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A unique take on sports news, updated several times throughout the day.
Is LeBron the new KG?
Like LeBron, Garnett was a straight-from-high school phenom who appeared on the cover of SI before his first NBA game. He proved a natural TV pitchman thanks to his innate coolness. Even better, he impressed hoops aficionados with his advanced all-around skills and unselfishness. But one nagging criticism emerged as Garnett attempted to transform from phenom to champion -- when the game (especially a playoff game) was on the line, he too often passed up the key shot and left the game to be decided by less-talented teammates. Now 11 ring-less seasons have gone by and KG is increasingly an afterthought in the discussion of the game's greatest players. James should be careful that he doesn't find the same fate. On Monday night against the Pistons, LeBron drove the lane in the closing seconds with his team trailing by two. Rather than bull his way to the rim against a collapsing defense that had hounded him all night, he kicked the ball to a wide-open Donyell Marshall for a potential go-ahead 3-pointer. Marshall missed and the Cavs lost. James defended his decision by saying, "The winning play when two guys come at you and a teammate is open is to give it up. It's as simple as that." Fair point. But there are times -- namely, crunch time -- when star players must bear the load themselves. It's similar to a passage from the classic baseball book Summer of '49 by the late David Halberstam about one of the differing views of Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams on whether to take certain pitches. Joe D's point, as recounted by Halberstam, was that if you're counted on as your team's big bopper, it's up to you to drive in runs rather than leave it to the next guy, even if that meant sometimes chasing a pitch slightly outside the strike zone with men on base rather than taking the walk. It might hurt your batting average but it was what's best for the team. Williams, meanwhile, would rather trot to first on a walk than swing at a ball, regardless of the situation. In this case, Joe D is right. The same tenet holds even more true in basketball, where the very best players are expected to take the last shot the majority of the time even when the defense is steeled for just that eventuality. It's part of the very job description. Of course, some level of unselfishness is a virtue even in crunch time. If Marshall's shot had gone down, James would be receiving plaudits rather than second-guesses, just as Jordan got hosannas when John Paxson or Steve Kerr (or even Bill Wennington) hit an open game-winner off his feed. Besides, LeBron is still 22 (!!) and has plenty of time to win a championship, or multiple championships. Then again, that's probably what KG used to think. (UPDATE: But on Thursday night, LeBron should have passed! Just kidding. Here's my take on the Game 2 endgame. Blast away.)
posted by SI.com | View comments |
Comments:When did Garnett become an afterthought.
LeBron James still has a chance to win titles (Jordan was in the league for at least 5-6 years before he won one) but the big issue is by the time he does...
will anyone care about the NBA any more? The east is a joke.
If this was steve nash then that pass would have been a great pass but since it was Lebron James then he did not step up
It is hard to fault LBJ for passing to a wide open guy with a good shot with the night he was having (10points), but it would be nice to see him drive to the basket (seeing as nobody really can stop him) to make a layup, get fouled or an offensive rebound opportunity.
Ummmm? Michael Jordan always always always took the final shot? During crunch time? In the playoffs?
Paxson and Kerr might disagree with that statement. yes i care about the NBA (it's my fav league)..what a stupid question
btw, LeBron has plenty of time to win a title and I think he will (not this year though, cuz the Pistons are going to beat the Cavs) As far as the East being a joke, let's face it, next year the East will not be as bad as it is now..there are several young teams in the east who are going to be really good. The East is going to be way better and in a few years it will catch the western conference (those things are cycliclal..remember when the East was way better than the West?). with this being said, GO PISTONS! BEAT THE CAVS! Hey MJ won't win without Paxson or Kerr either - if the man is open, let them take the shot. That's what LBJ is doing here.
One more big similarity.
Jordan had Pippen. And it's not like Armstrong, Grant and later on Kerr, Paxson and Rodman were slouches. Garnett had...Sprewell and Cassell one year? LeBron has...Z and Hughes? We've been to harsh with Lebron that we need to be reminded that he's only 22. Kobe had Shaq to turn to at that age. And young Jordan received a lot of beatings from the bad boys before he tasted his first championship.
However, MJ's been taking game-winners early in his career and even when in college. That's one thing that LBJ wasn't born with--killer instinct! And that justifies the KG comparison. King4kong, Sactown Even Kerr himself agrees that LBJ made the right decision given that he is not a very good free throw shooter. I wonder though what the reaction would have been if Lebron had gone for it and missed, given that he had an open teammate. Then he would have been vilified not only by the media, but by his teammates to some extent. So, any way you look at it, Lebron did the right thing by doing what Magic would have done and by knowing his limitations.
so passing the ball to a open teammate who hits threes is wrong in the final seconds so if he would have
tried to shoot the ball and gotten blocked than it would have been ok no he did the right thing in that situation He's still young, so give him time. However, if I had to choose an NBA superstar to win the game for me in the waning seconds of a game, I'd have to go with Wade. That man is the definition of clutch.
Please. Lebron made the right play going for the win on the road. You don't try for overtime in that game.
Silly media forcing Lebron to be MJ and then getting upset when he passes. Quit with this garbage. Lebron was always a passer who got the best shot for his team. Dumb tool media. One shot and he's KG? Fricking dumb as rocks media. Kobe goes 8-50 in his game-winners and he's compared to MJ? Friggin dumb tool media. Stop the garbage. No one is MJ. Let these guys be themselves.
Garnett made it past the first round once. Lebron's already done it twice....in three trips to the playoffs.
Please do not compare LeBron James to Kevin Garnett. I don't care about the similarities, LeBron is the most gifted person the NBA has ever had, he is 23 in the conference finals, when he was 22 he was in the conference semi's. And after this season is over he already will have more Playoff Winning experience in 4 years than KG has had in 11.
The double-teamed poor free throw shooter should definitely pass to the wide open three point shooter, it's not his fault Marshall missed, it was the right call.
I'm no fan of LeBron... Too much hype.. still cut him some slack, he's still young. He did show in last year's playoffs that he can hit clutch shots. only time will tell if he is a champ or a chump!
apparently Pete, you are a dumb tool
at least that's what the ever-so-courageous "Anonymous" says Anon. 3:47, I'm impressed by your use of both "fricking" and "friggin" in the same post. I wish I were that type of wordsmith, but I'm obviously hamstrung as a member of the "dumb as rocks media." -- Thanks for reading, Pete
KG is an afterthought? KG doesn't have a ring due to management. He doesn't build the team, he plays with them. It's not his fault that he doesn't have any help on the boards or a consistent #2 man. The one year he went to the WCF, his pg was somebody that was in the CBA earlier that season.
Bron made the right play. The media is killing me with this "shoot even if it's a bad shot b/c you're THE man" nonsense! Smart play Bron! Make the shot Marshall! "If Steve Nash would have made that pass...."
Steve Nash is point guard. He is supposed to make that pass genius. Just think, if LBJ had gone crazy for like, say 14 points that game, the Cavs would have been in the lead and it wouldnt have mattered. King James mailed in a game in the last series, dont be surprised if he does it again in this one. KG is still the best all around player in the NBA. LeBron may one day have that title. If you think taking a bad shot you will most likely miss rather then pass to a teammate with a good chance to make the shot makes you a bad basketball player that shows why Kobe and AI are considered great they would rather miss a shotthan allow a teammate to take one.
The East is a joke? Didn't the last 2 champions come from the East?
