Remember the old television show/computer game entitled 'Where in the World is Carmen SanDeigo'? Well, it appears that a sequel has been made, and it stars LeBron James.
This recently completed NBA Finals was a matchup of two superstars that had a reputation for choking when it mattered in Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron. In what was supposed to be a coronation for the Heat, it was Dirk who shook off the mantle of being a choker, and turned into a cold-blooded crunch time assassin. LeBron, meanwhile, has an APB put out on him, since his fourth quarter whereabouts are completely unknown.
The playoffs are where legacies are made, and reputations confirmed. The Finals cemented LeBron's legacy alright - that he is a passive choke artist without the heart and determination to force his team to victory. No longer can he claim that he did not have the talent around him, and that it was the fault of the Cavaliers that he never won a title. Even with the talent the Heat surrounded him with, he still has the same amount of championships as the family pet.
Dirk, meanwhile, was surrounded with what could be considered a collection of role players and castoffs. If that description sounds familiar, that would be because LeBron thought that was what Cleveland put around him. The Mavericks, unlike the 'Champions-In-Waiting' Heat, understood the concept of being a team, that no one player was bigger than everyone else. They all played hard. They fought for everything they got in the series and in the playoffs. And, on Miami's home court, they slapped the crown off of the self-appointed 'King'.
And so, LeBron is left without a title yet again. Only this time, the only person he can blame is looking back at him in the mirror.
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Michael Jordan - LeBron James Comparison
Recently, a lot has been made of comparing LeBron James and Michael Jordan as players. From the eyeball test, where one can see that LeBron is almost capable of scoring at will, this seems like a solid comparison. However, one must ask if they are truly that similar. With LeBron, he is the entire package - capable of scoring, rebounding, and having a great eye for the passing lane. Jordan, meanwhile, is remembered mainly as a high-flying scorer, capable of dominating a game with his sheer offensive talent alone.
Delving into the statistics, we see that Jordan for his career had per game averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. These show that while the mental image of Jordan involves gravity defying dunks, or pushing off of Byron Russell to hit that series clinching shot in the 1998 NBA Finals, is not entirely accurate. In the modern era of the NBA, he is the all time leading scorer in points per game, but he was more than that. He was able to come up with the occasional rebound, and find the open man when double teamed. Also, his defense was rather underrated as well, as Jordan finished with 2.3 steals per game, good enough for third all-time.
Now, looking at LeBron, the numbers are fairly similar. His per game averages are 27.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. Looking at steals, LeBron has 1.7 per game. While Jordan was more of a scorer than LeBron, LeBron is a greater facilitator than Jordan was, and has a bit more well-rounded game. Keep in mind that Jordan had the luxury of having another top 50 player of all-time with him for most of his career in Scottie Pippen, while LeBron may as well have had four guys from a YMCA adult basketball league on the floor with him until this past season.
So, the comparison to Jordan is not entirely accurate. As such, who would best fit as a comparable player to LeBron? Given that LeBron plays a bit of the point-forward role, perhaps the best person to look at is someone who filled a very similar role himself, although he was considered a point guard for most of his career. Magic Johnson essentially invented the point-forward position, as a 6'9" point guard who had an uncanny ability to find passing lanes, could rebound, and had the ability to score. Like LeBron, there was no one close to being what he was at the time, and was a bit of a physical freak for his time. Magic, over his career, averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game. There is a gap between Magic and LeBron in terms of points per game and assists per game, but Magic was asked to be more of a facilitator than a scorer on a team that also included James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Looking strictly at the total package of LeBron, and of Jordan and Magic, it would appear that Magic Johnson is the best comparison for LeBron James. LeBron gets a lot of recognition for his ability to score, but his well-rounded game should not be forgotten when evaluating who he is on the floor.
Delving into the statistics, we see that Jordan for his career had per game averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists. These show that while the mental image of Jordan involves gravity defying dunks, or pushing off of Byron Russell to hit that series clinching shot in the 1998 NBA Finals, is not entirely accurate. In the modern era of the NBA, he is the all time leading scorer in points per game, but he was more than that. He was able to come up with the occasional rebound, and find the open man when double teamed. Also, his defense was rather underrated as well, as Jordan finished with 2.3 steals per game, good enough for third all-time.
