LeBron James is clearly, one of the most popular players since he was drafted at number 1 by the Cleveland Cavaliers six years ago. The NBA arena was truly a dream come true for the Akron, Ohio native. In his young career, he has made milestones, All-Star appearances and has been on every highlight reel on NBA TV and ESPN Sportscenter. The first time he tasted playoffs basketball, the Cavaliers became contenders in every post season appearance.
‘06-’07 was the season King James and Co. made the Finals but would lose to the San Antonio Spurs for the championship. The next year, the Cavaliers made yet another playoff run but was eliminated in the 2nd round of the post season. This year though, they’ve added Mo Williams in the mix from a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks and got veteran big man Joe Smith in the lineup.
Well, Bron and friends have become one of the best teams in the L. Having the best record in the season, getting the number 1 seed in the East, getting the MVP and COY awards for Bron and Coach Mike Brown respectively, sweeping their 1st and 2nd round opponents — seems there’s no stopping the Cavs now, or so they thought.
When all the sweeping was done, it was time for them to face the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. Looks to be a good match-up for basketball pundits and fans alike. Sure, the media hype on a possible LeBron vs. Kobe finals was inevitable but Superman and his friends have other plans in mind. The Magic literally wanted to burst everybody’s bubble on that particular dream match. And quite frankly, that’s exactly what they (the Orlando Magic) did.
The Cavaliers lost in game 1 of the East Finals albeit the homecourt advantage. Stealing the first game in the series drew blood on the Cavaliers, so to speak. The MVP wasn’t fazed at their loss as he carried his team to even up the series in game 2. Mo Williams silly trash talk and guarantee making ala Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons, was perhaps trying to make a statement of sorts or maybe trying to fire up his team. It was then tested in game 3 in O-Town.
A sea of fans in blue filled the Amway arena in Orlando as they cheered for the Magic. Obviously, the visiting Cavaliers got all the jeers, most especially on LeBron James. Wasn’t much of a game as the Magic made their own statement by clobbering the Cavs for a 2-1 lead. More trash talking antics by Mo Williams sans their defeat in game 3. All that talk didn’t help his team as they lost an important game 4 to even up the series. The King was already losing his ground and faith with his teammates. The confidence was slowly depleting, all thanks to Rashard Lewis’ heartbreaking clutch 3-pointers. Blaming his teammates for not getting all the help didn’t come as a surprise. All the psywar by Mo-Will wasn’t helping at all.
Back to Cleveland, LeBron James played like a man possessed as he carried his team to win Game 5. Finally getting some help from Mo-Will, Big Ben, Delonte West and Z. They are still in contention but was still on the brink of elimination. Mo-Will was still talking as always despite playing in the playoffs for the first time in his career. It looked like the pressure was now on the Magic as they head back to Orlando for game 6. The Cavs have somehow overcome the mismatch problems most especially on the defensive end. The next game would perhaps be a huge test for King James to duplicate his game 5 performance to tie up the series and go back to Cleveland for a deciding game 7.
It’s a lot easier said than done but only 8 teams have come back on 3-1 deficit and win the series. The Cavaliers were looking to be the 9th team in NBA history to do just that. All eyes were now on number 23 to see if he can try to pulloff an equalizer and make history. The Magic were also looking to make history themselves. 1995 was the last time Orlando made the Finals. Penny Hardaway and Shaq played in the ‘95 roster that lost to the Houston Rockets.
Both teams were ready for battle. As the game progressed, it seemed that only LeBron was the only player doing everything for the Cavs. Mo-Will and the rest of the team seemed like they didn’t want to go back to the Q and play another game. In other words, the team has already thrown the towel but the King wanted to keep on fighting. The inevitable has already started to sink in. King James and Co. soon faltered to the might of the Orlando Magic. Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu made sure the King didn’t get up, so to speak. The Magic were the victors earning them a ticket to the NBA Finals to face the LA Lakers. The Cavs on the other hand, lost in a very unusual fashion of sorts despite being the best team in the East.
LeBron James is going home with his face looking down. A lot of questions linger on his mind at the moment. Training camp is just a couple of months away. Preparing for next season is on top of his list for sure. He could be pondering on whether to stay with his current team or simply walk away and play for another team in 2010. So many things to ponder on, most especially the Cavaliers’ future.
There’s still another year for James to go for a title run but until then his MVP award will have to do for now. It was indeed a heartbreaking loss for the Cavs but if one is gonna look at it in another perspective, the Cavaliers didn’t just lose to a better, dominant team but rather they lost to a team that is hungrier to be in the NBA Finals and more worthy of it.
To put it simply, it’s not their time yet.
We are all witnesses.
-Roy
P.S. I apologize to YB and the rest of the EC crew for not having to write articles here as often as I should. I’ve been dealing with some stuff lately. I know it’s about time I put something for EC. Hope y’all like this synchronized post. Thanks.