I remember hearing the same thing for the past 2 seasons. Maybe the good teams in the East are better suited for playoff basketball. The Suns are a great regular season team. That and a TV set will let you watch the finals. It is ridiculous to blame Garnett for his playoff struggles. Garnett more than any other player in the league (James is probably second) has to win by himself, or at least not lose 60 games, like the T-Wolves would without him. The one season he had a couple of good teammates, he led the T-Wolves to the the NBA's best record and the conference finals. But even that year, without Garnett would the T-Wolves have even made the playoffs. Also, it's harder for a power forward/center like Garnett to dominate than it is fo a small forward like James, which is why the Cavs should win a title in the next 3-4 years. Finally, and I say this achingly as a diehard Yankees fan, ironically the "selfishness" of taking a walk rather that swinging at a ball is better for your team than swinging at the slightly bad pitch. Unless you are an all-star batting in front of the pitcher or the winning run is on third (but not bases loaded) it is important to get on base in whatever way possible. Walks may not be glamorous, but they are essential to a team winning. The best lineups are always the ones with the most walks, not the most home runs.
I think LBJ will turn out more like Magic Johnson than Jordan. Jordan was a pure scorer, like Kobe, who could pass if necessary. James is a much more complete player, if not nearly the scorer. He is likely to have a couple seasons of 32/8/7.
Glad to read the NBA is your "fav league."
Is Paris Hilton your "fav celeb" or Jay Z your "fav musician"? I'm old enough (and I suppose Pete and a few others are too) to recall this phrase: "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." The East is a joke? Are you kidding me? Which conference won the title last year? What does that West have that's so remarkable? Nothing but a bunch of choking ass wannabes that own the regular season and then get owned in the playoffs. If there is a West champion this year i hope it's the Spurs since they're the closest thing to a tough, grind it out east team. If not go Pistons all the way! Lebron is still too green ;) to be a champion. All this talk about passing the ball is right on point, a player of his level should never pass the ball in single coverage. He could've drove to the basket but he was too afraid to choke at the free throw line - what a joke.
I live in Ohio and USED to be a LeBron fan. But when the games is on the line the best players have to take over and LeBron does not do that. He will never when a championship because he lacks that killer instinct. He needs to get the eye of the tiger!
It's amazing how a lie can be repeated so much that it becomes the truth to most people. KG has been clutch in the clutch. Remember that monster three he hit over Chris Webber to win the series against the Kings. He finished with 30+ points and 20+ rebounds that game.
Can we please stop calling LeBron James LBJ. For those out there who are ignorant of this fact, LBJ is already a taken name. And the real LBJ was actually a person of importance in this world. Not some inconsequential, over-hyped, over-paid athlete.
Keep rubbing it in. It just accelerates this superior young athletes learning curve. He is the first LeBron James, not another Jordan, Garnett, Magic or anyone else, all great players who have stumbled once or twice. He does more with less than any superstar in the league. His competitive nature will just rise to another level. Garnett is great but he has not shown the competitive nature it takes to win it all. LeBron's hunger has taken him to the conference finals in his 2d postseason appearance. The series has just begun, keep rubbing it in, Please! We will all be Witnesses to more of his greatness. Enough said.
So if LeBron goes for the layup and misses it, people start yelling at him because he didn't hit the wide open man on the wing.
I can't really fault him for his action, and he was cold the whole night... I have never seen anyone criticize a 22 year old more in my life. If Marshall would have made the shot, which he should have because there was no one 10 feet from him, LeBron would be the hero, finishing with a triple-double, leading his team to a win over the mighty Pistons IN Detroit. Now that the shot didnt fall, James is a goat and the whole league is on his back for not maturing to make clutch shots when the kid is supposed to be a senior in college! You damn critics sicken me!
Lebron James will most likely never win a title with the CAVS.
KG is in a similar situation...thats why KG is going to the LAKERS. After this years playoffs in the WEST, it is clear that teams are beatable and the LAKERS have a great chance once they get KG. Kobe loves playing with Big Men who know the game. LeBron got out of the first round his first try. How about KG?
Pete McEntegart: Once LeBron leads the Cavs to a series win over the Pistons, make sure you leave this article and the following opinionated and critical comments up for another 3 months so you can see what Witnesses you will be.
Several things:
I recall reading a stat from Elias that said Michael Jordan shot something like 32% in game tying or game winning shots. That sounds, to me, like a bad decision about 17% of the time. As for James, he made the right play. A journeyman like Robert Horry lives forever in the hoops pantheon, because people got him the ball with 2 seconds left. Nobody ever gave Magic any grief about the key pass. Or Bird. Tim Duncan has been known, quite frequently to pass to the wing, when doubled or tripled. This is all emblematic of everything that is wrong, with basketball, today. Score, score, score. Shoot.Shoot. Me.Me.Me. The top 2 players in the history of the game ( for those Stern following drones, they are Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson, not MJ) had a great sense of what was going on around them, and still a killer instinct. Lebron James, had that trey fallen, would have had a triple double, and a prescient pass to win the game. Charles Barkley may be amusing, but I don't think he has ever been accused of being clever. And he is dead wrong in his criticism. - Doc Sorry, anonymous, the East did not win the past 2 championships, the Spurs won in the 04-05 season.
And the East is not weak this year? Facts are facts, folks, only 3 E.C. teams had winning records against the West this year: Cleveland, Detroit, and Miami. 8 teams in the West had winning records against E.C. teams, not counting the team that was 50/50. But, like another poster said, these things run in cycles. Whats77inaname, ATX stop crying. it doesnt matter on wheter he should have shot it or passed it. the final outcome has already been decided. it was meant t0 be like this wheter he shot it or not.
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine the other day, on who would you rather have Dwayne Wade or Lebron James. I said based on the past couple of years is Dwayne Wade, because I saw him making a significant amount more than I saw Lebron. I don't have statistics, but I think Pete is right, Lebron does not have that killer instinct, and if he wants this team to succeed he's going to have to start developing it.
smart play....marshall just missed..its not even a story...go back to talking bout Jessica Simpson
What a rubbish debate. LBJ did absolutely the right thing. It's not about killer instinct. There are times when it is right to take the potential game winning shot and there are times when it is right to pass to an open teammate who can hit 3's for the game winning shot. MJ knew that. And LBJ knew that. The latter was the right thing to do in this case. End of story. The fact it didn't work doesn't make it the wrong play or LBJ a non-clutch player. P.S. Forget Wade, although I'm not a fan Arenas is the number one clutch player in the league followed by B.Davis and Chauncey 'MR.Big Shot' Billups.
why is it that Lebron passes to an open teammate and gets critizes becauuse he misses. what if steve nash makes that pass and shawn marion or raja bell misses would you say he made the wrong choice
I agree....since when did KG become an afterthought? Some of the greatest to play the game never got a ring. Stockton. Malone. Barkley. Reggie Miller. Grant Hill. All of them are far from afterthoughts of the games greatest player. While none of them stand up to the biggest test of all....Jordan....all of them are great players and at least three of them are Hall of Famers...Stockton, Malone, and Hill. Barkley (has he made it yet?) if he hasn't made it MAY one day and I am iffy on Miller because he was just a shooter. A great ONE but I belive you need to do more than shoot to get in the hall.
Gotta tell ya that I don't spend a lot of time thinking about Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Karl Malone or John Stockton as the greatest players of all time. Stockton does make a case for greatest PG ever. And one could make a case that Malone re-invented th 4. When I think of the greatest players, I think of Russell, Robertson, Jabbar, Magic, Bird, West, Chamberlin, Jordan, Dr. J, and Dominique Wilkins ( In that order) There are a lot of players who would cme before Kevin Garnett, and probably any of the 4 mentioned.
