Whitlock calls for the Big 3 to disband

[bucky]

People need to get a grip....in year one of throwing everything together they won 58 games and were within 2 games of winning a championship. The issue is that James has something going on mentally that he needs to deal with.

From what I hear, James is only 25 and has time to improve his mental toughness and his game. Winning 58 games is an accomplishment. Going to the finals is an accomplishment. When you have arguably the 2 greatest players in NBA, and 3 of the best in the NBA, it changes things. You say James has something going on mentally. I believe it's fear of failure. A natural thing. I think he's afraid of having to live up to his own hype. He wants the hype and the celebrity, but is to afraid of failing to live up to it. Not the first time I've seen him do this. I really believe that's his "Mental Problem".

The funny part is that to discredit him they'll say, "He's not Jordan" or, "Jordan would have never ______". They compare him to the GOAT to discredit what he does as if him failing to meet the Jordan standard is a bad thing.

You keep saying that. But if he's the best in the game, he CAN'T disappear in the finals, especially in the 4th QTR. Has noting to do with Jordan. Except that Jordan, and other greats didn't become passive in the most important series or in the most important QTR of the most important series. If he doesn't want to be compared to the Greats, then lose the "King", stop with the Free Agent Marketing circus and just be who you really are.

I wish Jason Whitlock's computer would explode. And what's with this "abandoning Cleveland" shit? LeBron James has the right to pick and choose where he wants to work, just like any American citizen.

I had no problem with James choosing where to go. I just had a problem with how he went about doing it.


I really believe he's afraid to fail, afraid of not living up to the hype and celebrity that he himself has helped to create. He doesn't want to put it on the line. He wants somebody else to. No matter how much more gifted James is than Wade, I actually think, because of mental toughness, Wade is a better basketball player.

[ralaw]

From what I hear, James is only 25 and has time to improve his mental toughness and his game. Winning 58 games is an accomplishment. Going to the finals is an accomplishment. When you have arguably the 2 greatest players in NBA, and 3 of the best in the NBA, it changes things. You say James has something going on mentally. I believe it's fear of failure. A natural thing. I think he's afraid of having to live up to his own hype. He wants the hype and the celebrity, but is to afraid of failing to live up to it. Not the first time I've seen him do this. I really believe that's his "Mental Problem".

It may be mental. It’s strange though, because since coming into the league James has always been under pressure to perform, and he has in moments. As a rookie he came in with the most hype of any rookie ever and he exceeded expectations and he only go better as he got older. He carried the Cavs from a 17 win team to a 60+ when team when he left. Before going to Miami most would have told you that he handled the media great.

To me it makes no sense for a guy to be dominant against Boston and Chicago and lose all confidence in the finals against Dallas. As I’ve said I don’t know what it was, but James better figure it out.

You keep saying that. But if he's the best in the game, he CAN'T disappear in the finals, especially in the 4th QTR. Has noting to do with Jordan. Except that Jordan, and other greats didn't become passive in the most important series or in the most important QTR of the most important series. If he doesn't want to be compared to the Greats, then lose the "King", stop with the Free Agent Marketing circus and just be who you really are.

James is the best player in the league...this finals appearance doesn't change that. The best player in the league can have a bad series. Who is better? An aging Kobe? Howard? Wade? I hear everyone saying “The best player in the league doesn’t disappear in the 4th of the NBA Finals,” so does that mean Dirk is the best player in the league? You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who would think so. James was and still is the best player in the league and most reasonable basketball fans would tell you the same.

His nickname is just a nickname (and a good one at that IMO) and nothing more. It has little to do with his place in basketball history, but instead goes back to his highschool days and fits with his last name. Are you telling me that if his nickname was something like “Fly” he wouldn’t be under as much pressure/expectations? I hope not.

James is compared to the greats because his talent and production validate such comparisons. Lets not be foolish here….he had a bad series, but nothing more. He’s 26 years old……he’s only half way through his career. He certainly has a lot to learn and more room in his game to develop and just as he improved his jumpshot I’d expect him to improve in other areas as well.

[red33]

if people think LBJ wont win a title they are stupid.

Imagine LBJ keeping quiet a few seasons, everyone starts to forget and like him again, then win he wins his first title everyone will say atta boy!

[ralaw]

if people think LBJ wont win a title they are stupid.

Imagine LBJ keeping quiet a few seasons, everyone starts to forget and like him again, then win he wins his first title everyone will say atta boy!

Poeple are fickle anyways, because after the Chicago and Boston series most people were ready to annoint him. Pippen wan't the only one comparing him favorably to Jordan.

