My Wolves are hot and taking on a shorthanded Cleveland team with a ton of controversy surrounding it. Ripe for an upset this evening!
And regarding the Lebron v. Barkley thing -- Barkley is an ass, but he's right here. He kept it strictly basketball, and called it how he saw it. That's his job as an analyst. Lebron IS being a whiny idiot. He's a player. The team has opened its wallet to the owner's detriment to give him what he wants, and he still wants more. And the sad thing is, the owner now has no choice.
The Cavs sold their souls to Lebron to get a chance at a ring. But to be honest, they never should have signed Lebron as a FA from Miami. They already had Kyrie Irving, and if they didn't trade for Love, would have had Andrew Wiggins (thanks for that, Cavs). A pairing of Wiggins and Irving would have positioned Cleveland to be one of the best teams in the East, and most importantly, be financially flexible. But because of how things now have played out, yes, they have "The King," they have a title, but they have NO FUTURE. Nothing.
They are strapped because of the salary cap, have lengthy high salaries on marginal talent, and now their superstar, because he signs basically one-year deals (two with an option on the second year for the player), he has the Cavs at his mercy. They either do what he wants, or he threatens to walk. And like most situations, if a player has done something before (as in this case, leave), he'll do it again.
So enjoy that title, Cavs fans. Because your golden child is acting just like that -- a child. And while the team is good now, it won't be in a couple of years, and when Irving's contract is up, expect him to bolt because of all this.
Meanwhile, in Minnesota, the Wolves keep getting better and better and better. Been a huge fan since the inaugural season in 1989-1990. Favorite player was (and still is, even though he's been retired for years) Tony Campbell. Loved the pairing of TC, Pooh Richardson, and Ty Corbin. Then loved Garnett, Googs (fellow Long Islander) and Marbury. But with KAT, Wiggs, and Zach, man, those three...something special. And Thibs' defensive schemes are finally coming together.
We may not win tonight, but the claws are out.