OK, this year it’s official: I DO feel sorry for LeBron James
Here's LeBron looking to pass again. Why doesn't he shoot? (AP photo)
A year ago I almost felt sorry for LeBron James. This time there’s no “almost” — I do feel sorry for him. He cannot simply play a game anymore, and woe be unto him should his team happen to lose one.
About playing the game: The general idea is to win by whatever means necessary, but LeBron and the Miami Heat are held to a different standard. They have to win in a way that satisfies their critics, which has become impossible because there are too many critics. (I know. Before my sympathy button got pushed, I was one.)
You can see it at the end of these games against Boston. The Celtics trust one another; they don’t care who takes the last shot. The Heat may profess not to care, but deep down they know that there’ll be hell to pay if LeBron James — or, failing that, Dwyane Wade — doesn’t take the last shot.
And then come the permutations: What if LeBron is triple-teamed (as happened in Game 4) and passes to Udonis Haslem, who misses? Was LeBron wrong for not forcing the issue? Aren’t Great Players supposed to Make Something Happen? Would Michael Jordan have passed in such a situation?
(For the record, the answer is yes. Jordan would have and demonstrably did. The title-winning shot in the 1997 NBA finals was made by Steve Kerr off a pass from Jordan. The title-winning shot in the 1993 NBA finals was made by John Paxson off a sequence that commenced with Jordan driving and passing to Scottie Pippen, who passed to Horace Grant, who found Paxson on the perimeter.)
Back to Game 4: LeBron got ripped in some circles for not shooting at the end of regulation, and then, with LeBron disqualified on fouls, Wade was reduced to hoisting a contested 3-pointer at the end of overtime, which led to him getting ripped, too. So which is it: Is a superstar supposed to take the last shot no matter what or isn’t he?
Apparently the answer is: The superstar can do as he wants, so long as he doesn’t miss. Trouble is, superstars miss, too. Jordan missed more than half the shots he took as a professional. (Not many more, it should be noted.) A guy who takes the last shot cannot be afraid, but the pressure on the Heat — the initial helping having been self-inflicted — has made it difficult for them to breathe, let alone dare.
After Tuesday’s Game 5, the sixth paragraph of the Associated Press report began thusly: “James finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds for Miami, though he went eight minutes without scoring in the final quarter.”
The difference between the Heat and the Celtics is that the latter side knows its can lose without recrimination. Garnett and Pierce and Allen and Rondo have proved they can win a title. When LeBron made The Decision in July 2010, he reduced his career to two questions: Has he won it all yet, and if not, why not? Is he not good enough? (Ridiculous question.) Is there some sort of character flaw? (If there is, it didn’t show when he lifted the Cavaliers to the 2007 NBA finals by himself.) Is he scared?
Given that LeBron James is 27 and has, counting playoffs, scored 22,000 NBA points, that question would seem laughable — until you actually watch him play a postseason game, and then you begin to wonder. You wonder if the nit-picking of every on-court decision hasn’t gotten to him in a way it never got to Jordan. (Then again, there was no Twitter when MJ ruled and no real blogs, and even ESPN was a kinder, gentler place.)
All things being equal, the Heat should beat the Celtics. All things are not equal. Boston doesn’t have to impress anybody. The Heat do, but in the 21st century there’s no way impress everybody. When LeBron joined forces with his Super Friends, he had no way of knowing that in search of ultimate victory he’d plopped himself into the ultimate no-win situation.
If the Heat prevail, they’ll have done so because of their talent. (In other words, in spite of themselves.) If they fall, it’ll be because of some sort of moral failing, even if we on the periphery have to concoct one.
Comparing/contrasting LeBron James and Michael Jordan has been done so often as to make the eyes glaze over, but in LeBron’s second postseason run with Miami the key difference is obvious: We watched Jordan to see him win, and we’re watching LeBron to see him lose. He’ll eventually get his title — he’s too good not to do it — but he might never escape that trap. He set himself up, and we’re only too happy to keep knocking him down.
By Mark Bradley
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140 comments Add your comment
Time
June 6th, 2012
12:35 pm
IMO, LeBron has payed his pittance for the mistakes of the “decision”. People ought to lay off the guy. Everyone wants to love DWade and call him Batman or whatever. Problem is, DWade is a former superstar in serious decline. He’s one of those guys that have relied on extreme athleticism to get it done on the court. He’s losing the athleticism, he’s little more than a good 3rd option on a championship caliber team.
