Will he try? Will everyone else try? Or is Cleveland forever going to be known as the town that couldnt?
I think everyone tried in Game 5. LeBron had an off night, and hoped someone else could pick up the slack. Nothing worse than when a guy is having an off shooting night and he keeps jacking up shots. People can say he didn't try, but he's not a score first type of player. I think he deserves some credit for knowing when to stop shooting shots when he couldn't make them. He should have tried to get to the basket more often though. I think he can take criticism for that. This just exposed that LeBron really doesn't have much help, and Mike Brown is an awful coach. I also think LeBron hasn't figured out how to win when having an off night like some of the great ones that came before him. Its almost like he acts if he isn't trying when having an off night. The old "I wasn't really trying" excuse that people drop when they lose. Its ok to admit your shot was falling! Even if Cleveland gets by Boston, I just can't see them beating Orlando or LA at this point. Who knows, they may turn it around.
jordan did this constantly... good players don't quit throwin shots when they are having an off night... they shoot their way out of it...
Charles Barkley: "Micheal Jordan, Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing.....their guns would be empty at the end of the game. I didnt see that from LeBron"
Everyone except Magic was a scorer. I disagree with Magic shooting until he had nothing left. LeBron is NOT a score first player...and neither was Magic. Great players find ways to win when they aren't scoring well. Jordan was a relentless defender and would find a way to get to the line if his jumper wasn't going down. I don't think LeBron has that killer attitude. Kobe has it, LeBron at this point, does not. I don't mean that in a bad way. He's more likeable. Jordan got in fist fights in practice with teammates, got in their face during timeouts, and called them out publicly. Opponents hated him. Its well known that Kobe will give teammates his opinion no matter how bad it is. These guys just want to win in the worst way. LeBron wants to be loved, and make a ton of cash. All just my opinon.
I thought the only thing that might keep him in Cleveland was a championship. Its not looking too good.
Though i believe this part of what you said is 100% true.... Im not a believer in your "LeBron is not a scorer" stance... Im a Cleveland fan. And i love LeBron, bu truthfully, the guy is a schmuck. Ive said it for years on here that i never heard anything good from the kids who went to school with him i knew. Nothing. The guy is an ass from what i have been told. He is the KING of acting "good" for the public. LeBron is a scorer, he wants to score 100 points every night. He says that hes not and "plays" it off like its not a big deal (example, the "i dont care if Kevin Durant wins the scoring title interview")....but if you grew up here in NE Ohio, had to listen to the local radio, the local TV, the local PEOPLE, the kids who went to school with him, the people who work at the Q, and his real life neighbors, you know the truth. And that is this: LeBron loves himself some LeBron. He is 100% ME>YOU. LeBron just wants to be rich, famous, the best basketball players ever and a winner. So far, hes accomplished A and B. If he cant do C and D here in Cleveland, he'll leave, and make himself look good doing it. ps...Jordan was pretty much the same way. BUT......He won. Over and over and over. I really think, and so does ESPN today after reading all the articles, that the game tonight is the most important game in Cleveland sports history. If we win, game 7 is in Cleveland, LeBron has a chance to redeem himself in front of an entire fan base. Everyone can forget game 5 forever. We could end up winning the championship and possibly many more in the next 5-7 years after he signs his new contract in July. (of course, this is all hypothetical) If we lose, he never plays in Cleveland again. We all think he quit on us, it turns into a Vince Carter/Toronto situation x 10000 and Cleveland basketball suffers forever. We never win a championship, and we all feel betrayed. phew. how was that for a Thursday afternoon rant
Caleb, I agree with much of what you said about LeBron. Scorers are selfish on the court though. While I think LeBron maybe a selfish person off the court, he seems to really care about his teammates. He wants to be liked in the locker room. I think that is what keeps him from being a score first player. Kobe and Jordan didn't care if their teammates like(d) them. They just wanted to win. LeBron could easily average 35+ if he wanted to. Scorers know how to do one thing...score. LeBron can score, but he's not a scorer...but he could be if he wanted to. How was that for confusing? :D
Lebron is the best player on the planet, stats are undeniable across the board...but he just hasn't been LEBRON this series. The other night, he got owned...let a few missed shots rattle him, and removed himself from actively participating in the game all together. True Champs find a way to score and win anyway....Why LBJ settles for so many jumpers is beyond me anyway, Dude could easily take ANYONE to the rim and cram it home every time if he wanted to. I don't buy that he isn't a scorer first, (2nd leading scorer in league regular season by like .3 ppg and currently leads all players still in the playoffs in ppg, Wade and Anthony were higher but both got stomped first round).....The dude scores first, passes second. That said, he is on a terrible team, with a terrible coach, and doesn't seemingly have the willpower/ability to absolutely own a game when it matters. Something I think Kobe will ALWAYS have the edge over him for. Hell the way He/Cavs have played, LBJ isn't even the best player in the series.....Rondo claims that rather easily. Lakers take the Suns, and Magic take the Celtics....and Kobe earns his 5th ring this year. After the dust settles, LBJ leaves Cleveland for a much better supporting cast, much fatter paycheck, and much better city to live in. I see him landing in a Chicago, NYC, Miami type setting...not another Cleveland equivalent. I honestly hope the Bulls land him to become scary good, and the Lakers sign Bosh to create the two most dominant teams in the league yet again next year. LBJ definitely loves himself (But lets not kid ourselves into thinking MJ Kobe and all other greats weren't EXACTLY the same way, hell still are)....he is pretty savvy in being about his money, is the best player in the league when the stakes aren't high, and eventually will become the dominating player we all know he can be in the playoffs. He is still only 25 after all. PLENTY of years ahead to claim rings as the best player on the best team ages across the country...
So far... Lebron has been streaky...but good Andy had good bench minutes.. Jamison isnt in the game yet... Shaq looks ancient... Jamario Moon played great off the bench Mo Williams is playing great with some dumb decisions mixed in... West is playing pretty poorly... At this point ill take the scoreboard. We needs more momentum from James to finish off this quarter... And BTW, Rondo is NASTY
Don't worry Lebron, Get em next year. :D Rondo and his Celtics made quick work of a Cavs team that just gave up. Once Again, LBJ didn't rise above the occasion and find a way to force a win. Magic/Celtics should be a good series in theory, but I still think the Magic take it in 5 games, they are scary good right now.
The team that deserved to win, won last night! The Cavs just gave up! It is a shame to have the season they have had and it to end like it did last night. I could not believe them last 2 minutes of the game. Oh well. Maybe James will stay and try again next year but I have a feeling now that Chicago is looking a little better for him.
Not so sure.... They had an article on ESPN where it showed all Kobe's no-shows...there were a bunch. And they got lucky with alot coming in the Shaq era....
