The LeBron James Thread

[The 24th Letter]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

LeBron needs to spend the whole summer getting "holding the ball" out of his system... is there any superstar that does it as much as him?

whats funny is Chris Bosh figured this out around game 3 and it really maximized his game

[wwharton]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

He only attempted 11 shots all game and was giving up the ball like it was on fire. This completely contradicted the way he played all season. Am I to think that Lebron all of a sudden just completely decide to change his game up overnight in the Finals? To me that's less believable then him quiting to prove to try and prove a point.

He took 16 shots in game one, 15 in game two and 14 in game 3. Half his shots in game two were 3 pointers. He didn't have a single game where he took more than 4 free throws. So the 3 or 4 less shots he took in game 4 really aren't a significant difference, and the entire series he didn't play like he did during the regular season (especially in the 4th quarter). So the idea of him throwing game 4 doesn't make sense based on this. If you look at this and then determine he was trying to throw the entire series, that makes even less sense.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

The bottom line is he didn't show and under performed; as he himself said. I think it has nothing to do with quitting or anything like that. LBJ wants to win. I believe in that.

Whatever the case may be, he definitely didn't attempt to take over the game at any point during the 4th quarters of the last few games.

I don't think he quit either, but whatever he did, it was awful. He looked exactly like he did against Boston.

However people want to characterize what he did, it's clear that a switch was turned off in his head. It's almost as if he lost interest as the game waned.

LeBron needs to spend the whole summer getting "holding the ball" out of his system... is there any superstar that does it as much as him?

whats funny is Chris Bosh figured this out around game 3 and it really maximized his game

I don't know 24, I would actually just like him to make a drive to the bucket and make a play or to shoot the basketball late in the game. I actually think he should have had the ball in his hands more instead of just passing it off every time without even threatening the defense. This is late game situations of course.

[HMcCoy]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Da Throne has it 100% correct. The last time he "quit" was when Mike Brown had the audacity to scream at him on the sidelines and call out his effort in the post game last year. It happens. Kobe, one of the greatest competitors this league has ever seen did it twice in the post season, lol.

I don't think people realize the level of Lebron's aversion to authority and criticism. Lebron does not allow anyone, in any facet of his life to "lord" over him. He's never done well with dictator-style coaches (had fall-outs with Silas, Larry Brown and Coach K). He had zero respect for Cavs ownership as he wouldn't even give his boss the courtesy of a phone call. Doesn't allow an agent to control his biz (started his own agency...has anyone ever done that before, lol?), even risked millions to control his career with a short contract. I can't name an athlete that needed that much domination over everything, not even the most stubborn alpha male types. Even a bull-headed guy like Kobe deferred to Shaq for years, had an agent, respected Jerry West, his coaches (for the most part) and ownership. LeBron refusal to cede any control seems overbaord when you look at the big picture, doesn't it?

These lack of effort games are completely unique. No precedent anywhere else in his career. Even in bad games you always knew he was going hard. Very coincidental that both "shut down" games were directly after being challenged on the sidelines during the previous game, no?

Not a physcologist (can't even spell it), and I don't know the man personally...but I would imagine that a drug-addicted mother who constantly had low-life men parading in and out of her life would have a son who adopts a "man of the house" personality at an early age and would develop an almost neurotic reaction to scolding and authority figures...and I'm sure the unprecedented level of coddling and enablement by everyone in his circle hasn't helped.

[greenegt]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I think both wwharton and HMcCoy nailed it. LeBron's confidence was shaken during the finals and he was never able to get out of his own head. I used to struggle with that, myself. You get criticized and then start over-analyzing every action, trying to be "perfect". That may explain the whole hot-potato phenomenon.

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I think both wwharton and HMcCoy nailed it. LeBron's confidence was shaken during the finals and he was never able to get out of his own head. I used to struggle with that, myself. You get criticized and then start over-analyzing every action, trying to be "perfect". That may explain the whole hot-potato phenomenon.

You totally agree.. I totally agree! I do the samething. Once I start thinking that is when my jump shot goes. And then the rest of my game starts to go with it.

[ronyell]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

bottom line to me is that LeBron James is a supremely talented player with unpresidented potential
HOWEVER...

having umatched talent alone does not make you a great player... it makes you a player "UNMATCHED IN TALENT"

being a GREAT player is just as much mental as it is physical talent & some players have managed to be great with a stronger will & skill & less "talent"... NO ONE can argue that LeBron's mental is not championship caliber. champions don't defer, give-up, neglect to find a way or shy away from pressure. they may not not always perform the best in those situations but they DEFINITELY embrace the pressure without looking for a way out. couple that with the JUST how physically talented LeBron is & it's just frustrating & horrific to people. (along with his demeanor & ill-timed/insensitive comments)

The LeBron/Pippen thing is hilarious to me because in theory its acliche comparison after this years finals BUT Pippen embraced & couldnt wqit for Michael to leave so he could be the man & lead... his numbers may have been what they were but he attepted & wanted to lead in crucial moments & even went to the rack with authority over & through players. he did WHATEVER he had to do in those finals. HE MAXIMIZED HIS TALENT LEVEL.

LeBron preferred to defer in the Finals & in his choice to go to Miami... he didn;t want to be THE man... & in the finals... win or lose. HE DID NOT MAXIMIZE HIS TALENT LEVEL...

2 totally different mindsets in my opinion
talent -------- Jordan > Pippen
mental --------- Jordan > Pippen

talent ------------ Lebron > Wade
mental ------------- Lebron < Wade
(thats the problem with LeBron & why neither comparison is accurate)

[celg35]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't get why he got rattled in the finals. Wouldn't that have shown during the Boston and Chicago series. I would of thought that the way he fell to the celtics last year that the pressure would have been at his highest in that series. It was just the opposite.

[da ThRONe]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't get why he got rattled in the finals. Wouldn't that have shown during the Boston and Chicago series. I would of thought that the way he fell to the celtics last year that the pressure would have been at his highest in that series. It was just the opposite.

This is what makes me think he quit. How is it he can over come the pressure through out the playoffs then all of a sudden get so passive when their up 2-1? Especially with Wade finally showing up.

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't get why he got rattled in the finals. Wouldn't that have shown during the Boston and Chicago series. I would of thought that the way he fell to the celtics last year that the pressure would have been at his highest in that series. It was just the opposite.

Maybe it was just the Dallas defense that was being played?

[1Rose]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

And the talking in circles continues...

This thread is like a soap opera, you could miss out on like 300 posts and still know exactly what's going on.

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I've seen all of the games his playoff a few times now. One of the biggest difference I see. Is that Dallas would straight double team Lebron as soon as he caught the ball at times. Not every single time.

edit: I actually remember them doubling teaming on very first possession of games. Just to get the ball out of his hands. Besides that from the stats. His 3 pointer wasn't falling after game 2. Anyone remember after Melo dropped 42 on the Celtics. How in the next game they literally double teamed as soon as he caught the ball.

[celg35]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

what guy watches soap operas?................ c'mon man........ you could of said it's like watching reruns of SportCenter all day.

jeesh

[celg35]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

if that is the case about the double team. then it really was up to his "other players to step up , move without the ball and make plays. I truly believe that it wasn't what Lebron could have done, but was more like what his teammates didn't do.

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

if that is the case about the double team. then it really was up to his "other players to step up , move without the ball and make plays. I truly believe that it wasn't what Lebron could have done, but was more like what his teammates didn't do.

I don't know you say it was both ways. The Bulls and Celtics played him straight up most of the times. Rarely did you see them double LeBron to get the ball out of his hands. Dallas pulled this move severally times after game 2.