Shit, I mean the Celtics even proved that last year. Everyone said they were too slow, too old, blah blah blah but they played as a team who have gelled over the past couple of seasons and the came out of the East when NO ONE expected them to.
The Lakers won it all and were the number 3 overall seeds in the playoffs! So hype and expectations to win don’t really mean much. Its the team who plays together at the right time and peaks that wins.
.greg.
The Lakers are still the team to beat:
^^nice article Rand… Pretty much what my post said. A lot of hype but we’ll see who they can add and if they play well together.
.greg.
Wanted to add that the Heat will possibly sign Kwame Brown. Not that that’s big news, but what surprised me was several players [one of which being Andrew Bynum] said Brown is by far the strongest player in the league, and it’s not even close. That’s pretty wild to me.
I’d rather leave the speculation on the Heat for when they’ve started filling out the other two thirds of their roster, but a few things:
These three are all friends, and even though LeBron has some bratty tendencies he’s not the confrontational type, so he’s not going to call out his teammates if his numbers aren’t great, or his coach. Especially if that coach is Pat Riley. Dwyane Wade has never really struck me as an egotistical player anymore than any other marquee player is. Bosh is a beta male, trust, he will sacrifice.
Playoffs are where you find out who’s all show and who isn’t, but the Heat can safely expect a high playoff position. These guys should be able to get 50-55 wins even with some tension. It’s nice when at least 3 of your players are getting superstar calls, and weaker teams wont know how to deal with this. A team like Boston on the other hand… the playoffs are where the Heat’s big 3 implode if they do at all.
Any ego related disputes wont show until the next season is over. Maybe some minor stuff that gets overblown by the media, but that’s it for before the next summer. An embarrassment in the playoff could set something off, but while your doing well even the worst players don’t complain. Neither one of these three are the worst as far as attitude goes.
4)Team USA won it all in 2008, and won most of their games by a shedload. And that team had way more ego’s. Carlos Boozer was a role player who barely got time on the court, there’s no comparison. There was good enough chemistry for a team that had a lot less time to gel than the Heat will. However, I think most of the national teams were worse than most playoff caliber NBA teams, but the main point is that egos weren’t a big deal. And they wont be in the regular season for the Heat, when there’s not much pressure game to game.
5)If they DO come out of the East [I still have the Celts, unless the Heat stack up], and the refs call the Finals the way they did this year, then they have a strong advantage. LeBron and Wade both thrive in an atmosphere where touch fouls are called.
[quote]Vegita wrote:
I heard somehwere today Lebron said he doesn’t mind taking a pay cut for championships. He said he would more than make up for it with off the court stuff if he has a few rings. If he can sell bosch and wade on that point, and they all sign in miami, you could be looking at an NBA finals lock for 3-5 years.
V[/quote]
Page 11 Bitches! I called that shit!
V
[quote]LarryDavid wrote:
I’d rather leave the speculation on the Heat for when they’ve started filling out the other two thirds of their roster, but a few things:
These three are all friends, and even though LeBron has some bratty tendencies he’s not the confrontational type, so he’s not going to call out his teammates if his numbers aren’t great, or his coach. Especially if that coach is Pat Riley. Dwyane Wade has never really struck me as an egotistical player anymore than any other marquee player is. Bosh is a beta male, trust, he will sacrifice.
Playoffs are where you find out who’s all show and who isn’t, but the Heat can safely expect a high playoff position. These guys should be able to get 50-55 wins even with some tension. It’s nice when at least 3 of your players are getting superstar calls, and weaker teams wont know how to deal with this. A team like Boston on the other hand… the playoffs are where the Heat’s big 3 implode if they do at all.
Any ego related disputes wont show until the next season is over. Maybe some minor stuff that gets overblown by the media, but that’s it for before the next summer. An embarrassment in the playoff could set something off, but while your doing well even the worst players don’t complain. Neither one of these three are the worst as far as attitude goes.
