LeBron: "I Can't Defer"

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

    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.
        

I can BET no one will be shocked... it's expected! It's easy to tell that everyone concedes that they have the opportunity for greatness... it's just most peoples hope they will never reach it! Not as selfish as Kobe and Shaq, probably not (Kobe ONE of the most selfish in the NBAs history)... but to think those guys aren't selfish is LAUGHABLE! The greats were/are all selfish to a great extent!

[nba is the worst]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

but before he quit he was simply outplayed by a team game

I don't understand how you think that - before he quit the cavs were leading 2-1 and had just handed the Celtics their worst home playoff loss in their 61-yr history!

[KGs Knee]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

but before he quit he was simply outplayed by a team game

I don't understand how you think that - before he quit the cavs were leading 2-1 and had just handed the Celtics their worst home playoff loss in their 61-yr history!

LeBron did not particularly quit in gm 4, he just got beat by Rondo, who happened to have a phenominal performance.  After that LeBron did seem to give up, but it seemed to be more because he realized his teammates still sucked.  Not that this is any excuse , in fact its a terrible quality.

[BballTim]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

but before he quit he was simply outplayed by a team game

I don't understand how you think that - before he quit the cavs were leading 2-1 and had just handed the Celtics their worst home playoff loss in their 61-yr history!

  Nobody, aside from possibly you, is claiming that he quit after game 3.

[indeedproceed]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

but before he quit he was simply outplayed by a team game

I don't understand how you think that - before he quit the cavs were leading 2-1 and had just handed the Celtics their worst home playoff loss in their 61-yr history!

  Nobody, aside from possibly you, is claiming that he quit after game 3.

True indeed.

[CelticHooligan3]

I was going on about this a little while ago in a different thread. I'm glad to see the seeds of doubt have already been sewn. You really just can't overlook lebrons stupidity. This is great news to me and just shows me there's a crack in the heats armor from the get go basically. I can see this team breaking into factions and sides if losses pile up. Which is a reality despite what some may think and tell you.

As other posters have already stated the real problems will arise when either Wade or Lebron takes a last second shot and misses. They can put on a happy face and stay positive in the media all they want but I won't buy it. Behind the scenes one will be seething and questioning the coach and plays. I can see it becoming very divisive.

And no it's not like when our big three came together as one poster stated. Our big three were in the tail ends of their peaks and are very different personalities. From the get go they sacrficed shots touches and ego for the good of the team and to win. Our guys were intelligent enough to not challenge each other as to who was the true Alpha dog. Everyone fit in their roles beautifully. KG was the best/most dominant. Ray was the shooter/game changer/ wild card. And Pierce was the pure scorer/longest tenured Celtic and face of the organization still.

The difference is these guys are all entering their peaks. They don't want to waste or defer any of those skills. Granted Bosh should be left out because he clearly is the Gamma. But Lebron and Wade are headed for a power struggle. The messier the better I say! 

[manl_lui]

chemistry will be a big problem...too much ego for the 3 of them...

[BballTim]

    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.
        

  It's not so much whether there's friction between Wade and James as whether their styles of play work well together. They're both used to having the ball in their hands almost every play, and creating their own offense off of the dribble. If LeBron dominates the ball Wade is much less effective. If Wade dominates the ball LeBron is less effective.

[CelticHooligan3]

    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 i
        

  It's not so much whether there's friction between Wade and James as whether their styles of play work well together. They're both used to having the ball in their hands almost every play, and creating their own offense off of the dribble. If LeBron dominates the ball Wade is much less effective. If Wade dominates the ball LeBron is less effective.
 

This is a great post because it's 100% correct. And it's also going to be the wedge that divides this team in two. These guys are not the types to just play happy soldier and re with the punches once their numbers start droppping. It will start with rumblings like this and continue to a boiling point hopefully.

I'm elated to get to "witness" this fallout. It has two overdramatic divas and one puppet master (Riley) involved. It will be interesting to see which side Bosh will choose because invariably he must choose one. The other will be seen as a scape goat and cancer. This has high stakes drama written all over it. Meanwhile well be here enjoying our C's in Boston racking up the wins and making a mockery of the rest of the league. I love the fact were a sleeping giant right now.

[GreenFaith1819]

What is even more interesting to me is who will be traded 1st if this Lovefest doesn't work?

My guess is Bosh.

I'll give it until about Febuary of 2012 before they break up this Trifecta.

[Kiorrik]

I wonder if this all will affect the type of trash talk they will be getting. Leave it to Garnett say exactly the right things to tick them off, to push them both into Alpha mode at the same time.

