Lebron has won my respect.

[wdleehi]

You know who I respect? Players that get their houses burned down and still continue to play hard(Reggie Miller), people that get stabbed 10 times and return to the basketball court with even more grind(PP), people who grew up in a small little town, with modest people around, and had to prove himself every day(KG, Rodman), people that dedicate their life and body to what means to be a true professional(Ray), people that step on the court and even though undersized(Iverson, Nate R), give you their best everyday, people that play hurt, and i don;t mean cramp hurt. I mean like HURT, like knee sprain, broken hand, dislocated elbow, bone spurs, bad knees, bad wrists, bad toes, etc.


I don't respect someone because someone comes and says:"he is the best off all times". I dont root for someone just because some people drool just at their presence. I wanna see people that do more that i see them doing. I wanna see them dive on the floor, get loose balls and fall in the stands over 4 chairs, i wanna see them grind through blood sweat tears. I dont want to see some steroid jock having favorable calls, and being crushed and praised by the media. I do NOT care about that, NOR do i respect it.

You know who I respect? People who change their approach to the game and want to win so badly they are willing to leave their home town team, and become one of the most hated people in the world and is ridiculed when ever his name comes up. I respect players that have a permanent scar from all of the hatred they get because of a couple things that were arrogant about some years ago (James).

Never thought I'd see this sickly hero worship of LeBron James from Celtics fans...

"Lebron has won my respect." = Sickly hero worship?

Same deal with Benedict Arnold. Guy doesn't get his due. He just wanted to win real bad. Changed his game from hit and run tactics to the battlefield tactics of his day and switched to Britain despite all the hatred and ridicule it would bring.  Haters gonna hate.

Same with KG.


Pierce would have been asking for the same thing if the Celtics hadn't brought in KG and Ray. 

[Surferdad]

LeBron has won my respect. It happened in Game six (?) of the Boston series when he could not miss a shot, but more importantly he went stone-faced and focused on the game with single-minded purpose.  At that moment I knew he had finally elevated himself to truly elite.

I respect LeBron for his game, but I still hate him and think he's an arse.

[Eja117]

You know who I respect? Players that get their houses burned down and still continue to play hard(Reggie Miller), people that get stabbed 10 times and return to the basketball court with even more grind(PP), people who grew up in a small little town, with modest people around, and had to prove himself every day(KG, Rodman), people that dedicate their life and body to what means to be a true professional(Ray), people that step on the court and even though undersized(Iverson, Nate R), give you their best everyday, people that play hurt, and i don;t mean cramp hurt. I mean like HURT, like knee sprain, broken hand, dislocated elbow, bone spurs, bad knees, bad wrists, bad toes, etc.


I don't respect someone because someone comes and says:"he is the best off all times". I dont root for someone just because some people drool just at their presence. I wanna see people that do more that i see them doing. I wanna see them dive on the floor, get loose balls and fall in the stands over 4 chairs, i wanna see them grind through blood sweat tears. I dont want to see some steroid jock having favorable calls, and being crushed and praised by the media. I do NOT care about that, NOR do i respect it.

You know who I respect? People who change their approach to the game and want to win so badly they are willing to leave their home town team, and become one of the most hated people in the world and is ridiculed when ever his name comes up. I respect players that have a permanent scar from all of the hatred they get because of a couple things that were arrogant about some years ago (James).

Never thought I'd see this sickly hero worship of LeBron James from Celtics fans...

"Lebron has won my respect." = Sickly hero worship?

Same deal with Benedict Arnold. Guy doesn't get his due. He just wanted to win real bad. Changed his game from hit and run tactics to the battlefield tactics of his day and switched to Britain despite all the hatred and ridicule it would bring.  Haters gonna hate.

Same with KG.


Pierce would have been asking for the same thing if the Celtics hadn't brought in KG and Ray. 