Now, looking at LeBron, the numbers are fairly similar. His per game averages are 27.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 7.0 assists. Looking at steals, LeBron has 1.7 per game. While Jordan was more of a scorer than LeBron, LeBron is a greater facilitator than Jordan was, and has a bit more well-rounded game. Keep in mind that Jordan had the luxury of having another top 50 player of all-time with him for most of his career in Scottie Pippen, while LeBron may as well have had four guys from a YMCA adult basketball league on the floor with him until this past season.
So, the comparison to Jordan is not entirely accurate. As such, who would best fit as a comparable player to LeBron? Given that LeBron plays a bit of the point-forward role, perhaps the best person to look at is someone who filled a very similar role himself, although he was considered a point guard for most of his career. Magic Johnson essentially invented the point-forward position, as a 6'9" point guard who had an uncanny ability to find passing lanes, could rebound, and had the ability to score. Like LeBron, there was no one close to being what he was at the time, and was a bit of a physical freak for his time. Magic, over his career, averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 11.2 assists per game. There is a gap between Magic and LeBron in terms of points per game and assists per game, but Magic was asked to be more of a facilitator than a scorer on a team that also included James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Looking strictly at the total package of LeBron, and of Jordan and Magic, it would appear that Magic Johnson is the best comparison for LeBron James. LeBron gets a lot of recognition for his ability to score, but his well-rounded game should not be forgotten when evaluating who he is on the floor.
Monday, March 7, 2011
LeBron James - Basketball's A-Rod
They began their careers as two 'can't miss' prospects. Talents that would transcend generations and be the faces of their respective franchises for years to come. From the time they arrived on the scene, they were compared to the all time greats of their sport. So, is it any wonder how closely the careers of Alex Rodriguez and LeBron James mirror each other at this point?
Rodriguez spent the first seven years of his career in Seattle, where he was a four time All Star, and finished as high as second in the MVP voting. He then left Seattle as a free agent, signing what was the richest contract in MLB history with the Texas Rangers. Along the way, the left the fans in Seattle feeling betrayed, and the animosity towards him began to grow.
LeBron, likewise, spent his first seven seasons in Cleveland. There, he was a six time All Star, and a two time MVP. Being from the area (he grew up in Akron), he quickly became the face of the franchise, the savior that could lead the team to prominence. However, like A-Rod, after his seventh season he left, spurning the city of Cleveland in a nationally televised production for the Miami Heat. This departure began to fuel anger towards LeBron.
Both have serious questions about their abilities to perform in the clutch. A-Rod is remembered for his atrocious showings in the playoffs from 2004 through 2007 for the Yankees, and the infamous 'glove slap' as he attempted to evade Bronson Arroyo's tag attempt. LeBron infamously quit on the Cavaliers last postseason, as though he had mentally left there following Game Four, and was protesting the perceived 'lack of talent' surrounding him.
Both players are exceedingly image conscious, to the point of narcissism and egomania. A-Rod infamously has a picture depicting himself as a centaur hanging over his bed. There was the picture in Details Magazine where he was kissing himself in the mirror. He interrupted the 2007 World Series to announce that he was going to opt out of his contract and file for free agency. LeBron did manage to upstage A-Rod's announcement by having his one hour special called 'The Decision', where he ripped the heart out of Cleveland in front of a national audience. LeBron is considered to be egotistical to the point where someone actually created a Twitter account that claims to be LeBron's Ego.
And yet, despite how image conscious these two are, they are completely incapable of understanding why people dislike them. A-Rod does not understand why people consider him to be a choke artist, a fraud, an egomaniac, and a mercenary. LeBron is unable to understand why people turned on him for going to Miami, why Cleveland burned his jerseys in effigy, and why he is also thought of as a fraud and choke artist. For the money these people spend on promoting their 'brand' and trying to, in their mind, do the right thing, it would make sense to have someone there to tell them when a concept is simply a terrible idea. Yet, they continue to surround themselves with 'Yes Men', and refuse to accept the consequences of their actions.
Along the way, A-Rod has managed to pick up a championship with the 2009 Yankees. Despite actually having a good run through the American League playoff series, he is still considered to have picked up his ring by riding the coattails of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and other True Yankees. LeBron may, in time, gain his own championship in Miami. However, like A-Rod, he will be considered to have ridden the coattails of someone else to get there.
