Brian Windhorst, who is one of the finest NBA reporters in the land, let alone for the Cavs, has a terrific quote this morning from LeBron James that gives us some insight into where his head at, both with his identity and his team's. After the Game 5 loss in Boston, James was quoted as saying, "A LeBron James team is never desperate."Now, there are a lot of ways to interpret this. One is that any team with James on it is going to be confident, because he knows what he's capable of. And you can't really fault him for that. I personally hate it when guys are overly modest to the point of it being facetious. The Cavs are LeBron James. And for them to really excel, to beat the Celtics in a seven game series, especially winning a Game 7 in Boston, if it even comes to that, he has to be the guy. That kind of honesty is kind of refreshing in a league where so many players talk about their teammates but don't actually trust them in the game.
More analysis of the King and "his team" after the jump.Another way to look at it, though, is that this is how LeBron approaches the Cavs. They're "his" team. Not the Cavs, but the LeBron James team. There have long been jokes about the "LeBronites" and the "LeBrons" in referencing Cleveland. And while his honesty in addressing his importance to the squad may be interesting, this quote does pose the question of just how much he appreciates the supporting cast around him. Because after a disappointingly mediocre regular season, the Cavs are in Game 6 in Cleveland only because of his teammates. Delonte West, Boobie Gibson, Anderson Varejao and Zydrunas Ilgauskus have all played huge against the Celtics while LeBron has been shut down for the most part. They wouldn't have survived Games 3 and 4 without the rest of that team. So what does it say that LeBron views this team as a "LeBron James" team, even though other guys have led this team against the Celtics?
It's a tough spot for LeBron to be in. Lean too much on his teammates, and he's viewed as shrinking from the challenge. Put it all on him and he's viewed as selfish,self-grandizing, and more concerned with his image than his team's fortunes. All in the life of the "global icon" as James has said he strives to become. Oh, well. If things don't work out, he can always comfort himself in the gigantic playground made of $100 bills he can build.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. welcome to kobe's world
Posted at 1:51PM on May 15th 2008 by chrisbeomsuh
2. Who knew Rickey Henderson was LeBron's life coach?
Posted at 3:14PM on May 15th 2008 by otp
3. Welcome LeBron to being the successor to Michael Jordan and knowing that he can't please everybody all of the time with his play on the court.
Posted at 11:23PM on May 15th 2008 by George B Vieto
4. LeBron is better than Kobe, but the Lakers are the better team. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHa
Posted at 10:29AM on May 16th 2008 by Don't hate on the LakeRZZ
5. Wolly, west, big Z, Ben Wallace,Gibson, and Varejao have all been stepping up to play. LeBron is not going to roll over tonight. He is going to win tonight and win Game 7 with a buzzer beater dunk with LeBron nutz on KG's chin.
Posted at 12:18PM on May 16th 2008 by SlickRick
6. It would make more sense to just ask Lebron himself to explain that comment in more detail if one wants to get past all the assumptions.
Posted at 3:46AM on May 17th 2008 by PB&J
7. LeBron may end up like Charles Barkley;A great indiviual talent who hindered his team from from winning a championship because of the overemphasis,and distraction of himself.
Posted at 2:11PM on May 17th 2008 by G.L.
8. He has no regard for human life !!
Posted at 9:48PM on May 17th 2008 by Rick
9. Enjoy the off season Queen James.
Posted at 7:45PM on May 18th 2008 by dA
10. The other guys on the Cavs have stepped up because Lebron is occupying 3 defenders. And anyone who can't understand that this is Lebron's team doesn't know Bo about hoops....
Posted at 8:20PM on Jun 17th 2008 by Jay S