It's a fact - that 48 point game was a fluke - a total fluke - he does not trust his shot and is scared to shoot it - he reminds me so much of David Robinson and Tony Parker early in his career - if James develops a confident shot his game will take off like Parker except he will turn into a top 3 player in the league if not the top player - until then, he'll be David Robinson and the Cavs will have to keep their fingers crossed that they can miraculously land another Duncan to get them a ring - no way in hell Bowen plays 5 feet off Wade ALL game and dares him to shoot - Bowen knows he just does not have any confidence and thus he can't knock down any big shots - it's early but it still telling - Wade and Mello lack no confidence - in fact, Bowen could not stop Mello in the slightest and SA said fuck it - make AI's life miserable.
It's annoying when people compare him to MJ. He's not like him aside from unreal athleticism. He has a mediocre J at best, and that's being kind.
He's A LOT more like Magic. Great court vision, great passer, can handle the rock, rebounds, etc. That's a fair comparison. Not fair to compare him to MJ at all.
People who actually watch basketball understand this.
He's A LOT more like Magic. Great court vision, great passer, can handle the rock, rebounds, etc. That's a fair comparison. Not fair to compare him to MJ at all.
People who actually watch basketball understand this.
The whole key to Bron being one of the best ever, is if he can learn to be a big time jump shooter. If he can, he will be unguardable with that vision also. What Cleveland also needs are some slashers. When bron gets doubled he kicks it to someone and the guys cannot take advantage of having the defense out of position so they end up getting contested shots anyway. If they have guys that can slash when bron passes out of the double then they can take advantage of the double better. They need some slashers that can shoot a wide open j somewhat consistantly. From this perspective they do miss a healthy Hughes as he can slash, although he cannot shoot which is why it was a questionable sign to mesh with bron in the first place. What they really miss is Boozer. Had he resigned with them like he was going to, then look the fuck out. The current cast of perimiter guys might have then been good enough.
I get what you are saying, but he is a lot better than magic(or at least certainly projects better) in my opinion due to that freakish athletic ability. Magic was not a great shooter either. He did have that patented baby hook down though, although that would be doubled a lot more the way the game is played today.
I agree, they're not exactly alike by any stretch of the imagination. LeBron is much more athletic (you could say that about pretty much any human being on the face of the earth)...but his J leaves a lot to be desired, just like Magic's. And he doesn't have the post game like Magic did.
Both can certainly develop, but until he develops a really great midrange J, I just think it's unfair to even put him in the same breath as MJ. And their games won't be similar until he does.
His supporting cast is horrendous, that goes without saying. If he had better players who could actually take advantage of the double-teams and general attention he commands from defenses, the Cavs would be legit.
But he doesn't.
This site is amazing!
Lebron will never be as good as Magic. Magic could shoot the ball very good, but didn't because he liked to pass the ball. Magic just like Bird could score 50 any night they wanted. They were that good!
Both Magic and Bird were better rebounders and would do just that if the team was getting outrebounded.
Both Magic and Bird were TWICE the passers Lebron is and Lebron probably will never be as good of a passer as them.
Both Magic and Bird NEVER were scared to shoot the ball when it was needed. Both would take the ball and score a lot better than Lebron ever will.
How can you guys put this guy in the same league as 2 of the greatest basketball players ever. Lebron could get as good as them, but will have to play a lot better to even be considered close to them.
Except for a bunch of posters in some gamblers web-site says Lebron is great because that's what they were told!
You guys are funny!
Lebron is better than Bird or Magic! Oh my!
You guys just can't be serious!
Lebron will never be as good as Magic. Magic could shoot the ball very good, but didn't because he liked to pass the ball. Magic just like Bird could score 50 any night they wanted. They were that good!
Both Magic and Bird were better rebounders and would do just that if the team was getting outrebounded.
Both Magic and Bird were TWICE the passers Lebron is and Lebron probably will never be as good of a passer as them.
Both Magic and Bird NEVER were scared to shoot the ball when it was needed. Both would take the ball and score a lot better than Lebron ever will.
How can you guys put this guy in the same league as 2 of the greatest basketball players ever. Lebron could get as good as them, but will have to play a lot better to even be considered close to them.
Except for a bunch of posters in some gamblers web-site says Lebron is great because that's what they were told!
You guys are funny!
Lebron is better than Bird or Magic! Oh my!
You guys just can't be serious!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/...-colors-in-game-4-disappearance_n_873255.html
NBA Finals: LeBron James Shows True Colors In Game 4 Disappearance
So, two hours after the game, with my emotions in check and subjectivity in balance, I re-watched game four. Sadly, and perhaps not surprisingly, my feelings towards LeBron's colossal disappearance only intensified.
When James declared at the now infamous Big Three unveiling that the Heat would win "not one, not two, not three..." championships, these were just the type of moments he was looking to deliver on. The grand old Cavaliers fallback -- that he didn't have the help necessary -- was no longer the case. Now was supposed to be the time where the great King James imprinted his legacy into the pantheon of all-time basketball greatness.