These are two all time greats in their respective sports. Yet, they are completely unable to be identified with anything tangible other than their own egos and the hatred that fans everywhere have for them. This could have all been prevented, if they only could get out of their own way.
Rodriguez spent the first seven years of his career in Seattle, where he was a four time All Star, and finished as high as second in the MVP voting. He then left Seattle as a free agent, signing what was the richest contract in MLB history with the Texas Rangers. Along the way, the left the fans in Seattle feeling betrayed, and the animosity towards him began to grow.
LeBron, likewise, spent his first seven seasons in Cleveland. There, he was a six time All Star, and a two time MVP. Being from the area (he grew up in Akron), he quickly became the face of the franchise, the savior that could lead the team to prominence. However, like A-Rod, after his seventh season he left, spurning the city of Cleveland in a nationally televised production for the Miami Heat. This departure began to fuel anger towards LeBron.
Both have serious questions about their abilities to perform in the clutch. A-Rod is remembered for his atrocious showings in the playoffs from 2004 through 2007 for the Yankees, and the infamous 'glove slap' as he attempted to evade Bronson Arroyo's tag attempt. LeBron infamously quit on the Cavaliers last postseason, as though he had mentally left there following Game Four, and was protesting the perceived 'lack of talent' surrounding him.
Both players are exceedingly image conscious, to the point of narcissism and egomania. A-Rod infamously has a picture depicting himself as a centaur hanging over his bed. There was the picture in Details Magazine where he was kissing himself in the mirror. He interrupted the 2007 World Series to announce that he was going to opt out of his contract and file for free agency. LeBron did manage to upstage A-Rod's announcement by having his one hour special called 'The Decision', where he ripped the heart out of Cleveland in front of a national audience. LeBron is considered to be egotistical to the point where someone actually created a Twitter account that claims to be LeBron's Ego.
And yet, despite how image conscious these two are, they are completely incapable of understanding why people dislike them. A-Rod does not understand why people consider him to be a choke artist, a fraud, an egomaniac, and a mercenary. LeBron is unable to understand why people turned on him for going to Miami, why Cleveland burned his jerseys in effigy, and why he is also thought of as a fraud and choke artist. For the money these people spend on promoting their 'brand' and trying to, in their mind, do the right thing, it would make sense to have someone there to tell them when a concept is simply a terrible idea. Yet, they continue to surround themselves with 'Yes Men', and refuse to accept the consequences of their actions.
Along the way, A-Rod has managed to pick up a championship with the 2009 Yankees. Despite actually having a good run through the American League playoff series, he is still considered to have picked up his ring by riding the coattails of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and other True Yankees. LeBron may, in time, gain his own championship in Miami. However, like A-Rod, he will be considered to have ridden the coattails of someone else to get there.
These are two all time greats in their respective sports. Yet, they are completely unable to be identified with anything tangible other than their own egos and the hatred that fans everywhere have for them. This could have all been prevented, if they only could get out of their own way.
Friday, March 4, 2011
The Heat have no heart
Last night, the Miami Heat lost to the Orlando Magic by a score of 99 to 96. At first glance, the score does not appear to be that big of a deal - after all, they only lost by three points. However, the Magic were down by 24 points in the third quarter, then went on a 40-9 run over the next fifteen minutes to pull out the victory.
This season, there have been six occurrences where a team has lost after pulling out to a 22 or more point lead. Miami has two of those six. Also, the Heat have seen leads of 15 points evaporate to the Knicks, and barely hung on to a victory over the Magic last month despite a 23 point lead. They also had a 23 point lead over the Indiana Pacers a couple of weeks ago, which they managed to hang on to.
This is a sign for the Heat, and is a damning indictment for what was supposed to be a team that should breeze through the calender towards their anointment as champions. Despite having a great deal of talent in their 'Big Three' of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, they lack the intangibles. They lack the killer instinct. They lack heart.
Looking at teams that the Heat may have to face in the playoffs, this promises to be magnified further. The Celtics of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce would never allow this to happen. Kobe and the Lakers would never allow this to happen. Even the Orlando Magic have proven that they will not back down, and can stand up to the paper champions.