It's all absolutely pathetic, but there's a huge difference between requesting a trade or agreeing to one because you're getting old and the team is going nowhere and holding secret meetings with your buddies for years, then not informing your team until two weeks is left in free agency and holding a large hour long look-at-me special on TV about it and then announcing you will win 7 championships and that you don't need teammates any better than Pat Riley from his Kentucky days.  It's a matter of degree.

[Celtics18]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned that thing that he wears in his mouth.  That abomination should be at the top of anyone's list of reasons to hate Lebron James.  

[wdleehi]

You know who I respect? Players that get their houses burned down and still continue to play hard(Reggie Miller), people that get stabbed 10 times and return to the basketball court with even more grind(PP), people who grew up in a small little town, with modest people around, and had to prove himself every day(KG, Rodman), people that dedicate their life and body to what means to be a true professional(Ray), people that step on the court and even though undersized(Iverson, Nate R), give you their best everyday, people that play hurt, and i don;t mean cramp hurt. I mean like HURT, like knee sprain, broken hand, dislocated elbow, bone spurs, bad knees, bad wrists, bad toes, etc.


I don't respect someone because someone comes and says:"he is the best off all times". I dont root for someone just because some people drool just at their presence. I wanna see people that do more that i see them doing. I wanna see them dive on the floor, get loose balls and fall in the stands over 4 chairs, i wanna see them grind through blood sweat tears. I dont want to see some steroid jock having favorable calls, and being crushed and praised by the media. I do NOT care about that, NOR do i respect it.

You know who I respect? People who change their approach to the game and want to win so badly they are willing to leave their home town team, and become one of the most hated people in the world and is ridiculed when ever his name comes up. I respect players that have a permanent scar from all of the hatred they get because of a couple things that were arrogant about some years ago (James).

Never thought I'd see this sickly hero worship of LeBron James from Celtics fans...

"Lebron has won my respect." = Sickly hero worship?

Same deal with Benedict Arnold. Guy doesn't get his due. He just wanted to win real bad. Changed his game from hit and run tactics to the battlefield tactics of his day and switched to Britain despite all the hatred and ridicule it would bring.  Haters gonna hate.

Same with KG.


Pierce would have been asking for the same thing if the Celtics hadn't brought in KG and Ray. 

It's all absolutely pathetic, but there's a huge difference between requesting a trade or agreeing to one because you're getting old and the team is going nowhere and holding secret meetings with your buddies for years, then not informing your team until two weeks is left in free agency and holding a large hour long look-at-me special on TV about it and then announcing you will win 7 championships and that you don't need teammates any better than Pat Riley from his Kentucky days.  It's a matter of degree.

Right.


In one case, the teams make the trade and decide where the players go (of course KG controlled that by whether or not he would sign an extension)

The other case, guys took less money as free agents for the chance to play together. 



I don't know.  Free Agents honoring their contracts before going to another team or players under contract forcing teams to move them.  Which is worse? 

[Eja117]

You know who I respect? Players that get their houses burned down and still continue to play hard(Reggie Miller), people that get stabbed 10 times and return to the basketball court with even more grind(PP), people who grew up in a small little town, with modest people around, and had to prove himself every day(KG, Rodman), people that dedicate their life and body to what means to be a true professional(Ray), people that step on the court and even though undersized(Iverson, Nate R), give you their best everyday, people that play hurt, and i don;t mean cramp hurt. I mean like HURT, like knee sprain, broken hand, dislocated elbow, bone spurs, bad knees, bad wrists, bad toes, etc.


I don't respect someone because someone comes and says:"he is the best off all times". I dont root for someone just because some people drool just at their presence. I wanna see people that do more that i see them doing. I wanna see them dive on the floor, get loose balls and fall in the stands over 4 chairs, i wanna see them grind through blood sweat tears. I dont want to see some steroid jock having favorable calls, and being crushed and praised by the media. I do NOT care about that, NOR do i respect it.

You know who I respect? People who change their approach to the game and want to win so badly they are willing to leave their home town team, and become one of the most hated people in the world and is ridiculed when ever his name comes up. I respect players that have a permanent scar from all of the hatred they get because of a couple things that were arrogant about some years ago (James).

