IMO--Lebron falling short on the TRUE measure of greatness

[ManitouDan]

" making others around you better " ---A forgotten phrase from the 80's made popular by 2 heroes of mine . Bird and Magic. Can you imagine the press back then after either one of them lost a series saying "Wow the supporting cast is just not doing their job" No . Those guys made those around them better . Can you say the same for LeBron ? All I hear from him and the press is "I need more help"

I say " Bologna " make those around you better. Orlando other than Howard is a bunch of has beens or never was's . Cleveland should have never lost that series. Lebron needs to man up and shake hands with his opponents after losing. MD

[noreply66]

With what those teams had and where those players stand in history---Lebron needs help.

[BBallin fool]

Looking for away out? I think he's gone.

[3morethan2]

I can see him going now he would have a better supporting cast in new york than what he has in cleveland right now but i also heard that during the allen iverson and chauncey trade the reason they did that was because of salary cap reasons and talked about making a run at lebron when he is a free agent could that be a possible team for him to go to ?

[LICKING COUNTY FAN]

He is great until the game is on the line(More times than not) especially late in the big time games.

[seofan_via_dublin]

Supporting cast of Magic and Bird:
Robert Parrish
Tiny Archibald
Kevin McHale
Gerald Henderson
Bill Walton
Chris Ford
Cedrick Maxwell

James Worthy
Karrem Abdul-Jabar
AC Green
Byron Scott

Supporting cast of Lebron:
Daniel Gibson
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Anderson Verejao
Delonte West
Mo Williams

If Labron had 1/4 of the talent around him that Magic or Bird had,
he would have his ring from last year and be well on his way to two straight.
He doesn't even have the level of talent around him that MJ had with the Bulls.

He has a ways to go, but them not being in the finals is not his fault.
You can't get milk from a bull, and you can't win a ring with the Cavs current roster.

[BBallin fool]

MJ!!! Yes He could make things happen.

[qualified101]

Supporting cast of Magic and Bird:
Robert Parrish
Tiny Archibald
Kevin McHale
Gerald Henderson
Bill Walton
Chris Ford
Cedrick Maxwell

James Worthy
Karrem Abdul-Jabar
AC Green
Byron Scott

Supporting cast of Lebron:
Daniel Gibson
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Anderson Verejao
Delonte West
Mo Williams

If Labron had 1/4 of the talent around him that Magic or Bird had,
he would have his ring from last year and be well on his way to two straight.
He doesn't even have the level of talent around him that MJ had with the Bulls.

He has a ways to go, but them not being in the finals is not his fault.
You can't get milk from a bull, and you can't win a ring with the Cavs current roster.

great post. dont forget the lakers also had michael cooper, rambis, and mychal thompson. the celtics also had danny ainge and dennis scott.

[qualified101]

" making others around you better " ---A forgotten phrase from the 80's made popular by 2 heroes of mine . Bird and Magic. Can you imagine the press back then after either one of them lost a series saying "Wow the supporting cast is just not doing their job" No . Those guys made those around them better . Can you say the same for LeBron ? All I hear from him and the press is "I need more help"

I say " Bologna " make those around you better. Orlando other than Howard is a bunch of has beens or never was's . Cleveland should have never lost that series. Lebron needs to man up and shake hands with his opponents after losing. MD

really, what more do you want from him. he averaged pretty mucha triple double which he WAS getting others involved. obviously you didnt watch the series with the magic because he would drive to the basket have 3 people converge on him and find the open guy only to have that WIDE OPEN guy miss the shot time and time again. on top of that, he never says a word about it. its always we,we,we and not me,me,me.

btw, thats the press you're hearing with "i need more help stuff".

he will probably leave now but i cant blame him. unless they can get a second threat on offense, they will never win it. md, might want to watch a few games before you post nonsense.