The Heat are similar to the classic schoolyard bully. They can dominate the weaker opposition with ease, but cannot handle it when someone stands up to them. In retrospect, should anyone truly be surprised by this? The foundation of the team is a player who quit during the playoffs last season (James), someone who has never made it out of the first round and has not displayed any leadership qualities whatsoever (Bosh), and someone who is going along with what his pals want (Wade). Yes, Wade has won a championship, but it makes one wonder how much of that should be attributed to an angered Shaquille O'Neal at this point. Could it be that Shaq carried Wade to the title, as opposed to the other way around, regardless of what the statistics may have said?
Yes, the Heat will make it out of the first round, mainly because they will draw a team that won't stand up to them. But it would be shocking if they made it past round two, especially with fortitude they have displayed thus far.
This season, there have been six occurrences where a team has lost after pulling out to a 22 or more point lead. Miami has two of those six. Also, the Heat have seen leads of 15 points evaporate to the Knicks, and barely hung on to a victory over the Magic last month despite a 23 point lead. They also had a 23 point lead over the Indiana Pacers a couple of weeks ago, which they managed to hang on to.
This is a sign for the Heat, and is a damning indictment for what was supposed to be a team that should breeze through the calender towards their anointment as champions. Despite having a great deal of talent in their 'Big Three' of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, they lack the intangibles. They lack the killer instinct. They lack heart.
Looking at teams that the Heat may have to face in the playoffs, this promises to be magnified further. The Celtics of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce would never allow this to happen. Kobe and the Lakers would never allow this to happen. Even the Orlando Magic have proven that they will not back down, and can stand up to the paper champions.
The Heat are similar to the classic schoolyard bully. They can dominate the weaker opposition with ease, but cannot handle it when someone stands up to them. In retrospect, should anyone truly be surprised by this? The foundation of the team is a player who quit during the playoffs last season (James), someone who has never made it out of the first round and has not displayed any leadership qualities whatsoever (Bosh), and someone who is going along with what his pals want (Wade). Yes, Wade has won a championship, but it makes one wonder how much of that should be attributed to an angered Shaquille O'Neal at this point. Could it be that Shaq carried Wade to the title, as opposed to the other way around, regardless of what the statistics may have said?
Yes, the Heat will make it out of the first round, mainly because they will draw a team that won't stand up to them. But it would be shocking if they made it past round two, especially with fortitude they have displayed thus far.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The NBA has a looming problem
In the wake of the Carmelo Anthony trade to the Knicks, a pattern has begun to develop. At this point, players have begun colluding amongst themselves, agreeing to play for a specific teams in order to build a few 'super teams'. Now, there is nothing illegal about this on the dies of the players, but if the owners were to get together in order to lower salaries, it would be a severe issue. Nothing quite like a double standard.
When did this all begin? In terms of athletes intentionally creating the 'super team' concept, it leads back to the Boston Celtics in the 2007-08 season, when Ray Allen and Paul Pierce pleaded with Kevin Garnett to join them in Boston. With the formation of the 'Big Three', the die had been cast.
Fast forward to this past off-season. LeBron, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh meet several times, and decide to partner up in Miami to create their own Super Team, only their version is a younger, more dynamic group with three players entering their prime. It doesn't matter that the Heat no longer have anything resembling a surrounding cast to support them, as there was no longer any room under the cap. They have their version of the Big Three scoring roughly 68.6% of the team's points. The fourth leading scorer? Udonis Haslem, who is out for a long time at 8.0 points per game. Behind him? We find Eddie House at 6.9 points per.
Now, the New York Knicks are joining the party. After picking up Amare Stoudemire through free agency, they picked up Carmelo Anthony, who forced the Denver Nuggets to trade him. So who is the third piece? None other than Chris Paul, who joined Carmelo and Amare in toasting to playing together in New York during Carmelo's wedding. Paul happens to be a free agent after next season, so don't expect him to sign an extension in New Orleans.
The NBA is rapidly becoming a collection of the haves against the have nots. Why play in a place like Toronto or Sacramento, when you can force that team to deal you to a team like Miami or New York? Why attempt to build something in an area that truly enjoys basketball, but happens to be in the middle of nowhere? After all, image is so much more important than the game, right?