Never thought I'd see this sickly hero worship of LeBron James from Celtics fans...

"Lebron has won my respect." = Sickly hero worship?

Same deal with Benedict Arnold. Guy doesn't get his due. He just wanted to win real bad. Changed his game from hit and run tactics to the battlefield tactics of his day and switched to Britain despite all the hatred and ridicule it would bring.  Haters gonna hate.

Same with KG.


Pierce would have been asking for the same thing if the Celtics hadn't brought in KG and Ray. 

It's all absolutely pathetic, but there's a huge difference between requesting a trade or agreeing to one because you're getting old and the team is going nowhere and holding secret meetings with your buddies for years, then not informing your team until two weeks is left in free agency and holding a large hour long look-at-me special on TV about it and then announcing you will win 7 championships and that you don't need teammates any better than Pat Riley from his Kentucky days.  It's a matter of degree.

Right.


In one case, the teams make the trade and decide where the players go (of course KG controlled that by whether or not he would sign an extension)

The other case, guys took less money as free agents for the chance to play together. 



I don't know.  Free Agents honoring their contracts before going to another team or players under contract forcing teams to move them.  Which is worse? 

In both cases they should have to wear a big t shirt that says "I'm not Jordan, Bird, Magic, Duncan, Kobe, or Russell, and I never will be. I'm junior varsity".

The difference is KG and his entourage don't act like they're a "King".  Bron does.  Also KG didn't predict 7 rings. Bron did.  I also don't think KG got treated with kid gloves by refs and Bron does.  Also KG played essentially a full career in freezing Minnesota not leaving till he was about 31. Bron left when he was about 25.  And he left his home town.   Did KG say he had a huge goal to bring a ring to the Wolves and that he wouldn't stop till he got it? Did KG quit in the middle of a playoff game?  Is quitting in the middle of a playoff game honoring your contract?

It's a matter of degree. One guy did everything he could reasonably be expected to do. The other teamed up with his buddies cause he was afraid to compete. Bron is worse.

[syfy9]

You know who I respect? Players that get their houses burned down and still continue to play hard(Reggie Miller), people that get stabbed 10 times and return to the basketball court with even more grind(PP), people who grew up in a small little town, with modest people around, and had to prove himself every day(KG, Rodman), people that dedicate their life and body to what means to be a true professional(Ray), people that step on the court and even though undersized(Iverson, Nate R), give you their best everyday, people that play hurt, and i don;t mean cramp hurt. I mean like HURT, like knee sprain, broken hand, dislocated elbow, bone spurs, bad knees, bad wrists, bad toes, etc.


I don't respect someone because someone comes and says:"he is the best off all times". I dont root for someone just because some people drool just at their presence. I wanna see people that do more that i see them doing. I wanna see them dive on the floor, get loose balls and fall in the stands over 4 chairs, i wanna see them grind through blood sweat tears. I dont want to see some steroid jock having favorable calls, and being crushed and praised by the media. I do NOT care about that, NOR do i respect it.

You know who I respect? People who change their approach to the game and want to win so badly they are willing to leave their home town team, and become one of the most hated people in the world and is ridiculed when ever his name comes up. I respect players that have a permanent scar from all of the hatred they get because of a couple things that were arrogant about some years ago (James).

Never thought I'd see this sickly hero worship of LeBron James from Celtics fans...

"Lebron has won my respect." = Sickly hero worship?

Same deal with Benedict Arnold. Guy doesn't get his due. He just wanted to win real bad. Changed his game from hit and run tactics to the battlefield tactics of his day and switched to Britain despite all the hatred and ridicule it would bring.  Haters gonna hate.

Same with KG.


Pierce would have been asking for the same thing if the Celtics hadn't brought in KG and Ray. 