I think it is idiotic fopr people in the media to bash lebron just by not taking the final shot during game one. He Marshal Made that three, everybody in the media would be saying how an unselfish play by LEBRON JAMES won the game. Media would say that james is an excellent passer, great eye for the open man, can play good without scoring, blah blah blah! He tried to pass to a guy that can win the game and was shoting good that night.
Barkley got a ring in 1983.
i thought lebron made the right play.
If LeBron James is the new "King" of the NBA, I think I'll enter the draft next year to try to save what's left of the league's pride.
If Marshall was Michael Redd would anybody be having this debate right now? I think the problem here is that nobody around Lebron besides Varajao is worth a damn. If he had a talented, clutch shooter to pass to we would all celebrate how great his court vision was to see Peja/Redd/Bird/Kerr/etc...etc
Hard to believe KG gets so much crap. He's Tim Duncan without a supporting cast + he can make free throws. MJ, Magic, LeBron, etc. - all guards... they have the ball in their hands at crunch time. KG is a power forward - BIG difference. The rap he has gotten for not taking the big shot is a joke.
Lebon not win? Garnett is one of the most overrated players ever. Lebron has exceeded all the hype so far.
If you are going to compare a young superstar to Garnett, make it Carmelo. He has yet to get out of the first round, and is too good to let his team fall to the lottery to get a good player, but not good enough to carry a mediocre team to the next level.
I can't believe that Lebron is getting criticized. He is getting criticized for making a smart play? I mean come on. If Marshall hits that shot (which he is totally capable of doing and is the only reason he is still in the league) then Lebron is praised for making a good decision. If I was the coach I would be pretty darn happy with the way that play turned out and would live with the results.
'Lebron doesn't have a killer instinct'? I mean how can you say that. I have seen Lebron hit plenty of game winners. You don't expect your stars, your leaders to necessarily make shots at the end of games but you do expect them to make plays and that is what Lebron did. He made a good play by drawing defenders and getting an open look for a teammate. His teammate just missed it. I mean how would Jordan have looked if Kerr missed his game winner, or Paxson. Or what if Dennis Johnson had missed that layup after Bird made that great steal. Basketball is a team game and in order to win you need a good team. Even Jordan had Pippen (and a bunch of solid role players who made shots when they needed too i.e. Kerr, Paxson) Bird had McHale, Magic had Kareem. How many championships has Kobe won since Shaq left town? Who does KG have? Who does Lebron have? Lebron is a very good player and time will tell if he will be a great one. But he will become a great one by CONTINUING to make good decisions. Because that was a good decision and the right decision. It just had a poor result and that is not Lebron's fault. LEBRON MAY NOT BE THE NEXT KG. HE IS THE NEXT MAGIC JOHNSON, COZ HE PASSES RATHER THAN SHOOTS. THE NEXT MICHAEL JORDAN IS DWAYNE WADE, WHO IS NOT AFRAID TO SHOOT BUT CAN PASS WELL AND DEFEND TOO.
We can’t use his age as a reason for his immaturity, today’s athletes are more mature then yesterdays. Physically and mentally they are well schooled for the pressure. They have been hyped, signed endorsement deals, and have their own shoe before they do anything substantial (he often played on ESPN as a high schooler). Physically with all the coaching they receive as prepsters: going to camps, playing AAU combined with trainers and science to enhance their bodies; they come in as vets. They are paid like vets with contracts plus endorsements, plus attention they receive- they better produce like vets
Now lets talk about his teammates Drew Gooden is pretty darn good (statistically best offensive rebounder in the league), so is Illguaskus, and Sasha Pavlovich is no slouch. Everyone talks about how unselfish LBJ is but how many times is he going to pound the ball into the ground for 20 seconds, then take a fall away three pointer. Or wait in the corner while his team runs a play. Just cause u pass doesn’t make u a team player. He doesn’t play within the system. Let’s be honest, the guy has a freak body, but he lacks a consistent jump shot (I cant watch him take another fall away 3) and he lacks heart. No one brings up the 3 offensive rebounds the Pistons grabbed last year in game 7 during the closing seconds, when LBJ was the biggest and best athlete on the court. Those rebounds gave Detroit that series. That is lack of heart. The guy didn’t even get to the foul line in the most important game of the season last night. Again lack of heart. He is lacking defensively, lack of heart. LBJ is basically a decent basketball player with tremendous athleticism, who can pass a little but not much else. Give me Tony Parker, Boozer, Deng, and a host of other guys who are more complete ball players. This kid hasn’t done anything to warrant his God like stature. why do people keep on saying the east is a joke? look at the past 3 years: detroit wins, detroit losses in 7, miami wins...so yeah, the east is really such a joke there!
LJ = KG in winning big games? Really? KG's playoff record includes one conference final after 6 straight first round exits. LJ's record includes making the conference semis and conference finals in just two playoff visits. Sorry, but LeBron already has a better record of winning big games in just four seasons than KG has in an entire career.
In response to "If this was steve nash then that pass would have been a great pass but since it was Lebron James then he did not step up"
Dude reality check, Nash isn't 6-8, built like a tank, can sky and crown it on guys, and has never been a double or triple team scorer. Conversely, Lebron's role on his team is to carry the offensive load and score. Take a closer look at the Cav's roster, not much help there. Nash is blessed with teammates that can put up numbers. It's his job to see to it that they get the ball at the right moment and in good position to cash in. Sorry man, there is a big difference. Nash isn't Lebron and does not have the scorers skill set. Your argument doesn't hold water. it is just plain unfair to blame lebron james for making the right decision. He had no control whatsoever over marshall not being able to do his job which is make oooooooooooooopen shots. We see enough Kobe forcing and dictating shots to know one player's basketball brillance can not win a title. By the way the main connection between Lebron and KG to this point both have been let down by ownership surrounding them with the talent they deserve.
You got it wrong man. It´s not only about not getting a ring, its about being a bit too unselfish in a crunch time situation where you have a good chance of getting a shot at winning the game for your team. All the players you mentioned, malone, reggie, barkley, hill and even stockton would have taken that last (open) shot in stead of passing it (houston natives probably remember what he did to them in a decisive game 7 some years ago).
You saved this article with "Besides, LeBron is still 22 (!!) and has plenty of time to win a championship, or multiple championships." Give the kid a break already.
And how can anyone call the east a joke? One word for you: Dallas. When the Heat were down 2, in last years playoff game, Dwayne Wade dribbled through the ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS! Every last one of his teamates were "open", but he decided that I'd rather win or lose on my shot, because I'm the best player on this team! Until Labron decides to do the same, he will not win. Was it a good pass? yes. Was it the "proper" thing to do? yes. DID IT WORK? HELL NO! So if you want to call yourself King James, start acting like the king, and be a man and take the big shot!
WWDWD?
What would Dwyane Wade Do? How quick people want to bury the "King". It is hard to believe that you do not see the intellect and courage it took from him to try and win the game. Trying to tie the game and giving the officials the chance to make the decision to call a foul (when questionably they had not all game) or pass to the open teammate with a wide open 3 point look is a "no brainer". Marshall let his team down not LeBron. Carmelo Anthony is more like KG than any other player. LeBron is the first LeBron. Show this article again in ten years you'll see what I mean. "We are all Winesses"
The great player makes the great play. In this case that's driving towards and hoop and dishing to open teammates. The great player doesn't always make the shot. That's something Kobe is still learning.
Also: this comparison might be valid if Lebron had never made the playoffs. He's in the Eastern Conference Finals with a bunch of scrubs. Barkley did not get a ring.....in his one chance he passed the ball to Frank Johnson in the finals in the last 30 seconds of the game, six I think. Johnson missed the shot and the Suns lost the series. End of story.
