Great Woj Article on LBJ

[PosImpos]

Who is he to be indignant after he gave a playoff game away? What’s he ever won to be so smug to the masses? That’s what drives the Celtics crazy about James. Eventually, he will understand his greatness isn’t measured on the hit-and-runs through NBA cities across a long season. It’s measured now, in the teeth of the battle, when a tiny guard, Rajon Rondo(notes), has stolen his stage and nearly a series.

This wasn’t the night to feel bad for himself. There’s been enough pity for him in this series. As much as anything these past two years, the Cavaliers have taken on James’ persona: Entitled, arrogant and expectant that the sheer divine right of his greatness will win them a ring. Only, the Celtics are proud, old champions arisen out of the rubble and on the brink of closing out the Cavaliers on Thursday night at the Boston Garden. No one saw this coming on Tuesday night, the surgical removal of the Cavaliers’ hearts surrounded with a stunned silence that devolved into the debris of boos.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhF8Dem5Lm5_sgQbqoiLLvi8vLYF?slug=aw-lebroncavs051210

[rav123]

Who is he to be indignant after he gave a playoff game away? What’s he ever won to be so smug to the masses? That’s what drives the Celtics crazy about James. Eventually, he will understand his greatness isn’t measured on the hit-and-runs through NBA cities across a long season. It’s measured now, in the teeth of the battle, when a tiny guard, Rajon Rondo(notes), has stolen his stage and nearly a series.

This wasn’t the night to feel bad for himself. There’s been enough pity for him in this series. As much as anything these past two years, the Cavaliers have taken on James’ persona: Entitled, arrogant and expectant that the sheer divine right of his greatness will win them a ring. Only, the Celtics are proud, old champions arisen out of the rubble and on the brink of closing out the Cavaliers on Thursday night at the Boston Garden. No one saw this coming on Tuesday night, the surgical removal of the Cavaliers’ hearts surrounded with a stunned silence that devolved into the debris of boos.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhF8Dem5Lm5_sgQbqoiLLvi8vLYF?slug=aw-lebroncavs051210

Dunno why he is hating so hard on Lebron after one game 5 beatdown. His top 2 teammates (Williams and Jamison) are big-time chokers. There's nothing more to say.

We must remember that on paper, earlier this season, people actually thought we could be the best team ever, but our poor regular season made everyone forget.

We definitely have just as much talent as they do, and since we have better chemistry, intensity and passion, we're better. It's unfair of Woj to write this.

[FallGuy]

Wow.

A lot of people around here are going to LOVE this article. I think I love this article. This thing is gonna get passed around NBA circles on Wednesday.

What's interesting to me is the barely contained rage Woj seems to be feeling at LBJ, like he's been storing up James' violations against the sport's legacy and his kinglike sense of entitlement and finally has a platform to unleash it.

Anyway, thing of beauty to read that. Thanks for posting it.

[makaveli]

This series really opened my eyes regarding on the way I rank all time NBA players. You can say all you want about Lebron, Malone, Barkley, Iverson etc. but if you don't have a ring, you were one of the best of all time, but will never fit it the same sentence with guys like Jordan, Kobe, Duncan, KG, Ray and Pierce.
Now I truly how big is the difference between great players with rings and great players without one.

[Coach]

Great writers truly have an ability to take emotions that everyone are feeling, and put them down clearly in black and white.

Woj just does an unbelievable job here.  I always felt that this is the problem with Lebron, that he just truly doesn't get it.  I think a lot of it has to do with the early jump to greatness.  He never had to struggle, never had to scrap to get to the level he's at now.

I just hope that he doesn't get it before Thursday.

[Roy Hobbs]

I generally don't mind Lebron, but he's becoming harder and harder to respect.  I mean, his ego is out of control, as noted by this:

I spoil a lot of people with my play. When you have three bad games in seven years, it’s easy to point them out.

Seriously?  First, he says that if he's not going to wear #23, nobody should.  Now, he's saying he's had three bad games ever?  And that he's "spoiled" all of us?

No, Lebron, what you did is choke, in the face of an excellent Celtics defense.  This guy needs a reality check.  As much as I hate a guy like Kobe, at least he could acknowledge when he was whipped by a better team.  Lebron can't, which puts him in QRich territory to me.

