When the lights clicked on and the camera’s started rolling last summer, everyone eventually walked away in absolute disgust. The Decision will live in infamy as one of the most pompous displays of egotism in sports history. It also marked the beginning of a timeline where anyone who wasn’t sure what they thought of Lebron James, or even those who liked him, began to despise him. It is almost comical how much everyone hates this guy and I’m right in front of the line quenching my haterade thirst.
By deciding to “take his talent’s to South Beach” Lebron showed us a few things. A. He is not a real winner and never will be. B. He is a coward. Only a select few players in the NBA’s history have been deified for putting their respective team on their back and not letting them down until the ring or rings were securely on their fingers. Jordan, Russell, Kobe, Magic, Bird… to name a few. I believe that Lebron, the self-proclaimed King, always believed that somehow these rings and the reputation of a “legend” would somehow wrap themselves around him, as if they were in his Nike shoe contracts. Then Lebron panicked, after coming up short, multiple times against adversity. He pushed the panic button, plain and simple. It was never about the money…Lebron doesn’t need to worry about that. He saw an easy to the championship…let Dwayne Wade take him there and then perhaps, everything would fall into place and he could begin carving his legacy. One problem. You need to have heart and true-will. Dwayne Wade can’t do this for you Lebron, Dallas is too good for that, and it is hilarious to watch this “King” crumble right before our eyes.
I don’t really need to go over Lebron’s stats thus far in the series (Dallas leads 3-2 by the way.) He scored 8 points in game 4 and was called out for “shrinking in the moment.” He played with such apathy during the game that if I were Dwayne Wade I would have been incensed. So how does he respond? With another lackluster performance in a pivotal game 5. Wade got leveled by the Custodian AKA the Hitman, Brian Cardinal, and was in and out of the game. That would have been a good time for Lebron to step up his game. I know he had a triple-double but he only scored 17, and none when it counted AGAIN! Getting 10 assists and helping out your teammates is nice but the Mavericks offense is too good for Lebron to play facilitator, which is just a code name for SCARED. He was scared of failing again and that in its self is a failure. Sorry Lebron but being a facilitator does not cut it in this type of spotlight. You whine and whine and then prance around the court after a big dunk…you deserve all the attention, positive and negative that comes your way.
And what about Dallas? They have been unremitting the entire playoffs. They have been the opposite of Lebron James. They have not always played well in these finals; until last nights game, their shooting was unusually terrible, but they have been assiduous with their effort in every phase of the game. Their defense has played well beyond expectations.
Tyson Chandler has been a force in the middle. Marion, the Matrix, has played superb D on Lebron (as has Stevenson) and has come up with big points that have kept Dallas afloat. Jason Terry has played with great perseverance. Despite his poor play in the first few games, he did not shy away from the moment last night when it counted most. JJ Barea also came up big last night after starting off the series slowly. Finally there is the Dirksaster. Dirk is a true champion. He has put this team on his back since Day 1 and never let them down. He shows up (even when he has 102 fever) in the fourth quarter and will’s his team to victory. He deserves this ring more than anyone else in the NBA. He wants it, he isn’t scared of going after it, and I don’t see a way where he doesn’t get it. It’s time to put the kids to bed and exile the King.
-ONE MORE THING:
Just when I thought Lebron and Wade couldn't get any dumber...we saw them in typical fashion over-celebrate prematurely in game 2 and then deny it. Then we see them making fun of Dirk Nowitzki at the shoot around--they pretended they were coughing and sniveling like Dirk did when he had his 102 degree fever. Last time I checked...Nowitzki BURRIED you guys with that fever, in arguably his worst performance. If I were Dirk and I had no class (he does though so this won't happen) I would have one of my teammates (preferably black) put on a black wig and fake tits while I strap-on a Delonte West mask and then bend em over. Right in front of Lebron. Come Get Some.