If Donyell hits that shot, everyone lauds LeBron for being unselfish and making the right decision with the defense that was thrown at him. Come on. When Jordan found Wennington, Paxson, or Kerr for wide open critical shots in the closing moments, what was said about him? That his game was at the next level because he trusted his teammates...if Lebron takes that shot with 3 defenders all taller than him mauling him, everyone rattles that he can't make the big shot. It's a lose lose situation with you morons in the media. The kids a tremendous baller, leave it at that.
PS- Even though I do wish he'd hit his free throws in crunch time. Lebron was getting hacked all night long and the refs were not calling a single foul on him. LBJ did the right thing in lloking for the open man. And on the Ted WIlliams joe dimaggio point, ted is the best hitter to play the game. THat is why he batted .400 and no one else has.Lebron in jesus w/ a jumpshot and will do big things. He has a very poor supporting cast, give him one other "start" and the cavs will be a dominant team, give him a Scottie Pippen, and/or even a steve Kerr and the cavs come thru in the clutch.
KG has not NOT played with anybody the person to blame is Kevin Mchale who sold the organization down the river for Smith....
LJ made the right basketball play.. if the guy hits the shot we are praising him.. What the heck? The kid works his butt off for this team. When you go for the win, sometimes it doesnt work. Its a learning experience and he'll take that with him. I would have called the play for Sasha actually. Donyell was 0-1 that nite. Had this been the last game against the Nets, no prob. But donyell was having a crappy nite. Thats Mike B.'s decision, not Lebron's. Trust me...Lebron is JUST fine.
LeBron is still young so it dont mater!!!
hey, you down there, east is a joke? 2 of the last 3 nba tites were won by the east...and the other one went 2 7 games...
Keep in mind the Cavs would not EVEN BE IN THE PLAYOFFS IF IT WERE NOT FOR LBJ!! Get off the guy's case already! LeBron tried for the win and the shot did not fall--it happens!
Lebron blows! Cavs should have drafted Darko instead...
The thing Jordan and Wade understood, is that the NBA is an entertainment venue first and an athletic competition second. Stars are given a TON of opportunity that role players are not. Lebron goes to the hole, a whistle would be blown no matter what. Passing was the right basketball thing to do, but not the right NBA thing to do. Soon as he figures out he is an entertainer and not an athlete, he will take the layup on the triple team every time.
If Lebron made the basket, the Cavs would have tied it up. He chose to go for the win when he passed it. Since when is going for the win over tying it up a sign that someone is lacking a killer instinct?
"The guy didn’t even get to the foul line in the most important game of the season last night. Again lack of heart."
Uh, I think LeBron drove plenty and got contact numerous times. The refs would not blow their whistle after the 1st quarter! The Pistons are so good they only committed 4 fouls in the entire 2nd half...what a joke. Rip Hamilton tried to foul LBJ by grabbing him on a break-away and the refs didn't think Rip grabbed him hard enough evidently. LeBron got the anti-Wade treatment this game and the Cavs still had a chance to win on the road. Fact: Didn't this same media PRAISE Jason Kidd non-stop for these type of games (10pts, 10reb, 9ast) last series? If Z or Donyell had hit their shots with under 45sec left, LeBron had a triple-double and the Cavs had a win. Fact: Charles Barkley has no business being an analyst on TNT. Of course he will bad-mouth LeBron because he has hated on the Cavs the past 2 seasons. At halftime (with the Cavs up 6), Barkley didn't say anything positive about the Cavs, it was about how bad Detroit was playing. Question Charles, what was causing Detroit to play so badly? Maybe Cleveland's defense... KG and LeBron's similarities end at both being high schoolers-to-the-NBA players. Maybe if LeBron starts flopping and contorting his body after contact he will start getting fouls called like D-Whistle. i'm so mad at the t-wolves for not building a better team around KG. dude needs to get selfish, demand a trade, and get to a contender. that'll but this 'afterthought' crap to rest.
Did everyone forget that Lebron hit 2 GAME WINNERS in last years playoffs? People, he is not afraid to take the last shot if he is one on one or even has a clean lane, but the fact is he was tripled 35 feet from the basket last night and a triple team was on its way. If Lebron doesnt have confidence in a 3 point specialist from the short corner to make that pass, then he wouldnt be the player that he is. The fact remains that the more his teamates miss these shots the worse it is going to get for him. I find it truly sad to watch these games, becuase we see a great player getting nuetered by the Pistons defensive scheme, and the other Cavaliers arent good enough to do anything about it.
Let us go back in history:
The Detroit Pistons had back-to-back 50-32 seasons before winning their 1st title this decade. Guess what the Cavaliers record has been the past 2 seasons? 50-32! LeBron has the Cavaliers in a great position for this year and the next 5-10 years. LeBron made the "winning choice" on the Cavs last possession. The thing is, LeBron cares about the CAVALIERS. The media doesn't. The media doesn't have LA or NY or Chicago in the Finals so they are reaching for horrible stories and trying to create DRAMA. --------------------------------- Garnett is a great player on an average team year after year. It's like taking John Stockton away from Karl Malone and telling Karl to go win a championship. I would KG compare to Carmelo Anthony to him as far as team success goes. Although, I would take KG anyday over Carmelo. lebron this, lebron that. last year 1 SI Writer wrote this article about lebron's triple double go down playoff history's books. WHAT A JOKE HAHAHAHA.
Stop building Lebron as the next Jordan. No one can ever be. Lebron is not even as good as Kobe. Posted: May 22, 2007 11:06 PM by Anonymous Barkley got a ring in 1983. Say what? Barkley was drafted in 1984, after being cut by Bobby Knight from the gold medal Olympic squad. That's why he went to Houston ring hunting at the end of his career, trying to come back from injury. get pete or all the nba "writers" a break. They are doing it for the money..... So when I see these stupid titles, I just say how many articles they have to fill in CNNSI and you will know that there will be some stupid comments. oh well.
I don't see the comparison between Lebron and KG. KG can barely even win a playoff series while the Cavs are improving every year. In 5 years go ahead and compare the two but for now give Lebron a chance to improve.
Jordan, Kobe, Wade, whoever you want to compare LeBron to, did not score a weak 10 points and pass up the final shot in a conference final game. LeBron doesn't get paid millions to be the 4th leading scorer on the team. End of story
I think we are overreacting on the pass that LeBron made. Have we all forgotten about the game winning shots LeBron took and made last year against the Wizards? I can still remember people saying how great a player he already is at a very early stage of his career, how he is living up to the hype. I don't think LeBron is afraid to take the last shot, he just thought passing the ball to a wide open teammate, on his favorite spot, no less, is the better play in that situation.
You know, KG doesn't have any rings because Kevin McHale is a numbskull. The Joe Smith thing totally screwed that team, but not as much as trading Ray Allen for Dumb-bury on draft day 96. If you had Allen and KG together for 10 years, plus a few more #1 picks, they would've been in the conference finals more than once and been really competitive with those Jazz, Spurs, Kings, Lakers, and Blazers teams around the Millenium. But no such luck. Same deal right now in Cleveland. Danny Ferry needs to get a real ream around LeBron. They just don't have the right pieces and now that they're a perennial playoff team, they won't have any luck with the draft. LeBron should've taken that shot, but he has to take his lumps, and the Cavs are right there with the Pistons and this series could definitely go the distance. Still, LeBron needs to take his smile and his influence and convince someone to come help him shoulder the load by the lake, but considering the state of the east, even as is the Cavs could be get to the finals this year and any of the next few years, too. They should talk to Memphis about Pau this offseason, since they're probably going to sell that team piece by piece so they can fit what's left in one mid-sized truck and move it to KC, OKC, Louisville, or Monterrey, Mexico, where they might be able to draw some actual interest. I love Memphis, but that team is screwing with people's heads in that city...but I digress. LeBron will be fine. KG's made hundreds of millions, he could buy a ring from someone. No worries.
