Is Lebron a team killer?

[Phil125]

Is it just me or is Miami starting to look a heck of alot like Cleveland did?

Can anybody coexist with Lebron's Ego enough to get them over the top.  Its the only reason I can think they keep doing that same thing at the end of the game.  Wade and Spolestra won't stand up to him.

[Chris]

Cleveland was a very good team, despite a lack of elite talent other than Lebron, that wasn't able to get over the hump.  I don't think they ever had issues like Miami is seeing now, and I also don't think they really underachieved much.

This Miami team is just in a tough position.  They have some pieces that are not perfect fits, and a lot of other pieces that are simply missing (no quality PG, C, or depth in general).

While things are not going well there right now, I just think its way too early to be blaming Lebron's ego.  They definitely have some PR problems, but on the court, it has much more to do with a lack of leadership (coach needs to have more control), and lack of a complete team, than anything else. 

[More Banners]

Cleveland was a very good team, despite a lack of elite talent other than Lebron, that wasn't able to get over the hump.  I don't think they ever had issues like Miami is seeing now, and I also don't think they really underachieved much.

This Miami team is just in a tough position.  They have some pieces that are not perfect fits, and a lot of other pieces that are simply missing (no quality PG, C, or depth in general).

While things are not going well there right now, I just think its way too early to be blaming Lebron's ego.  They definitely have some PR problems, but on the court, it has much more to do with a lack of leadership (coach needs to have more control), and lack of a complete team, than anything else. 

I think it's quite reasonable that the lack of leadership from the coach is directly related to the size of Lebron's ego.  Spoelstra knows he can't coach without Lebron's support, and he can't coach effectively and keep his support, either.  Mike Brown, who is a bit of an idiot, had the same problem in Cleveland.

But it looks like LeEgo either way.

[barefacedmonk]

I hate LeBron...and I'm enjoying Miami's latest slump...but why is LeBron getting all the blame? Wade is as much of a ball hog as he is...he deserves as much blame as LeBron. LeBron just has a big mouth...which needs to to be glued shut...do that and half of the criticism he gets will vanish.

That celebration was for the "3 kings" of Miami..not LeBron alone. Yeah, the whole decision opera was over the top..but ESPN, Nike and Maverick Carter are to blame for that...they were trying to cash in on the situation.

[cman88]

the fact that wade is as much of a ballhog IS part of miamis problem...him/Lebron are too much of the same player. They are streaky shooters and both need the ball in their hand and rely on driving to the hoop or running iso plays.

teams just stop them from driving to the hoop and force them to beat them with their jumpers. While it may work for miami a couple games(going off), they just arent good enough shooters to sustain that over a 7 game series

Alot of comparison was made to boston in the beginnign. but the difference is that bostons "big 3" all had different skills that complemented eachother. Garnett is a defensive presence/expert post player, Ray allen is a sharpshooter from anywhere on the court, and pierce is a good all around scorer and can get to the hoop/draw a foul at ease

[itsthatbradguy]

At the end of the day, if Miami is going to be successful, one of the 2 of LeBron and Wade is going to have to play off the ball. Same thing with the Celtics when we were transitioning from Rajon Rondo handling the ball vs. Paul Pierce handling the ball. Fortunately for us, The Truth was unselfish enough to allow this transition to happen. I don't know that the Heat have any such luck with their 2 players.

[PaulPierce34G]

Surround these guys with the proper role players, along with full the acceptance of taking on lesser roles, creating a good chemistry and this team can win.  

Kobe Bryant was the same as LeBron pre Pau Gasol, but as soon as Gasol got to LA, things got better.  I just think Bosh, and more specifically, Wade and James need to accept the fact a little bit more that they must take on lesser roles to come together and create something bigger.  They've said it in the media, but I don't think it has been illustrated very well on the court.  They play "hero ball" in crunch time and seems as if they have no trust in their other teammates at that point in time...As for example, Paul Pierce did with Glen Davis back in the '09 conference semis to hit that buzzer beater in Orlando.  I think they will eventually get it, they will eventually have the proper supporting cast, and they will adapt and make proper changes, as necessary to their playing system...just not this year.

[Jon]

I think it's very premature for all of this.  Even if this year is a total disaster and they get knocked out in the first round, it doesn't mean they don't have another 4 more years to figure it out and at least win a couple of championships.  Keep in mind, they may add another piece at the PG or C spot next year. 

Still, it's an interesting question.  Though LeBron is a great passer, it seems to me that even when he passes, he does so selfishly, to make himself look good and improve his reputation as a "triple double threat."