I think they’ll blow it up this year. Bosh and Dwade will be gone. That’s when I think LeBron gets his title.
Heisenberg
June 6th, 2012
12:36 pm
There is no feeling sorry for this idiot and his sidekicks. They put the target on themselves and it will remain there as long as they are together. LBJ does not have IT and still does not get IT. Not even PJax could coax a title out of these guys. If he is wise, he will sit this one out.
Heisenberg
June 6th, 2012
12:44 pm
There is no consolation that the Hawks battled these same Celtics in round 1. They lost in 6 games including at home when Rondo was suspended. I am not a Celtic fan but I can respect they have heart, know how to compete, and know how to play the game to win.
Chris
June 6th, 2012
12:44 pm
Lebron scores 30 and he had a great game. When Jordan scored 30, he had an average game. Jordan’s average was like every other players best. I will never feel sorry for Lebron but it is unfair to compare him to Jordan. He’s a totally different player, and not even close to the same level. Jordan always seemed to make the right decision during crunch time, while Lebron seems to make the wrong decisions. I do know one thing. Jordan in his prime never would have been missing in action for 8 minutes in the 4th quarter of a crucial playoff game.
DC
June 6th, 2012
12:47 pm
Davenpoop…John Stockton & Karl Malone…but yeah I get what you’re saying. I think its LeBron’s character that makes everyone dislike him…Mark just wrote this article so everyone can disagree with him b/c he is in the extreme minority on this…good work MB..
Scot
June 6th, 2012
12:52 pm
If LBJ had quietly found a new team 2 years ago, nobody would have cared. Now, no matter how many championships he wins – and I suspect he will win ZERO – the Decision will follow him forever.
FalconUGAFan
June 6th, 2012
1:02 pm
Nope don’t feel the least bit sorry for him….I wanted him to win a ring at Cleveland as I thought he was one of the few loyal players, but after the “decision” forget it……
Mike R
June 6th, 2012
1:03 pm
I’ll give James a pass on “The Decision”. It was a boneheaded move but people make mistakes…ok. But then James and the Heat come up with the bright idea of “The Introduction” (boneheaded move #2). If you have forgotten this production, here’s the link http://youtu.be/aD9lZflXsgU. Next, during the introduction. James predicts multiple championships (boneheaded move #3).
At that point, the team hadn’t practiced together, nor had the coach implimented a gameplan. It was assumed that all the Heat needed was the “talent” of the big three and a championship was theirs. I think that is what they currently believe. In two seasons the Heat have failed to become a Team and that is what they lost to last night. A Team named the Celtics.
Maybe next year after haveing another year of maturation, the Heat will become a team and maybe win a championship.
jeffrey d
June 6th, 2012
1:13 pm
I respect the heck out of LeBron’s abilities. That said, ever since he decided that he needed an entire TV special to announce his signing, I lost respect for him as a person.
Peter
June 6th, 2012
1:15 pm
Mark……Come on TEAM work wins in the NBA look at Dallas last year, one real star and the rest very good players playing as a team.
If Bosh comes back then you have 3 legitimate stars….. but really how the bench and role players play, and if and only if they play as a team distributing the ball will they win.
Look at the Hawks as an example……The ball stops with JJ. and so thus the series in the Hawks playoff run.
jimi
June 6th, 2012
1:16 pm
Just think. all this because he left Cleveland!, I left Cleveland with
a greyhound bus ticket and was glad to go.
Goodoleboy58
June 6th, 2012
1:16 pm
“The Decision”… maybe not a good decision at this point ehh… Lebron brought this on himself, Miami brought this on themselves by ticker tape parading a free agency signing instead of a Championship. Now the rest of the NBA can laugh, and deservedly so.
Peter
June 6th, 2012
1:17 pm
Right on the mark !!!!!!!! Yes Mark ?
I do know one thing. Jordan in his prime never would have been missing in action for 8 minutes in the 4th quarter of a crucial playoff game.
rm
June 6th, 2012
1:22 pm
The problem is the heat don’t have a team. They have 3 stars and the rest, outside of haslem are inconsistent at best. Jordan had a team. Magic had a team. Bird had a team. Lebron bosh and wade brought this on themselves. Don’t feel sorry at all. Will happily continue to cheer against them. And for those that use that pathetic term “haters”… Grow up. Learn about integrity, doing things the right way and stop chasing the front runner. That’s the easy way out
Hillbilly D
June 6th, 2012
1:32 pm
The problem with having a team full of superstars is that you can only play with one basketball at a time.
