Posted on Tuesday 20 February 2007 by G @ 2:45 pm
Bill Simmons asks some tough questions about LeBron.
To LeBron James, who coasted through the Skills Challenge on All-Star Saturday and played the All-Star Game with the uplifting, charismatic intensity of a female porn star trying to break one of those “most male partners in one afternoon” records. Could we end up putting him in the “Too Much, Too Soon” Pantheon some day? Will he become the basketball version of Eddie Murphy, Britney Spears, Michael Jackson and every other celeb who became famous too quickly and eventually burned out?
Here’s what I know. I had four conversations with connected NBA people over the weekend that centered around the same themes: LeBron isn’t playing nearly as hard as he did last season; it looks like his only goal right now is to get his coach fired; he’s regressing as a basketball player (especially his passing skills and his shot selection); he made a huge mistake firing his agent and turning his career over to his buddies back home (all of whom are in over their heads); he was a much bigger problem during the Olympics than anyone realized; he doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself anymore; he has an overrated sense of his own worth and his own impact in the sports world (as witnessed by the ESPN interview last week when he answered the “What are your goals?” question with two words: “Global icon”); he’s been protected by magazine fluff pieces and buddy-buddy TV interviews for far too long; he doesn’t have the same relentless drive to keep dominating everyone like Wade and Kobe have; and basically, we’re much closer to LeBron re-enacting the career arc of Martina Hingis, Eric Lindros and Junior Griffey than anyone realizes. This will evolve into THE dominant NBA story of the next two months. You watch.
LeBron can quiet Simmons and all of his critics with a great performance in the playoffs, but there is no doubt he needs to step things up. His recent play does not match the hype.
Wait a second. Please.
…Are you kidding? This is sad, somber news here, if it is true. I cannot see that it is. LeBron had nothing but smiles on his face the entire All-Star weekend.. Why? because he was having fun. Loss of desire for the game? I dont think so. Does anyone not realize that you have to have desire for the game to lead the East in points (28) ..if he didnt care, he would have scored 10. okay.- some might argue, “thats just a silly All-Star game” .. anyone can score points. Well, true, but anyone just didnt. LeBron did. But lets get to more of the meat of the matter.. LeBron plays hard all the time? Dont you see his reactions in games? In the Utah game, the guy was very upset at that loss.. and the comments about a week ago or so about the Cavs not getting calls from the refs.. - shows he cares.. ..LeBron a problem on the Olympic team? — what? I have not heard of that before, what are you talking about? .. I cant argue with the firing of the agent,- I didnt like that move, but his play? and trying to get his coach fired? .. i need a little basis for this.. and lets consider this: LeBron has played all year long.. AND it is a grueling NBA season. maybe, just maybe LeBron is saving a little physical and mental energy for the playoffs.. which is what he SHOULD DO.. the Cavs will get in, and he is playing hard enough to help them get there.. but you really can’t kill yourself in the season, bc one wont have any gas in the tank come playoff time.. wow, i was suprised by the takes in the article. Nearly all of them. .. again, Are you kidding? lol.