This is something that David Stern needs to look at during the collective bargaining agreement. The league may become nothing more than six to eight teams loaded with superstars, while the rest of the teams either have to fold or play in obscurity. A hard salary cap would help to fix this issue. So would creating a franchise type tag in the NBA. But regardless of what they determine the answer to be, this needs to be fixed. And soon.
When did this all begin? In terms of athletes intentionally creating the 'super team' concept, it leads back to the Boston Celtics in the 2007-08 season, when Ray Allen and Paul Pierce pleaded with Kevin Garnett to join them in Boston. With the formation of the 'Big Three', the die had been cast.
Fast forward to this past off-season. LeBron, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh meet several times, and decide to partner up in Miami to create their own Super Team, only their version is a younger, more dynamic group with three players entering their prime. It doesn't matter that the Heat no longer have anything resembling a surrounding cast to support them, as there was no longer any room under the cap. They have their version of the Big Three scoring roughly 68.6% of the team's points. The fourth leading scorer? Udonis Haslem, who is out for a long time at 8.0 points per game. Behind him? We find Eddie House at 6.9 points per.
Now, the New York Knicks are joining the party. After picking up Amare Stoudemire through free agency, they picked up Carmelo Anthony, who forced the Denver Nuggets to trade him. So who is the third piece? None other than Chris Paul, who joined Carmelo and Amare in toasting to playing together in New York during Carmelo's wedding. Paul happens to be a free agent after next season, so don't expect him to sign an extension in New Orleans.
The NBA is rapidly becoming a collection of the haves against the have nots. Why play in a place like Toronto or Sacramento, when you can force that team to deal you to a team like Miami or New York? Why attempt to build something in an area that truly enjoys basketball, but happens to be in the middle of nowhere? After all, image is so much more important than the game, right?
This is something that David Stern needs to look at during the collective bargaining agreement. The league may become nothing more than six to eight teams loaded with superstars, while the rest of the teams either have to fold or play in obscurity. A hard salary cap would help to fix this issue. So would creating a franchise type tag in the NBA. But regardless of what they determine the answer to be, this needs to be fixed. And soon.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Man up LeBron James
For the third time in as many meetings, the Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat yesterday. Despite a game where Paul Pierce scored only one point and missed all of his field goal attempts, the Celtics managed to find a way to win. This follows a pattern that has come into play since the trio of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett were put together three years ago, where, despite the situation, they fight and claw to the last moment.
Meanwhile, Miami does not have the same killer, or championship, mentality that the Celtics have. With an opportunity to tie the game, LeBron missed his first free throw. As soon as the pressure was off, he promptly sank the second shot. Granted, it is just one free throw attempt, but this is a microcosm of what LeBron has become. At this point, he looks for excuses as to why the losses happen, instead of taking charge and trying to will his teams to victory.
From the moment LeBron and Chris Bosh signed in Miami, they were anointed as the NBA Champions, even though a game had yet to be played. They staged a 'meeting' with the players, where they came out on a smoke filled stage and preened for the adoring crowds. They expected that all they would have to do would be to show up, and they would win not just one championship, but the multiples that LeBron promised. Well, it's not so easy when other teams stand up.
Thus far, LeBron has claimed that Miami "doesn't have the chemistry that the Celtics have." When the Big Three in Boston first came together, they won 29 of their first 32 games. They deferred to each other. They worked hard at all aspects of the game. They would not back down to anyone. LeBron and the Heat? It's just excuse after excuse as they try to disguise how mentally soft they really are.
After the game, Dwayne Wade attempted to compare the Heat's struggles against the Celtics to how Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had issues with the Detroit Pistons in the late 1980's. There are, however, several major differences. First, Jordan had nowhere near the supporting cast that LeBron has in Miami. Scottie Pippen was a good player, but he was not in the class of a Dwayne Wade. Those Bulls teams never had a player the caliber of Chris Bosh. They had solid players supporting an all time great, not three perennial All-Stars.
Second, Jordan refused to let up. He would win, or he would go to the last second trying to get that victory. Nothing mattered more to him than to win at everything he tried. With LeBron, it's about image. It's about his brand. It's about having fun. Then maybe basketball factors in after those three things.