Stank Wren
June 6th, 2012
1:33 pm
“And for those that use that pathetic term “haters”… Grow up.”
Agreed. For some reason I always end up hating people that use the phrases “haters” and “don’t hate”
blue
June 6th, 2012
1:36 pm
And it’s not just the ‘decision’ and the championship stuff. There was him and Wade in the tunnel making fun of/mocking a player from another team who was sick or injured last year (can’t remember who it was). And the other night, when a reporter misspoke about which game of the series it was, the two of them started making fun of him. I don’t hate him, but I certainly will not feel sorry for him. If he hadn’t done so many of the things the others have mentioned, maybe people wouldn’t hold him to such a high standard? He could learn a LOT from Kevin Durant!
blue
June 6th, 2012
1:38 pm
Time: I definitely disagree on Wade being in “serious decline”.
Phuch Le` Duc
June 6th, 2012
1:39 pm
Thanks Mark;
it`s very nice to get a basketball article somewhere ?
Does Michael Cunningham still work there with you guys ?
Peadawg
June 6th, 2012
1:41 pm
Lebron and his cocky attitude brought this on himself as did the Heat when they tried to buy a championship…which 2 yrs in hasn’t worked.
And I love it!
Peadawg
June 6th, 2012
1:41 pm
Anybody but the Heat and their arrogance and I’m happy!
bee38773
June 6th, 2012
1:42 pm
everybody talks about lebron dumping on his hometown wade dumped on his hometown too.he did an interview trashing bulls ownership and loyalty. thats why major free agents wont come to chicago. thats why nobody in chicago likes d wade.
ATLgator
June 6th, 2012
1:43 pm
Bradley, your columns get worse and worse as time goes on. You stand for absolutely nothing – you switch opinions like the wind blows. The most annoying part about your writing is that you are a complete homer for all the local teams. Any of our teams could be doing terrible, and you always find some kind of ridiculous argument to go against what everyone else is thinking.
I don’t feel the least bit sorry for LeBron. How do you feel sorry for an arrogant jerk that talks about himself in the 3rd person? You say how great he is – he does put up great stats. But great players are defined by how they perform in the clutch – and LeBron doesn’t perform in the clutch – he shrinks. When the games on the line, he just stands in the corner. He doesn’t cut to the basket or even move around the perimeter. If the ball comes to him, he’ll jack up a jump shot that usually bricks. You cannot be one of the greats if you can’t step up and win it at the end of the game.
LeBron is a legend in his own mind, and he is a victim of his own PR hype machine. He is simply over hyped and can’t deliver. And now he plays scared because of it. Pathetic.
Phuch Le` Duc
June 6th, 2012
1:43 pm
Oh I forgot !
” pronounced – foosh le duke “
Peadawg
June 6th, 2012
1:43 pm
Lebron brought this on himself with his cockiness. Hopefully he never gets a title.
Also, what do you expect when a team has 3 great individual players and the rest belong in the D-league.
Peadawg
June 6th, 2012
1:44 pm
Lebron brought this on himself with his arrogance and attitude. Hopefully he never gets a title.
Also, what do you expect when a team has 3 great individual players and the rest belong in the D-league. That’s no team.
Peadawg
June 6th, 2012
1:45 pm
“The difference between the Heat and the Celtics”
Is the Celtics are a TEAM.
Phil Mickelson
June 6th, 2012
1:49 pm
@Mike Mitch- stop being racist in my backswing or I’ll have you removed from this blog.
Thanks, Lefty
wxwax
June 6th, 2012
1:54 pm
“Is there some sort of character flaw?”
Yes. There is. He quit on his Cavs team in the playoffs, against these same Celtics, in 2010.
There’s a huge character flaw.
FD
June 6th, 2012
1:55 pm
Mark Bradley, I’m glad you were able to write this piece. I’ve grown up reading you and hailed you as a sports writer that thinks and gets it right. I viewed you as a sports writer that understood it was sports…a piece in the narrative of life. However, I was thoroughly disappointed last year when you fell in line with the schmucks of the world who live fantasy lives through these regular people who play a game. Thanks for coming back to right mind and suggesting to others that they need to also.
David Puddy
June 6th, 2012
1:59 pm
Funny stuff. I hope he never wins one. All the cat walk stuff, bells and whistles, promises…..going wherever it’s percieved to be the best chance. Love it.
