A Lakers trip to Cleveland recalls the memories of a lousy match

They were going to let James have it and everyone knew, including President Obama, who told reporters the day of the match: "It's going to be brutal."

It was actually much worse than that.

"During the intros, it was (as) as vile as anything I had ever seen," said Cavs former general manager David Griffin.

Nearly eight years later, James must return to Cleveland, while he and the Los Angeles Lakers go to town on Wednesday. This summer, he left the Cavs after four consecutive appearances at the NBA finals and an NBA championship. Anyway, it will not be as bad as the cold December night in Cleveland.

Dwyane Wade of Miami, coach Erik Spoelstra and former players Chris Bosh and Jawad Williams; Griffin, former leader of the Cavs front office; fan Jason Herron; Howard Beck, Brian Windhorst, Rachel Nichols and Bill Reiter; and TNT analyst, Charles Barkley, remember the scene.

Part 1: The backdrop

No matter how James informed the Cavs that he was leaving, it would have caused anger. But the ESPN's "The Decision" one-hour show – which the NBA commissioner at the time, David Stern had described as ill-conceived – exacerbated emotions. The impulsive cope of the owner of Cavs, demonizing James, galvanized the fans. It was a city, a region and a fan base against a man, a local talent that, according to fans, would lead Cleveland – a city desperately seeking success – to its first NBA title.

Herron, Cavaliers' subscriber, jersey burner James: "About two or three weeks into the season, we knew we would not be a great team. We knew we had to beat LeBron because LeBron had left us. He was the national villain. As the game approached, everyone in Cleveland talked about it. "

Griffin, who was vice-president of basketball operations in 2010: "The accumulation was amazing. I arrived in September 2010. 'Bron was gone in July 2010 and it was like jumping into a building on fire. Everywhere in the city, he was murdered – on sports radio. When people discovered that I was working for the Cavs, all they wanted to do was murder LeBron. "

Windhorst, ESPN, from Akron: "I was hoping for two things. One, that the Cavs could not fan the fire. … I hoped it would not become an infamous moment, like a 10 cent beer night where it became something else that Cleveland was known for that was not positive. "

Williams, a former Cavs player who grew up in Cleveland and played this game: "To a certain extent, I understood anger. But the people who were very close to him and knew him, we had no problem with his departure. It was a strange situation. … I know how it feels to be cut, exchanged, released. I understood what it meant to make a decision for you and for the team, not to take it for you. "

Part 2: The pre-match

The Cleveland Plain Dealer asked the team chaplain how fans should react. It turns out that forgiveness was not the solution for fans. Gilbert's plan to open an investigation into allegations of alteration against the Heat was unveiled the day before the match.

James, to reporters in Miami: "It's going to be fun, but at the same time, it's going to be very moving, just going back. I think it's going to be difficult. … It's going to be hard. But I'm here to win a basketball game. I understand how passionate fans are about sports. I'm ready for the answer I'm going to get. "

Griffin: "Cleveland is so provincial and everyone loves it so much because they survive together. He was one of theirs. It was the prodigal son who was coming back, but it was also the prodigal son who was leaving. It was the guy who ripped their heart out. They were going to let him have it to feel again. "

Bosh, Heat Forward, to reporters in 2010: "I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm sure it will be something we've never seen before." Many people will show their support for the Cavaliers – in their own way. "

Herron: "The night before, there was a rally in town, and it was so hateful. I was one of the hosts. We tore his jersey on stage. All the urinals in the bar had LeBron's face. I just remember feeling dirty. Yes, we did not like LeBron. But then, I began to be afraid of what the environment of the game was going to be. Will someone run on the field and give him a swing? Will someone throw something and hurt the guy? I remember having had two or three interviews and saying, "I'm going to be ashamed, but I'm going to do it with respect. I will not cross the line. "

Wade, friend and teammate of James this season: "We faced a lot of hate this year because of LeBron's decision. That night, when you arrived in Cleveland, you felt it. There was just something in the air. "

Part 3: The crowd

To prepare, the Cavs, Heat and the NBA have provided additional security. The fans booed, shouted obscenities and some threw objects, including a drums and cups full of drinks. They held their placards: "Quitness". "11-8 Looks like you left your talents in South Beach." "Has not witnessed any championship." "I hate LeBron." Some fans have created a singing card, indicating what to sing and when. "Akron hates you," "Nothing seen," "Scottie Pippen," "No Ring King," and "Traitor, Traitor." Four fans were expelled and another stopped, according to the team.

Spoelstra, heat trainer: "You could feel the crowd and I had not even entered the bowl yet. I was 100 meters away. … There was a tangible vitriol that I never felt. You could feel the intensity, anger and pain of the crowd. "

Beck, Bleacher Report, who worked at The New York Times in 2010: "… In my 21 years of covering the NBA and the number of hundreds of games, I have never seen anything like it and I hope I will never see anything like that night again."

Griffin: "When it was introduced, it was the loudest, most hateful and most vilest of all time I have ever heard in a building, for whatever reason. I took a pile of my head sitting alongside European players. I went to Greek games where they ripped off the concrete seats and threw them against each other. I was at a Cibona-Partizan match (in Belgrade) where they fired flares across the field. But it was foreign languages ​​that I did not understand. It was as odious as anything I have ever experienced.

