The Round Mound of Letdown

Here goes and anger filled rant after watching a shitty team blow a 12 point fourth quarter lead to a really shitty team. Take the whole thing with a grain of salt, this is going to be way out there and contrarian (because i want to be way out there and contrartian at the moment) but don't disregard the whole thing.

Something is off this season with the Cavs and with LeBron. Maybe LeBron is tired. He did play a hell of a lot of ball this summer, with the equally disappointing U.S. National team. He may just be keeping it in cruise control until the playoffs, I mean they are going to be no worse than the 4 seed. Which gives them home court in the first round. Of course he may be too busy making commercials to really give a crap about the success of this team. Or maybe, just maybe he's not the second coming.

When LeBron is in the game, the offense is run through him. ( As it should be) What tends to happen is that LeBron dribbles around for 8 seconds, make a half hearted drive at the basket, pulls it back and takes a jumper from 18 feet with a hand in his face. Just because he makes this shot more than occasionally, doesn't mean its a good idea. He's got to be going hard to the hole, and hitting the open man if its not there. And he's got to be backing down players like Jason Kapono.

Even more importantly he's got to hit his fucking free throws. 3 of 8 from the line tonight isn't cutting it for Shaq, it sure as hell isn't cutting it for LeBron. He is shooting only 69% from the line this season, down from about 73% last year. Even worse he tends to miss important foul shots late in games. Truth be told, he misses a lot of shots late in games.

What has to happen for James to be great, if that's what he wants to be, is he's got to drive get fouled and make his free throws. Maybe that's not gonna happen, ever. Maybe all he wants is to be the richest athlete of all times. Maybe the answer is the unthinkable. Maybe its time to move LeBron. I mean most people think he's out of here after his contract is up anyways so why not.

Now, I know that the likelihood of the Cavs moving LeBron are slim and none. But lets say a very good deal comes along. Like say moving LeBron, Eric Snow and either Z or Larry Hughes to the Timberwolves for Garnett, Randy Foye and Eddie Griffen.

Run out a starting lineup of Garnett, Gooden, Pavlovic, Hughes and Gibson, with Foye coming off the bench. I'd take that.

Maybe there are simpler answers than trading LeBron, playing Sasha more, and Hughes less. Letting the point guard, and not LeBron initiate the offense. Hell having an actually offense. Maybe firing the coach is the answer. I'm not really sure if Mike Brown is the answer to anything. All i'm saying is that i'd buy a wine and gold Garnett jersey.