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[article] 5 Reasons LeBron James Will Be A Sixer Next Season

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by Os Trigonum, Mar 2, 2018.

  1. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Contributing Member
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    now you know. ;)

    http://thefederalist.com/2018/03/02...philly-is-the-only-place-he-can-achieve-that/

    5 Reasons LeBron James Will Be A Sixer Next Season
    by David Marcus

    Last night the Philadelphia 76ers travelled to Cleveland to play the Cavaliers. But the real story was not the game, it was the growing rumor that Cavs superstar LeBron James, widely believed to be leaving Cleveland at the end of the season, is considering playing for the Sixers. While the Sixers had always been vaguely thought to be on James’ shortlist of teams for next season, it was a few Philly sports fans who set the new fire under the idea.

    The owner and some employees of Power Home Remodeling, in Chester, Pennsylvania, were having dinner (and probably some drinks) recently and talking about the prospects for the Sixers. Of course, acquiring James, the best player in the world, was their dream scenario. But how could they help to make it happen? They had all recently seen the movie ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” and it gave them an idea.

    The next day they rented three billboards on I-480 in Ohio near the Cavs arena, blasting the message that Philly wants LeBron. James seems charmed. He said the gesture was “dope.” Though he denied rumors that he had visited Philly over the All Star break, LeBron sightings in the City of Brotherly Love were reported. Furthermore, several people have reported that either James or representatives for him have been checking out private schools in the Philadelphia area.

    In the next few days, LeBron to Philly talk intensified, and as it turns out, it makes an awful lot of sense. Here are five reasons LeBron James will be wearing a Sixers jersey next season.

    1. It’s Not A Punk Move
    The other teams talked about in the James sweepstakes — Golden State, Houston, and San Antonio — are all perennial powers. Of course, he will get more rings if he adds his services to teams who are already dominant. It will be viewed much like Kevin Durant’s move to Golden State: as a front-runner play with no heart or soul.

    Who cares if James goes to a stacked, veteran team and helps them win 72 games and a championship? It will be looked upon as a cynical decision further dividing the NBA into the haves and have-nots. James already did that once — the last time he left Cleveland to head to the Dwayne Wade-Chris Bosch powerful Miami Heat. This time, he needs to do better.

    2. The Blue-Collar Culture
    In Philadelphia James will find a fan base that rewards his tough as nails, defense-heavy style of play. Philly fans are the most critical fans in the country, but also the quickest to reward gritty play. That’s LeBron’s’ wheelhouse. There is probably no set of fans more ready and willing to appreciate what he really does, night in and night out, than those in Philly.

    3. The Reaction To The Eagles
    When the Eagles won the Super Bowl a few weeks ago, the city of Philadelphia went almost literally crazy. Every town celebrates championships, but no others do so with greased-pole-climbing, police-horse-punching, dune-buggy-up-the-art-museum-steps, futon-setting-on-fire revelry. That’s unique to Philly. And James can get a sense of what the first Sixers’ championship since 1983 would mean to the Philly fans.

    King James is the redeemer: he brought glory to Miami and Cleveland where none had existed. To do so for the beleaguered Philly hoops fan base would be a miracle of miracles. There is no place else, except for maybe the Knicks, where pulling it off would resound so profoundly. But the Knicks are doomed and cursed, so what’s the point.

    4. No Drama
    It’s no secret that LeBron doesn’t always play well with others. His contemporaries often wind up resenting the power he brings to organizations. Dwayne Wade, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and Isaiah Thomas all have run afoul of James and found it trying. But the Sixers, while stacked with young talent, do not have any James contemporaries. He would clearly be the elder, almost a player coach.

    Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are superstars in the making who grew up watching James, and are unlikely to throw shade when he tries to run the show. What better situation could there be for King James than a young, rag-tag athletic group who look to him for guidance, leadership, and wins?

    5. His Legacy
    James wants to be considered the best who ever played. We all know Michael Jordan holds that title, and it seems the crown is solidly on his head. Jordan won six NBA titles and never lost in a final. James only has three finals wins and has lost five times. That’s a big mountain to climb. But were he to win three titles with the Sixers, to match Jordan’s total, he would have done so with three teams of varying talent levels.

    Jordan had hall of famer Scottie Pippen and super coach Phil Jackson on all of his championship teams. He was the leader of a dynasty. If James wins with the Sixers, he would be his own dynasty. That’s something he can’t achieve with teams already in the mix. And it is the only thing that could allow him to be spoken of in the same breath with Jordan.

    James faces a choice that will define his career and his place in the NBA pantheon. One road leads to a sure thing, a powerhouse where he becomes a cog in an obnoxious, all-crushing wheel and loses his identity to it. The other leads to Philadelphia, where he can, Foles-like, lead a city to an underdog win and stake his claim as the greatest player ever in his sport. He won’t choose the lesser path. LeBron James will become a Sixer.

    Last night, the Sixers beat the Cavs, 108 – 97.
     
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  2. heypartner

    heypartner Contributing Member

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    I'm OK with this. It would likely piss off Ben Simmons (for taking his jerb), then Morey could swoop in and get Simmons.
     
