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
TOo Tough44
June 6th, 2012
3:13 pm
the way he did his clevland fans…espn announcent etc….hope he looses next game he plays too.
Heisenberg
June 6th, 2012
3:15 pm
Roger @2:24. Larry Bird not only would have but actually did to Xavier McDaniel of the then Seattle Supersonics. A timeout had been called and on the way to the bench, Larry pointed to a spot on the floor and told X-Man that is where is will score when they came out of the TO. And he did.
Jim
June 6th, 2012
3:18 pm
He brought it on himself. Hasn’t proven a thing and you’re absoulety right love to watch him miss and lose and love to see him pounded. For $44 million a year you could say anything you want about me…..He wanted the stage. He got it….No mercy in this dojo….
real deal is...
June 6th, 2012
3:21 pm
BULL HOCKEY… the best way for any team to impress is to WIN! ugly or otherwise
Keith
June 6th, 2012
3:24 pm
Lebron was right your life is sad if you are disliking something that had no affect on your life. Wow to continue to bring up the past shows who you are.
Sean
June 6th, 2012
3:28 pm
Keith – and judging shows who you are…
crackbaby
June 6th, 2012
3:33 pm
Mark,
I seem to recall reading your column when MJ played for the Bulls that stated unequivocally that the Bulls would not win a championship. They were not good enough. I believe they won their first, of six, championships later that very season.
Truth-O-Meter please. Am I hallucinating / having an Alzheimer’s moment or correctly recalling your past work?
crackbaby
June 6th, 2012
3:36 pm
Folks – If the Heat don’t win this year, Spoelstra gets fired and they will be contenders again next year.
Pat Riley would sell his soul to switch coaches with Boston right now. LOL.
BravesFan79
June 6th, 2012
3:50 pm
Hes been a joke since he came into the league. If you call yourself “the King” … well you better be better than Michael Jordan! Its not even close! Dude cant even hit clutch free throws! Not sure if ive ever seen such a overrated player in my life in any sport.
Left Coast Dawg
June 6th, 2012
4:02 pm
Lebron is a wanna be…..like Mike or Kobe.
Dwayne is has a consistently deteriorating moral fiber (becoming more of a pouter, flopper, and dirty player (see All-Star game act against Kobe for reference).
Bosh is good player with no heart to stand on his own.
They all get what the deserve with the regard to the added pressure. Mark (no pun intended) my words though, Pat Riley won’t stand for it long. He is a winner and will blow it all up if it keeps failing. Spoelstra isn’t safe either.
Left Coast Dawg
June 6th, 2012
4:04 pm
Crackbaby must be old school to remember pre-internet Mark Bradley columns…..lol
Elijah
June 6th, 2012
4:45 pm
First Jordon, Bird, Magic all shot over 50 percent from the field for their careers…. 2nd Lebrick does not use his body to create space, 6ft9 shooting fadeaway jumpers on a 6ft1in person is simple stupid. His basketball IQ is overrated, if you are the star you think you are quitting looking to the sidelines after when Boston scores. Quite getting beat on the backdoor pass.
J
June 6th, 2012
4:59 pm
Nicole claims the Thunder as her team and she probably never lived in OKC nor followed OKC until they made the playoffs last year. Nicole = typical bandwagoner. MY team, ha, what a joke.
duronimo
June 6th, 2012
5:19 pm
It’s his job. Most people put up with a lot to make a working person’s wage. I think he’s compensated royally for his trouble. Feeling sorry for him is just nuts.
LakeDawg
June 6th, 2012
5:31 pm
Guy Bailey
June 6th, 2012
10:35 am
Nada sympathy here although I am warmed to see a Boston team, that the Hawks are not that far behind in terms of talent and personnel, shutting the Heats collective big yaps.
———————————————————————————————————————————
Completely meaningless post. The Hawk’s problem isn’t talent. Its between the ears.
Nativebird
June 6th, 2012
5:40 pm
As if he and his talents he took to South Beach didn’t ask for and deserve this. No tears Mark, there are no tears in the land of get mine and $cr3w the rest of the world, Lebron James.
6Digitballin on blackplanet
June 6th, 2012
5:41 pm
Carletta won’t let me care. My gout won’t let me play. My cuz done hit so many fine redbones.
MS Bully
June 6th, 2012
6:08 pm
The “Truth” will send Queen James home so he can finish counting his ringless fingers!!!! Go C’s!!!
Justin
June 6th, 2012
6:53 pm
I feel sorry for orphans who live on the streets. NBA players, not so much.
Justin
June 6th, 2012
6:56 pm
Perhaps instead of apologizing for LeBron, Mark can apologize for trashing the Hawks after their first round loss to the Celtics. He lambasted the Hawks, but is apologizing for LeBron, both of whom apparently will have lost to the EC champs in 6.
dawg4u
June 6th, 2012
7:05 pm
It’s hard for me to feel sorry for LJ when I look around and see the struggles that many others are facing.
