Tag: LeBron James (Page 6 of 85)

      Oklahoma City takes Game 1 vs Miami

      June 13, 2012 /

      It was a tough night for the Heat. Shawn Battier was on fire early and the Heat had a big lead, but they were only up by 7 at the half, and as the game went on it was just a matter of time. Oklahoma City was too fast and too talented, and the Heat players were too tired in the fourth quarter.

      Kevin Durant is an assassin. He’s fearless and he has the best shooting stroke since Larry Bird. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook is lightning fast and the Heat have nobody who can hang with him.

      Meanwhile, Lebron James didn’t check out and had a solid game, but he didn’t put the team on his back. He didn’t have his outside shot, so he did a decent job of playing more in the paint. But once Battier and Chalmers got cold, the Heat just didn’t have the firepower to hang with the Thunder.

      But, it’s just one game. I expect the Thunder to win the series, as they’re deeper than Miami and they’re the only team that’s more athletic than Miami. They also have Kevin Durant. Lebron is playing better, but Durant seems destined to be a winner. All of that said, you can’t count Miami out yet.

      NBA

      Why fans hate LeBron James

      June 12, 2012 /

      This video alone should explain it.

      I’m tired of the new chorus of Lebron apologists. Idiots like Jeff Van Gundy are saying they don’t understand why people root against him. Jackass Rick Reilly saying that Lebron is “somebody you want your kids to have as their hero.” Now Mike Wise is chiming in.

      I won’t bother listing all the obvious reasons, partly because Pat McManamon sums it up perfectly in this column.

      But there’s one thing that none of the apologists mention – arrogance. People hate arrogant punks, particularly those who can’t back it up. Lebron pranced around with his new teammates, preened at a rally in the most shallow city in America and then proclaimed he would win a string of championships. Then he wilted in the most epic collapse by a great athlete anyone can remember.

      The new apologists are basically arguing that we should all love him because he hasn’t been arrested, he doesn’t beat his wife girlfriend or hasn’t abandoned his kids. Wow, talk about setting the bar low.

      Like Tiger Woods, Lebron James makes millions with his carefully crafted image. His playful attitude may be sincere, but Lebron always cared more about his “global icon” status than anything else. Are we supposed to worship arrogance and self-promotion?

      We can blame his age or those around him, but many fans hate Tiger and Lebron because their carefully crafted images turned out to be a fraud.

      Nobody with a brain ever doubted his talent, so if he ever finds a way to play consistently under pressure he’ll probably win his championships (unless the great Kevin Durant stops him). That might help redeem some of his past failures and lack of nerve on the basketball court, but he’ll have a long way to go to account for his off-the-court behavior.

      NBA

      Lebron steps up; Celtics wilt

      June 8, 2012 /

      Who saw this one coming?

      After Miami came back against the Pacers, we had to be ready for a possible comeback in game 6 against the Celtics. This team has played well with their backs against the wall. But this really wasn’t about the Heat. I’ve watched Lebron James enough in Cleveland and last season to noticed when he’s about to flake during a game, but he was locked in from the beginning last night. He wasn’t playful. He wasn’t emotional. He was just locked in and focused on basketball. All the talk about his supporting cast, Bosh’s injury or Wade’s play isn’t really relevant. The main variable in the potential success of the Heat has to do with Lebron’s head. If Lebron doesn’t flake out, the Heat easily win last year, and Lebron also could have won a championship with the Cavs. It all comes down on him.

      Last night was a big night for Lebron, but he’s had a lot of big nights in the regular season and in the playoffs. None of this matters unless he also leads Miami to a win in game 7, and then plays well in the Finals. Also, his outside shot was falling last night, and we all know that Lebron is pretty much unstoppable when he can hit his outside shot. But when he cools off he sometimes goes into a funk.

      The problem this year is that Lebron and the Heat will be running up against a team in the Oklahoma City Thunder that just may be better than the Heat, even if Lebron plays up to his ability and doesn’t flake out. Kevin Durant is a superstar, and he’s surrounded by a gang of young studs that can match up with the Heat when it comes to athleticism. Also, Durant doesn’t need a sports psychologist to get him through the Finals.

      So there won’t be much room for error for Lebron if he makes it to the Finals. Don’t crown him king just yet.

      Celtics survive to even the series

      June 4, 2012 /

      Neither team played very well, and there were the usual controversial calls from the refs, but the Celtics are back in this series.

      Everyone will dissect LeBron’s big three near the end of regulation along with his pass when he held the ball with the last possession, along with Wade’s off-balance missed three in OT. But the Heat might be at the point where they need Chris Bosh back to put Boston away. The Lebron/Dwyane show was working great for a while but they couldn’t steal one on the road. Home court might be enough to take out Boston, but getting Bosh back would surely help.

      NBA

      Heat start season with lame video and solid play

      December 28, 2011 /

      It’s easy to hate these guys when you watch this lame video. It’s almost as bad as the party they threw when the Big Three signed their contracts with the Heat last season. After choking last year against the Mavericks, you would think that a somewhat different tone would be in order.

      But LeBron wants to have fun this year. He didn’t do so well as the villain, so the dopey kid is back and his teammates are joining in on the fun.

      That aside, however, after two games it does look like LeBron is taking the game seriously this year. He and Wade and shying away from three-pointers and they’re focusing on transition baskets and post-up moves. It’s a shame it’s taken LeBron this long to figure it out, but I guess a humiliating meltdown in front of the world in the Finals will do that do you.

      Now we shouldn’t get carried away after two games, as the Heat ran past two older teams. The Mavs have new players and haven’t had any time to work together. They have to win as a team like they did last year. Also, LeBron always looks good in the regular season. Sure, he’s working on developing better habits, but we’ve seen him lose focus during crunch time before.

      This team is talented, and they’ll battle for the best record. But none of it matters. They have to win it all. Anything else is a failure.

      NBA

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