LeBron James’ Play Is Hurting Cavs
Cleveland losing due to All-Star’s average play
LeBron James has an aching toe, but it's his lackadaisical play that is costing the Cleveland Cavaliers victories and positioning in the NBA's Eastern Conference.
LeBron James has been too busy lately to return my calls or invite me to dinner, so I figured I’d use my platform here to send LeBron an important note about his recent play. If you happen to see King James, please pass this along to him.
Dear LeBron James:
What's the deal?
Your lackluster play is causing many people a great amount of heartache and frustration. In the long run, if you don’t step up your game, you might even cost some people their jobs – namely, Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown and yours truly, who went so far as to predict you would win the NBA MVP award, while leading Cleveland to an NBA title.
So, LeBron, what’s the deal?
Sure, you’re an NBA All-Star – the top vote-getter, even. This is a testament to your wild popularity. After all, you are a remarkable NBA player. As noted annoyingly often here, you can dominate anyone at any time. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, you refuse to dominate.
I’ll even concede that your numbers are once again eye-popping. Not many players get 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per night. But, hey, you’re LeBron James. It doesn’t matter that you should be a senior in college and that you’re just 22, you are expected to put up these numbers.
So, LeBron James, what exactly is the deal?
Your Cleveland Cavaliers are falling faster than a skydiver with a faulty parachute, and, all too often, you are standing around watching, apparently waiting to see the crash.
Take your recent game against the Phoenix Suns, for example. Okay, I’ll allow that you had nice stats – 30 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists; and you made 12 of your 22 field goal attempts. You were the game’s leading scorer.
Here’s my issue with you, though, LeBron James: you are not taking over games as true NBA superstars do.
When that Phoenix game was still close in the fourth quarter, you took just four shots. Four!
Hey, LeBron, what’s the deal?
When your Cavaliers led Miami heading into the fourth quarter, a few nights later, Miami’s superstar, Dwayne Wade, exploded for 24 fourth-quarter points, and you and your team squandered an 8-point lead and lost. You, LeBron James, scored just 17 points in the game.
You, LeBron, don’t have a 40-point performance this year, and you take just 20 shots per night. Now, don’t get me wrong, LeBron, I don’t want another Allen Iverson here, someone chucking up 30 shots per night. There are times, though, when a superstar has to step up and take the shots.
In games like the one against Phoenix, you needed 25 to 30 shot attempts.
So, what’s the deal LeBron James?
Are you tired? Are you bored? Are you sick of the limelight? Have you lost interest in competing for an NBA title?
Hey, LeBron, remember those frustrated people I mentioned? They are your fans, your coaches, the media, your friends and even your family.
They are people who love you as an NBA player, as a celebrity and as a person. You are showered with adulation, hero-worship and money. It’s time for you to start giving back, in the form of superstar performances.
It’s time LeBron James fulfils his end of the bargain and brings Cleveland an NBA title and the league it’s next Michael Jordan.
So, we all wonder, what’s the deal LeBron James?