Can't imagine what they'll say

[GreenFaith1819]

I wonder if this all will affect the type of trash talk they will be getting. Leave it to Garnett say exactly the right things to tick them off, to push them both into Alpha mode at the same time.

Can't imagine what they'll say

Yep - and then once Lebron gets in Alpha mode, that will hurt MIA.

I love it.

Lebron will dominate the ball, and leave poor little Wade out there to try to figure out how to play with him.

They'd better figure it out, soon. Oct 26 is almost 2 weeks away, and Boston is waiting

I love the attention that ESPN is showering on them. Let Boston fly under the radar.

Before we all know it, MIA may have their 65-70 wins, but even more important Boston will have 55-60 (enough to get homecourt over LA, hopefully).

Dream scenario is that ORL destroys them in the playoffs, and then we beat ORL.

Or - we will do a repeat of 09-10 - Beat both of them in the playoffs. Do it the hard way is Boston's motto.

[nba is the worst]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

but before he quit he was simply outplayed by a team game

I don't understand how you think that - before he quit the cavs were leading 2-1 and had just handed the Celtics their worst home playoff loss in their 61-yr history!

LeBron did not particularly quit in gm 4, he just got beat by Rondo, who happened to have a phenominal performance.  After that LeBron did seem to give up, but it seemed to be more because he realized his teammates still sucked.  Not that this is any excuse , in fact its a terrible quality.

Nobody, aside from possibly you, is claiming that he quit after game 3.

Actually, aside from LeBronists and Celtics fans pretty much everyone thinks so.

In support of this (although I've covered it elsewhere on CB):

To start the 4th Q, the Celtics led 74-72. LeBron only attempted 6 shots, making 2 layups and a ft for 5 pts (his teammates scored 10).

All Cavs starters were in double figures + Varejao with 8 (compared to just 3 Celtics), Shaq/Varejao scored 25 while holding Perk/Sheed to three.

LeBron scored 22 pts in game 4, 17 below his average vs the Celtics, and missed all his 3-pt attempts...

[BballTim]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

but before he quit he was simply outplayed by a team game

I don't understand how you think that - before he quit the cavs were leading 2-1 and had just handed the Celtics their worst home playoff loss in their 61-yr history!

LeBron did not particularly quit in gm 4, he just got beat by Rondo, who happened to have a phenominal performance.  After that LeBron did seem to give up, but it seemed to be more because he realized his teammates still sucked.  Not that this is any excuse , in fact its a terrible quality.

Nobody, aside from possibly you, is claiming that he quit after game 3.

Actually, aside from LeBronists and Celtics fans pretty much everyone thinks so.

In support of this (although I've covered it elsewhere on CB):

To start the 4th Q, the Celtics led 74-72. LeBron only attempted 6 shots, making 2 layups and a ft for 5 pts (his teammates scored 10).

All Cavs starters were in double figures + Varejao with 8 (compared to just 3 Celtics), Shaq/Varejao scored 25 while holding Perk/Sheed to three.

LeBron scored 22 pts in game 4, 17 below his average vs the Celtics, and missed all his 3-pt attempts...

  James not dominating against a great defense doesn't necessarily mean that he quit.

[nba is the worst]

he didn't defer in those games, he quit. big difference. only a fool like lebron wouldn't know the difference.

but before he quit he was simply outplayed by a team game

I don't understand how you think that - before he quit the cavs were leading 2-1 and had just handed the Celtics their worst home playoff loss in their 61-yr history!

LeBron did not particularly quit in gm 4, he just got beat by Rondo, who happened to have a phenominal performance.  After that LeBron did seem to give up, but it seemed to be more because he realized his teammates still sucked.  Not that this is any excuse , in fact its a terrible quality.

Nobody, aside from possibly you, is claiming that he quit after game 3.

Actually, aside from LeBronists and Celtics fans pretty much everyone thinks so.

In support of this (although I've covered it elsewhere on CB):

To start the 4th Q, the Celtics led 74-72. LeBron only attempted 6 shots, making 2 layups and a ft for 5 pts (his teammates scored 10).

All Cavs starters were in double figures + Varejao with 8 (compared to just 3 Celtics), Shaq/Varejao scored 25 while holding Perk/Sheed to three.

LeBron scored 22 pts in game 4, 17 below his average vs the Celtics, and missed all his 3-pt attempts...

  James not dominating against a great defense doesn't necessarily mean that he quit.

BUT, as a 2-TIME MVP who showed multiple times the Celtics couldn't stop him, playing passively in the 4th Q of a 2-pt game (where his oft-maligned teammates stepped up) DOES show that he tanked - as most people who have watched him play agree.

Seriously, he played with more focus and sense of purpose in the Heat's first EXHIBITION game this year!