Cleveland already preparing for excuses?

[mahonedog88]

Anyone catch the banner Cleveland hung up on their arena to promote the finals?

https://twitter.com/cavs/media

I don't have time to figure out how to post pictures, so if anyone wants to add it in, by all means.  But for now, there's the link to the Cavs twitter, it's one of the most recent picture they put up there.

To be fair, there are multiple banners being put up there, but one that's being hung on the side of the building is a giant picture of Lebron...with Anderson Varejao and Kevin Love standing behind him.  Maybe I'm just being extra anti-Lebron this morning, but I think it's completely reasonable to think that Lebron personally wanted this up there...a little subliminal messaging to remind everyone that he's doing this all by himself.

[Cman]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

[GratefulCs]

Anyone catch the banner Cleveland hung up on their arena to promote the finals?

https://twitter.com/cavs/media

I don't have time to figure out how to post pictures, so if anyone wants to add it in, by all means.  But for now, there's the link to the Cavs twitter, it's the most recent picture they put up there.

To be fair, there are multiple banners being put up there, but one that's being hung on the side of the building is a giant picture of Lebron...with Anderson Varejao and Kevin Love standing behind him.  Maybe I'm just being extra anti-Lebron this morning, but I think it's completely reasonable to think that Lebron personally wanted this up there...a little subliminal messaging to remind everyone that he's doing this all by himself.

my first thought is that it's absolutely crazy to have varejo and love on the finals poster


Maybe they are trying to convince love to stay




But i like your thought of the built in excuse




So TP because i feel extra hate-y toward brony this morning too

[Moranis]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

um he was referring to Love and Sideshow being on the picture.

[mahonedog88]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

Lebron being front and center has nothing to do with it.  It's the fact that for their big finals banner with 3 players on them, 2 of them aren't even playing.  1 has been out for basically the whole playoffs and the other has been out for like 5 months.

I refuse to believe that this was done by accident.  There was clearly some subliminal message planning going on here.  The real question is whether or not Lebron had anything to do with it.

[Clench123]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

He is THE best player in the NBA.  Has being for years.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

um he was referring to Love and Sideshow being on the picture.

Yeah, it seems really weird that they'd put Sideshow Bob up there even if he was healthy, especially weird given that he's been out a long time and will be out the whole Finals. Love is a star player, but he won't be making any Finals appearances, so having him up there is also a bit odd. I'm also kinda surprised LeBron didn't get his own banner all to himself.

[LilRip]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

He is THE best player in the NBA.  Has being for years.

MVP votes disagree with you.

[Moranis]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

Lebron being front and center has nothing to do with it.  It's the fact that for their big finals banner with 3 players on them, 2 of them aren't even playing.  1 has been out for basically the whole playoffs and the other has been out for like 5 months.

I refuse to believe that this was done by accident.  There was clearly some subliminal message planning going on here.  The real question is whether or not Lebron had anything to do with it.

I don't get Sideshow, but Love I get.  Love is/was a key member of the team and you want him to know you want him here long term.  Should have been James, Love, and Irving on the poster.

[Moranis]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

He is THE best player in the NBA.  Has being for years.

MVP votes disagree with you.

MVP has nothing to do with who the best player is.

[Donoghus]

I think that report trickling out about being like the "third weakest supporting cast" thing is certainly being a setup as an excuse if the Cavs lose the series.

I don't think this banner is an attempt as setup for an excuse, just dumb marketing stupidity by whoever green-lit it. 

[Cman]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

Lebron being front and center has nothing to do with it.  It's the fact that for their big finals banner with 3 players on them, 2 of them aren't even playing.  1 has been out for basically the whole playoffs and the other has been out for like 5 months.

I refuse to believe that this was done by accident.  There was clearly some subliminal message planning going on here.  The real question is whether or not Lebron had anything to do with it.

I don't get Sideshow, but Love I get.  Love is/was a key member of the team and you want him to know you want him here long term.  Should have been James, Love, and Irving on the poster.

I agree Irving should be on it, along with Love. But I'm fine with Sideshow Bob. He's been on the team the longest, right? I just think you guys are reading too much into it.

[PhoSita]

They probably had that banner ready to go months ago.

But don't worry, there will be plenty of excuses for the Brons if they get beaten convincingly by the Warriors.

I never expected the Cavs to contend in their first year of the Second Age of LeBron.  Only because the East is so weak did they even get there.  Making the Finals is a big enough accomplishment for this season for that team.  That's not how many will paint it if they lose, however.

[Roy H.]

My guess is this was designed like this for one of three reasons:

Option A:  Lebron is the face of the franchise; AV has been around the longest; Love is a key free agent; or

Option B:  AV and Love aren't going to play in the Finals, but the Cavs want to reinforce that they're still a big part of the team; or

Option C:  The Cavs are trying to be "inclusive" and market to blacks, whites, and Latinos by including a player of each heritage

For whatever it's worth, Irving, Shump, Delladoeva, and J.R. Smith are the Cavs' twitter background image

[LilRip]

I don't see how this is an excuse. LeBron is the face of the franchise, and one of the best players in the NBA. Why not have him front and center?

He is THE best player in the NBA.  Has being for years.

MVP votes disagree with you.

MVP has nothing to do with who the best player is.

And so Lebron is just the definitive best player, no questions asked? I'd say Curry was the best player in the league this year, and Durant was the best player in the league last year. No arguing that Lebron was one of the best, though.