How would getting swept by the Celtics strengthen a decision to stay? I think I agree w op, the quicker he gets knocked out the better chance he leaves... he isn't going to just brush it off and say 'this will make us stronger. we got it next year!', he'll be real ticked and probably question whether he could ever do it with this team if they got knocked out this year... as this is their year to win it...
As for Nate, he'll probably see mere seconds in this series... if there's a blow out one way or the other in a game Doc will probably throw him in there... doubt he'll get any serious playing time though...
I think it'll be a closer than expected series... I do think the Cavs will probably pull away, but it would not surprise me to see the Celtics push this real hard and squeeze a series win out.... if they do it'll be a hard fought one, probably w a bit of luck involved.... but it's possible.. if they can weather LeBron, Celtics have more lesser weapons..
I still can't get myself around the idea of James leaving after winning a championship... though it does make some sense from some angles... I can't help but think he'd be more likely to leave getting knocked out earlier (or later) than were he to win... though I really don't know.. He very well could be happy and feel able to move on if they win this year.... but something tells me if they win, he'll be much more inclined to sign a 3 yr extension.... perhaps win a few more in that span (now that they have the first one under their belts), then move on..
more compelling of late than the little chance i see in him saying 'i'm going to leave!' or 'i gotta think about it' when asked after winning whether he'd stay...is that he wouldn't sign a 3 yr deal w the team... it seems to make sense that he'd test out this aging team for 3 more years, show the fans of Cleveland (and fans everywhere) that he isn't straight bouncing after a championship.... and ofc he'll have the nets new place ready around then too...
Either way you gota think that is the most logical thing for him to do at this point.... though the NY option wouldn't be nearly as big, or possible, 3 yrs down the road.