Factory Of Sadness
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The 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers squad is better than they’re given credit for

By Chad Porto

CLEVELAND - APRIL 22: Drew Gooden #90 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts reacts after a near steal while playing the Washington Wizards in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 22, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio. James stayed in the game after the injury and Cleveland won the game 97-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND - APRIL 22: Drew Gooden #90 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts reacts after a near steal while playing the Washington Wizards in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 22, 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio. James stayed in the game after the injury and Cleveland won the game 97-82. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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LeBron James did not “carry” the 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Talking points have become the norm when it comes to sports media and journalism. You’re seeing it now with the Denver Nuggets, and how so many people continue to push false narratives. Ideas like the Nuggets had a “weak” run to the finals, or that rightful MVP Nikola Jokic doesn’t play defense. These are fraudulent claims cooked up by people who care more about fitting in buzzwords and contradictory statements than they are about presenting facts. Jokic had an all-time great run, and you can’t deny that.

Yet, part of the reason he had had an all-time great run was because the team was perfectly built around him.

No one man wins an NBA Title. It doesn’t happen. Usually, the team that wins is a well-built team that is tailor-made for the central star. The Nuggets were that team in 2023, just as the Milwaukee Bucks were in 2021. They, like the Nuggetes, had excellent shooters and very good defenders around their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, and due to that, the Bucks were a nay unstoppable force on their path to the NBA Championship.

Teams are built, usually, to cater to the strengths of the core player and the strength of the coaching staff. So it baffles me to still hear, from people who understand the game of basketball, that LeBron James carried a “bad” Cleveland Cavaliers team in 2007 to the NBA Finals.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I agree that it was the least talented team he’s ever taken to the NBA Finals, but that’s not a slight against the 07 teams, but more so an admission that James only ever runs to teams with talent.

In Miami, he went and played with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. In his return to Cleveland, he played with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Moving out to Los Angeles, he had the Lakers trade for Anthony Davis. James likes an easy road to victory. That’s ok, that’s his thing. We know it. Yet, that doesn’t mean the 2007 Cavs were a bad team, nor does it mean that James was super impressive.

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