The LeBron James Thread

[BlueNGold]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/trueho...ory?id=5802449

MIAMI -- LeBron James said his complaint about playing too many minutes in the Miami Heat's loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday were taken out of context, and another attempt to create controversy amid the team's 5-4 start to the season.

"It got blew up out of proportion, saying that I told coach Spo [Erik Spoelstra] that he's playing me too much and he's a bad coach," James said before Miami's game Saturday against the visiting Toronto Raptors. "You kind of understand sometimes what Randy Moss was talking about when he said, 'I will not be answering any more questions.' Because every time I say something, it gets turned out of character."

James' reference to Moss came two weeks after the disgruntled NFL receiver announced during a news conference that he would no longer take questions from the media and would answer his own questions. Moss was cut by the Minnesota Vikings a day later and is now with the Tennessee Titans.

The latest issue with James started after Thursday's 112-107 loss to the Celtics, when James played 44 minutes and teammate Dwyane Wade played 40 minutes. After the game, James poked at the box score while sitting at a table during the Heat's postgame news conference and said that his 44 minutes were "too much." James also said the same about Wade's playing time and suggested that fatigue may have played a role in their struggles late in the game.

James and Wade combined to shoot 11 of 33 from the field and accounted for 10 turnovers against the Celtics. James' comments after that game were portrayed in some media circles as a veiled shot at Spoelstra's handling of the Heat's rotation.

Making light of the situation on Saturday, Spoelstra said he purposely didn't look in James' direction to see if the player was getting tired during a competitive game. James was averaging a team-high 37.6 minutes entering Saturday's game against the Raptors. Wade is the only other player on the roster averaging at least 35 minutes a game.

"We're on the same page about that," Spoelstra said of James' playing time. "He was supposed to come out early in the fourth quarter, but it was way too competitive. He didn't want to come out. And every time he looked at the bench, I looked away."

James said he's had ongoing talks with Spoelstra about his role and playing time, and described their relationship as a productive one that includes an open-door policy to discuss any number of topics. There was a perception in Cleveland that James' relationship with former coach Mike Brown had soured over their final two seasons together.

Spoelstra and James don't want any misunderstandings to play out publicly.

"You never want to get to a point where you say something, and it catches you from behind, or the coach says something and you say, 'Wow, I didn't know nothing about that,' " James said. "That's something that me and coach had talked about two days before the Boston game, and it's something we will figure out as a collective group. The open form of communication is always important in this game, because you don't want to get to a point where you're talking through the media."

Michael Wallace is an NBA writer for ESPN.com.

Maybe Lebron is going through a phase. Kobe went through one a few years ago. He was never quite the bitch that Lebron is now though.

LOL. Hilarious. Remind me when LeBron ever had pretty much ALL of his teammates hate him or pulled some of the bitch moves Kobe has?

I swear...some people just wait for any little thing so they can take their shots.

[Jasong7777]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

It is what it is. Maybe Lebron should stop supplying the ammo. Just saying.

[BaselineBakes]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

lol@ the pile-on, maybe people should listen to the comments instead of instilling their own jaded opinions to slant what he is saying way out of proportion.

He's talking about the rotations, not that he's tired but about the rotations being used and giving examples of how everyone still has to figure each other out including the coach.

[702]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Just because he commented "thats too many minutes" doesn't directly mean he was critisizing spoelstra. 44 is a lot of minutes. It's not unheard of that he could of made that comment while at the same time recognizing that it was necessary to play given the circimstances of the game as Spoelstra pointed out. If he made that same remark last year it wouldn't of gotten nearly the negative spin it has from this. This is the definition of blowing something out of proportion.

[Jasong7777]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Of course we blow it out of proportion. It's Lebron. Lol

[rangerrick012]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Just because he commented "thats too many minutes" doesn't directly mean he was critisizing spoelstra. 44 is a lot of minutes. It's not unheard of that he could of made that comment while at the same time recognizing that it was necessary to play given the circimstances of the game as Spoelstra pointed out. If he made that same remark last year it wouldn't of gotten nearly the negative spin it has from this. This is the definition of blowing something out of proportion.

