Before I get into this article, first let me state that I’m by no means a hater of LeBron James, as he is a tremendous player. In fact, this article is more directed towards the public’s perception of him, and how this season should be viewed for “King” James. Call me extreme, but this has to be considered a make or break year.
Throughout LeBron James’ career he has been hyped to an unfair level. He was drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan as a high schooler. Who comes into the NBA with people already expecting him to be the best player to ever live? Not even Jordan himself had that weight upon his shoulders.
It’s crazy to think how quickly time passes, but James is now entering his 7th year in the NBA and has yet to win a championship – keep in mind that Jordan won his first ring in his 7th year. Many consider James to be the best in the game today, as he and and Kobe Bryant are often battling that out in the public eye. Meanwhile, Bryant has four championships under his belt, three of which came before his 7th season.
After each postseason loss, people immediately look to James’ supporting cast for somewhere to place the blame (which in my opinion is highly inaccurate). In response to that, Cleveland went out and brought in Mo Williams. Aside from Williams, the Cavs had Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao, Ben Wallace, Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, along with the best record in the NBA, and failed to make it to the Finals last year.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s time to step back a bit from the LeBron train. Let him prove that he is one of the greatest players to ever play the game instead of handing it to him on a silver platter, which has been the case since he was a teenager. In my eyes, you can’t be the greatest player if you have nothing to show for it. The near triple-double averages are great, but they mean nothing without jewelry.
This year the Cavs brought Shaquille O’Neal to Cleveland. Anyone who knows basketball knows that Shaq is brought places for one reason; to win a championship. As I stated in the Central preview, he has done it for Kobe and Wade, but can he do it for LeBron? The team is off to an 0-2 start in what should be a much improved Eastern Conference. This a huge year for you Bron, and as always, all eyes will you be on you.
Sorry LeBron you won’t win in Cleveland..actually, no one will haha
Lebron put up half of Cleveland’s offense in the playoffs. What more is he supposed to do?
I disagree with you that the stats he puts up are useless without a championship. Championship arguments are always fallacious because they falsely assume that the championship goes to the best team/player. I could name you any number of NFL Super Bowl quarterbacks who are inferior to guys that never won a ring, but if you want to argue that McNabb is inferior to George Blanda and Trent Dilfer, be my guest. The point is that the best team doesn’t always win. That’s why you have to look at stats instead of jewelry.
I personally think Lebron has plenty to “show for” being a great player – his consistent performances and the fact that he scores his team points when none of them can. but we can agree to disagree, peace
Bobby you’re missing the point entirely. LeBron is already considered one of the best ever. If you’re going to have that title and all the hype he gets, you would think he’d have a championship after 7 years.
This post was also about the comparisons to Jordan and Kobe. If you send Jordan to the finals, he isn’t getting swept.
You bring up football like it’s relevant here. Nabb isn’t considered one of the best ever. BUT, if you wanted to try to compare sports, 11 different players play offense and defense in the NFL. The same 5 play offense and defense in the NBA. Each player is more accountable and has a larger impact.
Cavs now have shaq. With another good supporting cast, who will be to blame this year?
Yo, I agree. LeBron has a year ahead of him. All the hype surrounding this guy since before he could by a lottery ticket and what does he have to show for it? Records are nice, but it’s all about the bling bling. Cleveland has a legitimate team. Has for a couple seasons now. How did they have the best record in the regular season, sweep Detroit and Atlanta, then go down to Orlando in 6, losing that first one AT HOME. Mind you Orlando was on a hot streak… but so was Cleveland. It’s his 7th season. Time-out for all that talk that he has a lot more to improve and become a more mature player/leader. Time has come. Yeah, it’s cool that he’s scoring like nobody’s business and getting all these triple doubles, but what good is it to have 1/2 your team’s points in the first half if you end up losing the series and not even going to Championship? Let’s not forget all those stupid puppet commercials nike shoved down our throats putting LeBron and Kobe as roommates. The media hyped us for months that those two were gonna meet in a showdown to prove who was better. LeBron’s game can be as tight as it wants to be, but part of being a complete player and knowing THE game ultimately is using your team. Let’s see if King James can humble himself enough and do that. The supporting cast was there last year. You can’t put up 40% of your team’s points EVERY night, especially in the playoffs. It’s called burnout. Trust those other guys wearing the same color jersey as you. Everybody gets a ring. Until LeBron gets that idea, he won’t get a ring. It’s as simple as that.
My point is that you can theoretically have the title of best ever without a championship. I don’t think LeBron is the best ever but if he keeps going at the same pace, he has to be one of the best…even if he doesn’t win a single championship in all those years. Right? We may disagree on this but I am a firm believer that championships are a lousy indicator of talent; instead, statistical consistency and performance is usually the best arbiter of determining talent.
That’s why I brought up football. I’m not saying that McNabb is the best ever (he’s not) but in my opinion he’s a def candidate for Hall of Fame…but forget him. Take Marino if you prefer. Is he one of the greatest? If you base greatness off championships, the answer has to be no. Now I suppose you could always base greatness off of stats AND championships but it seems that championships are a matter of winning one game (in which the best team doesn’t always win, any given sunday blah blah blah) and that stats are more reliable. I do see your point that football is a much different animal and it’s a good distinction. However, if you prefer, move the discussion to the NBA. Ewing? Barkley? Miller?
If you sent Jordan to the finals with a non-90s awesome Bulls team, I do think there’s a possibility he could get swept.
I think bringing in Shaq was a lousy move, and I respectfully disagree that there’s a good supporting cast to start with. If there was a good supporting cast, LeBron would not be forced to bail out his team by hyper-scoring just because Anderson Varejao is weak or Delonte West is showing his underacheiving colors yet again. Ilgauskas is probably the only one of the bunch that is more or less good.
Lebron is the man….. Imma name my kid after him…. And yes he will get his ring in due time, he will for sure, even if he pulls a KG move and gots to the best team in the league in the late stages of his career he will get a rock!!
My opinion is Lebron really never had a “real” supporting cast…(Stay posted). In the NBA you need 3 great players on your team to win a title, 1 star doesn’t cut it.
Apparently you already named yourself after him…
What about A.I in 2001? No they didn’t win it all, but they got to the finals and he was the only star, hell, he was the only good player on the Sixers that year haha
Eric how are you forgetting about Matt Geiger, he was almost as big a star as Iverson on that team?
HA! I hope thats a joke. He does like like 20 minutes away from me though haha.
LeBron doesn’t need to hyper score. In those games where the score is Cleveland 56-37 at halftime, you can bet that LeBron has 25 of those points. If you’re team is up by more than 10 points at half, you’re sitting fairly safe. Granted, there’s something to be said for a player who comes out hot, but you can’t have you’re superstar play 1/2 of your points throughout the entire night, throughout and entire series. Trust you’re team more. If you get behind or things get too close, then put on your little superhero cape and come to the rescue.