Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Cavs let one slip away.


Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers let one slip away last night, and all the fingers in the media were pointed in his direction. Fair or not, Lebron will always be praised when his team wins and blamed when his team blamed. The question today is should he have taken the last shot instead of kicking it out to Donyell Marshall for a wide open chance at a go ahead three pointer? Lebron had the path to the basket, and when you are the go to guy on the team you have to take the shot. He had only attempted 3 shots in the fourth quarter, which is uncalled for when you are player of his caliber. Yes, he had been setting up his teammates for shots, and yes he did on that last possession, but when you average 29 ppg on the season and you finish with 10 points, there is something wrong. The Cavs are not a good scoring team, and that is accentuated when their main guy is afraid to go to the hoop. Too often it looked like he wanted the ball out of his hands instead of taking on the responsibility of being 'the man'.

Michael Jordan's career was made not by just hitting the big shot, but by passing off for someone else to hit the big shot. However, this was after he poured in 30 or more points each time. Maybe this is our problem, for too long we have tried to compare Lebron to Jordan. This was the dream of the NBA, Nike, and Lebron himself, who opted to wear number 23, but their will never be another Michael Jordan. Jordan was a once in a lifetime player, and maybe someday Lebron will be as well, but it does not look like he has what it takes be the same style of clutch scorer as MJ was.

Wanting to take the big shot is a trait you are born with, not something you can learn. Just because Lebron does not have this trait, does not mean he is not a great player. He is one of those special players that can control a game without being a scorer. If Marshall hit that final three pointer last night, James would have finished the night with a triple double. The Cavs stayed in the game with James not being a scorer, but that was a result of great games played by his supporting cast. You can't count on this happening each game, so Lebron better figure out a way to put the ball in the hoop against this feisty Pistons D. Here's a tip Lebron, you need to take more than 3 shots in the fourth quarter.

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