NBA Playoffs 2012 Running thread

He's right.

And James will get better and better when he becomes more of a confident prick on the court and not trying to make everyone happy.

 

Who's on Skip Bayless watch today? Did he even show up for work?

 

You are mis-characterizing my point. I never said the maturation process, nor any alleged "leap" (whatever the hell that Simmons-esque term even means), occurred in the "last few weeks." As with all of us, it is a far more gradual and protracted process than that. And I happen to believe that the younger version of Lebron also could've won titles if circumstances (and teammates) had been different.

Are you sure your "leap" bullshit isn't just a simplistic attempt to rationalize how he just did what you've spent a couple years here claiming he couldn't do?

 

I was wrong about the kid. But he was a different player this post season than in the past. If he played this way with Cleveland, they would have had a title by now.

 

What year?

What team would Cleveland have beaten?

What Cavalier would have gone 9 of 15 for 25 points like Chalmers did in Game 4?

What Cavalier would have gone 7 of 8 from 3-point range for 23 points like Miller did in Game 5

What Cavalier would have averaged 22.6-6.0-5.2 for the Finals like Wade did?

What Cavalier would have shot 58 percent from 3-point range like Battier did?

Yes, James played better than ever this Finals. But it's completely overlooked that he HAD MORE HELP this season than in any of his 9 seasons. That's why he went there.

You don't win an NBA title without help. Ever.

 

Not even Mike could do it.

 

Mama's Boy Durant cried after he didn't get his widdle Championship and nobody is ripping him for that.
If LeBron did that the pitchforks would be out.

 

He was on Cleveland teams that won 127 regular season games in two seasons and a winning percentage better than what they had in Miami. There was talent on those teams.

 

To be fair, it's not like everyone (anyone?) expected Miller, Battier, Chalmers, etc. to blow up like they did in the Finals. It was just uncanny what they did, especially Battier and Miller just being ridiculously hot from 3-point range. Unreal. And fun to watch.

But your overall point is right. He's got way more help now than ever, which is why he went there. In related news, I heard a caller on DC sports talk radio a couple weeks ago when Miami was down 3-2 to Boston say that people need to get off LeBron's back because he's doing it all himself. LOOK WHAT HE'S WORKING WITH!!! THEY HAVE TO GET HIM SOME BETTER PLAYERS!!!, the caller said. Seriously.

 

Yes, LeBron James.

 

If I'm happy for anyone on this team it's...

Shane Battier.

Had the chance to cover him when he was at Country Day and playing in the state finals. Of course DCD kicked the crap out of the team I was covering, but I interviewed Battier for a bit after the game regardless... class act even back then.

 

The Cavs' second-leading scorer in the 2007 Finals averaged 12.8 points those Finals. The Heat's this year? 22.6.

You basically start out 10 points per game better just by switching teams. It's the difference in getting swept by the Spurs and possibly beating them.

And the Cavs were never going to get that second top player to help James get over the hump.

Exactly. And without their help, Games 2, 3 and/or 4 could have easily tipped OKC's way. Battier scores 17 in Game 2, a game that went down to the last shot. Chalmers scores 25 in a game that James had to leave for most of the last 4 minutes with the game tied.

Without all that help, we're heading to OKC for Game 6, and the Thunder may be leading 3-2.