Knocked Off His Throne

He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a high school basketball player. He was the #1 overall pick in the 2003 draft. He dropped 25 points against Sacramento in his first NBA game. LeBron James was the chosen one and he had arrived as the next NBA all-time great. LeBron James deserves a lot of credit. Very seldom does a young phenom meet and exceed expectations at an early age and for an extended period of time. By James’ 4th season, despite being swept by the veteran San Antonio Spurs, he had led his no-name Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA Finals in history. The road back to the Finals got a little tougher each season in Cleveland. They were stopped by the eventual champs, the Boston Celtics, in 2008. In the off season, an unprecedented countdown began in New York, Miami, Chicago and around the nation. LeBron would become a free agent… in 2 seasons! In 2009, the Cavs were upset in the conference finals by the Orlando Magic. In 2010, they were beaten in the conference semis, again by the Celtics. Here is where LeBron’s legacy starts to change.

It was in a six game series that Boston eliminated LeBron’s Cavs in 2010, but it was game 5 that we may always remember. Plain and simple, LeBron checked out. He was absolutely disengaged. The series was even at 2 games each and the NBA’s reigning two-time MVP took it upon himself to play completely flat. 3-for-14 from the field, 15 points total, getting nine of those points from the free throw line while settling for jumper after jumper and not attacking the hoop. The Cavs lost games 5 and 6, both blowouts. As bad as that felt in Cleveland, it got even worse when LeBron decided to take his talent to South Beach, joining Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, becoming the next and perhaps most dangerous Big 3. It should be noted that LeBron took less money to join the Miami Heat in pursuit of a championship. We would like our favorite athletes to put winning before making more money, so for that James should be applauded. But the way he made this “Decision” was very poor. Can you imagine being married to someone for seven years, seven relatively happy years, only to find out your spouse is leaving you for another? It would probably feel like a constant punch in the stomach. Now imagine that you find out on national television and the whole nation gets to watch your divorce. That’s what the city of Cleveland experienced and that’s how the “King” treated his people. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert did act like a spoiled brat, but the issue was LeBron, acknowledging that he couldn’t do it alone, leaving for greener pastures.

Fast forward to the 2011 playoffs. Miami Thrice takes care of the young 76ers in five games. Then, the Big 3 eliminates the big 4 Boston Celtics, also in a relatively easy five games. LeBron states that he couldn’t have gotten past the Celtics while still in Cleveland, almost in an apologetic “I told you so” way. In the conference finals, LeBron outplays MVP Derrick Rose and sends the Bulls packing, also in five games. LeBron, Wade and company are in the NBA Finals and it seems like it’s all falling into place according to plan. They even draw the Dallas Mavericks, a team that Dwyane Wade dominated in 2006, earning Finals MVP along the way to his 1st ring. Game 1 of the 2011 Finals, a very solid performance by LeBron, 24 points on 9-16 shooting, although only 1-3 in the 4th in a 92-84 win. The Mavericks even the series in an historic comeback, down 15 in the 4th to win Game 2, 95-93. James, 20 points on 8-15 from the floor but 0-4 in the 4th quarter. As the series moves to Dallas, Dwayne Wade asserts himself in a hostile environment, scoring 29 points, this after scoring 36 in a Game 2 losing effort, leading the Heat to a 88-86 nail biter. From James it was more of the same, 17 points on 6-14 shooting but just 1-3 in the 4th. Are we seeing a pattern yet? If anyone was expecting a big bounce back game from LeBron in game 4, they were utterly disappointed. The Mavs once again even the series, 86-83 but the story is clearly LeBron James. Only 3-11 shooting for a meager 8 points, again disappearing, avoiding the 4th quarter shooting 0-1 from the field. Sports radio and television shows are going crazy, not to mention all the stories on the Internet. LeBron is not clutch. LeBron can’t get it done. LeBron this, LeBron that. He is getting killed by the media, deservedly so. So what happens next, LeBron states that Game 5 is probably the biggest game of his life. And in the biggest game of his life, James does record a triple-double, 17 points on 8-19 shooting, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Yet again, he shrinks to the pressure in the 4th quarter, shooting 1-4  in the final period. Final score of LeBron’s biggest game of his life, 112-103 Mavericks, taking a 3-2 series lead going back to Miami.

Where do we go next? Let’s start off by summarizing that in the five 4th quarters of these NBA finals, LeBron James is 3-15 from the field and the majority of his 4th quarter attempts are outside the paint around the perimeter. When you add his free throw totals for the entire series 11-16, getting to the charity stripe on an average of 3 times per game, you can conclude that LeBron is just not being aggressive. Remember, this is a two-time regular season MVP we’re talking about here. Dallas has not one, but two guys, coming up big in the series as well as the 4th quarter. Has anyone in NBA history shot as well as Dirk Nowitzki for a stretch of two months? He is a big shot making machine in the 2011 playoffs and Finals. He is also getting a lot of help, especially from Jason Terry, who is backing up his big boasts and hitting big shot after big shot. Miami’s only Finals MVP, Dwyane Wade, is playing like an MVP, a go to guy.  His point totals: 22, 36, 29, 32, and 23 for a per game average of 28.4. LeBron is averaging 17.2 points per game, well below numbers you might expect for the so called “chosen one.” Dare I say that LeBron James is the 4th most effective player on the court, especially in crunch time? The Mavericks go on to beat the Heat in game six to earn their first NBA Championship, Dirk being the Finals MVP.

No doubt LeBron James is getting tons and tons of criticism, some exaggerated and some warranted. After all, he was supposed to be among the all time greats. He still is, but his performances in these Finals align him with Kevin McHale, James Worthy and Scottie Pippen. Of course there is nothing wrong with that. Those 3 names each won multiple championships and had prolific Hall of Fame careers. However, those names are not Larry Bird, Magic Johnson or Michael Jordan, the NBA’s best of the best. LeBron is a great all-around talent and a great teammate much like Bird, Magic and Jordan. However, no way is Larry Bird only taking just 3 shots per 4th quarter of crucial NBA Finals games. Magic Johnson was involved in every play down the stretch, whether it was leading the legendary Showtime fast break or hitting the junior sky hook. And you know Jordan would put an exclamation on a game and a series. Looking at more recent times, the Black Mamba Kobe Bryant has been a killer in the Finals over the past decade, never afraid to succeed or fail. Perhaps the most important thing the all-time greats have that LeBron doesn’t is the fact that when they take the big shot, they expect to make it. When LeBron attempts the big shot, albeit few and far between, he hopes to make it. LeBron may have a few big moments and hit some big shots, but it’s more likely that he will always defer to Miami’s go to guy Dwyane Wade. Being the second option is nothing to be ashamed of. After all, even Batman needed Robin.