4)Team USA won it all in 2008, and won most of their games by a shedload. And that team had way more ego’s. Carlos Boozer was a role player who barely got time on the court, there’s no comparison. There was good enough chemistry for a team that had a lot less time to gel than the Heat will. However, I think most of the national teams were worse than most playoff caliber NBA teams, but the main point is that egos weren’t a big deal. And they wont be in the regular season for the Heat, when there’s not much pressure game to game.
5)If they DO come out of the East [I still have the Celts, unless the Heat stack up], and the refs call the Finals the way they did this year, then they have a strong advantage. LeBron and Wade both thrive in an atmosphere where touch fouls are called. [/quote]
We don’t know how James will act. You’re right, he doesn’t appear to be the confrontational type. He appears to be the spoiled brat type who cries when he doesn’t get his way. Wade seems pretty cool all things considered, but he’s never had to share like he’s about to either. Someone brought up the point that playing over a summer [Team USA] is different than having a whole season to gel. I agee, but for different reasons. Yeah these guys are friends, but how much time do they really spend together? How close are they really? We don’t know. Have any of y’all ever gone into business with a friend[s]? It can really put a strain on things. Like I’ve said several times now, the potential for things to get out of hand is through the roof. If there’s any ego related problems the front office will do their best to hide it, but when you have 2 of the games top 5 players on the same team it’ll be that much harder to do. And, James is still talking about “leading this team”. I have a feeling he thinks he’s gonna come in and take over Wade’s role as face of the franchise. If they don’t establish a pecking order IMMEDIATELY there will be trouble. I really don’t think these dudes fully thought this through. It has potential to be a huge success. But, it also has the potential to completely decimate a franchise and be one of - if not the - biggest failures in pro sports history.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]LarryDavid wrote:
I’d rather leave the speculation on the Heat for when they’ve started filling out the other two thirds of their roster, but a few things:
These three are all friends, and even though LeBron has some bratty tendencies he’s not the confrontational type, so he’s not going to call out his teammates if his numbers aren’t great, or his coach. Especially if that coach is Pat Riley. Dwyane Wade has never really struck me as an egotistical player anymore than any other marquee player is. Bosh is a beta male, trust, he will sacrifice.
Playoffs are where you find out who’s all show and who isn’t, but the Heat can safely expect a high playoff position. These guys should be able to get 50-55 wins even with some tension. It’s nice when at least 3 of your players are getting superstar calls, and weaker teams wont know how to deal with this. A team like Boston on the other hand… the playoffs are where the Heat’s big 3 implode if they do at all.
Any ego related disputes wont show until the next season is over. Maybe some minor stuff that gets overblown by the media, but that’s it for before the next summer. An embarrassment in the playoff could set something off, but while your doing well even the worst players don’t complain. Neither one of these three are the worst as far as attitude goes.
4)Team USA won it all in 2008, and won most of their games by a shedload. And that team had way more ego’s. Carlos Boozer was a role player who barely got time on the court, there’s no comparison. There was good enough chemistry for a team that had a lot less time to gel than the Heat will. However, I think most of the national teams were worse than most playoff caliber NBA teams, but the main point is that egos weren’t a big deal. And they wont be in the regular season for the Heat, when there’s not much pressure game to game.