FrankensteinSolaris
June 6th, 2012
2:01 pm
I do feel sorry for LaBron because he is so talented and has so many followers and media folks who are completely MESMORIZED by his skills to dunk the basketball. Basketball IQ means a lot more than dunking the basketball, which is why the REAL MVP (Kevin Durant) is thriving while LaBron is about to get eliminated from the playoffs. Kevin Durant’s team (Thunder) got rudely eliminated from the playoffs, because they made a ton of mistakes that they didnt have to make BUT WERE TOO YOUNG TO PREVENT THOSE MISTAKES FROM HAPPENING. This season, the thunder learned from those mistakes of the failures from last year, and instead are making smart, intelligent plays instead of emotional, stupid plays like the Heat are making. Last year, if a game were ending and the thunder needed a basket to win the game, either russell westbrook would be taking the shots and deny durant the basketball or kevin would take an ill-advised shot; maybe a 3-pointer or something late in the shot clock where he didnt get a good look at the basket. Not this year. Kevin practiced during the off-season last year and has become the best player in the league by a landslide. Its just that LaBron is more popular so James keep winning MVPs. KEVIN DURANT WAS CHEATED OUT THE MVP AWARD AND SHOULD HAVE WON THE AWARD GOING AWAY IN A LANDSLIDE.
elle
June 6th, 2012
2:01 pm
I’m a LeBron fan, but he brought much of this pressure onto himself. Most of the Heat “haters” don’t really hate the Heat. They’re just mad that LeBron didn’t pick their team to join. LOL, look at the Knicks.
LeBron doesn’t need any of our sympathies. His time will come.
Veteran Fan
June 6th, 2012
2:03 pm
Lebron is a good scorer that plays in a league that is poor in comparison to Jordan’s time. The best illustration of the fact that he is not a great player(despite ESPN’s constant cheerleading and hype) was the play late in the game last night when he drove to the basket on the left side and put it up with his right hand! Garnett blocked it because he knows Lebron doesn’t have a left hand! Most guys in the league don’t either so no one usually notices! This is why the foreign players are taking over. They are fundamentally better players and can execute in crunch time! He is probably the only “MVP” in the history of the league who can only go to his right!
Ryan
June 6th, 2012
2:10 pm
sorry for a multi millionaire cry baby? puh lease.
John
June 6th, 2012
2:16 pm
He set himself up for this. He made people hate him. Boo Hoo.
Veteran Fan
June 6th, 2012
2:17 pm
Lebron is a good scorer in a very poor league! A good illustration that he is not great(despite ESPN’s constant cheerleading and hype) occurred last night late in the game. He drove the left side of the basket and put it up with his right hand. Kevin Garnett blocked it because he knew Lebron doesn’t have a left hand and can only go to his right and finish! The really sad thing is that most players in the league cannot finish with either hand so usually no one notices Lebron’s weakness! This is one of the reasons that the foreign players are increasing their numbers every year and taking over. They are fundamentally sound and can go either way in crunch time! I believe that in the history of the league, he is the only “MVP” that has no off hand! I think Boston has picked up on this and thats why they can shut him down late in games! No I do not feel sorry for him as he could have corrected this a long time ago. Jordan was weak with his outside shooting when he came into the league, but by his third season he was a deadly outside shooter! It takes HARD WORK Lebron combined with talent to be a star and he is only a scorer!
Roger
June 6th, 2012
2:24 pm
Larry Bird would have told the defender the exact place on the floor where he was going to take the shot, double-teamed, tripled-teamed or not, and then would have made the shot. Lebron is no Larry Bird.
Devil's Advocate
June 6th, 2012
2:27 pm
I don’t dislike LeBron, I dislike the hype machine (media and fans) who give credit before it is earned. LeBron on a national level is about the same as Matt Ryan on a local level. How great did we hear each already was when they began their respective careers? How many championships has each played for? What happened to looking at the most successful players and acknowledging them as being the best instead of trying to invent the best players on draft day?
GwinnettDad
June 6th, 2012
2:30 pm
If you need to feel sorry for something, feel sorry for Cleveland, which Lebron humiliated in classless, heartless fashion.
The Cavaliers had the best record in the NBA for two seasons. Lebong DID NOT do that by himself. He disappears at clutch time to have horrible games. Yes, he had 30 points in game five yesterday. A typical 11-25 on a team that had just 13 assists.
