Cavaliers fans are down to their last hope. Since the NBA playoffs began, disgruntled Cleveland fans have been openly rooting for whoever is facing LeBron James and the Miami Heat. At some point Cleveland fans need to consider what happened this season and thank LeBron for taking his talents to South Beach. Yes, “The Decision” was brutal. It will go down in sports history as the most catastrophic $6 million charity event of all time. After years of professional sports anguish, Cleveland fans did not deserve having their hearts torn out on national television. It took a while for LeBron to acknowledge the brutality of his departure, but Cleveland needs to look at the larger picture.
LeBron and the Heat were criticized for celebrating too much after beating the Celtics. LeBron pointed out that beating Boston was the reason he came to Miami because he couldn’t do it alone in Cleveland. The 2010-2011 Cavaliers provided all of the evidence needed to prove his statement correct. LeBron’s former supporting cast finished dead last in the Eastern Conference by three games. If he would have stayed in Cleveland, fans would have likely been treated to seven more years of struggling to get over the hump. How could LeBron, or Cleveland fans, want a repeat of last season’s playoffs? It’s impossible to say what would have happened had LeBron signed with Cleveland, but don’t think he forgot getting booed at home after being unable to beat the Celtics alone. How awkward would another year or two of that result be? His task would have only got more difficult as teams like Chicago and New York continue to get better every year. While the Eastern Conference keeps improving, Cleveland would have been handcuffed by LeBron’s massive contract and perpetual inability to attract free agents.
Cleveland fans should stop rooting against LeBron and thank him because they should have hope. Although it isn’t the most loaded draft in recent memory, the Cavaliers will get quality players with their first round picks that they can build a franchise on. This year, teams like Oklahoma City, Chicago, Memphis, and Philadelphia proved that a drafting young talent can spark a quick turnaround. None of these teams are still standing in the playoffs but their young talent received experience that will only make them more dangerous next year. Cleveland can also look within its own city for hope. Critics wrote the Indians off as a non-factor in the A.L. Central this year. A young team gelled and they are off to one of the best starts in franchise history. The team is reaping the benefits of countless superstars that were traded away over the past five years. The salary structure of baseball and basketball may be different, but the reality of what small market teams need to do to succeed remains the same.
The Heat still have a lot of work to do before winning a title, but it looks like LeBron put himself in a better position to win than he ever would have experienced in Cleveland. Cavaliers fans need to see this and realize that rooting for whoever the Heat is playing won’t bring a competitive team to Cleveland any faster.