Give me a break, if anyone knows basketball and have been coach to played the game knows that LeBron made the right decision, when 2 men are on you and another man is running toward you, you pass the ball to an open teammare. The last time I look Marshall is also getting paid to play basketball and if the coach didn't have faith in him he wouldn't have been in the game at that time. KG is an afterthought ? Please give me a break, when did that happen !!!!!
Ironic how LeBron is getting grilled on a play where he made the right decision. I think McEntegart has nothing to write about and just wants to create a spark when nothing's there. Furthermore, to compare this with Joe D's ridiculous comment about stepping up and taking the risk of swinging away even though it makes sense to give your team a better shot at winning if you didn't, is funny at best. If you can make something happen and you have the power to do so, then by all means. If not, don't force the issue because last I checked, basketball is a team sport and Jordan still had to play with four other guys especially the one's that bailed him out like Kerr and Paxson. LeBron did the right thing and he'll learn in time when to elevate his game in the playoffs to a legendary level as its in him. Everyone has growing pains so stop trying to turn LeBron into Jordan when he's obviously not and stop making Garnett sound like he's the Dan Marino of basketball because he isn't.
Alright, what LeBron did in that game by passing off was the right decision. I mean Anyone who has been in the league as long as Donyell Marshall has a very good shot of knocking down that shot to steal a victory on the road.
LeBron should not be compared to anyone, he is LeBron and in a couple of years some new hotshot will come along and be the next MJ. I mean at first it was AI, then Kobe, and now LeBron. Give it up let these players be themselves and let MJ be the one and only MJ. With that said LeBron is more closer to MJ than KG. MJ won a lot of series with a group of role players, just like LBJ is right now. MJ did not become great until he got a great role player (not one of the 50 greatest players) in Scottie Pippen. Pippen is possibly the most overrated player of all time, he was only considered to be that good because he played with Jordan, if Pippen played for any other team then he would have been no better than a Ginobli, a good solid player that can contribute to a championship calliber team but not one of the 50 greatest players of all time. When LeBron gets his role player he will then start to win some championships. Go Pistons! Treat LeBron just like you did MJ in the late 1980's! Didn't the EAST win it all last year?!?!?!?ummmm
I THINK SO!!!!! This is nothing but media created talk. I guess you guys need to stir something up all the time.
Leave the kid alone, he is still a phenom. I have to disagree with you on this one Pete. If LeBron had gone for the dunk and missed then he would be ripped for not dishing it to an open team mate. Would you have been a ripper? As an armchair coach, like myself, it's easy to second guess. I think he did the right thing in trying to win the game.
Lebron made the right decision as you recall Paxson and Kerr and Big Shot Bob made game winning shots and not to mention John Paxson was the MVP of that series, yes they would have not won without MJ but without Paxson (shot 60%) the bulls would have lost also. Marshall makes that shot and everbody is a genious !!!! LBJ is what 12, give him some time !!! Plus LBJ shot zero free throws and was not fouled, ya right, I seen plenty of contact!!!
The NBA dictates what they want, it's a business not a sport anymore. This type of business management has ruined the game all the way to the High School level now !!!! The NBA and All Sports have serious issues for true fans of the game cause its all about the business not the Love of the Game anymore, incuding players!!! For players they would rather get an extra million dollars than even think of wining a championship. I'm not saying sports are rigged but they is a lot of favortism in sports, its become way too political like everything else in life !!!! Chemistry is what makes Championships along with a good Coach and GM. KG earlier in his career should have been criticized for not trying to step up and try to be the man but managemenet failed in a big way to support KG and has managed to ruin the whole team while having one of the best players in the game !!! The other Kevin (McHale) needs to go not KG !!!! I use to be a season ticket holder (and blame KG), not anymore, never again until McHale is gone !!!!!! Bottom Line: Tell the Media to quit making such a big deal of hindsight (20/20) and focus on some positive things once. MJ is MJ and LBJ is LBJ, there will never be another MJ or Larry or Magic, Dr. J, Pistol Pete, Wilt or Iceman or Big "O", etc. !!!! Drop the comparisons and let these people be who they are and quit cursing them by labeling them the next MJ for there is and only will be one MJ !!! Too many players careers have been ruined by this !! I can't even watch sports or the news half the time since it's mostly negative or controversial cause it sells or political !!!!! Just My Opinion but I feel a lot better after venting. And yes I am also a Big Rube when it comes to sports but I am an honest Rube who wants the thrill of the sport back not the thrill of the business or media !!!!!! Peace & Out !!! If Marshall makes that shot, not only does Lebron get glorified, but he has a triple double! He made the right move passing the ball. Anyone who has ever played basketball on a team in their lifetime knows that if you are double teamed, there is a man open. You get that guy the ball. Besides, Marshall did hit SIX THREES against New Jersey. Even the PISTONS TEAM was saying that it was the right move. So lay the hell off Lebron. It was a smart play with a bad outcome. Even though he is the superstar, he still needs to show that he has confidence in his teammates, no matter who it is!
Nobody would have ever criticized Magic or Bird for passing to an open teammate for a game winning bucket. In fact, no one would have criticized Jordan either, even though he is always the example being held up in articles like these. This is what is wrong with the SportsCenter era of the NBA -- players only get credit for being the "man", i.e. taking all the shots, and making highlight reels. Too bad that the highlights never show all the last second clankers I've seen "superstars" throw up. We don't need more superstar ballhogs that shoot 44% and make 10% of those last second baskets. I give credit to Lebron for being a great player that plays the right way.
Another classic example of a sports columnist overanalyzing. Jordan would never have won any of those championships without a supporting cast, nor would Bill Russell, Kobe Bryant, or just about anyone. It takes a team to win a championship. Unfortunately, Kevin Garnett has never played on a great team, and Lebron has yet to. Pretty simple, unless you're trying to create some scenario to make yourself look smart when you're really just overlooking the obvious.
Go to youtube and watch highlights of game 4 of the 2000 nba finals between lakers and pacers
in OT and on thr road, Shaq fouled out of the game, Kobe completely took over, hitting a succession of huge, game-saving shots. An he was as old as Lebron is now. LJ dishing the ball at that point in the game is irrelevant. That game was within reach and on the road. He needed to take over in the 4th quarter and not shy away of driving to the basket. 0 ft attempts? That dish at the end was irrelevant. This was a BAD game for LJ. He'll win a ring though. if lebron hasn't won anything 7 years from now, then we can start the comparison.
geeze, let's just let one game go by without making these blanket generelizations. or...while were at it...williams and boozer should retire after this year. they are the next stockton malone, so we all know what that means. they'll never win. so, why not save the fans in utah all the stress and just hang 'em up. another brainless article by another brainless talking head who refuses to do any real journalism; instead they pick apart a rather routine play and make it a headline story. Jordan, Bird, Magic, Hakeem...any of those names ring a bell; as i recall i think they pass the ball to a wide open teammate a time or two at the end of a game.
The criticism should not be focused on the one play, the criticism should be focused on the fact that he only scored 10 points and was the fourth leading scorer on the team. You can't compare his numbers to Jason Kidd's because Kidd is a point guard, LeBron is not. Kidd is usually the third scoring option on his team, sometimes the fourth. LeBron is the primary scorer on the team and he had 10. Jordan, Kobe, Carter, Wade, never had 10 in a conference final.