Third, Jordan loved the pressure. He created some of the most memorable moments in NBA history during the playoffs. LeBron, meanwhile, shrinks from the pressure. He passes up shots. He commits turnovers he normally wouldn't make. The shots he does take, he misses more than he hits. LeBron simply does not have the mental fortitude required to be the leader of a championship team.
As such, it is time for LeBron James to man up. He needs to realize that nothing is being handed to him in Miami, and that he needs to work at getting championships. Otherwise, his legacy is going to be about unfulfilled potential and all the excuses made for him.
Meanwhile, Miami does not have the same killer, or championship, mentality that the Celtics have. With an opportunity to tie the game, LeBron missed his first free throw. As soon as the pressure was off, he promptly sank the second shot. Granted, it is just one free throw attempt, but this is a microcosm of what LeBron has become. At this point, he looks for excuses as to why the losses happen, instead of taking charge and trying to will his teams to victory.
From the moment LeBron and Chris Bosh signed in Miami, they were anointed as the NBA Champions, even though a game had yet to be played. They staged a 'meeting' with the players, where they came out on a smoke filled stage and preened for the adoring crowds. They expected that all they would have to do would be to show up, and they would win not just one championship, but the multiples that LeBron promised. Well, it's not so easy when other teams stand up.
Thus far, LeBron has claimed that Miami "doesn't have the chemistry that the Celtics have." When the Big Three in Boston first came together, they won 29 of their first 32 games. They deferred to each other. They worked hard at all aspects of the game. They would not back down to anyone. LeBron and the Heat? It's just excuse after excuse as they try to disguise how mentally soft they really are.
After the game, Dwayne Wade attempted to compare the Heat's struggles against the Celtics to how Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls had issues with the Detroit Pistons in the late 1980's. There are, however, several major differences. First, Jordan had nowhere near the supporting cast that LeBron has in Miami. Scottie Pippen was a good player, but he was not in the class of a Dwayne Wade. Those Bulls teams never had a player the caliber of Chris Bosh. They had solid players supporting an all time great, not three perennial All-Stars.
Second, Jordan refused to let up. He would win, or he would go to the last second trying to get that victory. Nothing mattered more to him than to win at everything he tried. With LeBron, it's about image. It's about his brand. It's about having fun. Then maybe basketball factors in after those three things.
Third, Jordan loved the pressure. He created some of the most memorable moments in NBA history during the playoffs. LeBron, meanwhile, shrinks from the pressure. He passes up shots. He commits turnovers he normally wouldn't make. The shots he does take, he misses more than he hits. LeBron simply does not have the mental fortitude required to be the leader of a championship team.
As such, it is time for LeBron James to man up. He needs to realize that nothing is being handed to him in Miami, and that he needs to work at getting championships. Otherwise, his legacy is going to be about unfulfilled potential and all the excuses made for him.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Not-so-lovable losers
With their 103-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons last night, the Cleveland Cavaliers matched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers mark with 26 consecutive losses. As horrible as that mark is, there are certain things to remember here. First, the Bucs were an expansion franchise when they lost their 26 in a row. The first ever draft choice of their franchise became a Hall of Fame player in Lee Roy Selmon. The Cavs have been around since the 1970-71 season, so they definitely do not have 'expansion franchise' as an excuse.
Second, the Cavs have a legitimately good head coach in Byron Scott. Scott led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back finals appearances, and led the New Orleans Hornets to the playoffs twice. After the 2007-08 season, he was voted as the Coach of the Year. This is not some clueless excuse wearing a suit who is manning the sidelines in Cleveland. The situation, and losing streak, cannot be placed solely on him. He did not just wake up one day and forget how to be an effective head coach.
Third, the continued struggles of the Cavs actually make LeBron James look better. One of LeBron's chief complaints was that the Cavs front office was not putting enough talent around him to permit a legitimate shot at a championship. Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq and Pau Gasol. Bird had McHale and Parrish. Every star needs that second option. Cleveland gave LeBron a washed up Shaq, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and J.J. Hickson. No one on that list is going to be the second option for a title contending team. The fact that LeBron even got them to the finals once is looking more and more amazing as this season unfolds.