James
June 6th, 2012
8:06 pm
HE is the one that said at the end of the day we all have to face up to our pathetic lives, so since he felt compelled to label us “losers” in such a manner, I will be one of many who admits that I revel in his failures, that seeing him come up short time and time again gives life new meaning. And I see that Wade has absorbed all of LJ’s negative energy so much that he whines and moans like a little girl, seeing HIM fail is equally as gratifying. Honestly though, its not entirely LJ’s fault. Let’s face it, he is ten times too stupid to even comprehend the implications of what he says when he inserts foot in mouth, which he has a propensity for doing. He simply didn’t understand that what he said in that press conference was offensive and untoward. So let’s give him a break on that front. Many of these professional athletes could use a life coach to teach them what you can and cannot say. LJ as well as our Community Organizer in Chief are two prime examples.
satch
June 6th, 2012
8:09 pm
the heat do not a a point guard and cannot win until they get one .plus their coach is not that good .james and wade are scoring but are not getting jack from role players.their role players do not rebound get garbage points or run down loose balls
G'Vegas Dawg
June 6th, 2012
8:11 pm
LBJ couldn’t carry MJ’s jock strap in a wheel barrow
satch
June 6th, 2012
8:12 pm
TOo Tough44
June 6th, 2012
3:13 pm
the way he did his clevland fans…espn announcent etc….hope he looses next game he plays too
STOP WHINING ABOUT CLEVELAND FANS .NOTHING HE DID WOULD HAVE MADE THEM HAPPY NO MATTER HOW HE LEFT!!!!!!!! HE DID NOT OWE THEM JACK
satch
June 6th, 2012
8:13 pm
you can tell the folks who drunk the jordan kool-aid
satch
June 6th, 2012
8:14 pm
if the larry bird celtics and pistons stayed young mj would not have won jack remember they wore the bulls behinds out until they got old
Dawglasville
June 6th, 2012
8:18 pm
I could live with King James. I could live with the stupid powder thing at the beginning of games. The Decision didn’t turn me. The next night at the coming out party of the new look Heat absolutely turned my stomach. Mark Jackson almost got me feeling sorry for the guy blaming the introduction party on the Heat front office. All doubt was removed when he and Wade started mocking Dirk about having a cold. To top things off, when things go bad, he and Wade have to huddle together at the press conference. Besides, sports are so much better when you have something to hate. Ask any Tech or Georgia fan.
satch
June 6th, 2012
8:21 pm
and i say what say because nobody got the protection from the refs mike jordan got .he miss a shot fouls called on defender with on contact,tv announcers swallow their mike because it’s jordan and he was the biggest star in the 90’s by far.For my money kareem is the best ,he won it all on every level of hoops 3 ncca title rings, 6 nba rings took on all comers nobody ever stopped him even knowing what he was going to do, when he was doing it, how he was doing it and the refs let him get beat to death and still could not stop him,only father time stopped him
dawg4u
June 6th, 2012
8:25 pm
LJ would not even face the media after the loss last night but he sure is there when they win.
Boise Dawg
June 6th, 2012
8:27 pm
I don’t get the level of Lebron hatred either, but I certainly don’t feel the least bit sorry for him. Yes he had every right to move to Miami, but he did it under the premise that he needed to team up with Bosh and Wade to do it. The irony is, he played on better teams in Cleveland. It was an unpopular move and to then guarantee multiple titles, I do understand why so many continue to root against him. Assuming they fall the Celtics, it should be an interesting offseason in Miami.
Dawglasville
June 6th, 2012
8:31 pm
It is hard to get good role players and good coaches when 3 players make 95% of the total team salary.
W Reid Whitaker, Jr.
June 6th, 2012
8:32 pm
Bradley, you didn’t tell us how many LAST shots Jordan missed ???? I’m sure there were some, but all the games I watched, I don’t remember a single one. I remember plenty he made.
Go Celtics !!!
William
June 6th, 2012
8:42 pm
LeBron = over hyped LOSER.
Love that you made the man pay, bro.. but you and Pujols .. ought to be ‘rested for stealin
MattMD
June 6th, 2012
9:05 pm
If anybody saw that stupid, clown-show video of the Heat introduction to Miami, you’d hate them off the bat.
Lebron is legit but Bosh is a little girl. I went to Tech and I think the guy is an overrated female dog.
MattMD
June 6th, 2012
9:06 pm
Lebron will never have the supporting cast. Wade and Bosh are a joke.
Kapoonka
June 6th, 2012
9:26 pm
When was the last time LeBron or Wade didn’t either A) cry when they thought thy were fouled or B) cry when they were called for a foul? The answer is they always, always cry. This is why they are not liked. I don;t think Bron thinks he has ever commited a foul…ever….
I love to watch them lose…..go Rondo!
Wilbo
June 7th, 2012
2:15 am
Who feels sorry for a complete jerk? I don’t. Retire ringless, sucker!
george
June 7th, 2012
7:10 pm
hello Lebron. even when times are worse we have to keep our heads up. Im not a vivid follower of the series. but when i see a city so dedicated to hate it causes me concern. as much as things are imballanced in cleveland ohio we have put all our focus on hating lebron. when the city especially we as blacks should be cheering his success. HOW CAN THE RACIST IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND convince us to hate our own,, DONT BE DIVIDED like that..Lebron did what he wanted and im proud. lets stand behind him. they have spent so much to hate lebron. but applaud John demyanukl. on reentry to the country…BLACKS dont be fooled in to hating your own. LeBron stilll supports youths in our home area. lets support him…we have no REASON TO HATE LEBRON let them do that … they actuallly hate us all.so dont be fooled
george
June 7th, 2012
7:21 pm
please silence this racist cleveland and win one lebron.. this is almost like the old joe louis fights win one for us all.