During Game 4 and for much of The Finals thus far, James has failed to deliver on such a promise. Last night he looked eerily similar to the image he left us with during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season against the Boston Celtics: disengaged, tepid and all around disinterested.
In the final five minutes of the fourth quarters of this series, James has gone 0-5. That's right -- not only has he not converted on a field goal, but he's taken just five shots. Even worse, he has scored 9 points -- combined -- in four fourth quarter games thus far.
Before the season began, I wrote a column questioning whose team this was. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that it was still Dwyane Wade's, because Wade, without question, was the only true killer Miami had.
During 'Bron's struggles, Wade has held down the fort with his stellar play and magnificent will. Chris Bosh has played admirably, but it's been Wade who has brought the same passion and dynamic scoring and rebounding ability we all remember from the 2006 Finals.
On the telecast last night, Mark Jackson said that Wade was the third best shooting guard ever, behind Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. While that was a claim surely influenced by his brilliant in-game performance, it is one backed by more and more evidence as the finals progress.
Wade is in essence, everything James is not. He has the will, the fire and the assassin's nature that LeBron lacks.
Wade is the one who takes over games when Miami needs points; he is the one who desperately wants the ball in crunch time. Wade has scored 61 points combined over the last two games, and been dominant down the stretch. He's showed that throughout his career and especially in this series. In game two, he led Miami's comeback with timely buckets and lockdown defense while LeBron sat on the bench watching.
When LeBron did return, he missed on three consecutive shots and essentially refused to take the ball afterwards, instead completely deferring to Wade and Bosh.
An hour or so before tip last night, I tweeted, "I don't really know why, but I'm picking #Dallas tonight, for their last win of #thefinals." I guess now I finally know why.
In Game 4, LeBron managed to attempt just one shot in the fourth quarter. Forget the 3-11 shooting output and 37-97 total for the series -- that's bad enough in itself -- but it was the manner in which he played that truly excludes him from the list of all-time legends. LeBron didn't even want the ball. He stood in the corner like a one-dimensional recluse aimlessly watching and not attacking.
Miami's stellar defense held the Mavs to a mere 39.7 percent shooting and just 41 points in the second half. The Heat absolutely should have won this game. With Wade and Bosh providing excellent minutes, LeBron just had to give something ... anything.
NBA Finals: LeBron James Shows True Colors In Game 4 Disappearance
So, two hours after the game, with my emotions in check and subjectivity in balance, I re-watched game four. Sadly, and perhaps not surprisingly, my feelings towards LeBron's colossal disappearance only intensified.
When James declared at the now infamous Big Three unveiling that the Heat would win "not one, not two, not three..." championships, these were just the type of moments he was looking to deliver on. The grand old Cavaliers fallback -- that he didn't have the help necessary -- was no longer the case. Now was supposed to be the time where the great King James imprinted his legacy into the pantheon of all-time basketball greatness.
During Game 4 and for much of The Finals thus far, James has failed to deliver on such a promise. Last night he looked eerily similar to the image he left us with during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season against the Boston Celtics: disengaged, tepid and all around disinterested.
In the final five minutes of the fourth quarters of this series, James has gone 0-5. That's right -- not only has he not converted on a field goal, but he's taken just five shots. Even worse, he has scored 9 points -- combined -- in four fourth quarter games thus far.
Before the season began, I wrote a column questioning whose team this was. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that it was still Dwyane Wade's, because Wade, without question, was the only true killer Miami had.
During 'Bron's struggles, Wade has held down the fort with his stellar play and magnificent will. Chris Bosh has played admirably, but it's been Wade who has brought the same passion and dynamic scoring and rebounding ability we all remember from the 2006 Finals.
On the telecast last night, Mark Jackson said that Wade was the third best shooting guard ever, behind Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. While that was a claim surely influenced by his brilliant in-game performance, it is one backed by more and more evidence as the finals progress.
Wade is in essence, everything James is not. He has the will, the fire and the assassin's nature that LeBron lacks.
Wade is the one who takes over games when Miami needs points; he is the one who desperately wants the ball in crunch time. Wade has scored 61 points combined over the last two games, and been dominant down the stretch. He's showed that throughout his career and especially in this series. In game two, he led Miami's comeback with timely buckets and lockdown defense while LeBron sat on the bench watching.
When LeBron did return, he missed on three consecutive shots and essentially refused to take the ball afterwards, instead completely deferring to Wade and Bosh.
An hour or so before tip last night, I tweeted, "I don't really know why, but I'm picking #Dallas tonight, for their last win of #thefinals." I guess now I finally know why.
In Game 4, LeBron managed to attempt just one shot in the fourth quarter. Forget the 3-11 shooting output and 37-97 total for the series -- that's bad enough in itself -- but it was the manner in which he played that truly excludes him from the list of all-time legends. LeBron didn't even want the ball. He stood in the corner like a one-dimensional recluse aimlessly watching and not attacking.
Miami's stellar defense held the Mavs to a mere 39.7 percent shooting and just 41 points in the second half. The Heat absolutely should have won this game. With Wade and Bosh providing excellent minutes, LeBron just had to give something ... anything.
