While I will never be famous or popular enough to be dragged through the mud section of the society page, I do from time to time marvel at those who are in that particular bind, and in many instances, really do not deserve it.
Case in point, LeBron Raymone James, who is currently proclaimed by many alleged NBA experts to be a failure after losing in the NBA Finals to what many would say was a less talented Dallas club.
James has been referred to largely as a player who chokes under pressure and who does not have the ability to lead a team. But is this really a true and fair assessment of his first year in Miami, and is it honestly a preview of what is left in his career and the quest for a championship? No folks, I certainly do not think so.
Sure, LeBron could have handled his departure from Cleveland better and certainly with less fanfare, but it was just business and he was the most coveted free agent in the league. By utilizing the provisions in the collective bargaining agreement as an unrestricted free agent, he simply aligned with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in a manner that gave him an immediate shot at a title. While his statistics in the Finals were down a bit from his regular season numbers, James still contributed 18 points a game to go along with 7 rebounds and 6 assists – solid numbers indeed.
While the mainstream media did not fail to point out the deficiencies of the balance of the Heat roster beyond the “Big Three” in the pre season, you did not hear any of the same banter in the playoffs, as James was indeed expected to step it up and be the difference in the title run. Realistically, the Heat roster contains more holes than a piece of traditional Swiss cheese, and it certainly showed in the Finals. Should James be blamed for that as well?
Certainly not in my opinion, but the sentiment among many is that he failed to deliver the goods and he should wear the collar alone. Now I ask you, just how insane is that? While the great Bulls teams were loaded with Jordan, Pippen and Rodman, they had role players off the bench that could produce points and rebounds. The same could be said for the various Lakers teams that tasted the victory champagne as well as the Celtics.
So why is it James is held to a different standard? I say it is a combination of jealousy and resentment, depending on which side of the coin you look at, but it does not even come close to passing the proverbial sniff test.
James no doubt is hurting inside right now, but he still is the most incredible player in the game today, and along with Wade and Bosh, will be part of the revised Miami roster that will again win the Eastern Conference.
The real question is, will they win a title, and can anything other than a resounding MVP type performance by James in the Finals be deemed adequate in the eyes of those who judge his game? One thing is for certain, those who doubt him and buy in to this current incorrect appraisal of his abilities will indeed have to change their tune, as I feel it will eventually be chronicled how successful James will ultimately be in terms of his post-season accomplishments.
All he can do now is play at a level that is even higher than what we are accustomed to for him. I predict he will do just that and then some.
Danny Bridges who feels James will own multiple championship rings upon retiring can be reached at (317) 578-1780 or at Bridgeshd@aol.com.
