if you really want to be technical, 24, 7, 4 is a pretty damn nice statline. it just is not for lebron. the thing with lebron last night was just he did not play like himself: aggressive and attack the defense and just really do whatever he wants. for the first time in a long while, he played timid. i don't think he had a bad game though.
I guess most LBJ haters here really haven't watched the man play. The guy has a physique of Karl Malone people. Yeah, bring back the old school rules and see him break the SGs and SFs of the tother eam in half. Pierce, Kobe, Wade, c'mon none of those guys can match him in power. Artest can give him a fight but LBJ can blow by him at will.
Its not that I dislike the guy. But I think the NBA and media babies him WAY too much. Even the year he went to the finals it was by default (two very OBVIOUS travels that weren't called in the ECF by the refs) The Guy leaves the court without shaking hands like a cry baby and gets a pass from his fans. He's talented but still a HUGE crybaby
Well, for what it's worth to you, rock4ever...... ....I'm told that the squeaky hinges get the grease. LeBron James is a once-in-a-generation player. He is, seemingly in every way, the perfect basketball player. Physically, mentally, and yes even emotionally, he is deserving of the media slobber that he has to constantly wipe off his chin. If he isn't the best already, he will be soon enough. I'd guess that most of what has the media and casual fans in awe of LeBron is unfortunately out of his control. Nobody in the league has garnered the type of appeal across the board that James has, especially since Michael Jordan retired (for the third time). Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal flirted with it when they were in Los Angeles together, and a few other players get a spike or two here and there.... ...but despite the league being full of superstars in their own rights, nobody's been the boon to popularity, accessibility and entertainment for the NBA that James has been. He approaches the mass appeal that Michael Jordan had more closely than any other player, in my opinion. James knows how to play to the cameras and microphones, too. To call him a reporter's wet dream is doing a disservice to wet dreams. In most observers' minds, James is what the league has lacked by and large for the past few seasons before he arrived—a true STAR worthy of the shine. I can't imagine what would happen if he actually did something...like....won a title or something..... ...but the truth is that if all any of us can do is take a cheap shot at LeBron James, then he's already won the battle hes said himself he wanted to win—and that's to be the most famous athlete in the world. I hope for the NBA's sake that James eventually gets around to winning as much as he does everything else. I love the kid, myself. But some things can't be handed to him until he's won on the court.. Magic Johnson, of all people should have known this better than anybody....
Wow. Well said. It never occurred to me but you're right. James has managed to garner more mainstream appeal than Shaq, far more than Kobe, and more than Wade. People have a problem with the over exposure. I get it. But the media can only create so much. Watch the product on the court. No amount of media 'babying' can do that for him. And every superstar gets superstar calls. Jordan got them all, Kobe, Wade, etc. It's not fair but it's our reality. Conversely, refs can't create superstars on calls alone.
False. So very, very, very false. The Lakers, Magic, and Celtics all have like three players on their team who are better than anyone on the Cavs except for Lebron. Cavs will still win it all this year, though. Of that I'm still reasonably certain. But what I'm confused about is that you say that the Cavs will lose before making the ECF this year, but then you say that they are the "clear favorites"? Which one is it?
I still don't see all the talent around LeBron that a lot of people claims he has. Like the guy above said Magic, Lakers, and even the Celtics have more talent than the Cavs do. I would even add in Phoenix and the Spurs.
I seriously don't understand all the Lebron hate. The guy is an incredible player, he keeps his nose clean, he plays the game tough and looks like he's having fun when he's playing. The reason he is "over-exposed" is because he is the central figure in the NBA's marketing (for all the reasons stated above). To state outright that he will never win a championship is just woefully ignorant. My question to the haters is who is your model NBA star?
It's no different than a lot of other superstars. Look at Kobe Bryant. The Shaq/Kobe Lakers were gift wrapped two trips to the Finals by NBA referees with Game 7 against Portland in 2000 and the most obviously fixed game in league history, Game 6 against Sacramento in 2002. The officiating in those games was a lot worse than missing "two obvious travels." In addition, Kobe has quit on his team during elimination playoff games at least once (Game 7 against Phoenix) and possibly twice (Game 6 against Boston). That's a lot worse in my book than not shaking hands with the opponent after the game.
agreed.. how can Stern say to everyone with a straight face to stop blaming the officials and how they have no agenda when you look at Game 6 against the Kings.
Popularity? Haha, ironically after so many years of ESPN hype machine. LBJ still couldn't sell more jersey than Kobe. Not in North America, and not even comparable in Europe or Asia. Maybe next year if he changes his number he has a chance, like Garnett did it once. But Kobe has been the biggest star for 5-6 years now. The hype machine doesn't always work unless you truly deserve it.
If those games were fixed, then the 3 games against Thunders this year were fixed as well, they were -20 FT in each game. The game 4 of finals last year, Magic had 18-0 FT advantage in 4th quarter alone. I am not denying there's refs' preferential treatment in NBA, but it goes both ways. Better team survived adversity and won it all.
They said LBJ needed a Robin, they got Mo. They said they needed some inside presence, they got Shaq. They said they were short in the perimeter, they got Moon and Parker. They said Jamison would be the final pieced, they got it for free. And all of a sudden, after losing a home game in which Lebron played crap, Cavs have no talent? How about put Howard, LBJ, Wade, Bosh and Stern in one team, I am sure they'll 10peat.
Yeah it is just a nickname. Can't believe you take issue to this. The real question here is why in the hell is he getting 3 MRIs on the same elbow in 10 days? Doctors have already told him there is nothing significantly wrong and will heal 100% with rest. Unfortunately, this isn't an option right now. He's being a little b**** insisting something else is wrong, setting up yet another excuse for an early playoff exit. I think he is out of Cleveland.
Yeah that sure is a lot of help. A pg who is inconsistent. If Mo Williams is your Robin you are in trouble. I guess it is LeBron James fault that he is so inconsistent in the playoffs. Shaq - Yeah the injured Shaq this year and over the hill Shaq. Anyone who thinks bringing Shaq in was some time of savior clearly has not watched Shaq this year. Moon and Parker - Please. Two average role players. Jamison - I will give you that. Like I said it's funny as hell when Mo Williams is brought up to make a point of LeBron having help.