5)If they DO come out of the East [I still have the Celts, unless the Heat stack up], and the refs call the Finals the way they did this year, then they have a strong advantage. LeBron and Wade both thrive in an atmosphere where touch fouls are called. [/quote]
We don’t know how James will act. You’re right, he doesn’t appear to be the confrontational type. He appears to be the spoiled brat type who cries when he doesn’t get his way. Wade seems pretty cool all things considered, but he’s never had to share like he’s about to either. Someone brought up the point that playing over a summer [Team USA] is different than having a whole season to gel. I agee, but for different reasons. Yeah these guys are friends, but how much time do they really spend together? How close are they really? We don’t know. Have any of y’all ever gone into business with a friend[s]? It can really put a strain on things. Like I’ve said several times now, the potential for things to get out of hand is through the roof. If there’s any ego related problems the front office will do their best to hide it, but when you have 2 of the games top 5 players on the same team it’ll be that much harder to do. And, James is still talking about “leading this team”. I have a feeling he thinks he’s gonna come in and take over Wade’s role as face of the franchise. If they don’t establish a pecking order IMMEDIATELY there will be trouble. I really don’t think these dudes fully thought this through. It has potential to be a huge success. But, it also has the potential to completely decimate a franchise and be one of - if not the - biggest failures in pro sports history.[/quote]
I actually think it could work pretty well. I mean the problem with Ego is when one guy is so far above everyone else, you have what happened in cleveland. If Lebron was off, no one on the team had the confidence to step up and fill his void. Lebron is going to be more of a peer than he has ever been in his life, and if these guys have a serious desire to win championships, they ARE going to figure out the chemistry. As someone else said, these guys are all high basketball IQ guys, It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that literally EVERY NBA championship team has had more than one good player on the team. MOST have had at LEAST a few superstars.
These guys are going to be pushing eachother in a way no one could push lebron before. At practice, if D wade is Hitting more jumpers in practice, Lebron is going to work harder and harder because HE wants to be the better Jump shooter. Or whatever. I’m just saying people who are saying it’s going to collapse or can’t work, yea it might not, but it can and it may very well, and if it works, it’s going to be very fun to watch. If it works, I would not be surprised to see one or two 150 point outings or them beating another team by 50 or 60 points once or twice.
V
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[/quote]
I think he will regret his decision for this reason - he probably won’t be called the next MJ anymore.
But for me, trying to win over trying to get all the attention is a good thing. That’s where an athlete’s priorities should be. I just don’t see why I would criticize that?
I guess you can criticize his possible motivation (he did it because he’s a frontrunner, etc), but to me you can’t criticize the decision. Dirk, Fish, and others we all like all take paycuts to be a part of winning teams, and that’s part of why we like them.
[quote]Vegita wrote:
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]LarryDavid wrote:
I’d rather leave the speculation on the Heat for when they’ve started filling out the other two thirds of their roster, but a few things:
These three are all friends, and even though LeBron has some bratty tendencies he’s not the confrontational type, so he’s not going to call out his teammates if his numbers aren’t great, or his coach. Especially if that coach is Pat Riley. Dwyane Wade has never really struck me as an egotistical player anymore than any other marquee player is. Bosh is a beta male, trust, he will sacrifice.
Playoffs are where you find out who’s all show and who isn’t, but the Heat can safely expect a high playoff position. These guys should be able to get 50-55 wins even with some tension. It’s nice when at least 3 of your players are getting superstar calls, and weaker teams wont know how to deal with this. A team like Boston on the other hand… the playoffs are where the Heat’s big 3 implode if they do at all.
Any ego related disputes wont show until the next season is over. Maybe some minor stuff that gets overblown by the media, but that’s it for before the next summer. An embarrassment in the playoff could set something off, but while your doing well even the worst players don’t complain. Neither one of these three are the worst as far as attitude goes.
4)Team USA won it all in 2008, and won most of their games by a shedload. And that team had way more ego’s. Carlos Boozer was a role player who barely got time on the court, there’s no comparison. There was good enough chemistry for a team that had a lot less time to gel than the Heat will. However, I think most of the national teams were worse than most playoff caliber NBA teams, but the main point is that egos weren’t a big deal. And they wont be in the regular season for the Heat, when there’s not much pressure game to game.