  3. khanhdum

    khanhdum Member

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    Why would it piss off Simmons? He literally just made a recruiting pitch on his social media to Lebron to join them
     
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  4. heypartner

    heypartner Contributing Member

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    Don't mind me. I don't know what I'm talking about wrt player movement speculation. ''Twas more a joke.

    btw: can you post that "pitch." Blatant pitches in public are supposed to be frowned upon. I don't want to get into a discussion of tampering .... due to league relaxing rules wrt players talking behind the scenes. I'm just interested in how much the league allows rules creep.
     
  5. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    Simmons would be there, but surely he'd want to ship some guys out and bring in some of his boys. That's what he does. They're also one of maybe 3 teams that could realistically add AD or Kawhi via trade.
     
  6. FLASH21

    FLASH21 Heart O' Champs

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    Wait, what's so different than what we can provide James here in Houston.

    Our team was LITERALLY built from scratch. Harden was aquired prior to the 2012 season but other than him no one on the roster remains from that singular acquisition.

    Everyone else was signed or traded for. Yes we may be contenders now but that doesn't mean he'd be pulling a Durant unless we do meet in the Finals, beat the Cavs, and then he jumps ship for a Rockets uni.
     
  7. da_juice

    da_juice Member

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    I think the 76ers make the most sense in terms of legacy, and because they're out East. LeBron playing here would like similar to when he joined Miami to most people - especially if/when Harden gets MVP. It may come down to what happens in the playoffs. Even as good as we'd be, the West is still far more competitive than the East. Which means less rest, and no more taking the month of March and April off as LeBron seems to do.

    All that said, I thought Chicago was the perfect landing spot for him in 2010 and thought if he left he'd sign there. And he ended up in Miami; so who knows what could happen.
     
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  8. peleincubus

    peleincubus Member

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    He either will choose the Rockets. Or he will regret his decision.
     
  9. steddinotayto

    steddinotayto Contributing Member

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    The Sixers better stock up on perimeter shooters as task #2 if they get LeBron. I recognize the immense talent that Embiid and Simmons have but one is shooting 3s at a low 30% clip while the other hasn't shot a legit (not one of those half court throws) this 3 this year.
     
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  10. khanhdum

    khanhdum Member

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    I'm pretty sure Ben is part of Lebron's friend agency and he made a post with Lebron and the date when FA start albeit TT and Wall also

     
    Bearius Jones likes this.
  11. count_dough-ku

    count_dough-ku Contributing Member

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    We probably need to accept the fact that LeBron ain't coming here. Ryno's contract may be unmovable(at least without taking back an equally sh-tty contract). And the Rockets might be too good to lure LeBron. Only injuries or the Warriors can stop this team from winning it all this year. Why would he come join a squad that close to a championship and be tagged with the same weak rep as Durant?
     
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  12. juanm34

    juanm34 Member

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    Morey???? Where’s our billboards????
    Need to put down the cheeseburgers and get to work....:D
     
  13. Caesar

    Caesar Member

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    How easily DWade is forgotten.
     
  14. mfastx

    mfastx Member
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    Eh.. wouldn't be enough to beat GS for the next few years while they're still in their prime. After that, LeBron will have declined too much already, but maybe he can ride Embiid's coattails.
     
  15. Invisible Fan

    Invisible Fan Contributing Member

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    CArmelo Anthony
     
  16. peleincubus

    peleincubus Member

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    The Rockets can't lose in this potential scenario.

    If the Rockets win. Yes he probably will not come here. If the Warriors beat the Rockets and the Cavs/Celtics/Raptors. Then Lebron would not be looked on like that. The Warriors will have won 3 out of 4. The one season losing in a game 7 after winning 73 games in the regular season.

    To beat that with Durant going there Lebron should not be looked on in a negative way no matter what he does. The Warriors take extreme options to beat them.
     
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  17. PatBev

    PatBev Member

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    Sixers are cool and all but I wouldn’t risk the health issues they have. People seem to ignore that
     
  18. ghettocheeze

    ghettocheeze Member

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    Honestly, how's LeBron-Embiid-Simmons any better than LeBron-Kyrie-Love at contending with and possibly beating the Warriors?

    This is some Philly homer nonsense being passed around.

    To beat the Warrior you need at least 3 superstars in the top 10-15 range and a deep bench.

    Lebron will not settle for a lateral move for all the hate his legacy will get for leaving Cleveland again.

    He wants CHAMPIONSHIPS.
     
  19. Rokman

    Rokman Member

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    Whoever wrote this is an obnoxious manipulator of the facts. They called us a perennial powerhouse?? Who the F in the media has ever considered us anything more than a few warm up games on the road to their darlings Championship roads? This is just a pathetic attempt to plant a negative seed against Houston in an attempt to make him think he will get frowned on for joining us . Everyone knows he's going to pick to play with Harden and Paul over any other players in the league and he would be dumb to select any other team. Writer is stupid.
     
  20. FLASH21

    FLASH21 Heart O' Champs

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    I accept the fact that it would take a miraculous effort and convincing for Lebron to get here especially if we end up winning it all this season. But you can pretty much say that out of 3 MAYBE 4 teams out of the entire 30 in this league.

    For anyone to say that it's a forgone conclusion that, arguably, the best player on the planet will assuredly join their team once the season finalizes is absurd.

    But the fact that the connections are there and the possibility (as minor as it could be) also remains is what keeps our hopes alive.

    Again, this guy is chasing rings and even with a young yet injury prone Philadelphia team, those chances are by no means guaranteed.
     
    Sajan likes this.

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