James is one of the greatest basketball players to have ever lived – and he’s no choker. The Warriors and the Spurs are simply much better than the Cavaliers

LeBron James is not going to win a championship in Cleveland.

He didn’t in his first seven-year stint with the Cavaliers and it’s seeming increasingly unlikely that he’ll do it in his return, no matter how long it lasts. With a full, healthy roster including Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers lost in San Antonio last Thursday. Four nights later, they got blown out at home by the Warriors.

Golden State Warriors humiliate Cleveland Cavaliers in NBA finals rematch Read more

The Spurs and Warriors are the two best teams in the NBA. There’s no shame in losing to them. But if you can’t beat them, there’s also no hope of winning a championship. The Cavaliers lost at Golden State back on Christmas by six points, only to fall by 34 in Cleveland on Monday. Going back to last season’s finals, that’s now five wins in a row for the Warriors over Cleveland – and by an average margin of 16.4 points. The Warriors are a better team and it’s really not all that close. LeBron’s modern Cavs are a bit more competitive with San Antonio, with a win in three tries – but dating back to the 2014 NBA finals, LeBron has dropped five of his last six to Tim Duncan and friends.

Assuming the Cavaliers even make it through an Eastern Conference that is far more competitive than it’s been since James’ first playoff trip 10 years ago, they’re almost guaranteed to find the Warriors or Spurs waiting for them. The Cavs will be heavy and quite justified underdogs in that matchup and only a herculean effort by James would bring Cleveland the championship it’s so desperate for. Except that’s not even true. James was at the peak of his powers last year and his team still lost in six games. Since then the Warriors and Spurs have only improved. It’s not happening.

And when the Cavs come up short this year, then we’re onto another season in 2016-17 when nothing will change in Cleveland’s favor. The Warriors will still be younger and better. The Spurs will still have more experience than LeBron’s Cleveland cast. And any number of other teams could be making a move in the East or West by then. Even today at 31, LeBron has more NBA games on his legs than Michael Jordan did when he retired (from the Bulls, not from the Wizards; let’s continue to try to pretend that Wizards stuff never happened). James is playing the lowest minutes of his career this season because even his body isn’t indestructible. It’s foolish to think he’ll have enough in the tank to single-handedly carry a team to a title in his mid-30s, especially not in a league where it’s no longer possible to win on individual performance alone.

LeBron is going to go 0-for-Cleveland. That’s not a hot take. It’s not “clickbait.” It’s a reasonable statement made from available information. LeBron will fail to bring a title to Cleveland not because he sucks or is a choker or a loser or because Michael Jordan was a thousand times his superior or because Cleveland is cursed. None of those things are true. James is, without question, among the greatest to ever touch a basketball and has already proven he can win a title. Twice. He just won’t win more because he happens to now play in an era with some very good teams. And, through no fault of his own, he’s just on a good team.

OK, maybe Cleveland is a little bit cursed.

Vine of the week

Kyrie Irving went through four Rockets for this basket.

NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) .@KyrieIrving has the ball on a string https://t.co/QCKCagENwH

If he can get this basketball voodoo to transfer over to games against the Warriors and Spurs, forget all that junk up top. The Cavaliers can win it all.

How did LeBron carry the Cavaliers this week?

In losses to the Spurs and Warriors, James averaged just 19 points and turned the ball over seven times. He knows he let his team down. You can see it on his face.

Lindsey Adler (@Lahlahlindsey) Oh my god LeBron’s face https://t.co/v8LOV2osIg

Quote of the week

Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) I don't see the @cavs losing tonight.

A few hours later, the Cavaliers then went on to lose by 34 points to the Warriors. While that prediction was bad, it’s still not the worst of Steph Curry’s career. That honor will forever belong to Doug Gottlieb:

SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) Stephen Curry declared for NBA Draft. Doug Gottlieb "He doesnt have the upside of Rubio. Jennings, Flynn, Mills, Teague all more athletic."

Power rankings

1. Golden State Warriors (1)

While Steph Curry was wondering if Cleveland still smelled like Champagne on his return to the city, teammate Harrison Barnes was probably glad there would be no alcohol. Barnes is a teetotaler but was handed a shot of celebratory tequila by coach Steve Kerr after the Warriors won it all last year. “I was like, ‘This tastes terrible,’” Barnes told Yahoo of his first-ever drink. Yes, it does, Harrison. But for those of us who are not champions in life, sometimes it’s all we have.

2. San Antonio Spurs (2)

San Antonio is now 24-0 on the season at home. A town not far from the Mexico border that is not in any way welcoming to outsiders? Donald Trump is going to start campaigning in a Spurs jersey.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers (3)

The Cavaliers annhilation at the hands of Golden State on Monday night was Cleveland’s most embarrassing loss of the 2015-2016 season. And remember that the Browns played during the 2015-2016 season.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant just spent another week ranting at the media for unknown reasons.

