OT: LeBron

[nomar]

Let's see what he does in Game 7. Because if the Celtics win then people are still going to regard him as a choker, regardless of how unfair that may be.

I really don't see either of these teams beating the Thunder, but who knows.

 

[HuskyHawk]

and it wasn't even his best playoff performance. his game in Detroit and arguably Orlando were at least as impressive.

he's a monster. and unlike many of our faux-stars that people love to praise, he is efficient.

On a numbers basis, perhaps not. But in terms of coming at the right time, at a crucial juncture, I think it was his finest moment.

 

[JaYnYcE]

fair post Dogdeacon.

i have one question tho. other than the 'decision' and the 'welcome celebration' (which obviously were both idiotic) when has he ever done anything 'look at me' off the court. I live in Miami and he's NEVER out in public like Wade or other guys are, he doesn't do much in terms of media spots and he's not really a loud guy. its another thing i don't get about the hatred.

as for OKC, if that happens (big if)... i think their 4 are greater than Miami's 3. especially with Bosh limited and Wade playing like this. Lebron and Wade will both need to be on top of their games to pull that series off. will be fun to watch as a basketball fan first.

You're disqualified from partaking in any Lebron disscussion.

 

[21Huskies]

On a numbers basis, perhaps not. But in terms of coming at the right time, at a crucial juncture, I think it was his finest moment.

which is because it happened last night and against a team (which i'm guessing, but have no idea) you like.

by one objective measure, it was his 8th best postseason performance. i'd never put last night over scoring 29 of the last 30 points in a game 5 in Detroit. That was his finest moment and there are many who'd say his effort in Orlando was even better than Detroit.
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/14723/where-does-gm-6-rank-among-james-best

 

[UChusky916]

I'm a Celtics fan but by the end of that game I was rooting for LeBron to get to 50, that's how good he was. Easily among the best basketball games I've ever seen anyone play.

Its not relevant to me to constantly evaluate & dissect LeBron on a historical basis. What is interesting is that even though I'm a Celtics fan I think an NBA finals of OKC - Heat would be far more entertaining basketball so I'm clinging to that as a bright side if the Celtics throw out another clunker like they did last night.

In this playoffs I've come to dislike Wade a little more as his body of chippy play (Rondo last year, Kobe in the all-star game) reached a tipping point for me. I still hate the Heat's lame supporting cast & Bosh. But I won't be rooting against Miami with the same vitrol as I had last year mostly because at least basketball-wise LeBron is awfully tough to dislike. And LeBron is kind of putting up a Shaq style off the court resume = maybe too much look at me stuff but given the attention level easy to see how one succumbs to that and he's kept his nose 100% clean off the court. Ultimately though it'd still be nice to see Durant triumph over a fully actualized LeBron James and hoist the symbolic belt of 'best of 2012'.

Holy shit, a rational Celts fan!?!!?!

 

[Dogdeacon]

You're disqualified from partaking in any Lebron disscussion.

No that's not fair. We'd also have to throw out anyone who lives in Ohio. Both opinions are relevant, doesn't every basketball fan hate the Dennis Rodman, Kevin Garnett, Stephen Jackson, etc.. type until that guy is on their team?! So its definitely worth hearing how Miami fans or residents feel about LeBron. Now I do think we'd have to recuse 21huskies on any discussions regarding wearing massive gold chains or pastel sports jackets

 

[JaYnYcE]

Your team is on the brink of playing for an NBA Championship and this might be the final year of your core group. And you were you rooting for James to score more points? Call me crazy but I don't see how you're a fan. This isn't a regualar season game, or a preseason game. This was a CLOSEOUT game, how in the world do you root for the best player on the other team to keep scoring? Holy crap!

 

[JaYnYcE]

No that's not fair. We'd also have to throw out anyone who lives in Ohio. Both opinions are relevant, doesn't every basketball fan hate the Dennis Rodman, Kevin Garnett, Stephen Jackson, etc.. type until that guy is on their team?! So its definitely worth hearing how Miami fans or residents feel about LeBron. Now I do think we'd have to recuse 21huskies on any discussions regarding wearing massive gold chains or pastel sports jackets

Whats the difference between a rational Miami fan living in Miami and a rational Duke fan in living in NC? Would you be so cordial and accepting of his/her opinions as well?

 

[21Huskies]

Whats the difference between a rational Miami fan living in Miami and a rational Duke fan in living in NC? Would you be so cordial and accepting of his/her opinions as well?

i'd listen to anyone who makes a rational point thats defended with data. just like i'd bash a UConn fan for making an irrational, subjective point that has no basis.

