Philippines, 16 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


What LeBron had done to the Cavs


PhilBoxing.com


img src="http://philboxing.com/news/pix/lue.and.love.300w.jpg">

Poor Cleveland Cavaliers, abandoned by their hero of the past four years of campaign that saw them bagged one NBA championship and made the finals three times, they started their 2k19 season with the traditional media day on Monday sans the glitter that attended similar affairs in recent years.

Ohio?s favourite native son Lebron James left for the Los Angeles Lakers during the off-season and everything went with him.

What remained of the 2016 champion Cavs and the remnants of the 2015, 2017 and 2018 runners up squads were there contented in posing for pictures with loyal fans, selfies and signing autographs. Without James the event lacked the shining star that illuminated the Cavs? recent past.

Nothing to celebrate, really. No drama and there were empty expectations as the team?s future in the coming season which raises its curtains middle of next month.

"I'm still here," coach Tyronn Lue said in jest as he entered the Cleveland Clinic Courts, site of the affair, in his effort to ease the situation.

The Cavs began life without LeBron on Monday, attending their first official gathering since the superstar migrated to Los Angeles Lakers this summer that ended what many perceived was the greatest run in franchise history.

Without James, Cleveland is now reduced from an elite team and title contender to one, still may believe, too, not worthy enough to make the playoffs.

Lue though doesn't believe the Cavs are starting over.

"No tanking," he quipped as quoted by media. "Start from what we have and build from that. Not a rebuild at all. It's a challenge for all of us, something different with LeBron gone but we're up for the challenge."

The Cavs likely won't regress to where they did when James bolted for Miami in 2010, but they, certainly need a long time before they can compete for a championship.

"When you have the best player in the world who has dominated this game for the last 12 or 13 years in LeBron, it's always tough to lose a player like that," Lue said. "But moving forward, talking to (owner) Dan (Gilbert) and how he sees us building and approaching this season of being a playoff team.

"That's our goal and that's what we want to do. We want to win and continue to get better, and develop our younger players while winning games."

Easier said than done although Cleveland still possesses the talents led by All-Star forward Kevin Love, who signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension this summer and is now the Cavs' best player and No. 1 offensive option.

A new, yet familiar role for Love, who was Minnesota's marquee player before he was traded to Cleveland and joined forces with James and Kyrie Irving four years when he stood side by side with the duo as the Cavs' version of the "Big Three" that rewarded a title in 2016 that ened the franchise?s 52-year championship draught.

While James is gone, reminders of him hang inside Cleveland Clinic Courts, where one wall is lined with Central Division and Eastern Conference championship banners.

It might be some time before the Cavs contend for another, but while he may have lost the best player he'll ever coach, Lue isn't convinced there's a better team in the East.

"We haven't lost yet, have we?" he said.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Mexican legend Jackie Nava inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 15 Jun 2026
  • Ronnie Alvarez Dominates Filip Stankovic, Scores Seventh-Round TKO at Desert Diamond Arena
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • IBA Bare Knuckle to make historic United States debut in Miami
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Laurente remains undefeated, TKOs Aguan in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Foundation stone laid for the first-ever IBA arena in Dushanbe
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Jerick Faeldonia Wins One Chess Movement Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Bam Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas & Martinez vs Cardenas Preview and Picks
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Popper vs. Seldon Jr. Official Weights for June 13 in Atlantic City
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • GLENDALE, AZ FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR BAM VS VARGAS – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Amir Anderson Meets Jonas Sylvain in Battle of Unbeatens on DAZN
    , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Munsayac, Celones get FMA award
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 13 Jun 2026
  • Weigh-In Results for Sanman 101: Laurente Eyes Home Victory
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • Arleah Cassandra Sapuan of Valencia, Negros finishes ninth in Las Vegas chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • EVERY WORD FROM THE FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF BAM VS. VARGAS IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • IBA President warns Olympic movement will fade unless IOC rewards athletes and reforms now
    , Fri, 12 Jun 2026
  • 2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
    , Thu, 11 Jun 2026
  • Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 11 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.