Lebron James= PURE PRODUCT OF HYPE!!!! he cant defend, he cant hit free throws, doesnt try to shoot in the fourth quarter and looks scared to death when he touches the ball in the closing seconds. all this and HE is the one that thinks he is Michael Jordan. for someone that things they are MJ, shouldnt they take over the game in the closing seconds? "I saw the open man and passed to him" sounds scared to me.
Why do people keep saying "We are witnesses." Lebron James plays a kids' game. He does not save people from fires or floods. He does not feed the poor or deliver the Word of God. Grow up! I wish that this ghetto glorification would end. Idolize someone who matters. If you must idolize an NBA star make it David Robinson. At least he works with kids in his hometown and cares about people in general. the ability to dunk does not make one important or glorious. This country's sick habit of idolizing the unimportant needs to stop. The young generations of this land are dillusional. I believe this and I am only 24.
lebron is the next penny hardaway.
The pass and missed shot would be moot if the refs had called at least a few fouls on Detroit when LeBron did take shots during the game. If LeBron had gotten foul shots then the Cavs would not have found themselves down by 2 with one shot left.
The pass/score play was the period on an overall uninspiring game. Granted, the team around him stinks. But it's more than fair to ask the question: What is more important to Lebron? Winning & losing? Or becoming a global icon?
There are a bunch of idiots out there. I played and started highschool ball from the 7th grade to 12th. I took about 15- 20 "crunch time shots". I would of made the same play. When the game is on the line you go with the best shot. Why should he have taken that shot? He hadn't shot a free throw the whole night. He got abused not to the point that Nash did but still. He did the smartest thing at that time. The only reason anyone even questions LeBron is because of Skip Bayless. The kid is still just that a kid. He is at this point in his career better then anyone else at his age. He is what 6'10" ish? He isn't Jordan. He is closer to Magic. Kobe is the closest thing to MJ in the L right now. Leave dude alone. We are questioning a kid who was so hyped up that he was the most popular player in the NBA without even playing a game. It was stated by several GM's he would have been the number 1 pick in the draft as a Junior in HS. LeBron is a PG in a SF's body. Thats MAGIC not MJ. He will win his Rings and then he will be justified. You want to compare someone to KG? Then compare T-Mac. Overrated. He is one of the best players in the NBA and can't get out of the first round. Use your heads people.
Fact: The west is stronger than the east. The competition in the west is at such a high level that the west champion is running low on gas and tricks by the time they play in the championship game. KG has had trouble getting out of the first round for that same fact. There are just too many good teams to get over on the west. Look at denver this year. I doubt the nets would have made the play offs in the west.
Labron needs to deliver in the clutch. Any star player will get double teamed when the game is on the line so there is always an open team mate when he drives. The difference is that the real stars (MJ, Kobe...may be D. Wade) still force their will on the other team and take the shot with all the consequences that come with the decision. That last play on Game 1 involving LBJ and Marshall just serves as a wake-up call to his teammates to step up on a situation like that. Not all last-second plays should be with LBJ.
he has facial dysmorfia. just like greg oden. but greg oden is more likeable. anyways, LBJ looks like crap and plays like it.
First of all, Lebron isnt what he's cracked up to be. He is in a mediocre conference where if his team were in the western conference, they would have the same record as the Kings or the Hawks. LeBron wouldnt be making headlines the way he is right now. Talk about being at the right place at the right time. If his Cavs were in the West, We wouldnt be having this Blog.
If anyone or anything is an afterthought, it would be the Eastern Conference. Put Lebron with KG's supporting cast in the West and see how he does. Lebron has had to go through the Wizards (minus Arenas) and a totally average NBA team in the Nets. There's a difference between that and having to constantly play the Lakers, Spurs or Mavericks in the first round like KG has had to his entire career. Is KG a cold-blooded finisher? Maybe not. But he's good enough to be able to build a championship team around as long as your GM isn't completely retarded. Unfortunately that's what KG's been faced with his entire career.
If Marshall knocked down the shot then we would be saying good things about Lebron and highlighting his passing skill and his prescence of mind to make the play.
Another point is if Lebron took the shot and missed then people will think Lebron is a ball hog who could have dished to a wide open Marshall. LBJ has a long way to go. Its dumb to label KG an after thought.
What (most) everyone in the media is missing is that the issue is not LBJ taking the last shot at all...If that 3-ball goes down, the Cavs go up 1-0 on the road against the favored Pistons. If not, then they take another wack at it in game 2.
Strategically, a very heads up play in the playoffs. Besides, if LBJ takes it to the hole for the tie, who knows what happens in OT on the road. I like that 3-point shot every single time. there is no doubt that the superstar should usually take it upon himself. in this case however, things were different. at that point in time at the end of the game, the cavs needed the dagger that would end the game. if lebron had scored (and that was no sure thing with prince in his face) the cavs would have only been tied. i would think in overtime at home the pistons would have come out on top. so...the question to the cavs is ..do you want one shot, a three by marshall where if you hit it you win the game, if you miss it you lose? put that way, there's no way you don't take the three on the road to win the game.
andrew LBJ is already way of Garnett at comparable ages of their respective careers. In fact LBJ is already ahead of him in terms of playoff experience. It seems certain that Lebron will put his name on just about every major record in the NBA. Most of his current records are... youngest to reach certain milestones. In other words, watch out, this is just the beginning. We will easily be watching Lebron for another dozen years or so. Expect to see the unbelievable from him. But he will win a championship!!!
Since when did being "unselfish" become such a stigma? Basketball is a team game. Did MJ and all the other so-called greats play 1 on 5? I wish they did so you can see how inept an individual really is in a team sport. I will abhor the day that LBJ listens to the media to become a more “selfish” player.
yeah, LeBron is the next KG...and only Kobe Bryant is comparable to MJ...
LaBron at 22 years old has great b-ball fundamentals, in spite of the fact of coming straight from high school. As a long-time High School b-ball coach with two state championships and who has had his share of great scorers, when you primary scorer is double-teamed on a drive to the basket and your teamate is wide open with a chance to win the came....you make that pass! LaBron has great court awarness for is age, better than MJ did at age 22 and better than Kobe ever will. One individual does not win a championship....a good team does that maximizes its strengths and moves the ball around to wide open shooters when the option presents itself. We won a league championship game on a simalar play when our leading scorer passed the ball for the game-winning shot to an open teamate. All Cleveland needs to win multiple championships is a great pure shooter to compliment LaBrons great all around game.
I'm a big KG fan... Ouch. Just reading the title hurts. Why are people giving up on KG already? I'm upset.
Pete, you dont know what your talking about. Garnett an afterthought ?? Your a moron.
Anon. 2:23,
I may indeed be a moron, but KG was named third-team All-NBA this year, not first or second. I don't think at the moment he's one of the first three or perhaps even five names people instantly think of when they talk about the game's current best player; right now it's more about Kobe, LeBron, Nash, Dirk, Duncan, Stoudemire, etc. That's what I meant by "increasingly an afterthought in the discussion of the game's greatest players." Obviously you are free to disagree, as you have. But that's where I'm coming from. -- Thanks for reading, Pete He's been in the league how long? He may have some time left. I hadn't heard he was retiring soon. Is this column a joke? Must have been a slow day.
Wha... why are you dogging KG for not having a supporting cast?!
(oh -- because of that $100M contract) I forgot. Still KG is a not the the guy you design shots around; he is not the shooter. KG has all around game and needs a pure (and clutch) scorer in which to feed the rock. Which is something that he hasn't had in Min. Trade the man to LA (Lakers) and see how many rings he winds up with by the end of his career. This is why Wade is the best of his class! Wade knows how to take over a game and carry the load regardless of the defense thrown at him. He'll beats teams down driving to the basket, with jump shots or at the foul line. Wade is the Best as he proved in last years playoff run where he averaged over 30.