Going forward, the Cavs are not going to have an easy time of it. To quote Tracy McGrady: "You don't want to be the team that loses to them." Every team that goes out there and has the Cavs on their schedule is going to give them their best shot. Nothing will come easy for this squad.
Looking at the upcoming schedule, Friday night the Cavs face the Clippers. LA has played well as of late, and with the right moves, could end up being a playoff team in the next couple of years. This will probably be a loss, and set the record at 27 games straight. However, on Sunday, they face the Washington Wizards, who have not won on the road. If they are going to end this run of futility, this is where it will happen. One way or another, one of these streaks will come to an end.
As bad as this losing streak has been, the Cavs are not at an all-time worst record level. Presently, they sit on eight victories. One more lets them be no worse than the 9-73 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. At least they are not in jeopardy of reaching that mark. Yet.
In the end, it's going to be a long painful journey for any fans of the Cavs. This mess is going to take a long time to dig out from.
Second, the Cavs have a legitimately good head coach in Byron Scott. Scott led the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back finals appearances, and led the New Orleans Hornets to the playoffs twice. After the 2007-08 season, he was voted as the Coach of the Year. This is not some clueless excuse wearing a suit who is manning the sidelines in Cleveland. The situation, and losing streak, cannot be placed solely on him. He did not just wake up one day and forget how to be an effective head coach.
Third, the continued struggles of the Cavs actually make LeBron James look better. One of LeBron's chief complaints was that the Cavs front office was not putting enough talent around him to permit a legitimate shot at a championship. Jordan had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq and Pau Gasol. Bird had McHale and Parrish. Every star needs that second option. Cleveland gave LeBron a washed up Shaq, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and J.J. Hickson. No one on that list is going to be the second option for a title contending team. The fact that LeBron even got them to the finals once is looking more and more amazing as this season unfolds.
Going forward, the Cavs are not going to have an easy time of it. To quote Tracy McGrady: "You don't want to be the team that loses to them." Every team that goes out there and has the Cavs on their schedule is going to give them their best shot. Nothing will come easy for this squad.
Looking at the upcoming schedule, Friday night the Cavs face the Clippers. LA has played well as of late, and with the right moves, could end up being a playoff team in the next couple of years. This will probably be a loss, and set the record at 27 games straight. However, on Sunday, they face the Washington Wizards, who have not won on the road. If they are going to end this run of futility, this is where it will happen. One way or another, one of these streaks will come to an end.
As bad as this losing streak has been, the Cavs are not at an all-time worst record level. Presently, they sit on eight victories. One more lets them be no worse than the 9-73 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. At least they are not in jeopardy of reaching that mark. Yet.
In the end, it's going to be a long painful journey for any fans of the Cavs. This mess is going to take a long time to dig out from.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Erik Spoelstra - Dead Coach Walking
In a scenario extremely reminiscent of 2005, the spectre of Pat Riley looms over the Miami Heat bench. This time, caught in the crosshairs is young Erik Spoelstra, a young coach whose players are openly questioning and debating whether or not he should be on the bench of the Miami Heat.
Flashing back to 2005, Stan Van Gundy (who you may recognize as that Ron Jeremy look-alike wandering about NBA sidelines) was the head coach of the Miami Heat. In the previous season, he brought an injury ravaged team to the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons. In a situation widely thought to be orchestrated by Riley, Van Gundy abruptly resigned from his position as head coach on December 12, 2005, stating that he wanted to spend more time with his family. In response to the 'unforeseen' and 'unexpected' departure of the coach, Riley 'reluctantly' came down from his elevated position as president of the Heat, and promptly led the team to it's only championship.
Fast forward to 2008. Riley once again resigned as coach of the Heat, and elevated another assistant, Spoelstra, to the head coaching position. Once again, in his first two seasons, the coach brought the team into the playoffs. Following the same script, Riley brought in several players (Shaq in 2005, Lebron and Chris Bosh in 2010) in an attempt to win a championship. Continuing the parallel, the team has started off slowly (10-8 at the time of this post).
