LeBron: "I Can't Defer"

[Birdbrain]

That comment is one of the more intriguing story lines with the miami big 3.  I expect their to be some tension if things don't go well during crunch time if one of them is deferring (which will have to be case).  I hope LJ really doesn't defer that will lead to more losses but, I have a strange feeling he'll be playing the role of SF during crunch time to Wade as the primary ball handler. 

[fairweatherfan]

Like with the flap a few days ago over racism, I'd like to see what question they asked LeBron that led to this answer before I react to it.  The quote becomes very different if he was asked: "You were accused of quitting on your team last year; are you a quitter or a leader?" vs "Tell us about your mindset on integrating your game with Wade and Bosh's"

[Mike-Dub]

And you can't lead either LeBron!

[GreenEnvy]

They can fight over our scraps all they want.  They still are going to have to beat us in a 7 game series.  Good luck with that.

Yep. That's IF they get by ORL.

Yes, that's one of my big hopes of this season: that the seeds play out to a Mia/Orlando EC semis. I think we'll be able to handle Chicago or Milwaukee.

That's what I would like too, but for that to happen, we would have to take the top seed OR Orland would have to fall to the 4th spot. Both are possible, but probably unlikely, especially with Boozer (the Bulls the best bet to sneak in ahead of Orlando) out for two months.

But that's why they play the games, we shall see.

[Fafnir]

I think the Heat will quickly be LeBron's team. As for the article, meh. Par for the course with LeBron.

[Roy H.]

I think the Heat will quickly be LeBron's team. As for the article, meh. Par for the course with LeBron.

I don't know; I think there's probably a lot of loyalty to Wade in the locker room, and Wade strikes me as more of a vocal leader.  If anything, I think they'll be seen as co-leaders, if not akin to Jeter and A-rod (with A-rod being the better player, by Jeter as the better leader.)

As for Lebron's comments, he has a talent for saying stupid things.  You would think that somebody supposedly as packaged as he is would be a little more polished.  If he'd said "I'm happy doing whatever is necessary to win" -- much like he did all summer -- there wouldn't be a controversy.

[galvinx10]

I am excited for the first time either Lebron or Wade misses a game winning shot at the buzzer. That should get them plenty upset at eachother

[indeedproceed]

I think the Heat will quickly be LeBron's team. As for the article, meh. Par for the course with LeBron.

I don't know; I think there's probably a lot of loyalty to Wade in the locker room, and Wade strikes me as more of a vocal leader.  If anything, I think they'll be seen as co-leaders, if not akin to Jeter and A-rod (with A-rod being the better player, by Jeter as the better leader.)

As for Lebron's comments, he has a talent for saying stupid things.  You would think that somebody supposedly as packaged as he is would be a little more polished.  If he'd said "I'm happy doing whatever is necessary to win" -- much like he did all summer -- there wouldn't be a controversy.

I think it'll be a lot like Paul Ray and Kevin, with Wade playing Paul, Bron playing KG, and Bosh playing Ray.

Obviously there are lots of differences, but I'm talking about a broad dynamic..the same hierarchy, same basic roles, etc...

[jarufu]

The more they talk, the more I see the wheels falling off.

[Witch-King]

Wow, hopefully the Miami Heat doesn't become a scenario where Bosh, Wade and LeBron all want to be Batman, however the Heat only have one 'Batmobile', per say.

Honestly though I doubt that LeBron is saying that he cannot defer to the point where his selfishness might become detrimental to the team's possible success, but who knows.

[Prof. Clutch]

Like with the flap a few days ago over racism, I'd like to see what question they asked LeBron that led to this answer before I react to it.  The quote becomes very different if he was asked: "You were accused of quitting on your team last year; are you a quitter or a leader?" vs "Tell us about your mindset on integrating your game with Wade and Bosh's"

TP.

[ManUp]

Wow I expected this stuff to wait until they hit their first rough patch or after their first tight game where someone has to take the last shot(and misses).

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Like I said b4... these dudes are playing you! You ask for this and those actors give it to you! LeBron with his great acting skills bamboozled the entire state of Ohio! I look forward to hearing this type of BS for some time!

[moiso]

I think the Heat will quickly be LeBron's team. As for the article, meh. Par for the course with LeBron.

I don't know; I think there's probably a lot of loyalty to Wade in the locker room, and Wade strikes me as more of a vocal leader.  If anything, I think they'll be seen as co-leaders, if not akin to Jeter and A-rod (with A-rod being the better player, by Jeter as the better leader.)

As for Lebron's comments, he has a talent for saying stupid things.  You would think that somebody supposedly as packaged as he is would be a little more polished.  If he'd said "I'm happy doing whatever is necessary to win" -- much like he did all summer -- there wouldn't be a controversy.

It kind of seems to me like players gravitate to and follow Lebron a little more.  Another factor that may come into play is that Wade has been affected by injuries a lot more than Lebron.  Wade could eventually lose some leadership to Lebron simply because Lebron is more likely to stay healthy.  I mean, it doesn't necessarily mean anything, but in the first preseason game Wade got hurt and Lebron became the leader in that game.  It could be a pattern over the next few years.

[cornbreadsmart]

     He's arguably the best player in the NBA for awhile now. He SHOULD'NT defer. Wade should if it's one or the other. Who cares who was there first? I don't understand why that should matter. Someone please explain why THAT Wwould be a if you think so.
     People need to accept that Lebron, although he seems like a jerk off the court, has been a great teammate. I don't buy into him giving up. He tried but failed against an amazing defense. His teammates failed miserably in my opinion.
     Ah, it's all been said a million times. I think everyone is just hoping too much that there will be a problem but believe it or not these guys are not as selfish as Kobe and Shaq were.Also, BOTH guys are busting their tails to be better instead of one guy letting himself go and become not show up in great shape every year.
     I don't think Lebron is that dumb. Tomorrow he'll say something how he does'nt care who makes the last shot. Everyone is just picking every sentence apart.
     Lebron and Wade are both on my top 10 hated players list(Lebron almost at the top)but I just think this is nothing.I think everyone is gonna be shocked at how scary this Miami team is.