Watching this game again, it really is shocking to watch how not into the game LeBron is- even the one dunk was very, very weak. No effort on defense, fumbling the ball- folks, this wasn't just injury-related. I've rarely seen someone that good play that lethargic in a game as big as that. The rest of the Cavs, particularly Williams and Jamison, played very lazy, as well. Evidence is right there on the tape- very surprising from a team like the Cavs (unlike the Hawks- we know they're capable of lazy performances like this).
Management failed Lebron? The team WON 60 GAMES BACK TO BACK YEARS!! You can't do that, win MVP, and then blame management or teammates when it counts. Last series the Cavs looked unstoppable. This series they were the favorites How can a 60 win playoff favorite with the MVP not be talented?
The Cavs split the season series with both Boston and Orlando. So you are incorrect in saying that playing like they did in the regular season should put them in the Finals. Playing like they did in the regular season would give them a ~50% chance of beating Boston and a ~50% chance of beating Orlando, meaning they would only have a 25% chance of making the Finals.
The Rockets took the Lakers to 7 games because the Lakers didn't take the Rockets seriously. As much as I hate to say it, the Lakers could have (and should have) destroyed the Rockets in five games once Yao went down. Just look at what happened in games 5 and 7 to see what the Lakers could do to the Rockets when they weren't taking the win for granted.
You are incorrect. As others have pointed out, you can't still count the Lakers team with Kobe if you're asking whether or not the Lakers could make the playoffs without Kobe. So they only would have had to win 43 games to make the playoffs as the eighth seed, or 42 games and win the season series with the Rockets.
This is the truth. Kobe's supporting cast > Lebron's supporting cast. That's still not an excuse though.
Not quite. The Cavs are WAY deeper than the Lakers. After Gasol (who's very inconsistent himself) give me one consistent player besides Kobe? I cant understand how a 60 win team can use that excuse two years in a row. Should we replace Mo Williams with Derek Fisher? Or shall we replace Anthony Parker with Shannon Brown? Oops, I forget he's already played with Lebron and was TRADED lol.
He did quit on his team in Game 5, but that clearly showed how bad cavs are without Lebron. Magic performed amazing even when Howard was in foul troubles. Lakers still win games without Kobe doing much, but these cavs are just horrible without Lebron being great. They don't have consistent scorer. Mo is good for nothing (no offense, no defense, no assisting). and they have horrible coach!
Lebron had a crappy game, I get that...maybe he's hurt, maybe he simply choked. But for those who say he quit on the team I have one question...why? Seriously. When Kobe quit on his team against the Suns, everyone knew why. When T-Mac quit on Orlando, it was obvious why. But why on earth would James simply choose to lose? Especially now, in the playoffs. What does he have to gain? Even if Lebron is only about his image or making money, how would this help him in the slightest? Until anyone can provide a legitimate reason as to why a professional player, the best in the game, would give up on his team in a crucial situation, I'll just go on (correctly) assuming he laid an egg. That's it. I guess people are simply bored with blasting a player for a bad game, now we have to resort to calling them a quitter, questioning their desire or dedication, or simply just attack them personally.
Well, I hear ya. But the thing is, sometimes people do things that they don't have a good reason for ... things that will most likely not do them any good at all. I agree that quitting wouldn't do LBJ any good at all, but that doesn't mean he didn't do it. He's still a kid ... he can let his emotions get the best of him.
He probably had issues with coach and/or teammates. I wouldn't say he's trying to prove a point. But he's not putting his mind in the game and he didn't care as much as we think he should.
True in some cases, but depth won them 60 games. To lose like that to Boston is disappointing to these Lebron hypemen.Hype makes $$$ but doesn't win championships
HUH? Did you forget the Rockets BLEW them out in game 6. They weren't playing with us. we could've actually won that series had Yao not went down. You disagree?
