This Celtics-Heat series is Lebron James' defining moment

[LancerQ]

He'll be defined as to be the loser who only beat the Cs with the big 3 gone.

[Celticsfan336]

They are picking the Heat because they want a Lebron V Kobe final.
And no, him not getting past the C's this time will not be the most embarrassing thing in the history of the NBA.
He gets at least one season to gel with the team or add some better role players.

The headlines might say that for one day and then they will immeditaely switch to either Bulls vs LA finals or C's vs LA finals etc..whatever makes the biggest story with the current available information is what they always run with.

After the Celtics sweep the Heat, Lebron will cry in a post game interview and it will be his defining moment

[Jon]

Well, it'll be his defining moment up until now; however, let's not kid ourselves, LeBron is going to have plenty more chances.  Even if the C's sweep the Heat, pounding them into the ground by 20+ points per win, it still doesn't mean that this Miami team can't eventually win multiple titles.  And if that happens, no one will remember them getting beaten by us this year. 

[BballTim]

it is the Celtics' last real chance before they become lame-duck contenders like the Spurs were the last few years.

  I think we're on year three or so for this annual proclamation. Eventually it will be right.

[Jon]

it is the Celtics' last real chance before they become lame-duck contenders like the Spurs were the last few years.

  I think we're on year three or so for this annual proclamation. Eventually it will be right.

Maybe.  But with a potentially shortened season next year and with potentially more restrictive salary rules that could limit how much teams like Miami and Chicago can improve, I wouldn't rule out one last run next year. 

[Celticsfan336]

it is the Celtics' last real chance before they become lame-duck contenders like the Spurs were the last few years.

  I think we're on year three or so for this annual proclamation. Eventually it will be right.

I think the Celtics still have 3 more years of being a top top contender, not just a contender. This year is year 1. Next year would be year 2, and it is most likely going to be a shortened season, and Boston defiently has a chance then. And then year 3 would be their LAST shot....that being said, if they resign Ray and KG, if not they still have a solid core to workout around. Not to mention, we will most likely get a good draft pick, or good FA signings.

[Eja117]

They know so many things are riding on this series
If Lebron can't get past the Celtics it would be the most embarrassing thing in the History of the NBA. A heralded Jordan part II who got millions of dollars in endorsements straight out of high school. If he loses this series, it would be a big red mark on his legacy

  Not to really compare the two, but it's worth pointing out that LeBron is still younger than Jordan was when he won his first title.

Not if you count college titles.

Also Jordan wasn't on nearly as many peds.  Also Jordan won an Olympic Gold first (I think)

[Eja117]

No matter what happens in his career Lebron's defining moment was about 3 days long. It started when he said on national tv in a one hour special "I can't even lead a team to a ring, so I am going to piggy back with two other all-stars to make that happen. I'm a Scottie Pippen for the ages."  In his English he said "I'm taking my talents to South Beach" but in Basketball he said the first thing. Then within days legends of the game came out and said "I don't think I would have done that." in English. Translation to basketball. "Lebron. We can't even tell you how much we won't ever respect you as a great of this game ever again. Never. When we all die and go to the great basketball court in someone's corn field in Indiana or someone's tobacco field in North Carolina or a spruced up court in South Central LA....you gotta wait a LOT of games to get in"

That's his defining moment.

The next was when he said "What should I do? Should I just go away?" and people responded loudly and clearly "Yes. Absolutely yes"

[OsirusCeltics]

He'll be defined as to be the loser who only beat the Cs with the big 3 gone.

Just about right
I think he already kind of put a big dent teaming up with Wade. It'll always be, "He won it, but it wasn't against the Celtics"

Lebron has got his high caliber teammates he wanted, a new team

IMO with this loss, ESPN would have a hard time trying to push the Lebron brand and lose alot of money

[BballTim]

They know so many things are riding on this series
If Lebron can't get past the Celtics it would be the most embarrassing thing in the History of the NBA. A heralded Jordan part II who got millions of dollars in endorsements straight out of high school. If he loses this series, it would be a big red mark on his legacy

  Not to really compare the two, but it's worth pointing out that LeBron is still younger than Jordan was when he won his first title.

Not if you count college titles.

Also Jordan wasn't on nearly as many peds.  Also Jordan won an Olympic Gold first (I think)

  College titles? Really?

  And wasn't that the game NC won because the Georgetown player passed it to the wrong team by mistake?

[OsirusCeltics]

They know so many things are riding on this series
If Lebron can't get past the Celtics it would be the most embarrassing thing in the History of the NBA. A heralded Jordan part II who got millions of dollars in endorsements straight out of high school. If he loses this series, it would be a big red mark on his legacy

  Not to really compare the two, but it's worth pointing out that LeBron is still younger than Jordan was when he won his first title.

Not if you count college titles.

Also Jordan wasn't on nearly as many peds.  Also Jordan won an Olympic Gold first (I think)

  College titles? Really?

  And wasn't that the game NC won because the Georgetown player passed it to the wrong team by mistake?

So true. And people seem to forget. James Worthy was the MVP of that team, the MAN when he was in NC