[NBA] vbook: Heat vs Spurs

chicago51

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I wouldn't overreact after one blow out. As I mentioned I'm a big fan of the Spurs but to write the Heat off at this point is foolish. One game doesn't have too much bearing on the next. I've been with the Spurs from onset of the series but I try not overreact after one game.

Maybe Lebron at some point will remember that he is really great when he attacks the basket, maybe the Spurs won't be as hot from 3 point range (although the Heat role guys have actually been making their 3s too).
 

ChiRish

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LeBron, for whatever reason, seems far too passive at times. Someone touched on it earlier that he had the opportunity to drive to the basket - a skill in which he is DOMINANT - and he simply refused to do so. This happens so many times where he appears disinterested or doesn't have the fire to take over like the great ones all do. He'll do it from time to time, including memorable moments against Detroit when he was in Cleveland and against Boston while with Miami, but he has far too many stinkers like last night in big games, especially the finals.

Michael would never have gone down like that. The guy never scored less than 22 points in ANY finals game, and averaged over 40 PPG in the 93 finals. He's the GOAT, and LeBron's inability to consistently perform at the level that you expect from the best player on the planet in huge games is what will always keep him a step below him on the all time rankings.

I'm sure LeBron will come back strong in this series, but a player of his caliber should find ways to stay in the game and play hard. Stop whining, flopping, and complaining after each drive or shot that you got fouled and hustle back on defense. He is one of the most talented athletes of all time; he just might not have the consistent competitive streak that separates the great ones from the greatest ones. He'll need to - and who knows, maybe he will - bounce back strong to prove the haters (like myself) wrong.
 

chicago51

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LeBron, for whatever reason, seems far too passive at times. Someone touched on it earlier that he had the opportunity to drive to the basket - a skill in which he is DOMINANT - and he simply refused to do so. This happens so many times where he appears disinterested or doesn't have the fire to take over like the great ones all do. He'll do it from time to time, including memorable moments against Detroit when he was in Cleveland and against Boston while with Miami, but he has far too many stinkers like last night in big games, especially the finals.

Michael would never have gone down like that. The guy never scored less than 22 points in ANY finals game, and averaged over 40 PPG in the 93 finals. He's the GOAT, and LeBron's inability to consistently perform at the level that you expect from the best player on the planet in huge games is what will always keep him a step below him on the all time rankings.

I'm sure LeBron will come back strong in this series, but a player of his caliber should find ways to stay in the game and play hard. Stop whining, flopping, and complaining after each drive or shot that you got fouled and hustle back on defense. He is one of the most talented athletes of all time; he just might not have the consistent competitive streak that separates the great ones from the greatest ones. He'll need to - and who knows, maybe he will - bounce back strong to prove the haters (like myself) wrong.

There is an aura about Jordan these days almost like the guy never missed a shot, which was far from true. However the thing about Mike is that you could never say was that he was passive. Jordan had bad games. He might shoot 35% from the field on an off night, but he would attack the rim, get to foul line, and do what he had to do. The guy could miss 5, or 6 shots in a row but it did not stop him from shooting the next shot.

Jordan's last game with the Bulls against Utah I believe he was 13 of 33 from the field before hitting his last 2 shots down the stretch (so he finished 15/35 not a great %) to win the championship. I'm not advocating that Lebron necessarily needs become a volume scorer, you want to be efficent, but you still have to be aggressive and keep attacking.
 

IrishSteelhead

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He tried to get the team involved, and they faltered. He tried to get himself involved, and he faltered.

Definitely time to rely solely on yourself. If he doesn't have more confidence in his shot than a teammates at this point, then we already know all we need to about him.
 
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