[bucky]

James is the best player in the league...this finals appearance doesn't change that. The best player in the league can have a bad series.

This is more than having a bad series. At this point in his career, James can get you there, but he doesn't have the confidence to finish the deal.

He does need to work on his game, mostly on the inside and become more consistent outside, and maybe he'll have the confidence. I think it runs much deeper than you do. I guess we will just disagree.

But he definitely has time to grow. I thought he was 25, but from your post he's 26. Still young enough. To me, the question is:

Will he become motivated enough to drop the hype and celebrity and JUST focus on what he DOES NOT do well and improve? And will he have enough confidence in his game to get past being afraid to fail?

He can be the greatest in the regular season. But you are NOT the greatest if you disappear in the finals.

I still say James is Marques Johnson and Wade is Sidney Moncrief.

[ralaw]

He does need to work on his game, mostly on the inside and become more consistent outside, and maybe he'll have the confidence. I think it runs much deeper than you do. I guess we will just disagree.

I actually agree with you.....I think James has some deep rooted mental/insecurity issues that he needs to deal with. IMO its the reason why he underperformed. However, I don't think this performance will define his career.

[bucky]

I actually agree with you.....I think James has some deep rooted mental/insecurity issues that he needs to deal with. IMO its the reason why he underperformed. However, I don't think this performance will define his career.

It will if it continues, but he's young and does have time to change. Sometimes this is just the kind of thing it takes to motivate. We will see how much he does or doesn't care to improve.

[Hasselbeck]

The Heat easily could have, and probably should have, won this series in 5 games. They crumbled, but that wasn't because of a lack of talent. Disbanding the team would make no sense at all.

But of course this story would be written by Jason Whitlock. In other news Skip Bayless hates LeBron James. Next!

[NAHSTE]

This was probably the most lazily written thing Whit has ever turned in.

If you are using the overused construction, "Not so much," in a legitimate column, don't expect me not think it's shitty.

And that's even before we get into the armchair pyschology and the unfounded generalizations:

Does pressure choke James? Maybe. More likely, James is simply moody. Kids born into family dysfunction often struggle emotionally.

Whit has been a hack for a while, but it seems like he just gets more and more hackey by the column, and this hackiness somehow emboldens him to be even more hackey the next time.

The Heat crumbled. They won’t recover. How can they?

I don't know, the same way the other 29 non-winning teams will attempt to? By playing next season and hoping it works out better?

Short of that, they’d probably like to see him traded for parts that fit. James for Dwight Howard makes a lot of sense.

LOL no the fuck it doesn't.

I'll stop now because there's just too much to take issue with.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I dont think enough people are saying Dallas won the series, as opposed to Miami losing it.

[Hasselbeck]

I dont think enough people are saying Dallas won the series, as opposed to Miami losing it.

Yes and no. Miami was up 15 on them in Game 2 and had no business losing that game. They squandered 4th quarter leads in Game 4 and 5.

Of course, all credit goes to Dallas for not just packing it in and folding .. but the Heat lost this series as much as the Mavs won it.

Nonetheless, that won't be printed on the trophy - and in the end that's all that matters.

[Rayman]

I think people are overreacting to this just a little bit.

They made the fucking Finals. They don't need to be disbanded. They do need to make a couple tweaks.

[FedEx227]

I dont think enough people are saying Dallas won the series, as opposed to Miami losing it.

http://www.virtualsportsdaily.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1775291&postcount=221

:shy:

[bucky]

I think people are overreacting to this just a little bit.

They made the fucking Finals. They don't need to be disbanded. They do need to make a couple tweaks.

This is why I think it's really more than just a couple of tweeks.

“All the people that were rooting me on to fail, at the end of the day they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life they had before,” James said. “They have the same personal problems they had today. I’m going to continue to live the way I want to live and continue to do the things that I want with me and my family and be happy with that.”

I have doubts that James really gets it, or really wants to get it. The quote really sums up what I think is wrong with him. I'm not sure he feels the need to improve. I mean, that is not what I would want my Superstar to be saying after a championship loss.

[KnightNoles]

The funny part is that to discredit him they'll say, "He's not Jordan" or, "Jordan would have never ______". They compare him to the GOAT to discredit what he does as if him failing to meet the Jordan standard is a bad thing.

Shit, Jordan didn't win 11 either.. He is no Bill Russell



I don't disagree that Jordan is the best ever but why not Kareem or Bill?


Adding to the argument and article, why isn't LeBron posting up more and taking advantage of his body. Baron Davis did/does it with smaller guards and Magic did it also.

Either way his game should be setting up himself, driving and posting up should open up his mid to long range game or vice versa...