5)If they DO come out of the East [I still have the Celts, unless the Heat stack up], and the refs call the Finals the way they did this year, then they have a strong advantage. LeBron and Wade both thrive in an atmosphere where touch fouls are called. [/quote]
We don’t know how James will act. You’re right, he doesn’t appear to be the confrontational type. He appears to be the spoiled brat type who cries when he doesn’t get his way. Wade seems pretty cool all things considered, but he’s never had to share like he’s about to either. Someone brought up the point that playing over a summer [Team USA] is different than having a whole season to gel. I agee, but for different reasons. Yeah these guys are friends, but how much time do they really spend together? How close are they really? We don’t know. Have any of y’all ever gone into business with a friend[s]? It can really put a strain on things. Like I’ve said several times now, the potential for things to get out of hand is through the roof. If there’s any ego related problems the front office will do their best to hide it, but when you have 2 of the games top 5 players on the same team it’ll be that much harder to do. And, James is still talking about “leading this team”. I have a feeling he thinks he’s gonna come in and take over Wade’s role as face of the franchise. If they don’t establish a pecking order IMMEDIATELY there will be trouble. I really don’t think these dudes fully thought this through. It has potential to be a huge success. But, it also has the potential to completely decimate a franchise and be one of - if not the - biggest failures in pro sports history.[/quote]
I actually think it could work pretty well. I mean the problem with Ego is when one guy is so far above everyone else, you have what happened in cleveland. If Lebron was off, no one on the team had the confidence to step up and fill his void. Lebron is going to be more of a peer than he has ever been in his life, and if these guys have a serious desire to win championships, they ARE going to figure out the chemistry. As someone else said, these guys are all high basketball IQ guys, It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that literally EVERY NBA championship team has had more than one good player on the team. MOST have had at LEAST a few superstars.
These guys are going to be pushing eachother in a way no one could push lebron before. At practice, if D wade is Hitting more jumpers in practice, Lebron is going to work harder and harder because HE wants to be the better Jump shooter. Or whatever. I’m just saying people who are saying it’s going to collapse or can’t work, yea it might not, but it can and it may very well, and if it works, it’s going to be very fun to watch. If it works, I would not be surprised to see one or two 150 point outings or them beating another team by 50 or 60 points once or twice.
V[/quote]
Dude, James has been catered to everywhere he’s ever gone. He’s never had to work for anything. EVER. And, when the championship wasn’t just handed to him in Cleveland, he went somewhere he thought it would be easier to win. The problem with what you’re saying is this all depends on how James reacts to being part of a cast, not a one man show. And, if the way he’s talking already is any indication, he’s gonna fail miserably and take the Heat with him. The Suns put up 150 and each year a team blows someone out by 40 or 50. That means absolutely nothing. I already said it can work, but if it doesn’t - and that “if” isn’t that far fetched - then the fallout will be catastrophic.
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[/quote]
Kobe did everything he could to get LA to ship him out, the difference is he wasn’t a free agent or everyone here knows he would’ve been gone. Don’t even try to say different you know it’s true. He has since seemingly matured, respect to him for that.
[quote]lavi wrote:
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[/quote]
I think he will regret his decision for this reason - he probably won’t be called the next MJ anymore.
But for me, trying to win over trying to get all the attention is a good thing. That’s where an athlete’s priorities should be. I just don’t see why I would criticize that?[/quote]
The thing is I think he thinks doing this [if they win] will bring him the attention. I stand by my statement that this was a decision made by a few kids who don’t fully understand what they’ve just done.
[quote]lavi wrote:
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[/quote]
I think he will regret his decision for this reason - he probably won’t be called the next MJ anymore.
But for me, trying to win over trying to get all the attention is a good thing. That’s where an athlete’s priorities should be. I just don’t see why I would criticize that?[/quote]
You already answered the question. He calls himself the self anointed King. He was positioning as the GOAT. How he’s going about it now completely obliterates that perception.
There is NOTHING wrong with wanting to win and joining a team with talent to do so…but you won’t be considered along the all time greats now. No way. He’ll just be a piece to an eventual championship puzzle. No more KING. Can’t have both. Bird would never have done this. Nor Magic. Nor Jordan. Nor Kobe.
He just became the ARod of basketball. He’s joining Wade’s team. He still thinks he’s going to lead the team. This isn’t going to end well. He’s a lost little boy that so wants adoration that he thinks it can be only accomplished by winning but the unfortunate reality is that the way he’s going about it actually has created more enemies than ever.
