He is 22, he doesn't have it yet, and the next 5 to 7 years will tell us if he does eventually have it. Hard to describe what "it" is, but you know it when you see it. Wade has it, Isiah had it. We did see MJ pass off to Paxton, Hodges, and Kerr...but all of those guys knew if they missed the shot they would have MJ's anger to deal with. I don't see the Cleveland players look to/at LeBron the way players took to great players, great winners. LeBron simply does not take over games the way others have. His force of will over other players isn't there yet. LeBron is great, but I don't see fear in the eyes of other players when he has the ball...you saw that fear when Magic, MJ, Bird, etc. had the ball in crunch time. LeBron has to become a better clutch player at the charity stripe. That is a big weakness for him in the 4th quarter. When I think of the truly clutch players in the 4th quarter (Mr. Clutch: Jerry West, Walt Frazier, Rick Barry, Isiah, etc....guys like this lived for, imagined all their life winning with the last shot, taking the last shot...not passing it off to a journeyman. With LeBron's talent, he should dominate, no excuses. He doesn't dominate yet, and it is not lack of physical talent. I simply don't get the feeling that it is LeBron's team yet, but you knew it was Magic's team, MJ's team, Bird's team, Kareem's team, Shaq's team, etc. LeBron may be closer to Magic than MJ, but I watched Magic turn into MJ/Shaq when needed in the finals against Philly when Kareem was out: "The next morning the Lakers arrived at Los Angeles International Airport for their flight to Philadelphia and learned that Abdul-Jabbar wouldn't be making the trip. His ankle was so bad that doctors had advised him to stay home and try to get ready for Game 7. Westhead was worried about the effect the news would have on the team. In a private meeting, the coach told Magic he would have to move to center. No problem, the young guard replied. He had played center in high school and loved challenges such as the one he was about to face. The big news, of course, was Magic, who was simply that. He scored 42 points, including all 14 of his free-throw attempts. He added 15 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block. "It was amazing, just amazing," said Julius Erving, who led Philly with 27 points."
Should LeBron have passed the ball. HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!! D. Marshell wide open look for a three ball to win the game. That was a great play by L. James. What does Hubbie Brown say DRIVE, DRAW and DISH. Wide open three to win game 1 HELL YES!!!!!!!!!!!!.
I agree. A couple of years ago Marshall hit 12 3-pointers in one game which I believe tied him for the NBA record. I've seen him have many games in which he made a lof of 3-pointers. So the guy can shoot. If he makes that shot, Lebron is a genius exhibiting his all-around game a ala Oscar Robinson. But he misses, so he's a hesitant/scared 4th quarter liability? Give me a break...
A year ago at this time...Peyton Manning was a loser who failed in the clutch....Gary Peyton also couldn't win the big one and Shaq was only a champion because of Kobe......time will tell on LaBron....btu in this day and age of individualism...i think its very refreshing to see a young star who actually knows how to play the game....There are very few in the NBA...Duncan...Kidd..The entire Detroit and Spurs team for that matter... I mean, look at Dwight Howard of the Magic...he's 21 and has raw athletic tools of speed, jump and strength that Duncan could never match up against....But I look at Duncan and young Dwight and I cannot figure out WHY after 3 complete years in the NBA he does not have a simple 10 ft bank shot , doesn't;t have a spin move, can;t pass it and recognize the double team quick enough...who coaches these kids? Why is it that Kareem has been gone for almost 17 years....but not ONE center in the NBA uses a sky hook? sad. Yao ming could avg 40 per game if he mastered that shot...instead he wanders around taking jumpers and an occasional dunk.
Exactly right. And what about poor foul shooting? I could shoot foul shots better in the ninth grade than a lot of these guys. I can't believe that someone talented enough to play in the NBA can't be taught to shoot foul shots, but I see terrible form, lack of concentration and an absence of practice. I see "big men" who have zero post skills. I see weak guys who appear never to lift weights. I see guys with no footwork never improve after years in the league. (Yes, I'm talking about you Brendan Haywood) Are you telling me they couldn't hire a coach and work four or five hours a day in the offseason and improve? Blame the no cut contracts.
Remember MJ scoring 63 against the celtics? That was the bulls losing the playoffs. Remember Jordan driving and dishing to Paxson for winning shot to put away the lakers for bulls first championship? Remember Jordan driving and dishing to Steve Kerr for the winning jumper to put away someone else for championship? I think that was the next to last championship against the jazz. It's been said over and over that MJ never won until he started to trust his teammates. Let's face it. A tnt analyst has to have something to say. If he passes and they lose, they'll say he should be the man. If he shoots and misses, they'll say he needs to learn to trust the other guys. They get paid to criticize. And Charles Barkley is an idiot.
no the play was desinged for him...period...he chose to pass...he takes it up and misses...ce la vi..no biggie...but to dish it off to a 3 point shot was not the optimal choice
If it was designed for him period, I believe the other players, including Marshall, would have been rushing boards for possible tip. The fact that Marshall set up in three territory suggests that it was designed for James with relief valves.
If Howard had been practicing all that other stuff, he wouldn't have had time to practice smacking a sticker at the top of the backboard while he dunks.