It was an unnecessary comment to make though. LeBron should know that saying something like that is instantly going to be seen as a shot at Spoelstra and not even go there with the I was too tired nonsense.

[Jukeman]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Just because he commented "thats too many minutes" doesn't directly mean he was critisizing spoelstra. 44 is a lot of minutes. It's not unheard of that he could of made that comment while at the same time recognizing that it was necessary to play given the circimstances of the game as Spoelstra pointed out. If he made that same remark last year it wouldn't of gotten nearly the negative spin it has from this. This is the definition of blowing something out of proportion.

Yeah but a few games back (after the twolves win) he said that the big 3 is willing and could play all 48 mins...

Its more like a lame excuse rather than puttin his coach out there on the hot seat.

[702]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

The idea of "he should know better" is terrible. He made a simple comment that wasn't really noteworthy but was turned into a big story. He shouldn't have to worry about something being so ridiculously blown up like that. That whole notion is the reason we get athletes afraid to actually speak honestly about anything. Everything gets sensationalized like a tabloid. It's terrible. Hence the comment on Moss' stance on talking to the media.

[702]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

(im behind because im posting from my phone)

@jukeman I understand that line of thinking a little more, but my whole thing is that these guys are athletes not scholars. They aren't preparing speeches after games, they're speaking off the cuff after a long game. I think it's unrealistic to expect them to be absolutely consistent in their comments at all times.

[702]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Don't like I worded that so I'll elaborate.

After a solid win over the timberwolves, it makes sense to be a little hype and say "We can just play all the time, since this is pretty awesome."

After a more competitive game, it makes sense to be more of a realist when looking at a statsheet and recognize that you can't play that many minutes all the time.

It's an emotional sport, there will be contradictions over the course of a season.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

(im behind because im posting from my phone)

@jukeman I understand that line of thinking a little more, but my whole thing is that these guys are athletes not scholars. They aren't preparing speeches after games, they're speaking off the cuff after a long game. I think it's unrealistic to expect them to be absolutely consistent in their comments at all times.

Come on now, that's a cheap cop out. No they aren't going to be consistent in they're comments all the time after games, but when you come out after a win and say that you guys would play all 48 minutes if you can and then get blown out and start screaming '44 minutes is too much' what do you expect people to say about you? When everything is sweet and they're blowing out garbage dumpster teams he can play all 48 minutes but then when you can't cut it against a top flight team 44 is too much? There's just no way to spin that positively.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

SMH...

If he gave me a reason to dislike him, that comment would def be it.

I dont think he will ever win a chip...

Atleast not in his mid 20's

This is funny tho...

<EMBED height=374 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=448 src=http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/e/16711680/wshh1k1g1ALYqwp818KL allowFullscreen="true"></EMBED>

I think LBJ should have took his talents to turkey instead...

I guess playing a tough game against the Celtics is not as "fun" as playing against the T-Wolve.s

And honestly IMO House is a frontrunning type of player. I say frontrunner in the idea that he's a lights out 3 pt guy when you're team is up five - ten points or more and he can come in and just go nuts, meanwhile if you're down big and NEED baskets that ocean that he throws at when you're winning tends to become a kiddie pool. Which is part of the problem with this Miami team in that too many guys who aren't stars or big time players have to suddenly become those types of players to help out Bron and Wade.

Exactly why I don't like his punk *** either.

You're giving him WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much credit here.

He isn't this "smart." He really isn't.

Nah Pared, I just refuse to believe that he's THAT stupid to say something like though. You come out and say that 48 Minutes is too much one night but another you say you can play all night. There's no way anyone can try and spin that positively or say that this is people blowing what he said out of proportion. That was like when there we're a few people on here who actually tried to defend that whole "Decision" Show nonsense.