[ManitouDan]

He's the most talented player in the world , but it's a team sport. Not shaking hands with Orlando was a no class move. Pouted like a baby . And since they got ran of the court he had the entire 2nd half to think about his exit stratergy. MD

[WitnessProtection]

I will agree that Magic and Bird did make their teammates better, but they brought more to the game than just talent. Those guys were natural leaders. They were winners.
I'm not saying Lebron can't get there, but he's obviously not there yet.
Also, Magic & Bird possessed "athletic character." This is different from personal integrity. You don't have to be a choir boy to have "athletic character."
My own definition: "athletic character" means that you're totally, 100% committed to your team and its success. You lay it all out for your teammates in every facet from practice to the games. You make sacrifices for the good of the organization. On top of it all, you're a good sport, willing to shake hands with the guys who just kicked your butt.

[ManitouDan]

can I get a witness? very well stated ! MD

[ManitouDan]

can you ever imagine Bird , Dr J, or MJ or Magic, stating "I can't win here , I'm going to _________ " it's running from the problem.

[The Flying Dutchman]

Magic and Bird both had better talent around them. They also beat alot better teams on their way to the title. The 76ers of the mid-1980's along with Houston would both have crushed a team like Orlando. The Cavs won 66 games in the regular season, they lost to Orlando because they chocked and got out coached.
It will be an interesting off season. Carlos Boozer could end up in Detroit, Rasheed Wallace could be wearing Celtic green and Glen "Big Baby" Davis might leave Boston. It also will be interesting to see who starts clearing cap space to make a run at Lebron after the 2010 season.

[qualified101]

can you ever imagine Bird , Dr J, or MJ or Magic, stating "I can't win here , I'm going to _________ " it's running from the problem.

have you ever heard or read a quote directly from james that said he wanted out. please provide me with a link. this is something the media has been harping on since he was drafted by the cavs.

[seofan_via_dublin]

They lost to Orlando because Orlando has 6'10" and 6'11" guys
that were matched up against 6'2" guards that had no chance at
guarding them. Also, "Big Z", (yeah right) didn't stand a chance
against Dwight Howard.

Losing to Orlando is not a fluke, and is not because they choked.
They have lost to Orlando almost 75% of the time during the King James
era.

[WitnessProtection]

seofan_via_dublin,
Good points all round.
Here's a stat for you:
Bench scoring - Orlando 133, Cleveland 66

[ManitouDan]

can you ever imagine Bird , Dr J, or MJ or Magic, stating "I can't win here , I'm going to _________ " it's running from the problem.

have you ever heard or read a quote directly from james that said he wanted out. please provide me with a link. this is something the media has been harping on since he was drafted by the cavs.

I guess I'll let his actions speaks for himself --Oh I forgot (from the politics forum) you're a liberal --it only matters what people say, not what they do ------ peace out MD

[ohbuckeye2]

Supporting cast of Magic and Bird:
Robert Parrish
Tiny Archibald
Kevin McHale
Gerald Henderson
Bill Walton
Chris Ford
Cedrick Maxwell

James Worthy
Karrem Abdul-Jabar
AC Green
Byron Scott

Supporting cast of Lebron:
Daniel Gibson
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Anderson Verejao
Delonte West
Mo Williams

If Labron had 1/4 of the talent around him that Magic or Bird had,
he would have his ring from last year and be well on his way to two straight.
He doesn't even have the level of talent around him that MJ had with the Bulls.

He has a ways to go, but them not being in the finals is not his fault.
You can't get milk from a bull, and you can't win a ring with the Cavs current roster.

great post. dont forget the lakers also had michael cooper, rambis, and mychal thompson. the celtics also had danny ainge and dennis scott.

I agree, great post.

It's alot easier to make those around you better when they are allready tremendous players to begin with.

[PirateFan_2010]

can you ever imagine Bird , Dr J, or MJ or Magic, stating "I can't win here , I'm going to _________ " it's running from the problem.

have you ever heard or read a quote directly from james that said he wanted out. please provide me with a link. this is something the media has been harping on since he was drafted by the cavs.

think the good lord, someone else on a forum about LBJ knows what they are talking about... i hate when people get on here and try to make someone look bad with false information... thank you for that