It was six years ago when the San Antonio Spurs faced Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals last 2007 which the Spurs won and swept the Cavaliers, 4-0.
Three years after their discouraging loss, Lebron James decided to leave the Cleveland and transferred to the Miami Heat teaming up with the Heat’s stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Lebron’s decision made noise to NBA and to the world and made him even the most talked about player in the league throwing different intrigues and comments against him.
A lot of doubters and haters emerged especially when the Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks last 2011 blaming Lebron James’ “immaturity” as a player. But after that disheartening loss, they regrouped and he proved to be a better basketball player learning how to pass the ball and to shoot the ball better, attacking the rim and drawing fouls against his opponents.
The Miami Heat once again entered the finals after facing the Boston Celtics which reached game seven and that series alone showed how Lebron James had improved carrying the team and coming back from a 3-2 deficit. In the finals, they faced a younger team, the Oklahoma City Thunder which they just won in five games and Lebron James finally got his first ring. He was also declared as the Finals’ MVP and that shut the mouth of his and the team’s haters.
This season, Lebron James and the Heat continues to be dominant having a 27-game winning streak (second in NBA History) and for the third consecutive time as the Eastern Conference Finals Champions and now entering the Finals again with the San Antonio Spurs as their opponent. We all know what the Spurs can do and what they did to Lebron James and his former team. But was it long enough for Lebron to realize what he did and didn’t do for them to lose that way?
Lebron James is obviously the Heat’s superstar aside from Dwayne Wade who gave the team’s first championship and Chris Bosh completing the Miami Heat’s big three. He was now playing in a different level and is even being compared to the greatness of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. But what everyone wants to see is how he will respond and play against the team who swept his former team and gave him frustrations which led to his decision, to leave the Cavs.
The San Antonio Spurs still has their veteran players with them, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker who was the Finals’ MVP in that series against the Cavaliers. This team really knew how Lebron James played before and might havestudied already his weaknesses especially with Gregg Popovich still coaching the Spurs. But the players and even their coach admitted that Lebron really improved his game and his decision makingon the court. Lebron also said that he was a better and more mature man now compared to that 2007 finals game against the Spurs and promised he will really do better and he’s putting the pressure on his shoulders.
A lot of spectators would say that Miami Heat is Lebron James’ team now. He was the leading scorer and the “go-to guy” in almost every game especially in crucial moments. He would also include in his statistics couple of assists, rebounds, steals and blocks which made him an all-around player. He had carried the team a lot of times especially that Dwayne wade is suffering from a lingering knee injury which lessen his playing time and made him less aggressive. He was known to be “The Flash” but now, he slowed down a bit which made his partner, Lebron James to operate most of the time for the team.
That series against the Indiana Pacers was their key in entering this final once again but that was never a piece of cake. They may be the #1 team in the East and the defending champion but that Eastern Conference Finals became a test of character for them again reaching game seven just like what happened a year ago.
But this point in time, the NBA Finals is a whole different story. Spurs is known to be the smartest team in NBA and the memory it left on Lebron James’ mind might affect his way of playing either in a bad or good way. Will he finally get his revenge and win another championship? Or will history repeats itself?
The Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs are undeniably two of the best teams in NBA and this finals’ match is one of a kind. Lebron’s case is also different now. He’s not carrying anymore the world on his shoulders because he has his teammates whom he can ask for help and will really contribute like Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers and a lot more.
Yes. Basketball is a team sport but this year’s finals appeared to be Lebron’s game, his time to prove himself to the Spurs and to everyone that he and his team can’t be swept off easily and that he’s not anymore the Lebron James they played before not to mention being 4-time season MVP and second most defensive player this season. But things are really easier said than done. He maybe unarguably one of the best basketball player in the planet but he needs to be more motivated to start his plans and the heart to keep everything going.
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| Image Credit: fewallpapers.com |
Three years after their discouraging loss, Lebron James decided to leave the Cleveland and transferred to the Miami Heat teaming up with the Heat’s stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Lebron’s decision made noise to NBA and to the world and made him even the most talked about player in the league throwing different intrigues and comments against him.
A lot of doubters and haters emerged especially when the Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks last 2011 blaming Lebron James’ “immaturity” as a player. But after that disheartening loss, they regrouped and he proved to be a better basketball player learning how to pass the ball and to shoot the ball better, attacking the rim and drawing fouls against his opponents.
The Miami Heat once again entered the finals after facing the Boston Celtics which reached game seven and that series alone showed how Lebron James had improved carrying the team and coming back from a 3-2 deficit. In the finals, they faced a younger team, the Oklahoma City Thunder which they just won in five games and Lebron James finally got his first ring. He was also declared as the Finals’ MVP and that shut the mouth of his and the team’s haters.
This season, Lebron James and the Heat continues to be dominant having a 27-game winning streak (second in NBA History) and for the third consecutive time as the Eastern Conference Finals Champions and now entering the Finals again with the San Antonio Spurs as their opponent. We all know what the Spurs can do and what they did to Lebron James and his former team. But was it long enough for Lebron to realize what he did and didn’t do for them to lose that way?
Lebron James is obviously the Heat’s superstar aside from Dwayne Wade who gave the team’s first championship and Chris Bosh completing the Miami Heat’s big three. He was now playing in a different level and is even being compared to the greatness of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. But what everyone wants to see is how he will respond and play against the team who swept his former team and gave him frustrations which led to his decision, to leave the Cavs.
The San Antonio Spurs still has their veteran players with them, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker who was the Finals’ MVP in that series against the Cavaliers. This team really knew how Lebron James played before and might havestudied already his weaknesses especially with Gregg Popovich still coaching the Spurs. But the players and even their coach admitted that Lebron really improved his game and his decision makingon the court. Lebron also said that he was a better and more mature man now compared to that 2007 finals game against the Spurs and promised he will really do better and he’s putting the pressure on his shoulders.
A lot of spectators would say that Miami Heat is Lebron James’ team now. He was the leading scorer and the “go-to guy” in almost every game especially in crucial moments. He would also include in his statistics couple of assists, rebounds, steals and blocks which made him an all-around player. He had carried the team a lot of times especially that Dwayne wade is suffering from a lingering knee injury which lessen his playing time and made him less aggressive. He was known to be “The Flash” but now, he slowed down a bit which made his partner, Lebron James to operate most of the time for the team.
That series against the Indiana Pacers was their key in entering this final once again but that was never a piece of cake. They may be the #1 team in the East and the defending champion but that Eastern Conference Finals became a test of character for them again reaching game seven just like what happened a year ago.
But this point in time, the NBA Finals is a whole different story. Spurs is known to be the smartest team in NBA and the memory it left on Lebron James’ mind might affect his way of playing either in a bad or good way. Will he finally get his revenge and win another championship? Or will history repeats itself?
The Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs are undeniably two of the best teams in NBA and this finals’ match is one of a kind. Lebron’s case is also different now. He’s not carrying anymore the world on his shoulders because he has his teammates whom he can ask for help and will really contribute like Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers and a lot more.
Yes. Basketball is a team sport but this year’s finals appeared to be Lebron’s game, his time to prove himself to the Spurs and to everyone that he and his team can’t be swept off easily and that he’s not anymore the Lebron James they played before not to mention being 4-time season MVP and second most defensive player this season. But things are really easier said than done. He maybe unarguably one of the best basketball player in the planet but he needs to be more motivated to start his plans and the heart to keep everything going.
LeBron James is matured player compared before. And I believed that the Heats deserve for another NBA title for this season....
ReplyDeleteHe definitely is a heat fan. Kudos!
ReplyDelete