# Does Lebron James look even worse if Carmelo Anthony joins Heat? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 13, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681 "2014-06-13T03:35:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/1 "2014-06-13T03:35:50Z")
This sounds like a strong possibility, I personally think Lebron is already a joke for joining a team with Wade and Bosh but if Carmelo signs with the Heat, I can’t even imagine what this does to Lebron James legacy, especially if they fail to win a championship. If they do win with a team of Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, I wouldn’t look at it as being anything amazing. I would look at James and Anthony as bigger jokes. I also saw a graph of Heat and Spur fans in the United States and I’m proud to say that my area (Chicago) are going for the Spurs but 90 percent of America is rooting for the Heat according to this graph…If you are a Heat fan outside of Miami, then you have got to be a phony. How can anyone want the Heat to win? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/2 "2014-06-13T03:42:51Z")
Your graph must be messed up. I don’t know anyone outside of Miami that is pulling for the Heat. ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/3 "2014-06-13T03:50:44Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Your graph must be messed up. I don’t know anyone outside of Miami that is pulling for the Heat. It’s not my graph, it’s one that was figured out by some NBA expert…I think the graph was more about which areas had more fans. Not so much about who’s rooting for the Heat. I can’t imagine too many people actually hoping the Heat win. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/4 "2014-06-13T07:53:36Z")
> [@chicagowhitesox1173](#): > > This sounds like a strong possibility, I personally think Lebron is already a joke for joining a team with Wade and Bosh but if Carmelo signs with the Heat, I can’t even imagine what this does to Lebron James legacy, especially if they fail to win a championship. If they do win with a team of Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, I wouldn’t look at it as being anything amazing. I would look at James and Anthony as bigger jokes. Why? ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/5 "2014-06-13T08:18:09Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Why? Because Lebron knows he can’t win with Wade and Bosh anymore so he’s taking another easy way out by trying to team up with Carmelo Anthony. I think he’ll look even worse if this does happen. I don’t see how he wouldn’t look bad here. Or maybe he gets points for being able to recruit the best players to be his teammates? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/6 "2014-06-13T11:59:13Z")
> [@chicagowhitesox1173](#): > > Because Lebron knows he can’t win with Wade and Bosh anymore so he’s taking another easy way out by trying to team up with Carmelo Anthony. Why do you think that’s an \*easy \*way? It’s the \*only \*way to win in the NBA today. You need a few superstars and a bunch of adequate surrounding players. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/7 "2014-06-13T12:49:52Z")
He’ll get more stupid criticism no matter what he does. But every title he wins from here on out is going to be won primarily because of him; same as the ones he’s got already. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/8 "2014-06-13T12:57:25Z")
This is not going to happen, and it would be a bad move for everybody. Even with the league’s “Max Salary” policy (which is what allows Miami to have James, Wade, and Bosh), Carmelo would still be leaving tens of millions on the table to fit under the NBA’s laughable “cap,” unless they drop Bosh and/or Wade, which they wouldn’t do. And Carmelo does nothing to solve Miami’s “no real point guard” problem and is a serious liability on defense. ---
**Author:** ![Sterling\_Archer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Sterling\_Archer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sterling_Archer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/9 "2014-06-13T15:44:28Z")
What would the starting lineup for the Heat be with Anthony? PG: Chalmers SG: Wade SF: Anthony? PF: James? C: Bosh Seems like someone has to play out of position. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/10 "2014-06-13T17:38:57Z")
It’s the same lineup they started for the majority of the season but with Melo in for Battier. ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/11 "2014-06-13T18:17:14Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Why do you think that’s an \*easy \*way? It’s the \*only \*way to win in the NBA today. You need a few superstars and a bunch of adequate surrounding players. The Spurs and Mavericks weren’t full of All-Stars. It seems to me that this superstar trend is a Lebron James thing. I know the Thunder have a big three but that team was built through the draft and I don’t have a problem with a team adding key pieces but I think Lebron is a joke for thinking the only way he can win is to recruit the top players in the league. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/12 "2014-06-13T18:50:04Z")
Lebron is only a joke to people who are not knowledgeable about sports. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/13 "2014-06-13T19:05:49Z")
I think he’s OK with looking worse if it means winning more championships. As he should be. That said, I’m not sure this’s Carmelo thing is remotely realistic. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/14 "2014-06-13T19:27:16Z")
> [@chicagowhitesox1173](#): > > The Spurs and Mavericks weren’t full of All-Stars. That’s true. Just Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Finley, Steve Smith, David Robinson, Kevin Willis and Sean Elliott; and Nowitzki, Caron Butler, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion, Peja and Jason Kidd. Those were the only ones. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/15 "2014-06-13T19:32:39Z")
I don’t think teaming up with 'Melo has the same “taking the easy route” stigma as teaming up with Wade. Wade in 2010 was an all-NBA 1st teamer/top 5 player in the game. Melo’s more of a top 15 talent. ---
**Author:** ![Clawdio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d07c76/32.png) [@Clawdio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clawdio)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/16 "2014-06-13T19:46:48Z")
I don’t think he’ll look any worse than Wade does when he flops and cries to the refs pretty much every trip down the floor. Kidding aside… I’m actually kind of a fan of Lebron, such an amazing athlete, but during these finals the Spurs pretty much encapsulate everything that i like about watching basketball (team defense, good ball movement on offense, making the extra pass, no one player tyring to do too much), and the Heat are everything that i dislike (bad defense, isolation dribble drives…). While Melo is certainly a scorer, i think probably just exacerbates the problems they already have. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/17 "2014-06-13T19:47:29Z")
I wonder what LeBron should try to do instead. What would make him less of a joke that also increases his chances of winning more championships? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/18 "2014-06-13T19:51:29Z")
Stay in Cleveland and turn Devin Brown into Scottie Pippen with mindwaves. ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/19 "2014-06-13T20:13:27Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > That’s true. Just Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Finley, Steve Smith, David Robinson, Kevin Willis and Sean Elliott; and Nowitzki, Caron Butler, Jason Terry, Tyson Chandler, Shawn Marion, Peja and Jason Kidd. > > Those were the only ones. Ok none of these guys besides Dirk Nowitzki and David Robinson were superstars like these guys Lebron is trying to play with. Tim Duncan was key to the Spurs 1999 championship but he wasn’t really a superstar back then, he was a guy like he is today, a guy who knows his role. None the less Duncan is regarded as a superstar but he’s not a superstar in the way Shaq, Iverson, Kobe, Grant Hill, Lebron, Durant, Dwayne Wade and Carmelo Anthony are. Most of these allstars that you mentioned were past their primes and won by being excellent role players. ---
**Author:** ![chicagowhitesox1173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@chicagowhitesox1173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chicagowhitesox1173)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681/20 "2014-06-13T20:16:26Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > I don’t think teaming up with 'Melo has the same “taking the easy route” stigma as teaming up with Wade. Wade in 2010 was an all-NBA 1st teamer/top 5 player in the game. Melo’s more of a top 15 talent. I don’t know, I would say Melo is a top 5 player right now. Wade obviously has dropped off. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-lebron-james-look-even-worse-if-carmelo-anthony-joins-heat/690681.md?page=2)