No it wasn't the wrong move! LeBron got it right. It's called "court discipline" and any REAL player knows this!
For those taking cheap shots at KG, how quickly the late 80s and early 90s TWolves. Be ashamed of yourselfs.
And as far as LeBron goes, great player, unreal talent, but can't compare him to MJ. Perhaps if the compares would stop, he would feel less pressure to take the last shot. Though his decission in Game 1 was a great one. On the road you go for the win, and when you have your best 3pt shooter open, why not pass the ball. It is a TEAM Game afer all. Think about all the rave he would get for making the right decission if Marshall would have nailed the 3. MEDIA = JOKE. To read news / sports writers, is a waste of time ! whoever made this comment, "Ummmm? Michael Jordan always always always took the final shot? During crunch time? In the playoffs?
Paxson and Kerr might disagree with that statement." Made a very good point. If it was Hughes driving to the basket on that last shot and he passed it out to a wide open marshall, none of these articles would have been written. Me, like everyone outside US, probably are wondering why this is a discussion? LBJ did the one and only right decision at that time - he passed the ball to an open teammate. If it wasn't the playoff game, there would be no discussion at all. And now, every super-basketball-minded journalist must give his thoughts and make a problem out of nothing. Is LBJ Jordan, Magic, Carter, or KG? That's why you don't understand basketball at all.
Both are good players in their own right. I am a Chicago native, Michael was great but even Michael missed shots and made bad decisions, you been watching so many clips of him that you have come to the conclusion he never missed. Michael Jordan and any other superstar will tell you, you can't win a champion by yourself, you need a support cast. Michael give credit to his teammates and practice teammates rent the tapes and listen to the championship interviews. He knew how hard they worked, practiced, hustled etc. Wilt Chamberlien was great but he couldn't do it by himself, especially against a stronger team.
George Gervin, Reggie Miller, A. Iverson, Kobe & DWade can shot the lights out of a place, but can't do it by themselves. Basketball is a team sport and you can be as great as Magic, Bird, Dominque Wilkins, or Jordan you need a team around you and another superstar. Michael brought us the greatest excitement a fan could ever want but without a team he would be a great player like Ewing, Malone, Stockton, Gervin, R. Miller and others who didn't win a ring. If you understood or ever played any sports you never disrespect members of the team they play along a superstar, because you couldn't beat them, they just look like less of a player because who they place next too. Garnett has only had a good team twice and Cavs are trying to build one for Lebron. Like one person said, let them be themselves, also he is more of a Magic player than Mike. Mike hated being compared to Dr. J, because that was his idol. Mike even said he couldn't do that one incredible move that the Dr. did to the Lakers. No one could master the skyhook or the Gervin finger roll and no can bring higlights like the Mr. Wilkins, yes I am a Bull fan, but I love the nba and its players. These guys are giving there best, these owners are doing a bad job of selecting the right players and chemistry. The Spurs, Suns, Mavs & the Pistons have the best chemistry currently but these young Jazz, Cavs, Bulls & possibly Blazers will give us so real team competition in the near future as the Spurs & Pistons get older. Stop comparing these guys and enjoy what they bring as players & teammates. kg can't be considered an after thought... he is still relevant to today's game
This is just ridiculous! The pass was a good move to make, you are on the road and it would have won the game. I cant stand lebron james though, well, its not his fault really, everytime the cavs go on offense every single player just freezes up and they look for lebron. they give the ball to lebron every single time, its just sickening to watch! i think had lebron been the one that was open for the three pointer to win, he would have choked. in the series with the nets he choked in game 6 on free throws. he isnt the go to guy. i know i certainly wouldnt depend on him to win my games. the only reason why they got out of that game with the win is because vince carter lost the ball out of bounds. The bottom line is lebron is way too young to make comparisons, and he is WAY TOO OVERRATED! everyone hyped him up way too much. GO SPURS GO!!!
LeBron did the right thing but maybe we wouldn't all be debating this if he took care of business earlier in the game and actually gave a damn! LBJ is in danger of becoming the next Vince Carter not KG, MJ or Magic. If he keeps up the passive play and jacking up 3 balls with 23 seconds on the shot clock without any rebounders present, then he will replace VC as the most overhyped player to ever step on an NBA court.
Stupid. This season LeBron was criticized in a game for keeping the ball when his teammates were open. Charles and Kenny let him have it, saying that he has to make the right decision. He did, it's just that the playoffs are SO boring right now that there's nothing else to discuss.
lebron is still an amateur
Take it easy...lets wait a few years before we start to make that kind of comparison...it was one shot.
since when did KG become so bad...........he hasnt won a title because he never had a good sidekick...LeBron is young and is still learning
If the refs hadn't allowed LeBron to be completely mauled inside while shooting I would have said yes he should have gone to the hoop. Fact is he could've been slammed mauled and once again received no wistle. He made the right decision in that game.
cooment on east being better than west in future, kevin durant to seattle, oden to portland- east be betta in the futur?
You've got to be kidding me. One game and one pass later we're already writing James off.
Now I know why the smart kids in high school went on to become doctors and electrical engineers...not sports columnists. Please, comparing Lebron right now to Garnett is idiotic. Lebron has already set himself up to become the greatest ever(not saying he is...yet) Garnett choked in the post season. Lebron made numerous game winning shots last year and huge shots down the stretch.
Look If he made the shot then we will be talking about how ggod Lebron is. It isn't fair him at all and I know the writers need something to write about. Look he's a killer type player but how many player in the NBA are? Just becuase he has all these talants doesn't make him a killer instint type player, Kobe and Gilbert are the only players in the NBA that always goes for blood. Give Lebron a break he needs to fail before he succeeds just like MJ.
If Garnett had an origanization or a coach like Duncan had I doubt he would not have won a championship. KG is clutch. you build a team around basic role players and win with them. every single sport this happens. Football O-Line, Basketball center,baseball pitcer, hokey , goalie. you think LT would have scored those TD's if he didn't have an dominating o-line? You think D-wade would have been clutch if he didn't have the ball beause nobody rebounded it? the same goes for the other two sports. KG can rebound and shoot but he does not have any role players to give the ball to. every day he has to gaurd 5 people at once so think about that.
I've read a lot of stupid things, and this is right up there with the worst of them. Lebron James is in his FOURTH season. FOURTH. I really think comparing him to KG is a little premature.
Also, don't you think it's stretching it to say, "Hey, they're both straight out of high school, and they were both on SI...EERIE SIMILARITIES!!!" Biggest problem with the media: Writing when there's nothing to be written. Quite simply, this column said nothing. Period. Congrats Pete, for throwing together something for attention. It's cheap, but I guess you're getting readers. The biggest problem with the NBA is selfishness, and I applaud Lebron for making the right decision. Any player in the NBA should be able to make a wide open three 50% of the time, and James took that chance over driving to the goal against the NBA's best defensive team.
yup..lebron did the right thing. He passed out the ball to an open man. But people are complaining about his attitude. He doesn't want the ball in crunch time. It looks that way. Lebron will win a championship in his career. But he will never be thoguht of one of the greatest even thorugh he got all the hype. Wade will. Becuz he has the will to win. Even when its an impossible shot he will still take it and make it. Obviously, he did not do so this year but he was not 100% healthy. But last year he was amazing. Better then Lebron will ever do. BTW....billups and davis most clutch....lol did u even watched basketbsll last year. Guess not.
For those who don't remember...Jordan made a great pass to Paxton for a made three. Against Charles Barkley's Phoenix Suns in the 93 finals. It made sense then and it makes sense now.
