Why LeBron’s Return to Cleveland Came a Little Too Late
They say “you can’t go home again” but the person returning wasn’t like anyone else. After all, this was the NBA’s best player and biggest star we were talking about when LeBron James decided in the summer of 2014 to ditch sunny South Beach for the overcast skies of Cleveland.
Fresh off his four-year graduate program in Miami, LeBron grew as a player and learned what it took to become a champion. Now equipped with this wisdom, he would be able to succeed in his mission to deliver a title to one of, if not the most desperate sports cities in North America.
The city of Cleveland has not experienced a championship from their three major sports teams since the Browns won the NFL title back in 1964. In the half-century since then there hasn’t just been losing but heartbreak and embarrassment in spectacular fashion. You can understand why the fan base there is as jaded and pessimistic as they are. Take it from someone whose in-laws are from there.
With the Browns in a perpetual state of disarray and the Indians being, well, the Indians, LeBron’s Cavaliers 2.0 offered the city it’s best chance at a title and the situation couldn’t be any more ideal for James. A breaking down Dwyane Wade would be traded in for a 22-year old Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love would fill the role of Chris Bosh perfectly. What could possibly go wrong?
The Cavs have won 42 of their first 59 games so far this season and currently reside as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, but things are clearly not harmonious. They have already fired their coach, Love’s name constantly came up in trade rumors, and now Irving is denying claims that he isn’t happy in Cleveland.
In comparison to last year, the East has improved but the Cavaliers are still the favorites to represent the conference in the Finals. On sheer talent alone they should get there. The problem is once they do advance to that final stage will be the opponent waiting for them.
From now until then, they can clean up the dysfunction all they want but odds are it won’t be enough. Whether it is Golden State or San Antonio, the Cavs just seem to be a notch below the league’s elite and Clevelanders will have to accept being runner up for a second consecutive season.
That’s where the sobering reality comes into play. The Cavs may employ the world’s most physically gifted specimen in James and Dan Gilbert can shell out an obscene amount of money in hefty contracts and luxury taxes, yet you get the sense the city’s championship drought figures to carry on well after the King James’ reign.
Much of life’s success is predicated on timing. Could it just be LeBron’s return to Ohio came a little too late in his NBA career? From an age perspective there’s no denying his peak physical prime years came while he was donning a Heat uniform.
James may be only 31 years old, but by NBA standards he has to be a lot older with nearly 38,000 minutes worth of mileage his body has endured over his thirteen-year career. This doesn’t include the grueling 7,500 minutes of intense play that have accumulated from all the deep playoff runs. I am not saying he is washed up one bit, because he isn’t, but the truth is Father Time will be creeping closer in LeBron’s rearview mirror sooner rather than later.
James is still superhuman pretty much every night, but you have to ask yourself how many more elite years are left in the tank and will it be enough to overcome what the Western Conference will throw at him in the Finals on an annual basis? Be honest with yourself, barring any major injury to the Warriors or Spurs, can you really see the Cavs defeating either one of them four times in seven chances whether it’s this year or next? Me neither.
Cleveland’s empowering of their franchise star hasn’t helped matters as well. Once again they enabled James by making him bigger than the enterprise, and as a result questionable roster management could be the reason for blame. Dealing for Love looks like a mistake now and by the time they reconfigure the personnel to combat the likes of San Antonio and Golden State, it may be when James’ career begins to show signs of decline.
When it comes to sports, things don’t ever seem to go Cleveland’s way. Even in the movies (Major League and Draft Day) the celebratory scenes don’t include a trophy hoisted in the air. That wouldn’t be an accurate depiction of how things transpire for the city referred to as “The Mistake By the Lake”.
LeBron’s second act with the Cavs was supposed to win a title for Cleveland’s long, suffering fans. There’s still time to deliver but remember King James is a mere mortal and is no match for God — especially when God hates Cleveland!
