Marv wrote:

GodSaveTheKnicks wrote:
Eastern Conference scout on the depths of Cleveland's collapse post-LeBron James:

"Without [Anderson] Varejao and Mo Williams? They're playing with a summer-league team and Antawn Jamison. Byron [Scott] was calling plays [in a recent game] and trying to explain to guys where to go. They didn't know the plays. Antawn was just shaking his head.

"I know it's easy to say this now, but I thought they'd be last or next-to-last in the East when the season started. It was apparent when LeBron was there and you looked at the rest of the talent. When Varejao went down and took the defense with him ... they're just not very much fun to watch.

"My biggest concern would be J.J. Hickson. He doesn't fit into Byron's scheme. If it's true that they could have traded him for Amare Stoudemire, that's one they may regret forever, because I don't think he's a starter on a good team. On a team as bad as that, [Hickson] should be 20 and 10 every night. He should be David West. But he doesn't seem to be a self-disciplined player. He's not in good shape. He's [a] once-every-five-games guy, to me."

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-110121-23/nba-scouts-saying

Let's hope we don't say this about Chandler/Gallo/Fields if we miss out on Melo.

way to hijack a thread. are any of those undisdciplined, out of shape once every 5 game players?

no but there are parallels. Hickson showed flashes of being a good player last season playing next to Lebron. All 3 of these guys are showing flashes of greatness playing next to Amare.

Panos wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:yeah but they still have boobie

How long are you gonna milk that one, nyk?

yeah i think he should nip that one in the bud.

Bad times.

Streak is up to 20. 30 of 31.

Uptown wrote:

jrodmc wrote:

Uptown wrote:

MS wrote:I think this very easily solves the debate

Lebron > Kobe

And it's not even close. The Cavs led the league in wins with him and are the worst team in the league without him.

Stupid owner who didn't understand this and take Beasley and break the team up and move Mo and Anderson right after the decision

I wont say easily, but I concur. Been arguing for years with buddies of mine how that Cleve squad lacked the talent that the other elite teams had. Lebron was the sole reason why that team won as huch as they did. Just goes to show how much one star player can make a difference.

So to completely solve the debate, you'd have to see Lakers - Kobe = total meltdown. Now, granted, the Cavs don't have anyone of Gasol's status, but are the Lakers going to the Finals for the last 3-4 years without Kobe? Is Lamar Odom that good? Are Derek Fisher and Artest going to lead your team anywhere? And Bynum bows to almost the same injury gods as Greg Oden, so he can't count.

Place the Cavs and Lakers rosters in a draft (Sans Kobe and Lebron) and 3 possibly 4 Lakers are your first 4 picks:

1. Gasol
2. Odom
3. Bynum
4. Artest?

And the difference between this new Cavs team you just drafted and the old Memphis Grizzlies would be...?