[PaulPierce34G]

I think it's very premature for all of this.  Even if this year is a total disaster and they get knocked out in the first round, it doesn't mean they don't have another 4 more years to figure it out and at least win a couple of championships.  Keep in mind, they may add another piece at the PG or C spot next year.  

Still, it's an interesting question.  Though LeBron is a great passer, it seems to me that even when he passes, he does so selfishly, to make himself look good and improve his reputation as a "triple double threat."

I agree.  They have limited cap space, no doubt, and who knows what the new collective bargaining agreement has in store, but you've got to believe they will be able to lure some aging veteran their way to take a paycut like Shaq did this yr in Boston.  Someone who is getting older, but can still contribute, ie guys with the calibur of Billups or Nash, or what GP did when he was with the Heat/LA Lakers.  They currently have it with Bibby, maybe a notch below, but I don't think he is going to make an impact with such a very limited amount of time.  Maybe if they resign him??? Who knows right now.  I think next year is when the Heat truly make their big splash and become an even bigger threat, to be quite honest.  They'll have a year under their belts together, they'll address their weaknesses with more focus as they have their core 3 in tact.  This coming free agency period, if there is one, and no lockout occurs, they won't have to focus on signing 3 guys to build upon...they have that...they will focus on what to put around it.
They got James, Wade & Bosh last summer and it seemed after Mike Miller, were just throwing random parts in the mix to have a complete roster.  I don't think this will be the case this year.  They will use the appeal of "We have 3 of the top 10-15 guys in the NBA on our roster, you can be that last piece that puts us over the top for sure" approach on some vets who want a ring and try to get them to take as very little money as possible .  Going to be interesting.

[CoachBo]

I think it's very premature for all of this.  Even if this year is a total disaster and they get knocked out in the first round, it doesn't mean they don't have another 4 more years to figure it out and at least win a couple of championships.  Keep in mind, they may add another piece at the PG or C spot next year. 

Still, it's an interesting question.  Though LeBron is a great passer, it seems to me that even when he passes, he does so selfishly, to make himself look good and improve his reputation as a "triple double threat."

This is really an analogous discussion to the Perkins trade, and it again makes a fairly important point: If you're going to sit down and use old numbers to try to analyze a deal, you're frankly going to be wrong.

Different teammates, different systems, different results.

Same story.

And that's why so many who waxed rhapsodically about the greatness of the Heat are wrong. This is a great game because of all the hard-to-measure intangibles that make great teams - the meshing of skillsets that people call chemistry, great coaches and great systems vs. not so great coaches and simplistic systems, etc.

[pearljammer10]

When LeBron realizes he cant be the clutch number one guy on a team maybe he'll start winning. Until that time comes, he is going to continue to fail. Wade might not be the "most talented" player on the team; but he does have the most leadership, is the most clutch, and has the winners mentality. LeBron needs to realize he is second banana to Wade.

[screwedupmaniac]

For the sake of playing devil's advocate, it seems that the past several Heat losses that I have witnessed have involved LeBron not shooting enough throughout the fourth quarter. On multiple occasions, I have seen him stray away from his offense and pass it to a wide open Mario Chalmers in the corner, which Mario then takes and misses.

I hate LeBron just as much as anyone else, but the real problem here runs much deeper than his pungent ego. The supporting cast for a championship run is simply not there yet. Miami shouldn't panic too much yet, as these guys are still young enough to figure things out and put together a string of championship runs for the next several years.

Another issue is Eric Spoelstra...every time the Heat lose, he states that "we'll win eventually" and "guys are crying in the locker room". What the heck man? Get control of your emotional basket case of a team, find a way to get egos in check, and draw up some plays that Doc can't figure out and run for the fun of it during All-Star Weekend.

[get_banners]

LeBron and Wade both have games that work well on the right team. They both pound the ball into the ground and try to make a play or sometimes get something for their teammates. However, with two of these guys on a team, this is a problem. LeBron and Wade both have something to do with Miami's issues. If either of them worked harder without the ball (see: Ray Allen), the spacing on the floor would change and things would get better. Also, the ball doesn't move that much with that team. Again, not so much that Wade or LeBron are ball hogs, but they're used to dominating the ball. This was the reason the Cavs fell short - LeBron doesn't do much without the ball. You need good coaching...and good willingness to be coached...to improve there.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

The answer is yes. 

[Bahku]

The answer is yes. 

Took the words out of my mouth. (TP)