Everyone outside of Miami wants to see this team lose now. And there’s a lot more bandwagon haters towards Lebron now. Not a good situation all around. In my eyes he’s a quitter and a loser.
I don’t want to hear another damn thing about this guy being compared to Kobe or Jordan. It’s a freakin insult.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]lavi wrote:
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[/quote]
I think he will regret his decision for this reason - he probably won’t be called the next MJ anymore.
But for me, trying to win over trying to get all the attention is a good thing. That’s where an athlete’s priorities should be. I just don’t see why I would criticize that?[/quote]
The thing is I think he thinks doing this [if they win] will bring him the attention. I stand by my statement that this was a decision made by a few kids who don’t fully understand what they’ve just done.[/quote]
Lol I edited my post. I think we are kind of in agreement 
[quote]red04 wrote:
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[/quote]
Kobe did everything he could to get LA to ship him out, the difference is he wasn’t a free agent or everyone here knows he would’ve been gone. Don’t even try to say different you know it’s true. He has since seemingly matured, respect to him for that.[/quote]
He did not do “everything he could”. He made a challenge to the organization and they responded in his favor. Completely different.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]red04 wrote:
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[/quote]
Kobe did everything he could to get LA to ship him out, the difference is he wasn’t a free agent or everyone here knows he would’ve been gone. Don’t even try to say different you know it’s true. He has since seemingly matured, respect to him for that.[/quote]
He did not do “everything he could”. He made a challenge to the organization and they responded in his favor. Completely different.[/quote]
You took the words out of my mouth. Kobe INSISTED that the Lakers organization put the pieces around him so he could compete for championships. Not for a second did I or many others believe he was really going to leave AND HE DIDN’T. He had the belief and will power in himself that he knew he could lead a team on his own, he just needed the pieces.
LeLoser knows deep down inside he couldn’t do it on his own and didn’t believe he could even with the right pieces in the future. That’s why he bailed to Miami to WADE’S TEAM. This is going to be fun watching the Lebron Lovers try to defend his sorry ass now.
[quote]red04 wrote:
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe more people here aren’t ripping on Lebron for this. Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant would never go to another team with superstars because they didn’t believe in themselves enough for a team to be built around them. His legacy is forever going to be defined by this even if he does win championships. He will NEVER be considered even close to GOAT. NOT NOW. NOT EVER.
This article talks about it his decision and how he didn’t believe in himself enough.
This one rips him for taking the easy way out. It’s like Jordan saying he’s going to the Detroit Pistons in 1990 cuz he couldn’t handle the pressure of scoring 30 every night. This guy is a lost little child.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/07/08/lebron.event/index.html
[/quote]
Kobe did everything he could to get LA to ship him out, the difference is he wasn’t a free agent or everyone here knows he would’ve been gone. Don’t even try to say different you know it’s true. He has since seemingly matured, respect to him for that.[/quote]
What the hell are you talking about? He was a free agent before and could have went to the Clippers; remember that? He could have went anywhere unrestricted. Stop deflecting the appropriate level of criticism towards your Queen by trying to drag Kobe into this spineless move by LeLoser. It’s pathetic.
[quote]randman wrote:
He had the belief and will power in himself that he knew he could lead a team on his own[/quote]
No he didn’t, that’s exactly why he ‘put the challenge to the organization.’ You are so far up Kobe’s ass on this point. You and WF can keep saying it all you want, I’ll keep siding with guys like Micheal Wilbon that pointed this out many times over the past few days when the ‘super team’ looked to be all but ink on paper from completion. The only difference is that Kobe was in no position to actually do anything but ‘call out’ his owner/GM because he wasn’t a free agent. What was he going to do, sit out until his contract was over?
I’m not feeling it when people say the Heat can win a title because Bron, Bosh and Wade were on the 2008 Olympic team together. Yeah that’s true, but people also forget that Kobe and Melo were the Alpha and Beta dogs for the squad, not these three guys. When it came crunch time, who was called on to take the shot? Not Bron, not Bosh, not Wade, but it was Kobe, then Melo.