 

[JaYnYcE]

i'd listen to anyone who makes a rational point thats defended with data. just like i'd bash a UConn fan for making an irrational, subjective point that has no basis.

Listen Bill Nye, being irrational and hating another team is part of being a fan. Sometimes its just not about the numbers or data. I'll be sure to look for you on this board if UConn and Duke ever make to a national title game in the future and Duke has the player of the year playing for them.

 

[Excalibur]

Your team is on the brink of playing for an NBA Championship and this might be the final year of your core group. And you were you rooting for James to score more points? Call me crazy but I don't see how you're a fan. This isn't a regualar season game, or a preseason game. This was a CLOSEOUT game, how in the world do you root for the best player on the other team to keep scoring? Holy crap!

I believe he qualified it to say he felt that way once it was obvious the Heat would win.

 

[21Huskies]

look back thru the hoops board when Kemba was playing horribly midseason and before the Big East tournament and was killing us shooting 30% and jacking up 20 shots per game. i was crushing him and calling for his head. Then he went on an insane run and won us a championship. I loved every second of it even tho he made me look like an idiot.

I believe in the data and i cheer with my heart.

 

[Kitaman]

All of the LeBron hate is from the Decision/Pep rally. Time for people to get over it. I have.

Exactly. It was an immature move and certainly a bad decision. Nothing more.

I would bet if he would do it again it would be done differently. There are other players that are adored more who produce less (and more chaos) for their team than Lebron. He's a good kid that became an adult ,or thrust into the adult world, too fast and seemingly without counsel.

 

[JaYnYcE]

I believe he qualified it to say he felt that way once it was obvious the Heat would win.

There is no way to qualify a statement like that if you're team is less than 48 minutes from the Finals, I'm sorry.

 

[JaYnYcE]

look back thru the hoops board when Kemba was playing horribly midseason and before the Big East tournament and was killing us shooting 30% and jacking up 20 shots per game. i was crushing him and calling for his head. Then he went on an insane run and won us a championship. I loved every second of it even tho he made me look like an idiot.

I believe in the data and i cheer with my heart.

I'll take your word for it. I guess every fanbase has at least one.

 

[ZenConn]

Just got home and flipped on the game...

Ah, who made him mad? That stat line is berserk.

Great game. If he wants to disappear in the 4th quarter like he normally does, he has to play like this for a half.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Exactly. It was an immature move and certainly a bad decision. Nothing more.

I would bet if he would do it again it would be done differently. There are other players that are adored more who produce less (and more chaos) for their team than Lebron. He's a good kid that became an adult ,or thrust into the adult world, too fast and seemingly without counsel.

Agreed. Never had a problem with him in Cleveland. I thought he should leave Cleveland, but quietly, with no fanfare. I also think he made a huge mistake and should have gone to Chicago, where the existing personnel were much more complementary to his game. D-Wade plays like a shorter Lebron....they are mismatched as teamates.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I dont have any allegiance to Lebron but it seems like, for a kid who's been called the second coming since he was 16 and who is without question the most scrutinized athlete in America, whose day to day is basically on display in the age of twitter and social media and 24 hour news cycles, he's handled all the attention remarkably well. Almost frighteningly well. He gets talked into the occasional misstep like The Decision but how is that any worse than Harrison Barnes calling a press conference to Skype his college announcement?

And, beyond that, he is an absolute freak of nature on the basketball court. That team is horrific without him. And he plays more minutes than anyone. And he guards all 5 positions on the court. Give him Ibaka, Perkins, Harden and Westbrook and see what he could do.

 

[JaYnYcE]

How old is Harrison Barnes and how old is LeBron James?

 

[ZenConn]

And, beyond that, he is an absolute freak of nature on the basketball court. That team is horrific without him. And he plays more minutes than anyone. And he guards all 5 positions on the court. Give him Ibaka, Perkins, Harden and Westbrook and see what he could do.

OKC shows that you don't need 3 stars making ridiculous money to make it to the finals. All 3 of their contracts has handcuffed the team on what moves they can make to improve their bench.

 

[21Huskies]

How old is Harrison Barnes and how old is LeBron James?

so you think the hatred for Lebron is deserved?