[GreenFaith1819]

Also take into account how the Zebras have been handling Lebron, and this is definitely a thought-provoking article.

I recall past stars in the NBA - Jordan, Bird, Magic....none of these guys were pampered by the refs and David Stern when they first ventured into the NBA. Maybe it was a different time, but I can't remember those three getting the plethora of calls from the Officials.

Now that the game has been called fairly even the last two games - Wow we've won them. Just like I believed we could.

The Boston Celtics (and us Fans) just wanted a fair shot. We are now getting it, and all of a Sudden Lebron Seems Human.

He has to look at himself in the Mirror - the Cavs  organization, I think, have bent over backwards to get this man the players to compliment him. He owes it to them to at least Try to find a way to win - even in the face of a Consistent Defensive pressure from The Celtics.

Like The Article stated - his performance and Effort was Off.

[Fafnir]

This guy needs a reality check.  As much as I hate a guy like Kobe, at least he could acknowledge when he was whipped by a better team.  Lebron can't, which puts him in QRich territory to me.

I wonder what Kobe was saying when he was 25/26. I honestly can't remember. I do remember his press conference's from the last Suns series. He was an indigent jerk to the Suns and his own team as his Lakers went up 3-1 and then eventually blew the series.

I've always thought LeBron was more similar to Shaq than Kobe personality wise. Not sure if I remember Shaq saying something so dumb either though.

[Spilling Green Dye]

Typically I don't like Wojanowski's article's, but this one hit the nail on the head.  He highlights the single biggest reason I have wanted to beat the Cavs (and Lebron).  

The only thing I would add to the article is an honorable mention to the league in its role of pushing the marketability and "godlike status" of Lebron.  It's not all on Lebron, he is partly a product of David Stern and his chronies.

[Bankshot]

Please... I saw Woj... on Around the Horn the other day.  He picked Cleveland to win because he said they were the better team.  He only wrote this stuff about Lebron because Cleveland didn't come through and his prediction was wrong.

[Cman]

Please... I saw Woj... on Around the Horn the other day.  He picked Cleveland to win because he said they were the better team.  He only wrote this stuff about Lebron because Cleveland didn't come through and his prediction was wrong.

Maybe so, but its a pretty awesome article nonetheless.

[YouGotRondo d]

For the record, that was Gene Woj from espn.com on the show, this is a different one.

Please... I saw Woj... on Around the Horn the other day.  He picked Cleveland to win because he said they were the better team.  He only wrote this stuff about Lebron because Cleveland didn't come through and his prediction was wrong.

I also wanted to add that I agree wholeheartedly with this assessment of James. Did anyone see all the standing around he was doing in the second half last night? Pathetic. He was pulling a childish, Kobe-like act. Except he doesn't have the rings to have earned it. Just because things weren't going his way he wanted to quit entirely. I think that's Lebron in a nutshell: He's a frontrunner. Once he misses a few shots or fails to get a few calls his effort deteriorates.

Could anyone honestly say that he couldn't have facilitated their offense last night? I mean, if wasn't going to take the shots he could've at least gotten into the lane and dished it. There were consecutive series where he didn't even touch the ball. There was no effort, no fire.

He should learn a thing or two from the Captain. Pierce's shot has been off all series, but he still plays tough D, he rebounds, he sets screens, he defers, he cheers on his teammates.
Hey LeBron! That is a leader.

[twinbree]

Don't pelt me with rotten tomatoes please. I think people are being too harsh on Lebron this morning. They laid a big egg which their fans rightfully should be flaming him and the team but I'm not sure why the media and everyone else is.

I'm as big a hater as there is but sometimes people just have a rough game (and this was only his 3rd bad game in 7 years people! ) and he's still offensively at the point where good defenses can shut him down. We got blown out at home in a Game 7 Kobe put up that stinker in a finals clincher no less. At least the Cavs have another game left in the series (crush 'em Cs!)

Then again I haven't had a chance to watch the game yet so maybe I just need to shut up LOL

[Rondo_is_better]

Wow...ripped on.

[reggie35]

This is typical garbage, piling on when the chips are down. The media did the same thing when KG got suspended in round 1. Lebron's a great player. I hate him. He's a privileged cry baby but he's going to be back strong. Just hopefully not in game 6!