new practice facility is in fact in Guantanemo Bay, the Miami Heat will be a contender for the NBA Finals for the next five years.  They might even win a few.  No one is contesting that.  And it seems that the Miami fans agree with me as the Heat had to suspend season ticket sales when they ran out of seats in the arena.  So, congratulations to the fans of Miami.  You are going to enjoy yourselves for the duration of this little experiment.  Then again, you live in Miami.  You are already enjoying yourselves:

But let’s not kid ourselves, this is an experiment.  There has never been anything like this in the history of the NBA and there’s no guarantee that it’s going to work out.  The closest analogy I can think of is…frankly, Team USA basketball.

Which brings me to my first point: an all-star team is not necessarily the best team.

In 2000, Team USA came within a Šarūnas Jasikevičius desperation three-pointer of being eliminated by Lithuania in the semifinals at the Summer Olympics.  The 2000 squad was the Olympic team that featured Vince Carter’s vicious dunk over 7’2” French center Frédéric Weis in what the French media dubbed “le dunk de la mort” or “the dunk of death.”

Le Dunk de la Mort

In the 2002 World Championships – held in Indianapolis, no less – Team USA lost in the preliminary stage to Argentina (making Argentina the first team to ever beat an American team composed entirely of NBA players), then lost to Yugoslavia in the quarterfinals, then lost to Spain in the 5^th place game.  Team USA finished a humiliating sixth.

The 2004 Olympic team featured, among other young NBA stars, LeBron James.  He was joined by Iverson, Duncan and Carmelo.  In their opening match, Team USA lost to Puerto Rico 92-73, the most lopsided defeat ever for the Americans in an international game.  Yes, you read that right – Puerto Rico.  The US squeaked by Greece and Australia, lost to Lithuania and was eliminated in the semi-finals by Argentina.  This was the first NBA team that failed to win gold in the Olympics.

At the 2006 World Championships, Team USA (captained by Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony) was eliminated by Greece in the semifinals.  That’s right, Greece.

Watch the opening scene…ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the 2011 Miami Heat:

Lowlights of Greece Loss

You’ve heard a lot about how Bosh, Wade and James “bonded” during the Beijing Olympics when they won the gold medal.  Well, recall it was after two years of futility and embarrassment that Team USA showed up in China for the Olympics.  USA went undefeated at the Olympics, and beat Spain 118-107 in the gold medal match.  I should point out that Spain had one NBA star – Senor Pau Gasol – against the USA’s twelve.  And I should also point out that with the outcome in doubt late in the game it wasn’t King James, or DWade or Bosh that took over the game and delivered victory to the United States, it was Kobe Bryant.

From a talent perspective alone, a “dream team” can quickly become a nightmare of failed expectations.  That doesn’t even take into account issues of ego.

I like DWade.  The man is clutch.  If I needed someone to take a last second shot to win the Finals, and I couldn’t have Kobe, I’d want Wade to get the ball.  Look at this clip:

DWade: \”This is My House\”

Did you hear the announcer?  Wade had been shut out most of the second half, but he wanted the ball in his hands and he nailed the shot.  Then he proceeded to strut around the court proclaiming American Airlines Arena to be “my house.”  That’s ego.  And I mean that in a good way.  You want one of those guys on your team:  A guy who can will the team to victory because he refuses to lose.  A guy who wants the last second shot.  A guy who knows in his core that he’s better than anyone else on the floor.  Who are those guys?  During my basketball lifetime it was Dr. J, Bird, Magic, Dominique, Jordan, Shaq, Kobe and Wade.  Any others?  You say LeBron.  OK, hold on their for a sec, bucakaroo.  We’re getting to him.  The point is that the Miami Heat are Dwyane Wade’s team, and Miami is Wade’s city.  He delivered a championship, earned Finals MVP and has carried that team for 7 years.  He’s earned it.

Chris Bosh is a solid player and a great add for Miami.  He averaged 25 pts and 11 rebounds per game last year on a woeful Toronto squad.  Wade and Bosh is comparable to Kobe and Gasol.  Maybe a notch below this year, but younger with more upside.

Miami should have quit when it was ahead.  Surround Wade and Bosh with a couple veterans, a bruiser, a three point shooter and a defensive stopper and you got yourself a championship squad.