Paul Pierce can throw up gang signs and tebow mid game and he's loved and adored... Lebron gets awful advice and makes a dumb decision and he's the devil.

the fact of the matter is all the teams that thought there was an inkling of a chance to get Lebron watched that show and it was like watching an ex announce her new boyfriend on TV and tell the world they were dumping you or werent interested in you. and like most crazy, insecure people, many held a grudge against him for that. that was perpetuated thru the media and on TV and it snowballed into people throwing beer on him as he leaves an arena after a great game and the guys throwing the beer probably don't even know why they don't like the guy.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

OKC shows that you don't need 3 stars making ridiculous money to make it to the finals. All 3 of their contracts has handcuffed the team on what moves they can make to improve their bench.

Um, not yet. Durant is already a max money guy and OKC is going to have to make some tough decisions to keep this group together.

 

[sparky]

Big C's fan. LBJ was out of this world. I am not a fan of his but I admire is skill set and his consistency. He has played better than anyone in the this playoff go-round. He has to prove his mental toughness is equal to his physical toughness before I crown him anything at all. OKC will beat them if they win Saturday night. I think the C's pose a better threat to stop them with their 4 players and defense. Oh well go C's.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

How old is Harrison Barnes and how old is LeBron James?

Okay, bud, how is it worse than any other celebrity calling a press conference for any purpose whatsoever? It shows that he's got an ego, but that puts him in the same category as most professional athletes. He didn't sexually assault somebody, he didnt get drunk and run somebody over, he's with the same chick he was with in high school .... so you "hated" him since he was a teenager why? Because he's famous and successful, sounds like. And his major offense is turning his decision to sign with Miami into a party?

I have no doubt the kids got an out of control ego and is a diva, I've heard as much from people whose professions have brought them into his orbit, but the hate, and particularly the attempt to minimize how revolutionary a player he is, is just absurd.

 

[tykurez]

Here's the only problem I have with Lebron: he takes away from the fact that Dwayne Wade is the douchiest player in the league.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Agreed. Never had a problem with him in Cleveland. I thought he should leave Cleveland, but quietly, with no fanfare. I also think he made a huge mistake and should have gone to Chicago, where the existing personnel were much more complementary to his game. D-Wade plays like a shorter Lebron....they are mismatched as teamates.

In retrospect. He should've went to the Clippers. The players on that team even at the time seemed to mesh with Lebron's abilities much better.

 

[JaYnYcE]

At least admit that comparing Harrison Barnes to Lebron James wasn't a good comparsion.

 

[JaYnYcE]

so you think the hatred for Lebron is deserved?

Paul Pierce can throw up gang signs and tebow mid game and he's loved and adored... Lebron gets awful advice and makes a dumb decision and he's the devil.

the fact of the matter is all the teams that thought there was an inkling of a chance to get Lebron watched that show and it was like watching an ex announce her new boyfriend on TV and tell the world they were dumping you or werent interested in you. and like most crazy, insecure people, many held a grudge against him for that. that was perpetuated thru the media and on TV and it snowballed into people throwing beer on him as he leaves an arena after a great game and the guys throwing the beer probably don't even know why they don't like the guy.

If I throw up a thumbs up sign does that mean I'm in a gang?

 

[UConn990411]

I still can't figure out why anyone would dislike Bosh. What has he done other than sacrifice his role, show emotion, and play hard?

Well, there's the whole thing about him sitting out half of his last season in Toronto when he was fine to play because he knew he wasn't going back there.

Still, I have a hard time figuring out why people despise LeBron so much but respect Wade. Wade did the same thing as LeBron (top 3 player who teamed up with two other stars), he's a MUCH bigger whiner/, and quite frankly LeBron has carried him for the majority of these playoffs. Yet LeBron's the choker and gets all the criticism?

It's just...strange.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Well, there's the whole thing about him sitting out half of his last season in Toronto when he was fine to play because he knew he wasn't going back there.

Still, I have a hard time figuring out why people despise LeBron so much but respect Wade. Wade did the same thing as LeBron (top 3 player who teamed up with two other stars), he's a MUCH bigger whiner/, and quite frankly LeBron has carried him for the majority of these playoffs. Yet LeBron's the choker and gets all the criticism?

It's just...strange.

This is a GREAT point. Lebron gets blamed for everything when a lot of it should be on Wade. When Lebron misses a game winner he isn't clutch. When Lebron gives the ball to DWade for the last shot and Dwade misses its Lebrons fault because he should've took it himself. When Lebron fouls out and DWade takes and misses the last shot Lebron is considered not clutch because he fouled out... It truly amazes me.