The Starting Lineup: Maybe LeBron Should’ve Played Football

Down 14 at the half with no Dwyane Wade, Miami appeared to be in a bit of trouble.  Say what you will about LeBron’s late-game struggles, but he was so good in the third he didn’t really even have to get up off the bench for the fourth quarter.  I suppose that’s one way to get it done.  LBJ dropped 17 of his 33 in the third as he rained a barrage of jumpers in the grills of various San Antonio defenders.  He actually matched his season total of three-pointers made by hitting three in that single quarter.  In addition to the scoring exhibition, James assisted on most of the baskets he didn’t make himself.  He finished up with 10 helpers and 5 boards to go along with the aforementioned 33 points.  Basically, he was the LeBron that we feel like he should be all the time.

What I mean by that has nothing to do with the results… just the mindset. The way LeBron played in that third quarter was aggressive and dominant. He looked to make something happen on every Heat possession. He’s proven to be capable of doing absolutely incredible things when he plays like this, yet I don’t think he’s ever done it for an entire 48-minute stretch. That’s what it comes down to with LeBron, really. You can talk about him until you’re blue in the face, but it’s really very simple: he’s never been assertive enough consistently enough… and I highly doubt that he’ll be changing at age, what, 27?

I thought Chris Webber and Greg Anthony made an interesting point about LeBron. Last night on NBATV they were conversing about him and one of them said something along the lines of LeBron is the only player ever to average 30 PPG and scoring isn’t even what he does best. I only kind of agree, but it was a thought-provoking statement. I think whether LeBron is a better scorer or playmaker is arguable, but if he is a better playmaker it’s only because that’s the way he wants it to be. If LeBron wanted his clear-cut strength to be scoring then it would be. That’s the problem with LeBron… he’s just dying to get inferior teammates involved. He’s not like Michael, or Kobe, or even Paul Pierce. You can argue that he’s better, but he doesn’t have the mentality of most All-Star-level basketball players. He has no interest in carrying a team on his back. Most players get a great deal of pride out of single-handedly leading a team as far as they can, yet that’s never interested LeBron. C-Webb and Greg Anthony continued: He goes back to his Cavalier mentality when Dwyane Wade is out. This I absolutely DO NOT agree with at all. LeBron never had a “Cavalier mentality.” That’s why he failed to get the Cavs over the top. Had LeBron possessed the kind of dominant mentality necessary to do so then he would’ve done it. The team was good enough. The problem was that when it came time for him to do it himself in a tough playoff game where his teammates had no business being involved he insisted on involving them anyway. For whatever reason, he just never wanted to be Michael Jordan. Everyone else did, but not LeBron. His decision to join the Heat proves that.

Sometimes I think LeBron should’ve played football. He’s an all-time great basketball player so it’s hard to say he made the wrong choice, but he definitely has a mentality more suited for the football field. Football is a game where guys are more dependant on their teammates. Basketball is very much a team game, but football may be the ultimate team game. No one player can impact a football team like he could a basketball team. Every single player on the field is involved in some way on every play. I feel like this is what LeBron wants to bring to the basketball floor, except he’s so f@cking talented that it simply doesn’t make any sense in a lot of scenarios. Yup, I think LeBron’s brain was tailor made for football. He could do his thing here and there, watch the other guys play their parts, be happy for them, and chest bump 35 or 40 different buddies every game. It’s this type of comradery that he tries to bring to the basketball court, and it takes away from his dominance. Basically, he needs to be a worse human being to be a better basketball player.

The Orlando Magic are 10-3.  They’re dealing with a bit of a distraction and starting Jameer Nelson, JJ Redick, Hedo Turkeyglue, and Ryan Anderson.  If that doesn’t knock Dwight Howard’s greatness through one side of your skull and out the other then nothing ever will.  Ryan Anderson has stepped up and played great this year, but he benefits from Dwight’s presence.  Dwight and the team benefit from his three-point sniping as well, but the point is that everything this team does begins with Dwight Howard.  The roster is full of guys who fit in with the team’s philosphy, but that doesn’t make it not sh!tty.  There is no other big man dominant enough at both ends to make this team 10-3.  That includes centers and power forwards. 

I have to stop drafting players I like to my fantasy team.  Seriously, I think I ruin them.  I fail to come up with any other way to explain Monta Ellis going 2-12 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.  In addition to his unexplainable difficulties in getting the ball through the rim, he got popped in the face by Anderson Varejao.  Worst. Day. Ever.  As rough as the going was for the Mississippi Moped he was still key in Golden State’s offensive effort.  He posted up throughout the second quarter, a stretch during which he scored both of his buckets and drew enough to attention to himself to create opportunities for his teammates.  It got me thinking… when is the last time we saw a 6’3, 185-pound point guard play as effectively as Monta on the low block?  I’m contemplating, but I’m not coming up with anything.

Could the Celtics be looking to trade Paul Pierce?  It’s hard to believe, but it may make sense.  Let me rephrase that: it definitely makes sense from a business standpoint, but Pierce is a legend in Boston.  He’s not quite Larry Bird or Bill Russell, but he’s been the face of the franchise for over a decade now.  He was the Finals MVP on the team that brought Celtic Pride back after a 20-something year drought, and he’s never suited up for another NBA team.  As soon as he retires his number is headed for the rafters.  Is this a player that you trade, even if it does help to kickstart the rebuilding process?

Box Score Observations: Mike Miller made his return from injury and went 6-6 from three.  So, uh, when is Eddy Curry planning to join the party?  Chris Bosh had 30/8/5.  The Rose-less Bulls hung 118 on the Setting Suns (what, you didn’t hear?  The City of Phoenix is actually changing it’s name to Setting).  Apparently, Carlos Boozer is still capable of scoring 31 points.  Chauncey Billups went 3-12 in Utah’s drubbing of the Clippers.  He’s shooting something like 34% on the season now.  Remember how he said he would make the team that picked him up regret it if he didn’t want to play there?  He meant business.

Highlight Recap, Chris Bosh Edition:

Highlight Recap, Everyone Else Edition:

Awesome layup by Big Baby.  No doubt that was the 9th-most spectacular play from yesterday’s seven games.  Come on, NBA.com.  I saw nine turnovers and three freethrows that were cooler than that.