Charles Barkley's comments about LeBron James were interesting, but we've heard them before. He said it's not LeBron's personality to be "a killer" like Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan.
I don't know what's going on inside LeBron's head nor will I pretend to make logical guesses as to what's going upstairs underneath that black headband. All I know is he has a whole hosts of physical talents that aren't being used the way he should be using them.
When LeBron dunks people in the lost city of Atlantis feel it. He's powerful and I know my jaw drops every time I see him jam it home. Why isn't this happening more often in the NBA Finals? Are the Mavericks really playing such stifling defense that the King himself can't penetrate to the hoop? D-Wade is getting there, so why not LeBron?
The Heat's game plan in Game 3 was awesome at the start of the game mainly because Mario Chalmers was hitting shots. Lebron and Wade were taking the ball to the basket, and it eventually left Chalmers wide open for 3-point shots. This game plan was effective, but it seemed to be abandoned. If the Heat go back to this game plan then I can see LeBron going back to being the King we wanted him to be.
Barkley said it isn't LeBron's personality to be "the killer." Well if that was the case then we wouldn't have seen "The Decision" take place on ESPN. You want the publicity, LeBron, but you shrink during the moment that counts? Again, I have no idea what's going on inside his head, but something is not adding up.
I wanted the Heat experiment to fail. I hated them when LeBron joined forces with Wade and Bosh. But I'm intrigued to see what happens. If the Heat win the NBA Finals this year then the experiment will have worked, and you'll see other teams perform the same kind of unions, assuming the inevitable lockout doesn't ruin the current model.
But in order for the Heat experiment to succeed then LeBron needs to stop being an introverted eighth grader. It's time for him to be the guy. I'm not a fan of the team, but the NBA is better right now than it's been in MY lifetime. People in '80s will say their era was the best, but I wasn't born until 1987, so today's NBA is the best it's been in my lifetime. Today's NBA needs the Heat to win the title--RIGHT NOW.
Only LeBron knows what he really wants, but actions speak louder than words. He clearly wanted a championship so bad he was willing to let the state of Ohio turn against him. Now, he needs to prove that he wanted that championship. Wade and Bosh need him in order to win two of the next three games.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Goodbye, Shaquille
Shaquille O'Neal's retirement has a special place in my heart.
He was more than just a center who won three championships with my favorite team. He was the person who helped me become interested in basketball. I was a seven-year-old kid who had just started getting into the NFL, and it was time to take my talents to the NBA.
The first time I saw Shaq on TV was the one of the coolest moments of my childhood. He immediately became my favorite basketball player. My first jersey I ever had was a Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic jersey during the '94-'95 NBA season. I even remember feeling sad when I watched SportsCenter one night, and the reporter on screen talked about the Chicago Bulls' game plan to doubleteam Shaq was the key to beating the Magic.
When Shaq moved to Los Angeles to join the Lakers I joined the Lakers with him. His fan-friendly personaliy and powerful dunks always made Shaq easy for me to love.
Even when he was traded to the Miami Heat and I was supposed to hate him, I couldn't do it. I kept my fandom for Shaq at bay until it was OK for Lakers fans to start loving him again. Even when Shaq went to play for the Boston Celtics this season I still had a soft spot for the big guy.
Shaq represents my entire childhood of being a basketball fan. With him gone I can honestly say it's the end of a huge era of my life. I have his basketball cards. I still have his Orlando Magic poster framed with the caption, "RIM SHAKER." Yes, I even liked "Kazaam."
I'll miss you, Shaquille O'Neal. The era had to end someday.
My Top 5 Shaq Moments:
5. 1997-Shaq returns from injury to hit a buzzer-beater fadeaway from about 10 feet to beat the No. 1 seed Utah Jazz.
4. 2009-Shaq wins co-MVP of the All-Star Game with Kobe Bryant. The under-Dwight-Howard's-legs pass to himself was amazing. Oh and don't forget his pre-game intro with the Jabbawockeez.
3. 2000-Shaq helps bring home the first title of a three-peat against the Indiana Pacers.
2. 1998-Shaq chooses not to shoot a 3-pointer in a blow-out win against the Milwaukee Bucks. They left you open, Shaq! Take the shot!
1. 1992-2011-Shaq's whole career is my top moment. Even during his twilight years as his skills and power deteriorated he still had the personality to make people happy.
He was more than just a center who won three championships with my favorite team. He was the person who helped me become interested in basketball. I was a seven-year-old kid who had just started getting into the NFL, and it was time to take my talents to the NBA.
The first time I saw Shaq on TV was the one of the coolest moments of my childhood. He immediately became my favorite basketball player. My first jersey I ever had was a Shaquille O'Neal Orlando Magic jersey during the '94-'95 NBA season. I even remember feeling sad when I watched SportsCenter one night, and the reporter on screen talked about the Chicago Bulls' game plan to doubleteam Shaq was the key to beating the Magic.
When Shaq moved to Los Angeles to join the Lakers I joined the Lakers with him. His fan-friendly personaliy and powerful dunks always made Shaq easy for me to love.
Even when he was traded to the Miami Heat and I was supposed to hate him, I couldn't do it. I kept my fandom for Shaq at bay until it was OK for Lakers fans to start loving him again. Even when Shaq went to play for the Boston Celtics this season I still had a soft spot for the big guy.
Shaq represents my entire childhood of being a basketball fan. With him gone I can honestly say it's the end of a huge era of my life. I have his basketball cards. I still have his Orlando Magic poster framed with the caption, "RIM SHAKER." Yes, I even liked "Kazaam."
I'll miss you, Shaquille O'Neal. The era had to end someday.
My Top 5 Shaq Moments:
5. 1997-Shaq returns from injury to hit a buzzer-beater fadeaway from about 10 feet to beat the No. 1 seed Utah Jazz.
4. 2009-Shaq wins co-MVP of the All-Star Game with Kobe Bryant. The under-Dwight-Howard's-legs pass to himself was amazing. Oh and don't forget his pre-game intro with the Jabbawockeez.
3. 2000-Shaq helps bring home the first title of a three-peat against the Indiana Pacers.
2. 1998-Shaq chooses not to shoot a 3-pointer in a blow-out win against the Milwaukee Bucks. They left you open, Shaq! Take the shot!
1. 1992-2011-Shaq's whole career is my top moment. Even during his twilight years as his skills and power deteriorated he still had the personality to make people happy.
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