Lebong is doing to the Heat what he did to the Cavaliers. The team that plays team is the one that wins. Jordan always played TEAM! Lebong always is the great one, thus, he teammates watch and wait for him to be great.
And then we all wait for the aftermath when poor Lebong leaves the court with his head between his knees.
NoHomeForOldJames
June 6th, 2012
2:38 pm
Feel sorry for all true atlanta fans, can’t feel sorry for jerks like james.
Tap Out
June 6th, 2012
2:41 pm
People still watch ESPN….are you serious?? It’s the sports equivalent of watching one of those pathetic Real Housewife’s shows.
Rod aka RG3
June 6th, 2012
2:46 pm
I like Dwade and i am starting to like Lebron the man is amazing. But yall who talk negative yall are lame like do you haters have anything else to do but hate??? Yall just mad becuz he makin money got his shoes and he doing his thing he will win a ring for all you haters LeBron James is the best all around player in the NBA You dont need rings to make a point Charles Barkley Patrick Ewing. Otherwise if its about rings adam morrison and brian scalabrine are top 5 players in the nba
phil
June 6th, 2012
2:51 pm
Feel sorry for Mr. Decision?
Not now. Not ever. It is supremely enjoyable to watch him lose. In fact, if he NEVER won a single game, it still wouldn’t be good enough.
It restores a smidgen of my belief in the league when he fails. I’m less inclined to think it’s rigged.
Earnhardt, Jr’s 4 year losing streak in NASCAR is similar in its positive effect on the sport’s integrity. Lord knows he would win 10 a year if it was rigged.
Fire Eric Spoelstra!!
phil
June 6th, 2012
2:52 pm
Rod aka RG3
June 6th, 2012
2:46 pm
I like Dwade and i am starting to like Lebron the man is amazing. But yall who talk negative yall are lame like do you haters have anything else to do but hate??? Yall just mad becuz he makin money got his shoes and he doing his thing he will win a ring for all you haters LeBron James is the best all around player in the NBA You dont need rings to make a point Charles Barkley Patrick Ewing. Otherwise if its about rings adam morrison and brian scalabrine are top 5 players in the nba
****************
Not too late to go back to school and learn how to write something halfway intelligble….
phil
June 6th, 2012
2:55 pm
Chris
June 6th, 2012
12:44 pm
Lebron scores 30 and he had a great game. When Jordan scored 30, he had an average game. Jordan’s average was like every other players best. I will never feel sorry for Lebron but it is unfair to compare him to Jordan. He’s a totally different player, and not even close to the same level. Jordan always seemed to make the right decision during crunch time, while Lebron seems to make the wrong decisions. I do know one thing. Jordan in his prime never would have been missing in action for 8 minutes in the 4th quarter of a crucial playoff game.
*************
Jordan and LeChoke comparisons are absurd. There IS no comparison.
jlewis
June 6th, 2012
3:03 pm
I’ll tell you guys something you wont believe, Joe Johnson is better than D-Wade, a straight up trade would give the heat a championship. Joe is bigger, a better defender, shooter and ballhandler.
Role players win championships, they always have.
GwinnettDad
June 6th, 2012
3:07 pm
@phil – when you’re right, you’re right. Jordan scored the final basket in a 104-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, I believe in a semi-final 7th game, early in his NBA Championship career. Search all you want for a comparable highlight in clutch time from Lebong. It doesn’t exist. Cavs were up 2-1 against the Celtics, of all teams, and the third game was a huge Cavs victory. The Cavs lost the next three, and everyone in Cleveland wondered what happened to Lebong. Miami now has the privilege of asking the same question. And its Mark Bradley that doesn’t have a clue – AGAIN!
Sean
June 6th, 2012
3:08 pm
Any team that comes out and declares they will win a number of titles, acts so arrogant in assembling this ‘dream team’ and then on top of that expects not to foul out (and in general the NBA abides by these expectations) should feel pressure. These stars are treated favorably on the court with lenient (typically) officiating and with the good comes the bad; the bad here is the pressure.
Tell me this, if Pierce had complained about all the fouls against him like Lebron did after he fouled out, would Pierce have been fined by the NBA? You are darn right he would have been! Lebron reeps the benefits of being a superstar and until he wins that title he will suffer the consequences of unmet expectations.
TOo Tough44
June 6th, 2012
3:12 pm
boo hoo…hope LJ never wins a title the he did his clevland fans….