But now you are adding LeBron James to the mix?  By most accounts, LeBron has every bit the ego as Wade has – yet only one man can be the “King of Miami,” only one man can be league MVP, only one man can be Finals MVP, and only one man can take the game winning shot.  Have two egos of that size ever co-existed successfully?

A young Kobe bristled playing with Shaq – and there was no question who was in his prime and who was still maturing as a player.

Look at the hatred in Kobe’s eyes.  ”You fat mutha–”

You can almost read Shaq’s lips: “F you, Kobe…”

Yeah, that worked out well in the end.

Wade and James are both at the top of their games, and now they have to share the court, the team, the city, the accolades and the ball.  What’s more, does anyone expect their stats to improve?  Both Wade and James will probably score less next year.  There are only so many possessions per basketball game.  The three average over 70 points a game.  No one else on that team would get a shot at that rate.  As a result, I suspect no Heat player wins league MVP.  After all, how do you vote for one of those guys as MVP when he has the other (plus Bosh) as a teammate?  No more MVPs for James, or Wade for that matter.

How do James and Wade coexist when things go well, but one doesn’t think he’s getting his due?  More importantly, how do James and Wade coexist when things go badly?  When the Celtics eliminate them in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and Wade suspects that LeBron has quit on his team like he did in Game 5 this year?  Imagine the pressure of expectations these guys are now facing.  Anything less than five consecutive championships is going to be a failure.  Any team facing them in the playoffs has nothing to lose.  Kind of like plucky little Greece, eh?

Kobe and Gasol work well together because Gasol knows he’s not the “man” and Kobe knows he is. There’s harmony in that: there’s a reason it’s Batman and Robin, not Batman and Superman.  In Miami, we now have a bizarre love triangle in the fortress of solitude – Batman, Superman and Robin.

Ruh-roh!  Somebody is going to get jealous!

Of course, add the Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert and his bomb throwing letter to the Cavs fans into the mix:

No, there’s no way this cartoon is going to end badly…

By the way – have you read his open letter to the Cleveland fans?  Here it is.

I have it preserved for posterity below because you know the NBA is going to be on him in a heartbeat:

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.

The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown “chosen one” sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And “who” we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called “curse” on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south. And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day….

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue….

[Dan]

Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

But you really have to read the original.  I love the 7th grade-style handwritten colored font and his bizarre use of capitalization.  His letter reminds me of the random facebook updates I have to suffer because I have teenage and early 20-something cousins I am obligated to friend.  Oh, and Lane.  But that’s another story.  It’s as if one of my batshit-crazy ex-girlfriends is now the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Don’t worry, LeBron, I think I’ve gotten that same letter a few times in my life, although it was usually dictated in a slurred, crying voice over a series of successive voice messages at around 2:30 AM, but I digress.

Umm, yeah, so it was good seeing you too.  Seems like things are really going well for you.  Yeah, OK, well I gotta run.  No, I’m actually between phone numbers right now, but why don’t you give me yours and I’ll call you.  Oh yeah, I promise, totally.  Okey-dokey, you take care.

Dear Dan, take some of that money you have and buy a god-damned filter.  You are the only guy who can make LeBron actually look better in this process.  STFU.

So to summarize: I can understand why Wade recruited Bosh and why Bosh would come.  Batman and Robin.  But what does it say about James that he would join Wade’s team?

• I can’t do it by myself?
• I don’t want to take the last second shot any more?
• I’m 25 years old and playing basketball in south beach with my buddies while I make $100M sounds fun?

Which brings up my last criticism of James about this: he has forfeited his legacy.

First, let’s try a little thought experiment – name the greatest NBA player of all time.

If you’re like me, you probably came up with one of these guys:

Russell, Bird, Magic, Jordan, maybe Kareem or West.

If you’re a Laker fan like me, you might say Wilt or Shaq should be in the mix.

And you might be prepared to add Kobe to that list, at least for discussion purposes.

Notice anything about that list?  Every one of those guys was Superman.  Granted, their careers crossed with other greats, so that an aging Kareem played with a young Magic or a young Kobe played with Shaq, etc.  But each of those guys was the “man” on a championship team for a significant portion of their career.

LeBron’s legacy is going to be bifurcated: As the “man” on the Cleveland Cavaliers, he failed.  As one-third of the Miami Trio, he may very well win some rings.  But he will never, ever make that GOAT list on account of not being able to get it done alone.