Bill Reiter, CBS radio host and writer who covered the Heat for Fox Sports in 2010: "Joe Goodman (Miami Herald Writer Heat Beat) and I were running to our places for the start of the match. We get on the elevator and a security guard holds us the door. There was all this extra security for LeBron, which was managed by the authorities there. A walkie-talkie crackles and some demand: "Where is LeBron?" You hear a security officer say, "The enemy has left the locker room. I repeat, the code name "The enemy" left the locker room. I look at Joe, and it strikes me, the people who protect LeBron James labeled him "enemy." A security guard looks at us and shrugs with one of those looks. "

Barkley, TNT analyst: "It's the most hostile NBA game I've had in the NBA for 30 years. It was intense. It was worse than I thought it was going to be. "

Beck: "It was worrying because there was so much hatred and disrespect for decency in a public space. There are children. It's not correct.

"There were songs about LeBron's parents, I thought that the songs involving his parents were well below the belt and above the line."

Nichols, ESPN: "When he left, it seemed like a rejection for so many Ohio residents, not just a rejection of the Cavs, but a rejection of them, a part of the country that felt rejected by other people across the country, it happens with the guy who was not only the most popular sportsman in the city, but also an aboriginal son, someone from there, so that he's the one who left them behind and told them: "I'm leaving for the glamorous coast instead of staying in the heart of the country." This really touched an agreement that has a lot more to do with so many things than LeBron James . "

James, postgame December 2nd: "It's nothing personal between me and the fans. It's never personal. They are frustrated and I understand it. I am also frustrated. We have never accomplished what we wanted here.

Part 4: Performance

Already a two-time MVP at the start of the 2010-11 season, James scored 38 points, including 24 in the third quarter when the Heat opened a 95-65 lead. He also had eight assists and five rebounds in the 118-90 win over Miami. It was a perfect prefiguration. The Heat started their season after a slow start with James, Wade and Bosh. For the Cavs, it was the second defeat in 37 games that would only give one victory. This led Cleveland to win the lottery and recruit Kyrie Irving.

Wade: "I remember taking things in hand and telling the other guys," Listen, we have to get off to a good start for him. It's important for him to play well and obviously get a win. But we have to get off to a good start and let him into the game. 'What was so amazing about this is the way he performed. "

Herron: "He tore us to shreds. He was a man among the boys. He destroyed us. "

Griffin: "I remember sitting in our box with Chris Grant (the general manager of Cavs), and we were talking about" Gosh, I want fans to be quiet. I think they make him shit. '… As the game unfolded, he was so good and so not upset, people started to remember why they loved him so much. At the end of the third quarter, there were people applauding his made-up baskets. "

Windhorst: "He basically broke the will of the crowd."

James, in TNT after the match: "I know this field and I did a lot of shooting on this ground. I just wanted to be aggressive, just try to keep them out of the game. I knew that they were going to try to run in the third quarter. We are able to make stops and shoot a few shots. "

Williams: "If you look at the end of the game, he takes me in his arms. … I received a call from my agent, probably a day or two later. My agent said that he had just called someone from the Cavs reception desk – I would not say who he was – but the person said to my agent: "Why did he have to pick up LeBron at the end of the game?" like, I knew him before the NBA. My relationship with him is bigger than basketball. LeBron came and gave me words of encouragement and told me to continue because he knew my situation contractually. That was it. "

Part Five: The Return II

He returned to the Cavs after four years in Miami and led Cleveland to his coveted title in 2016, beating the Golden State Warriors in seven games. Fans may be disappointed that he has gone, but the same anger will not be there. He achieved his goal of winning a title for the franchise, the city and the region. It's a joyous story that could never happen again.

James in 2013, still with Miami, for another match in Cleveland: "It can not be worse than the first year, December 2, 2010. It can not be worse than that."

Beck: "I have to believe that this time, they welcome back a guy who brought them their first title in half a century, and that they once again welcome a hero from his hometown who bought him back and who gave them four years of joy. . "

Barkley: "When he comes back, he will be a hero."

Reiter: "There may be hedging, but I think there is going to be a lot of recognition for the very complicated and ultimately positive relationship he has with this place. It will be just as emotionally complicated as the last time. "

Herron: "He fulfilled his promise, brought us a championship and everything is forgiven. There will be very few boos, and zero of me. "

Nichols: Earning a title and fulfilling this promise has made a huge difference. The work he has done in the community and with Akron School makes all the difference. The climate of the country and the climate of the city are different. The Cleveland Indians are better. The Browns have hope in Baker Mayfield. All is not on him. In addition, he returned. "

Windhorst: "I'm waiting for a standing ovation. I'm expecting a magnificent video tribute where the highlight is that he achieves the shot blocked on Andre Iguodala. It's hard to honor him while he's still in the league. … Each passing day, the 2016 championship becomes more impressive because we see how great the Warriors are and how difficult it is to keep the Cavs together. This is worth more than your ordinary title. "

Williams: "I think he will be kissed. … I think there will be only love when he comes back. "

James, reporters after Sunday's match against Miami: "I'll see some familiar faces, like when I arrived (in Miami), I'll think about some of the good ones, I'll think of bad guys, I'll think of some of the big guys with frankness, of course." And then, once As the tip-ball will be launched, it will be time to go to work.It will be nice to see some of my family members coming to play, see some of my friends too, and get things done .. All that will happen will happen, but I will be in uniform, I will be there and I will try to get a victory, which is the most important thing. "

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