Filed under: Basketball, Feel, NBA, News | Tags: 2008-2009, Chris Paul, kobe bryant, LeBron James, mvp
So it’s official, even if most of us knew it was inevetible. Lebron James was the most valuable player in the NBA for the 2008-2009 season. No arguments here, the guy took his immense talent, popularity, and leadership and blew all three up to the next level. That much is undeniable for anyone. Regardless of a person’s definition of “MVP” (wheather that be best-player-on-the-best-team, player-that-carried-a-good-team, or best player in the league), you’d be hardpressed not to give the Most Valuable Player award to LBJ. He was by far the best player and leader on the best team in the NBA this season. He was the best player in the entire league this season. Say what you want about Chris Paul’s inhuman stat lines, the rebirth of Wade or Kobe’s general inhumanness, but Lebron deserves this award more than any other.
Sorry that the post was a bit rant-ish and thrown together, but I’m in a rush this afternoon.
And in other news, this place has been DEAD. Absolutely croaked. So I’m bringing it back. Hopefully it won’t just turn into a Thelonious Dunk ranting board, but hey, there’s nothign wrong with that if it does.
So i’ll keep things flowing ’round here, long as you keep stopping by.
-TD
Filed under: Basketball, Dancin', NBA, Photo, Playoffs, Yardbird | Tags: Andre Igoudala, Big Balls Dance, NBA Playoffs, Philadelphia 76ers
By the way, I do have Cleveland winning it all.
Filed under: Basketball, News, Photo, Villains, Yardbird | Tags: FIU, Florida International, isiah thomas, The Jeffersons, University
He’s mooooovin’ on up.
Filed under: Basketball, Feel, NBA, Pain and Heartache, Photo, Villains, Yardbird | Tags: Inherit the Wind, Stephon Marbury
Something happens to an Also-Ran.
Something happens to the feet of a man
Who always comes in second in a foot-race.
He becomes a national unloved child,
A balding orphan, an aging adolecent
Who never got the biggest piece of candy.
Unloved children, of all ages, insinuate themselves
Into spotlights and rotogravures.
They stand on their hands and wiggle their feet.
Split pupils with their pounding! And their tonsils
Turn into organ pipes. Show me a shouter, And I’ll show you an also-ran. A might-have-been,
An almost was.
- Inherit the Wind, Act Three, Scene one.
Filed under: Basketball
Hey all you cats and kittens out there, it’s Thelonious Dunk. I’ve come to write words for this blog, because yardbird is too busy.
Getting to know me:
1.) First of all, I’m a Knicks fan. Don’t knock me because i’m beautiful like that.
2.) You can have your Casablancas and your Citizen Kanes, but only one movie cuts it for me.
3.) I tend to have man crushes on young point guards with promise. Starbury broke me. Hopefully it won’t happen again. (Looking at you, Jennings.)
So now i’m here. Read my stuff, leave comments, i’ll return the favor, we’ll all be one big happy family. Promise. Pinky promise.
Yardbird here, introducing the newest member of the EC crew, Thelonious Dunk.
He’s a good friend of mine, and a big Knicks fan, so be cool and play nice.
Plus, what a badass name, no?
Hopefully he’ll post here Friday if not tomrorow, so you all out there give em your best.
Untilnexttime,
Yardbird
Filed under: Basketball
I’m sure a lot of NBA heads out there are still doing the LeBron-Kobe (with the Michael Jordan references) debate now that the MVP race is heating up even more. I’m gonna try to be objective about it since this topic is obviously a hot one. So here we go.
First, a brief history of the 2 top players in the NBA (I apologize if I missed out some info on them. Please let me know if ever).
2003 was the year a young LeBron James entered the NBA arena as if a psychic had actually predicted of his coming. The hype was there of course. Comparisons to Money and Magic Johnson always followed him even before making his first step in the L. After he was drafted at number 1, everything certainly fell into place thus creating a new era, a new beginning in Cleveland. Wore number 23 like his hero MJ, carried his team on his shoulders, became playoff contenders and the rest was all history.
Kobe Bryant on the other hand, had a different experience when he first entered the L. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets back in ‘96 but later on the LA got his draft rights and soon he was already wearing the purple and gold uni. Won the dunk contest in the same year. Had the same comparisons to MJ as well. A few years later, he along with Shaq brought 3 NBA championships to LA. Shaq was then traded to Miami on 2004. The spotlight is now on Kobe. Dropped the number 8 and wore 24. Became MVP last season. Brought his team back to the Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics in the end.
One of the things perhaps that is similar with these cats is that they were both compared to one Michael Jordan. The other is certainly the obvious, both are playing in the NBA. There’s no doubt both have the talent, skills and athletic gifts but both have some differences. I don’t have to mention Bron’s height and athletic advantage or Kobe’s championship experience and scoring prowess. Everybody knows all of that stuff. The MVP race this year is indeed gonna be a tough call. But like all discussions in NBA forums, blogs, etc., it all comes down to King James and Mamba.
If y’all are gonna ask me who should be MVP between LeBron and Kobe? I say give the MVP award to King James. A lot of Kobe fans (especially here in the Philippines) will have a lot to say on this. Kobe Bryant’s got a lot of Filipino fans here. The reason: he plays like Michael Jordan.
