Tag: LeBron James (Page 21 of 85)

      LeBron finally takes some blame for “The Decision”…sort of

      November 1, 2010 /

      July 08, 2010 - Greenwich, CONNECTICUT, United States - epa02241974 Handout photo from ESPN showing LaBron James (L), NBA's reigning two-time MVP, as he ends months of speculation and announces 08 July 2010 on ESPN 'The Decision' in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, that he will go to the Miami Heat where he will play basketball next 2010-11 season. James said his decision was based on the fact that he wanted to play with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

      LeBron James and his camp have long held the ‘no regrets’ stance with regard to “The Decision,” which raised $3 million for charity but was a disaster for LeBron’s image around the country. But finally, LeBron has admitted that there was room for improvement, per ESPN…

      “If I had to go back on it, I probably would do it a little bit different,” James said. “But I’m happy with the decision I made. There’s always going to be a misunderstanding. I don’t know what I would [have done], but I definitely would have changed it.”

      Well, it’s not the mea culpa that so many of us are looking for, but it’s something. It would go a long way to repair his relationship if he’d just release a statement along these lines:

      I want to apologize to all my fans in Cleveland for the way that I announced my decision this summer. I got caught up in the moment and thought it was a good idea to capitalize on all the attention surrounding my decision by producing a special and raising a lot of money for charity. But I now realize that it was a mistake to make such a public spectacle out of my situation and that it made my decision that much more painful for my fans in Cleveland.

      Wouldn’t that repair most of the damage that he’s done to his image?

      External Sports, NBA, News

      LeBron’s new Nike commercial — what do you think?

      October 29, 2010 /

      I’m sure the marketing folks over at Nike dreamt this one up, but it seems like he’s complaining about the criticism he’s had to endure for his own actions. What should he do? He should not break up with the city of Cleveland after seven great years by holding an hour-long special on ESPN. That’s what he should NOT do.

      Love the Don Johnson cameo though!

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, Video

      Celtics hold off new-look Heat, 88-80

      October 26, 2010 /
      Boston Celtics' Shaquille O'Neal (R) dunks over Miami Heat defenders, including Chris Bosh (1), during the first quarter of their NBA game in Boston, Massachusetts, October 26, 2010. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      It was an ugly first half that included a nine-point first quarter from Miami’s new Super Friends, but LeBron James (31-4-3, 8 turnovers) got it going in the second half and led the way as the Heat cut Boston’s 19-point lead down to three. But Rajon Rondo (17 assists) Paul Pierce (19-9-3), Ray Allen (20 points, 5-8 3PT) and Glen Davis (13-5) were too much in the end, and the Celtics prevailed, 88-80.

      I actually think the Heat will come away feeling pretty good about the game, given the performance of Dwyane Wade (4-of-16, 13 points) and Chris Bosh (3-of-11, 8 points). Wade didn’t play much at all in the preseason and was obviously shaking off the rust as the game wore on. And let’s not forget that the Heat were without their fourth (or fifth) best player, Mike Miller, who injured his hand and will be out for a while. They also need to figure out how to chase Allen on those off-ball screens. Both Wade and House tried to go over the top when they should just chase, chase and chase some more.

      For the Celtics, Shaq (9-7) started the game, but Davis finished it. The best line I saw on Twitter came from @ShotDrJr: “When Big Baby comes in for Shaq, it’s as if the Celtics have opened a nesting doll.” Classic.

      Heat fans obviously shouldn’t panic. It was an important game, but the chips were stacked against Miami. Wade was rusty and the Heat haven’t had a chance to work out the offensive kinks, and going up against the league’s best defensive team is not the way to do it. The fact that they scored just nine points in the first quarter and still only lost by eight is actually encouraging.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA

      LeBron says disgruntled fans “have to get over it.”

      October 22, 2010 /
      Miami Heat small forward LeBron James reacts during a break in play against the Detroit Pistons in their NBA preseason basketball game in Miami, Florida October 5, 2010. REUTERS/Hans Deryk (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

      LeBron James claims he wasn’t telling his (former) fans in Cleveland to “get over it,” but it sure sounds like he did:

      “If I was a fan and I was on the outside looking in, I could be upset a little bit if one of my favorite players left,” James said. “Or if I felt like he betrayed us or whatever the case may be. But you have to get over it.”

      “Sports are very emotional and fans are very emotional,” James said. “At times they really believe you may be related to them you and you sleep in their house. When you do something wrong and you leave their house they can become very emotional. I’ve understood that over the years. But at the same time, you have to understand you have to do what is best yourself.”

      I’m not sure what the whole “you sleep in their house” bit is about — it sounds like one of those philosophical LeBron thoughts that went awry — but no one in Cleveland is going to be comforted by the rest of these remarks, no matter how nicely ESPN (headline reads: “LeBron sympathetic to fans”) wants to put them.

      LeBron later tweeted:

      Let’s clear this up! I never said to the Cavs fans to “get over it”. I’ve never and will never say anything bad about them. 7 years of joy!

      I’ll give him this — he didn’t say “those fans should get over it,” but he did imply that fans in general have to “get over it” when an athlete does something to anger them. In a time where no one is going to be parsing words in his defense, this is not going to go over well in Cleveland. Especially considering that the front-running LeBron (who grew up as a fan of Jordan’s Bulls, the Cowboys and the Yankees) simply can’t relate to Cavs fans who feel that their local hero stabbed them in the back.

      And there’s still no acknowledgment that “The Decision” was a colossal mistake, image-wise. He and his camp are still clinging to the idea that raising some money for charity offsets whatever pain he put Cavs fans through on his monumental ego trip/public break up.

      This is going to be an interesting season, for sure.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      GMs pick Lakers, Durant

      October 7, 2010 /

      Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher (L-R), pose for photos during the basketball team's media day at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California on Sept. 25, 2010. The Lakers will try to three-peat this season after winning back-to-back NBA championship titles. UPI/Jim Ruymen Photo via Newscom

      Per ESPN…

      The annual NBA.com GM Survey, released Wednesday, says the Lakers are the team to beat, according to 63 percent of the 28 general managers who responded.

      The Miami Heat, who picked up James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade during the offseason, were picked to win by 33 percent of the respondents.

      The Boston Celtics were the pick of 4 percent.

      In the MVP race, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder was the overwhelming pick, getting 67 percent of the votes. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers was second with 26 percent.

      James, last season’s league MVP, picked up just a single vote, as did Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

      I suspect that with all the hullabaloo surrounding Miami’s new Super Friends, the Lakers are coming into the season very motivated. They are the two-time champs and are the team to beat, despite all the goings on in South Florida. I give them the edge for an NBA title, but if the two teams meet in the Finals, then it means that LeBron, D-Wade and Chris Bosh have worked out whatever kinks there were and managed to get out of what is shaping up to be a brutal Eastern Conference playoff draw.

      The MVP race will be interesting, especially with LeBron and Wade sharing the stage in Miami. Unless LeBron averages a triple-double, either player would be hard-pressed to win the award because voters could make a strong case for the other guy. That leaves Durant and Kobe as the front-runners.

      Henry Abbott of TrueHoop digs deeper into the GM survey.

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

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