Folks should really respect Kobe right now for wanting to rebuild the Lakers and win a championship on his own.  He now has two solo acts, to go with the three rings he won with Shaq.  Folks should really respect Jordan for winning six championships with a supporting cast that probably couldn’t beat the Cleveland scrubs in a best of seven series.  I’m not sure anyone is respecting LeBron right now.

LeBron’s decision isn’t about loyalty.  In today’s NBA, loyalty to a single team is a curiosity, certainly not an expectation.  I don’t blame him for leaving Cleveland, although the way he did it was narcissistic and callous.

LeBron’s decision isn’t about greed.  He left $30M on the table to join his buddies in Miami.

LeBron’s decision is a betrayal of his talent.  When you are talented enough to be mentioned in the “Greatest of All Time” discussion, you have an obligation to chase that legacy with everything you have.  LeBron took the easy way out.  LeBron’s decision is lazy and cowardly – he has surrendered his career at age 25, admitting that he can’t lead a team to the NBA Finals, so he’d rather ride the coat tails of Wade and the Miami Heat.  LeBron James – the basketball Jesus – has quit on his city, his team, his sport and himself.

The ironic thing is that this whole free agent spectacle is good for the Lakers.

The migration of talent this year has clearly gone from West to East.  Think about the Western Conference playoffs this year:

• Lakers 57-25
• Dallas 55-27
• Phoenix 54-28
• Denver 53-29
• Utah 53-29
• Portland 50-32
• San Antonio 50-32
• Oklahoma City 50-32

None of those teams have improved this off-season.  Phoenix won’t make the playoffs next year.  Utah may not either.  Denver has to face the prospect of losing Carmelo to New York in 2012, as well as the serious illness of their coach.  San Antonio and Dallas are old teams getting older.  Only Oklahoma City looks to be better, and only because their young core is maturing together – they haven’t added anyone.

Dare I say that (barring a trade or injury), the Lakers’ path to the Finals looks easier in 2011 than in 2010?

On the other hand, the Heat have to try to gel their superstars into a cohesive group as they battle Boston, Orlando and Chicago – three teams that will certainly give them trouble and who all improved this off-season (although Boston is also getting older and faces injury risks).

The Miami Heat is now limited to nine minimum contract players for the next five years.  No doubt they will find some quality veterans to play for pennies.  Young draft choices (they have three second rounders this year) will give them energy off the bench.  But consider the two teams who made the Finals this year: Boston and Los Angeles.  What did they have in common?  Size.  The Lakers have Gasol, Bynum and Odom – three seven footers (ok, Odom is 6’11”).  The Celtics countered with KG, Perkins, Big Baby and Rasheed (and the Celtics just signed Jermaine O’Neil to replace a potentially retiring Rasheed and/or injured Perkins).  Quality bigs are rare in this league and Miami will not be able to sign a starting-quality center for minimum money.  Although I hear Frederic Weis might be available.  Both the Celtics and the Lakers will destroy Miami’s frontcourt, and even Orlando could give them trouble.

I fear that this development in Miami is going to lead to a fracturing of the league into the haves and have-nots. Superteams may become the wave of the future as players manipulate the free agent and trade markets for their own selfish, short-term interests.  The Lakers are a superteam of sorts, although not to the extent the Heat are.  Boston pioneered the concept of the “Big Three” although all three are on the backside of their careers.  I suspect you’ll see the veterans of the league align themselves with the various basketball powerhouses, meaning that there will be fewer than 10 perennially super-competitive teams: Lakers, Dallas and San Antonio in the West, and Miami, Boston, Chicago and (in 2012 when they sign Melo) New York in the East.  Everyone else is dog food, unless you happen to catch lightning in a bottle with an impact player in the draft, like Oklahoma City or Orlando.

So while that trend is benefitting Miami, it will also benefit the Lakers – a franchise with solid ownership, a championship history and one that has never had a problem attracting top flight talent.

Just so long as they remember that a superteam does not a championship guarantee.  Just ask Greece.

Apology to Patrick and FE: Yes, I know, I wrote a whole article about Miami and South Beach and didn’t give you a single juicy photo.  Not that I didn’t Google them.  But let’s just say that the search results were so overwhelming it seemed impossible to pick from among them.  I’m sure you can manage to Google “girls of south beach” on your own…happy browsing!

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