It's all absolutely pathetic, but there's a huge difference between requesting a trade or agreeing to one because you're getting old and the team is going nowhere and holding secret meetings with your buddies for years, then not informing your team until two weeks is left in free agency and holding a large hour long look-at-me special on TV about it and then announcing you will win 7 championships and that you don't need teammates any better than Pat Riley from his Kentucky days.  It's a matter of degree.

Right.


In one case, the teams make the trade and decide where the players go (of course KG controlled that by whether or not he would sign an extension)

The other case, guys took less money as free agents for the chance to play together. 



I don't know.  Free Agents honoring their contracts before going to another team or players under contract forcing teams to move them.  Which is worse? 

In both cases they should have to wear a big t shirt that says "I'm not Jordan, Bird, Magic, Duncan, Kobe, or Russell, and I never will be. I'm junior varsity".

The difference is KG and his entourage don't act like they're a "King".  Bron does.  Also KG didn't predict 7 rings. Bron did.  I also don't think KG got treated with kid gloves by refs and Bron does.  Also KG played essentially a full career in freezing Minnesota not leaving till he was about 31. Bron left when he was about 25.  And he left his home town.   Did KG say he had a huge goal to bring a ring to the Wolves and that he wouldn't stop till he got it? Did KG quit in the middle of a playoff game?  Is quitting in the middle of a playoff game honoring your contract?

It's a matter of degree. One guy did everything he could reasonably be expected to do. The other teamed up with his buddies cause he was afraid to compete. Bron is worse.

You can't blame Lebron for what the Cavs organization couldn't do - find a legitimate side kick for him. Bird would not have won without the Red's genius trades/drafts, Jordan wouldn't have won without Pippen and Phil Jackson, and Magic wouldn't have won without DPOY Cooper, Byron Scott, James Worthy, Kareem, etc. Lebron's best supporting cast was All star Mo Williams (I'll tip my hat to the Cavs for that acquisition), and a washed up Jamison and Shaq.

[CelticsFanNC]

  This playoff run by LeBron has finally put him into the rarefied air he has been gifted without really earning for much of his career before now.   

  Before this playoff run IMO he was as great as anyone in the game and right up there with the all-time greats in the first 3 quarters of games but in the 4th quarter, when most NBA games are decided he has come up woefully short.   He had no business being called "the King" or being prepared to Jordan, Bird or Magic because they wanted the ball when it counted most while LBJ tended to avoid the ball many times in those same situations.

  This playoff run thought he has finally performed up the hype.

[aporel#18]

LeBron has my respect as a player who is trying to improve... not so much, but you can see he seems more humble as years go by.

But that's it. I don't hate LeBron, I hate the way he's been treated, just like I hated Jordan Rules, Shaq-Kobe dinasty and the Wade lovefest in the 2006 finals. They represent everything I root against in the NBA. Team basketball is a thing of beauty, star treatment (I wanna be like Mike/ESPN/Stern NBA) is a joke.

The saddest thing is, LeBron could be an even better basketball player if he had to adapt his game to fair officiating. He, like Jordan, had to improve because they both lost to better teams in their first NBA years. LeBron, who imo is more talented than Mike, has got even more help than him, so it's been terrible for his development as a player.

Don't compare LeBron to Bird, that's really disgusting. If you're a LeBron fan, that's ok, but this is Celticsblog, you can't expect a lot of love for the team (Heat AND the refs) who ruined our way to the Finals. The Heat get away with murder, I can't root for them. Remember: they injured Rondo last year, and they have kickboxed the Celtics out of the playoffs this year.

When LeBron stops travelling on every play, when he stops bulldozing his defender and getting the call, and when he's treated like every All Star player in the League, he'll be liked and respected for his undeniable talents. Until then, no way.

[xmuscularghandix]

Lebron is a beast. The Celtics have been his Detroit Pistons... he's overcome that obstacle and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he wins 3 of the next 5 titles (like Barkley suggested).

I also don't think it's out of the question for Boston to sneak one in there as well.

[Celtics18]

Lebron is a beast. The Celtics have been his Detroit Pistons... he's overcome that obstacle and I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he wins 3 of the next 5 titles (like Barkley suggested).

