ESPN reported earlier that Cavs coach Mike Brown's firing was imminent and rumors surfaced that Kentucky head man John Calipari was "LeBron's hand picked next head coach". As of 3:15pm this afternoon, both rumors have been denied, for now.
As for James, the NBA's heir apparent has been dethroned as "King" and reappointed as "Jester" in some media circles causing mechanics of doom to bury him in with the likes of perennial losers that lack the "killer" mentality.
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone who has turned against LeBron because of a bad series that despite his poor effort, despite his lack of titles and yes despite the comparisons to Michael Jordan, he's still just 25 years old.
Knowing I'm a Knicks fan, friends have already told me to count my blessings; that while James is the only thing stricken Knicks fans have had to keep afloat these past few years, now he may not be worth it. I assure them, they're wrong and here's why.
1) Forget the idea that the Cavs lost only because James played badly. Basketball is as much a team game as any and it takes a complete team to win in the playoffs. I'm not defending his play, but just remember that Jordan won nothing without Scottie Pippen and Kobe Bryant didn't win without Shaq until he got Pau Gasol last year. The easiest comparison of teams to make is to the Lakers and there is no argument that either Gasol, Lamar Odom or Ron Artest are all better wingmen than the disaster of players Danny Ferry and the Cavs have put together: Larry Hughes, Mo Williams, Big Z (not going to try and spell it), downside of his career Shaq and now Antawn Jamison. The star should carry the team, but other options are needed to spread the floor and keep defenses guessing, that isn't the case with the Cavs, but players aren't the only reason.
2) Mike Brown WILL be fired and he should. I said this last year and I'll say it again: this guy does not coach offense. If Lebron doesn't bring the ball up, he gets it at the top of the circle. He backs up with his dribble (contrary to anything a coach has ever taught) and then tries to attack open space. He's gifted, and he can play like that, but NOT if the defense knows its coming, and they do. The biggest tool any defense in any sport can have is to know what the offense is going to do. How about LeBron posts up once in a while? What if they ran him off a screen? Maybe instead of pushing the tempo ONLY when LeBron wants to, they make it a focal point to run early, you know since he's the best open court player in the league....Do you see my point?
3) But most importantly, a player's legacy is not created in one day, not in one series or season. Only did Jordan become Jordan after 6 championships were won, not when he was 25, and not after his first ring. Is Kobe's legacy cemented? Did Kevin Garnett winning a title change how the world viewed him for the positive? I would argue the opposite.
So Knicks fans, Cavs fans, Nets fans, Heat fans, Bulls fans, Clippers fans and basketball fans of any kind, I urge you to relax. LeBron James is someone special, and I would imagine he can't wait to show it.
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