Right Decision, Wrong Outcome: LBJ's Choice Still Does Not Equal a Ring
First off, LeBron James made the right personal, professional, and business decision with signing with the Heat. He gets to “work” everyday with his friends, playing for a great organization in an unbelievable state, while still retaining the marketing prowess that made him the King.
Those who say that his reputation is tarnished are just bitter fans who were slighted when King James chose Miami over their local teams. Those who claim that he cannot be considered the greatest with assets like Wade and Bosh as teammates clearly do not follow basketball. Kobe had Shaq, then Gasol, Magic had Kareem, Bird had Russel and McHale, and even the mightiest of them all, Air Jordan, was privileged to play with Pippen and Rodman.
It was without a doubt the best move for LBJ, giving him the best chance to start a dynasty.
Yet, that dynasty is not bringing home the championship in 2011.
A core of LBJ, Wade, and Bosh rivals that of Michael’s core during the Bulls' dominance of the league, yet the one thing that Michael had that the superfriends are lacking in Miami is role players. The 1990-93 Bulls were deep with quality players, including Horace Grant, John Paxson, Bill Cartwright, and B.J. Armstrong. It turns out that while Jordan and Pippen dominated at their positions, basketball is not a 2-on-5, or even a 3-on-5 game.
This is the problem the Heat face today.
Their current roster is Mario Chalmers (soon-to-be third year man with a career average 8.6 ppg, 4.2 apg, and 34 percent from beyond the arc), Michael Beasley (more likely to find himself in legal trouble than open), and the superfriend trio. That’s it. That’s your 2010-2011 Miami Heat.
That’s not a championship team. They have no center, and with Brendan Haywood resigning with Dallas, there really aren’t any free agent centers on the market. A Beasley trade will have to be imminent, but unless they are getting four or five players in return, it’s not going to be that much of help.
They need a shooter off the bench (maybe Mike Miller, but doubtful the Heat have the money to sign him anymore), they need a back-up center, and they need three guys to ensure that Wade’s broken down body gets some rest throughout the season. Maybe Dexter Pittman, Jarvis Varnado, and the rehabbing Da’ Sean Butler can help, but right now, the Heat desperately need players.
That’s why Miami will not be holding any parades next spring. There is just too much going into this pot, and while LBJ alone carried the Cavs to the best record in the NBA and Wade lifted the Heat on his shoulders to a playoff berth, they are going to need time to meld, mesh, or whatever else athletes do to learn to work together.
And don’t forget, they still have to compete against the lesser-talented but well-oiled machine of Kobe’s Lakers (who have a new measure to play for with it being Jackson’s last year as coach), the Dwight Howard-led Orlando Magic, the aging yet looking for one last title Celtics, and the upstart Bulls and Thunder. None of these teams come close to the talent level of the Heat, but, as shown above, basketball is not about individual talent.
It’s about a team, and a team effort. And even with the King, the Heat simply don’t have one yet.
Well, until 2012, when CP3 joins the club...
