The Melo Trade: What Really Broke Denver's Hearts

[Jason]

Haha. No worries. I'm verrrry difficult to offend.

I completely forgot about Shaq leaving. It feels like he's been with Boston longer than just this season, and I didn't think Antwan was hurt so much, either. I do recall seeing him play when the Cavs were on TV.

Dwyane Wade seems to be putting up better numbers than James, this season, too. I was watching them play the Lakers, tonight, and noticed that Wade is usually the go-to guy when they need a big play. not just tonight, but a lot of the other games they're in.

[Man in Black]

I think Antwan is about done. He played off and on this year but I think he's out indefinitely now... that sucks as he's one of my favorites.

I will say this (and I'm definitely no Miami sympathizer)... on the other side of the argument you do have to give Lebron and company time to become an actual team. Every team can't be like the current Boston one and gel immediately into a champion. It does take awhile and I dread next year when the Heat get rolling.

You are right about Wade... I hate not being able to pull for him. I really wish he'd went to the Bulls now... though I have to give him credit for being loyal... the very thing we hate on Lebron for.


Back to the Melo thing... I think what he did is actually worse than what James did. James honored his contract and left when it was up. Melo caused damage to his current team. The thing that ticks me off about James is just the ridiculous way he went about the whole thing. If he had just said from the start he was going to leave as soon as he knew and left it at that... I wouldn't have thought so poorly of him. Look at Bosh, nobody outside of Toronto thinks badly of him for going to Miami - that's the way to do it.

[Jason]

I know Cleveland is hurting worse than Denver is, though. Not because Denver is still a solid team, but Lebron was their hometown hero, who promised never to leave until he brought them a championship. Then he goes on TV and announces he's leaving. It was just insane. He created way too much publicity.

We also didn't really go into coaching. Erik Spoelstra doesn't seem like a very good coach, at all, in my opinion. When guys like Kobe grew into the league and mentored under Phil Jackson, that definitely helps. Lebron has never had, and probably never will have, a coach like that. But, then again, neither did Wade. That could be why Wade only has the one ring.

[Man in Black]

Yep, I'd rather be Denver than Cleveland for sure. That makes Melo's move stupider, he was winning in Denver.

Pat Riley runs that team ;D And now Lebron is the coach.

You are right, Phil Jackson is great to have as a teacher... but that is also another reason why I think Kobe is better right now... because of Phil.

James hasn't had, or wouldn't allow, much teaching to come his way. James is in that same area as Kobe was when Shaq left LA... he is at a crossroads. That's why I added the "yet" as he could get his head in the game still. The thing for him is that after Shaq left Kobe won 3 titles. No matter how many James wins people will always say that he had Bosh and Wade.


I looked at Antawn Jamison's yearly stats and he didn't do too bad this year... but for some reason he hasn't started much. He broke a finger in Feb and is gone for the year.

[Jason]

Mar 12, 2011 12:05:03 GMT -8 Man in Black said:

Yep, I'd rather be Denver than Cleveland for sure. That makes Melo's move stupider, he was winning in Denver.

Pat Riley runs that team ;D And now Lebron is the coach.

You are right, Phil Jackson is great to have as a teacher... but that is also another reason why I think Kobe is better right now... because of Phil.

James hasn't had, or wouldn't allow, much teaching to come his way. James is in that same area as Kobe was when Shaq left LA... he is at a crossroads. That's why I added the "yet" as he could get his head in the game still. The thing for him is that after Shaq left Kobe won 3 titles. No matter how many James wins people will always say that he had Bosh and Wade.


I looked at Antawn Jamison's yearly stats and he didn't do too bad this year... but for some reason he hasn't started much. He broke a finger in Feb and is gone for the year.

I thought Kobe only won two without Shaq?
Either way, he still did win without him. But also, they've got an incredible bench. Bynum is a great young player, Fisher still proves he is very relevant and Gasol and Artest, as much as I don't like them, seem to play at high level.

[Man in Black]

That's right the Almond Mamba lost one to Boston hahahaha...

Gasol is the key... he's awesome. The rest... good but average NBA talent. I love Artest's personality though, he's a trip.

[Jason]

He's a goofy mofo.

I just noticed Charlotte is tied for the 8th seed!!! How the hell did they sneak their way up there without me seeing?

Nuggets win by 30, tonight. I generally don't allow myself to get excited when I see any Denver team doing so well after a rebuild mode, but wow. By 40, one night and 30 another? I think we're 7-2 without Melo? Gettin' a bit excited, here.

[Man in Black]

That's cool. I hope they keep doing well.

MJ is probably ticked that the Bobcats are winning as he hoped to get high picks after trading Wallace.

[Jason]

I think it'd be worth it if they made the playoffs.

[Man in Black]

If they would just win at least 1 game this year.