I also don't think it's out of the question for Boston to sneak one in there as well.

If Lebron James "wins 3 of the next 5 titles,"  do the rest of his teammates get championship rings?

[KCattheStripe]

[LarBrd33]

Nice post, LarBrd33,

You are clearly a big fan of Lebron James.

I'm actually not.  I love this league and I'm a hardcore Celtic fan.  I don't feel much different about LeBron as I do Kevin Durant.  I think Durant's an unbelievable player...  extremely gifted... very fun to watch.  I admire his talent.  I admire how accomplished he is for such a young age (back-to-back-to-back scoring titles... made the finals at age 23).  And if everyone globally hated Kevin Durant for a bunch of petty crybaby jealous nonsense, I'd be showing some support as well.  And for what it's worth... on some level, I do.  I live in Seattle.  Most of my friends absolutely loath Durant simply for who he is playing for.  I've spent the good part of the last two weeks delicately explaining my thoughts on the guy to my fellow Seattleites while trying not to get punched.  Hating Durant is just as petty.  The kid is awesome.  Shame I can't root for him, but I recognize talent when I see it. 

I'm always singing praises of players on other teams.  I've probably posted about Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving a dozen times each on here.  That doesn't make me a Golden State or Cleveland fan.  Likewise, I absolutely adore Rajon Rondo, but I've admitted countless times on this forum that I see Chris Paul as being a better player.  I don't particularly consider myself a fan of Chris Paul... I'm just tellin it like it is.  If I admit a player is good, does that automatically make me his fan?  Interesting.  Didn't know that.       

[LarBrd33]

LarBrd33....

I don't underestimate the messiah's talent at all.  I don't know about the other people in here.  The messiah is the most physically gifted player in any sport ever.

But he gets overt help from Stern and the officials that he obviously doesn't need  that inflate his numbers and manipulate games....And retard his growth as a player.  His treatment is essentially what Jordan got on steroids.  It might be great when he's on your team...But when it cost your team...And the next team each Game 2 on his way to the championship...It's hard to respect. 

My best friend feels this way ADAMANTLY about Tim Duncan.  You're probably scratching your head... "What???  Tim Duncan?".  I'm serious... my friend absolutely LOATHES Tim Duncan.  Hates him.  Thinks he's the most overrated "star" ever.  Thinks David Stern told the refs to give him literally every call.   Yesterday I was talking to this same friend about LeBron James and how Celtics fans hate him due to the treatment from refs.  I'll paraphrase my friend's response:

"Honestly I've watched LeBron countless times... I watched every game of that Celtic series and I was definitely rooting for Boston... at no point did I think to myself, "Wow... the refs give everything to LeBron James"... I know he doesn't foul often, but watching him play defense there were no times where I thought, "FOUL!... THAT WAS A FOUL!!!"... But Trust me.  David Stern DOES do this.  They did it with Tim Duncan for years!"

Once again... he HATES Tim Duncan, because of all the star calls he gets from the refs.  He swears the star treatment that Duncan gets is "Jordan on steroids".  Again, you're probably wondering if my friend is crazy.  No... he's not crazy.  He's just from Seattle and spent his entire life as a hardcore Sonic fan.  The Spurs beat the Sonics in 2002 and 2005.  Do the math.

For what it's worth, I'm sure there are plenty of fans outside Boston that think the same about Kevin Garnett.  Actually, I know this for a fact.  The KG haters all seemed to show up once the Celtics started winning.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

He's winning my respect. And honestly I would be disappointed if he fails to win this.

I hate the fact that he had to join 2 superstars to win a title when clearly before Miami his Cleveland teams are championship caliber. I hate that with all the talent that he have, the best in the world, maybe in the entirety o basketball, that he have to ride Wade's back to win one.

But the way he's playing right now, it is the other way around. And finally he's stepping up to the plate. And he won my respect there.

I still hate what it's going to do to the NBA. I mean, it's already happening.