Speaking of MJ, so much talk on Bron and Kobe having similar traits with the G.O.A.T. How both of them have the same, if not all of Money’s attributes. I’ve been trying stay silent or better yet, keep away from this very sensitive topic/debate. I guess it’s time to drop my two cents on this one.
The comparisons should stop already.
They (Bron and Kobe) may possess some of MJ’s moves and all but they also have their own ways/abilities to take their own game to the next level. Money got the same treatment (being compared to Dr. J) when he was a rook. Sure, he idolized the doc but he did something more. Added some offensive in his arsenal and won more MVP hardware and NBA championships than Julius Earving did. Jordan literally took his game to the next level.
If I’m gonna cite examples on Kobe why he shouldn’t be compared to MJ, here’s one of them: Kobe wasn’t a starter in his rookie season as opposed to Money who was already given the starting spot and was the go-to guy for the Bulls when he was a rook. That’s one thing that can be compared to Lebron. Though I’m no Kobe Bryant fan, I followed his career since the day he was drafted in 1996. The other, Mamba won his 3 ‘chips with a dominant center. Jordan however, was the dominant player that earned him 6 titles and MVP honors with the Chicago Bulls. Plus, Kobe never won the ROY.
As for Lebron, the obvious is his size/height. Bron is 6′9″ although he’s listed at 6′8″. The other one, something both he and Kobe have in common, not college ball and jumped straight to the pros. Jordan balled in college and won NCAA championship(s) before being drafted in the NBA. Going back to the height differences, Kobe is actually 6′7″ but is listed at 6′6″.
I could go on and on with the list of reasons why none of these 2 or any player for that matter, should even be compared to Michael Jordan. All I can say is, there’s no comparison at all.
Comparing LeBron James and Kobe Bryant alone is like comparing apples to oranges, what more if any of them are compared to Money. They have their own attributes. They have their own road to success. Hence, each player is unique. It’s not fair for anyone to be compared to another. It’s not fair to MJ, Mamba, Bron or anyone for that matter. Kobe can only be Kobe. LeBron can only be LeBron. Everybody wants to be like Mike but the truth is, nobody can be like Mike. Michael Jordan can only be Michael Jordan. His moves can be copied but not all of them. There are certain moves that only MJ can do.
The NBA shouldn’t look for the next Michael Jordan. Because there won’t be another. MJ shouldn’t be the only yardstick of greatness in the NBA. That level of greatness can be reached depending on one’s ability or passion for the game. The L should instead look for someone who’s not trying to be someone he’s not. A player who can be himself. In other words, one should just be true and play the game the way he wants to play it.
Bottomline is, there’s only one Michael Jordan. Period.
-Roy
(Note: This is a synchronized post.)
Filed under: Basketball, NBA | Tags: Basketball, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, kobe bryant, LeBron James, mvp, MVP watch, NBA
This has been a fun year in the NBA so far. The Western Conference is mad close with the exception of LA and the Eastern Conference has its bright spots. The MVP race is pretty much the same as last year with a new addition.
1. Kobe Bryant- I really don’t know how anyone cannot like this guy other than just plain jealousy. He is just the best. For those of us (like me) who only got a glimpse of MJ’s Chi-Town days, Kobe is making up for it. At the beginning of the year Kobe took on a somewhat smaller, but still very large, role on his team. With Bynum and Gasol backing you up what else can you do? Then it’s deja vu. Bynum gets hurt. Kobe says you know what, I’m turning it up. Guess what? He’s done just that. Oh and I can’t leave out the fact that his team has the best record in the league.
2. LeBron James- Well, just like Kobe, he’s just nasty. He’s averaging close to a triple double and at the same time nearly 30 points a game. The reason he is behind Kobe is that he has those games where he just disappears. One night he’ll drop a double nickle and another night he’ll put up a double penny. The day he straightens that out is the day I call him the MVP.
3. Dwyane Wade- The way he has turned this team around is unbelievable. It seems like this city has a thing for comebacks with the ‘Phins and now the Heat. The fact that they were in last place with just FIFTEEN WINS last year and are now in fifth place is just wow. If D-Wade had a better supporting cast, there’s no doubt in my mind that Miami would be a threat for the title. Too bad he doesn’t. Therefore, he stays at #3.
4. Dwight Howard- There are so many things I love about this kid. He’s young, he’s tough, he’s fun to watch, and he could be called the best center in the league today (the only reason I say could is because the original Superman threw him around like a rag doll the other day). He leads the league in rpg, he leads the league in blocks, and he’s his team’s leader in points. Without him, the Magic’s plan of jacking up as many threes as possible in 48 minutes wuld fail miserably.
5. Chris Paul- I’m not the biggest fan of CP3 but I must admit..He got game. He leads the league in assists and steals and he is the last of a dying breed, the true PG. His team is fifth in the West and he’s the main reason for that. This award will come his way one day, but not just yet.
Making a Name: Deron Williams and…uh…Deron Williams
-rman620