[driddy]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Don't like I worded that so I'll elaborate.

After a solid win over the timberwolves, it makes sense to be a little hype and say "We can just play all the time, since this is pretty awesome."

After a more competitive game, it makes sense to be more of a realist when looking at a statsheet and recognize that you can't play that many minutes all the time.

It's an emotional sport, there will be contradictions over the course of a season.

what is amazing is that whole hand gesture they make when things are rolling. It looks ridiculous when you start verbalizing excuse after a loss. Take your own advice and shut up and play, or cut out the buffoonery. But that wont happen, as soon as they start blowing some team out, all of them will have their hands out making their gesture.

[Jasong7777]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

Front running at its finest

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

There shouldn't be very much doubt concerning this Miami Heat team.

I, for one, fully expect them to finish atop the Eastern Conference. It's not just because they have talent, although that is a big help.

Here is my reasoning:

The Heat finished with 47 wins and were 5th in the East last year, with Dwyane Wade being a one man show. Now they've added LeBron and Bosh to the mix, as well as a solid group of role players. Their record should improve at the very least by 10 wins which would have made them a 57 win team, one game behind Orlando last year.

This team is going to lead the league in free throw shooting. LeBron, Wade, and Bosh are #2, #4, and #6 respectively in the league in free throw attempts. All three are too tough to guard for opponents and are able to get inside to rack up fouls on the defense.

Which will result in the other teams best bigs being constantly taken out the game for foul trouble (Bynum, Perkins, Dwight, I see you). This will lead to a decrease in rebounding for the other team. As well as weaker interior defense. Even if the big that gets into foul trouble comes back into the game, they are not going to be as aggressive because of them not wanting to pick up additional fouls. This is going to make it even easier for the big three, and the Heat as a whole, to get points inside.

Teams cannot hide their best perimeter player on offense. Whoever that may be is going to have to guard Wade or LeBron the entire game. This is going to decrease the production of this player due to having to work on defense. It also will probably result in foul problems for the player, taking him out of the game for stretches at a time.

Plus, most teams just don't have players at the 2, the 3, and at the 4 that are defensive stoppers. Somebody on the Heat is going to have an offensive advantage every night.

Opposing defenses will get no break. More than likely (at least I would hope), either Wade, Bosh, or LeBron will be on the court and have the offense ran through them. For most teams, when the star goes out, the offense becomes stagnant. This should not be a problem with the Heat who have the luxury of having three 24+ ppg players on the team.

To add to that, all three guys should be much more fresh throughout the course of the game. In the past they've had to carry the load all by themselves. Now that load is going to be split between three guys. That's going to do wonders at the end of any close game.

This team is going to cause ruckus on the defensive end. Just like I mentioned above how they are going to have more energy because of not having to carry the offensive load, they are going to be able to go at it defensively. Very similar to what we saw them doing in the Olympics. I expect the Heat to lead the league in blocked shots and steals.

This, I believe, will lead them to also lead the league in fast break points. They have the two fastest wing players in the league. They are going to have plenty of opportunities to get out and run after the blocks and steals that they rack up each game. The Heat are going to get a lot of easy buckets in transition.

The role players are going to compliment the big three very well. Mike Miller, Eddie House, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, and Big Z all will knock down open looks that are created for them. And playing alongside the big three, there should be plenty of them. I really like that Eddie House pick up for them. Dude brings so much energy with him off the bench. And if he gets hot, dude can light you up with three ball after three ball. Same can be said about Mike Miller, who is one of the best shooters in the league.

So all in all, I really do expect the Heat to come out and be as good as advertised. There isn't much working against them. The good far, FAR outweigh any bad with this team. Not to mention, how they are going to be out to send a message every game. The criticism is just fueling this team who are probably going to play more motivated than any other team in the league.

T-Magic, lucky for you the season isn't 3 weeks long and they have to play 82 games but so far...not looking too good here, although there is still plenty of time for everything to take place like you said.