However, here is the difference: the players never questioned Van Gundy's ability. LeBron James has openly questioned Spoelstra's coaching acumen. When asked about his coach, Dwayne Wade stated “He’s a different person and I’m a different player than when we came in." Wade then continued, “So, I’m not going to say he’s my guy, but he’s my coach, you know. Right now, in my opinion, no one is doing a good job, we’re 9-8. We’re all in this together. Players not doing a good job; coaches not doing a good job. As a whole. When success comes, we win as a whole. We win four in a row, Coach is going to look great.” Nothing quite like having your coach's back, right? I wonder if those two took their directions right from Brutus's playbook as he stabbed Caesar.
James has repetitively stated that he is not 'having fun this year'. Perhaps I missed the point, but isn't professional sports supposed to be about winning championships or getting paid, based on your outlook? Didn't James state that the reason why he was 'bringing his talents to South Beach' was to win titles? So what if the coach is demanding that you stop goofing off and actually do something, for example - practice the plays and defense, at an actual practice? Last time I checked, LeBron, for all his talents, is not Allen Iverson in his prime and does not have nearly .0001% of the heart, guts, and determination Iverson had. LeBron is a spoiled child who is used to getting his way, and doesn't like that Spoelstra is calling him out for it.
As such, the Heat are literally on the brink of outright mutiny. Spoelstra is trying to put out all the fires he can, but that's hard to do when wearing gasoline pants in a flame filled room. Even though Riley states that he has no intention of coaching this team, don't be surprised if you see him at a Miami area orphanage looking for an infant to give Spoelstra so that he can 'spend more time with his family'. The inmates are running the asylum in South Beach, and it's a matter of time before they get the warden that are demanding.
Flashing back to 2005, Stan Van Gundy (who you may recognize as that Ron Jeremy look-alike wandering about NBA sidelines) was the head coach of the Miami Heat. In the previous season, he brought an injury ravaged team to the seventh game of the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the eventual champion Detroit Pistons. In a situation widely thought to be orchestrated by Riley, Van Gundy abruptly resigned from his position as head coach on December 12, 2005, stating that he wanted to spend more time with his family. In response to the 'unforeseen' and 'unexpected' departure of the coach, Riley 'reluctantly' came down from his elevated position as president of the Heat, and promptly led the team to it's only championship.
Fast forward to 2008. Riley once again resigned as coach of the Heat, and elevated another assistant, Spoelstra, to the head coaching position. Once again, in his first two seasons, the coach brought the team into the playoffs. Following the same script, Riley brought in several players (Shaq in 2005, Lebron and Chris Bosh in 2010) in an attempt to win a championship. Continuing the parallel, the team has started off slowly (10-8 at the time of this post).
However, here is the difference: the players never questioned Van Gundy's ability. LeBron James has openly questioned Spoelstra's coaching acumen. When asked about his coach, Dwayne Wade stated “He’s a different person and I’m a different player than when we came in." Wade then continued, “So, I’m not going to say he’s my guy, but he’s my coach, you know. Right now, in my opinion, no one is doing a good job, we’re 9-8. We’re all in this together. Players not doing a good job; coaches not doing a good job. As a whole. When success comes, we win as a whole. We win four in a row, Coach is going to look great.” Nothing quite like having your coach's back, right? I wonder if those two took their directions right from Brutus's playbook as he stabbed Caesar.
James has repetitively stated that he is not 'having fun this year'. Perhaps I missed the point, but isn't professional sports supposed to be about winning championships or getting paid, based on your outlook? Didn't James state that the reason why he was 'bringing his talents to South Beach' was to win titles? So what if the coach is demanding that you stop goofing off and actually do something, for example - practice the plays and defense, at an actual practice? Last time I checked, LeBron, for all his talents, is not Allen Iverson in his prime and does not have nearly .0001% of the heart, guts, and determination Iverson had. LeBron is a spoiled child who is used to getting his way, and doesn't like that Spoelstra is calling him out for it.
As such, the Heat are literally on the brink of outright mutiny. Spoelstra is trying to put out all the fires he can, but that's hard to do when wearing gasoline pants in a flame filled room. Even though Riley states that he has no intention of coaching this team, don't be surprised if you see him at a Miami area orphanage looking for an infant to give Spoelstra so that he can 'spend more time with his family'. The inmates are running the asylum in South Beach, and it's a matter of time before they get the warden that are demanding.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)