tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post5156460434281681932..comments2024-03-22T05:48:26.129-05:00Comments on Braves & Birds: LeBron and LeoMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-74953826413451052522011-06-20T20:18:39.255-05:002011-06-20T20:18:39.255-05:00Distilling the argument from lengtheeeeee diatribe...Distilling the argument from lengtheeeeee diatribe: LJ hasn't done well in a smattering of big games. LM has done well in some big games (Not in the World Cup, but somehow that doesn't matter, because "you can't pick your teammates"...? \throws dart at Guiseppe Rossi picture). LJ's game hasn't evolved, but LM's has, which is attributed to... Bill Simmons and LJ's "lack of love for the game." The same Bill Simmons that wrote this (equally lengthy and nonsensical) diatribe a little over a year ago:<br /><br />http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100120&sportCat=nba<br /><br />All this post needs is a weak swipe at US soccer culture...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-87535209802358600972011-06-17T09:13:56.453-05:002011-06-17T09:13:56.453-05:00CHG, part of me is rooting for Jamaica on Sunday. ...CHG, part of me is rooting for Jamaica on Sunday. Long-term, the Nats will be better off with a new coach than they will by eking out a trip to the Rose Bowl to lose to Mexico. Plus, it's impossible to dislike Jamaica. As for your first argument, it wouldn't be hard for a mainstream columnist to introduce his readers to Leo Messi as a yardstick for LeBron. I could see Mark Bradley writing that column if he got permission from his editors. The ratings for the CL Final were bigger than the ratings for several of the Stanley Cup Final games, so there is certainly enough of a market to refer to Messi. Plus, Bradley is a Man United fan, so he had to have watched the match.<br /><br />Anon, you make a good point, but I don't buy that fatigue caused LeBron to become so passive against the Mavs.<br /><br />Jack, that supporting cast was terrible. In the end, they brought in Antawn Jamison to be LeBron's sidekick and Jamison was worse than LeBron against the Celtics. And the Magic series the year before? LeBron played really well and got no help whatsoever. Cleveland had a great chip - come play with the best player in the league - and was never able to turn the chip into a supporting cast. Look at how bad they were this year and compare that to the Bull after Jordan retired.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365733949431139562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-1284438395617972922011-06-17T08:23:55.095-05:002011-06-17T08:23:55.095-05:00The Cavs had years to build around their star play...<i>The Cavs had years to build around their star player and came up woefully short of assembling a championship supporting cast.</i><br /><br />I saw this as a very common defense of LeBron's decision and "Decision," and I think it rings hollow. While the Cavs' front office did not surround him with a great supporting cast, it was very possibly sufficient to win a title. The Cavs had the best record in the NBA in both the '09 and '10 seasons. Furthermore, people seem to forget this now, but last year the Cavs did not lose to the Celtics because of their role players; they lost to the Celtics because LeBron completely no-showed the last three games of that series, right after taking a 2-1 lead by completely annihilating Boston in the Garden in game 3. Was the supporting cast great? Goodness, no. Was it enough? Unfortunately we'll never know, and we'll never know because of LeBron.Jacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-30456692019863222562011-06-17T08:04:43.381-05:002011-06-17T08:04:43.381-05:00LeBron's biggest problem is that he hasn't...LeBron's biggest problem is that he hasn't figured out how to loaf/coast through the regular season yet. Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Wade, etc. all figured that out pretty early: home court advantage is less valuable than health and energy in the deep rounds of the playoffs. So miss 10-15 games, play <30 minutes/game in back-to-back games, be passive for long stretches, etc. LeBron will never play well in a final round if he's playing 38-40 minutes per game for 80-82 games in the regular season.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-1859170132590962702011-06-16T20:29:41.067-05:002011-06-16T20:29:41.067-05:00Well written.Well written.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11175154.post-52840631893977559042011-06-16T18:43:03.863-05:002011-06-16T18:43:03.863-05:00America could have the most soccer-literate sports...America could have the most soccer-literate sports media in the world, and they still wouldn't make that comparison because they would first have to introduce their consumers to Lionel Messi and explain why they should care about him.<br /><br />With the USMNT, I'm at that unhappy stage of fandom where I take some solace in poor performances, believing they bring the team closer to a much-needed change in leadership. What do you think?chghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08299359954137090528noreply@blogger.com