Royce Young (@royceyoung) Kevin Durant talked about why he thinks the Thunder aren't being talked about with the Warriors, Spurs and Cavs: pic.twitter.com/aLVoQkYTxw

He should probably follow the lead of most people with brains and/or jobs and shut off shows like “First Take” if they are bothering him. Or adopt the approach most successful athletes take with the media and criticism – the Don Draper approach: “I don’t think about you at all.”

5. Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers continue to thrive without Blake Griffin, thanks in no small part to J.J. Redick, who had a career-high 40 points Monday night in a win over the Rockets. Redick’s career span really illustrates how far the country has come in a relatively short period of time. Ten years ago, a fan could hold this sign at a game and no one batted an eye.

6. Toronto Raptors

Kyle Lowry doesn’t respect USC because DeMar DeRozan struggles with basic math.

But that’s not the reason to suspect that USC isn’t teaching anyone anything. The reason to think that is because Nick Young went there.

7. Chicago Bulls (7)

The Bulls are now 9-2 on the season with Joakim Noah out of the lineup and 15-14 with him playing. Noah’s contract expires after this season, so watch out for the 2016-17 Bulls. They’re apparently going to be almost unbeatable.

8. Memphis Grizzlies (13)

Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes has been fined $35,000 for comments “condoning violence” against Knicks head coach Derek Fisher. If the league is fining everyone who has wished violence on Fisher, a lot of Knicks fans are going to go bankrupt over their Internet comments from last season.

9. Dallas Mavericks (8)

Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan have now played each other 90 times. If Tom Brady and Peyton Manning get Roman numerals, the Texas big man legends deserve them, too. Who’s pumped for Dirk-Duncan XCI on 5 February?!?!

10. Atlanta Hawks (9)

Congratulations to Paul Millsap for achieving the most nonchalant drive before dunking on someone’s head in NBA history:

Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) Cue up the poster! 👀 https://t.co/vCpLeuzkwI

11. Miami Heat (10)

The Heat is 25th in the NBA in three-point shot attempts and also 25th in three-point percentage. So on the rare occasions a Heat player does take a three, he usually misses it. Not a formula for success in the modern NBA, but at least noted three-point hater Gregg Popovich probably respects how Miami is losing.

12. Indiana Pacers (11)

Pacers president Larry Bird told the Indy Star in an interview this week that he can’t figure out his team’s inconsistency: “I just can’t get a handle on it right now because these guys are up and down.” And they will stay that way. After getting the lowly Suns last night, the Pacers have to play the Warriors, then the mediocre Kings and then the red hot Clippers. To continued inconsistency!

13. Detroit Pistons (12)

If Andre Drummond doesn’t make the All-Star Game, it’s evidence that President Obama is a lame duck in his final year on the job.

14. Houston Rockets (17)

Presenting what will probably be remembered as the greatest moment in Dwight Howard’s Houston Rockets career:

Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) This just happened. pic.twitter.com/l6lQ6Q5l1C

15. New York Knicks (15)

Yet another Latvian rapper has produced a Kristaps Porzingis rap anthem. It’s got a good beat and you can block shots to it.

16. Boston Celtics (16)

Celtics broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn stated on-the-air Friday night that Kelly Olynyk has “the potential to be better than Dirk Nowitzki.” Interesting. Olynyk is a solid player who is averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds per game at age 24. In Nowitzki’s age 24 season in 2003 he was an All-Star averaging 25 and 9. To convince anyone he’s not insane, Heinsohn is really going to have to twist some arms. Luckily, Olynyk is the perfect guy for the job.

17. Orlando Magic (14)

The Magic played in London last week (and lost to the Raptors). Many of Orlando’s players took the trip as an opportunity to see the sights and experience another culture. The fools! Epcot is IN ORLANDO! That’s all a real American needs to see of the rest of the world.

18. Washington Wizards (18)

Two big things happened for the Wizards on Monday afternoon: John Wall was named NBA Player of the Week and Wall and Bradley Beal were announced as finalists for the U.S. Olympic team. Then a few hours later, the Wizards lost at home Portland. 18 January 2016 will be a whole chapter in a future documentary titled: “Not Being Able To Handle Success: The Washington Wizards Story.”

19. Utah Jazz (19)

Kemba Walker scored a Charlotte franchise-record 52 points against the Jazz on Monday night, as Utah lost in double overtime. Sixteen years after they met in back-to-back Finals, the Jazz still don’t have any answers for teams led by Michael Jordan.

20. Portland Trail Blazers (20)

The Blazers got blown out by the Sixers on Saturday night in Philadelphia but two nights later, clearly motivated not to fall into the part of The Guardian NBA Power Rankings that doesn’t include a short blurb, knocked off the Wizards in Washington.

21. Charlotte Hornets (21)

22. Sacramento Kings (22)

23. Milwaukee Bucks (23)

24. Denver Nuggets (24)

25. Minnesota Timberwolves (25)

26. New Orleans Pelicans (27)

27. Brooklyn Nets (28)

28. Los Angeles Lakers (29)

29. Phoenix Suns (26)

30. Philadelphia 76ers (30)