And about Lebron having a team around him. Remember when the Cavs let Booze become a free agent because he "promised" to resign with them...stupid move. Can you imagine this team now with Boozer? They would be killing the Pistons right now. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. The old dictum still holds,eh?
- owenkenobi Look at this:
CAVS PISTONS Hughes Billups Pavlovic Hamilton Gooden Prince LBJ Wallace Ilgauskas Webber Varejao Maxiell Marshall McDyess Gibson Delfino Jones Murray Snow Hunter I'm no CAVS fan but really, the fact that the CAVS are competing with the Pistons is pretty amazing. Pistons are better than the CAVS an nearly every postion 1-10 except LBJ. If he gets a supporting cast that is considered good, then LBJ will be elevated to the level of NBA hero. (Well at least then we can make a better assesment.) To win a championship you have to have many very good players. CAVS don't have anybody close to being an All-star (after LBJ that is.) And generally, a few of the "role" players are experts in something. Bruce Bowen, Michael Cooper, Dennis Johnson are first-team NBA defenders are examples of this. Ask the timberwolves fans what they think of KG's teammates over the past 11 years. KG had a some help a few years back and they go to the Western finals and are a pretty darn good team. So KG was good that year only? REally good players become super heros when their teammates are good enough to complement them. (Ask John Elway - he was way better in the late 80's as a superbowl loser than he was in the mid-ninetys as a superbowl winner.) Tim Duncan is really good. But if he and KG traded places for their career, everyoen would be writing about KG as the best ever this and that and wondering why Duncan is an afterthought. Well, it would be his freethrow shooting of course... LBJ will become a super hero if he gets sufficient help. KG doesn't think. That is the problem.
Who is KG ?
What is an after thought ?
The BCS should be an after thought, since they don't know how to think. How come there is no ncaa football playoff ? The BCS Committee is on steroids ??
The Cavaliers should sign Ron Artest.
Garnett should sign with Clevelan. Maybe two losers can make a winner.
Lebron should play for the Browns in the off seaseon.
How come the Browns don't hire Larry Brown ?
I bet LeBron could figure out an ncaa playoff system.
Is Lebron a Republican or Democrat ?
Since when does smart decisions become right or wrong ??
What is the price of chili beans in Cambiney, Massechusetts?
Since the Officials and Captain Stern plan to hand the Title to the Spurs, does it really matter what Lebron does??
Your blog owner must be a Stern brain.
Who ever said that LeBron didn't step up because he didn't make a pass like Steve Nash would've obviously has know idea what he's saying. You're basically saying that because he didn't throw some 360 behind the back pass between two defenders legs, or whatever he does, he didn't step up. The pass was fine. It was simple, but fine. Yes he should have taken the shot in that situation but to say he didn't step up is ridiculous. His teammates didn't step up. Thus, you and your statement are both stupid.
LBJ pass was not good because he has not proven to be able to make the winning basket MJ made passes after showing everyone he could win games....
Concerning the comparison's to Nash; Nash is a 6-1 guard who would get swatted if he ever even THOUGHT about taking a shot over somebody that close to the basket. He'd be getting ripped for not passing because the idea of shooting in his position is so ridiculous. I live in Arizona and I've had plenty of time to see his myriad circus shots, but how many of those did he try against the Spurs? On good defense, he'll get swatted. He knows it, so does everybody else. He makes the pass.
On the other side of the coin, Lebron is a superstar who does everything well, and he's getting ripped when he takes the shot and misses just as much as if he defers to the teammate downtown. Probably by the same columnist. Grin and bear it. Lebron just dosen't have role players leave it at that.
I LeBron has people to shoot 3's when the D collapses, then he should hit them if they are open. But if LeBron can't get close to the rim by driving, he should at least be posting up his smaller defenders.
What is pretty wild is how petty most of the comments are here. Game 1, if the 3-pointer was made, LBJ would have been a hero for passing to an open teammate and would have been claimed to be a hero and a selfless team leader.
Game 2, LBJ drove the hoop and tried to spin into a double team to score. Two of his teammates were open, but he took it upon himself. I have not seen anyone praising him for rolling into a double team and taking a bad shot. What is funny is how all this criticism may make him into a KG and not into a MJ type of champion. Pistons double teamed MJ in the late 80s, just like LBJ today. MJ tried to win the games himself and lost. It was not until the 90s where MJ had a good supporting cast and passed the ball to his teammates, picking apart the Pistons. Most of these weak-thought posts, LBJ is showing much more leadership by trying to find an open teammate when he is double/triple teamed. When his supporting cast gets better, he will get better. I love how people claim the two are losers. When you compare the two rosters, they are fairly similar. You look at all the great teams in the west, and even the pistons. They have at least 2 or 3 guys that can beat you. Hell even kobe has lamar odom, who is better than anyone else lebron or KG has. Cavs are just an average team. Its laughable to tear down LeBron for carrying a team to the east finals... besides, who, if any of you thought the cavs would have a chance to win these two games in detroit period?!
The man had an open shot.
LeBron made the right play. End. I think LeBron James is the most overhyped, overrated guy in the league, by far. Yet, I don't blame him for passing the shot in Game 1. That was a wide open 3 point shot by Donyell Marshall, which he should have made. It was the right basketball move. With that being said, I am sick and tired of all these comparisons to MJ. MJ had to play the Celtics with Larry Bird, and then he had to play the Bad-Boy Pistons before he won a championship. That's why he didn't win earlier in his career. Who has LeBron faced? The Washington Wizards, without their 2 best players? The Nets, who aren't known for their suffocating defense? Give me a break.
The man had an open shot? Did you see how many men had open shots in the last 5 minutes of yesterday's game? LBJ kept passing the ball, they made some and missed some. The problem is that LBJ should be taking over the scoring load at that point in the game instead of chronically passing the ball. Fourth quarter must be LBJ time. Not Marshall or anyone else.
Maybe if cleveland would've paid boozer, lebron wouldn't be in this 5 on 1 series with the pistons? Cavs remind me of the Lakers only difference is you put Kobe in the same situation and Kobe wins it.
The star has to take over the game in crunch time. Look at D Wade last year. He totally dominated the game no matter how many players defended him. He did it to Detroit in the conference finals. And don't forget the finals - down 2 games to 0, down 13 points with 6 minutes to play. That is when D Wade took over and never looked back. He didnt pass the ball. It didnt matter what defence the Mavs threw at him. He took over and did not allow anyone to deny him. Everyone involved in or watching the game knew he was getting the ball and he still got it done on the worlds biggest stage. That is what a true superstar and champion does. It comes down to will and desire. Talent alone will not get it done.
D-Wade would have thaken that ball right to the hole, and either dunked or got fouled. And he would have SANK both free throws, unlike Queen James, whose foul shooting is atrocious.
thats true. when did KG become an afterthought?
2003 NBA Draft do-over:
1. Dwyane Wade 2. LeBron James Let's not forget what Wade did to Dallas AFTER his team was down 0-2. 38ppg, 51% shooting and tons of FT's because he took the ball to the hole without fear. All this, and the fact that Wade is 4 inches shorter and 25lbs lighter than Queen James. Hey, LeBron, strap a set on and make some shots that matter. theres some people on here dissing KG like he's a slouch? this guy did more for the game than most ever will. he might no havce a championship but he's also gone through a lot and the team has sucked at helping him out with some actual NBA players and not blind shooters who don't know when to give it up. I think LeBron made the right decision seeing as he hadn't been shooting all that well and if he had missed his teammates and the media would have been heckled him because he had a wide open team-mate
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