LeBron James is finally ready to take over the NBA.
Finally, just weeks away from his 24th birthday, LeBron James has the knowledge, experience, and awareness to take his team to the NBA finals and WIN.
I have argued that LeBron James has been the best player in basketball for over a year now, but I can now say confidently that he is the best in the world. LeBron's emotional impact is getting close to that of Kevin Garnett's on any team.
LeBron has looked like a man-child for about ten years now, but right now he looks like a man's man. Did he beat the defending national champions on opening night? No—in fact with the game on the line, he missed pivotal free throws that could have pushed the game into overtime.
So what am I getting at? What is new with the phenom that sets him apart right now? First of all, his gold medal.
LeBron James was the leader of the Olympic team, like it or not. He played the soundest basketball out of anyone on the team. Sure, D-Wade had some pretty fanatic dunks and crossovers, Kobe had his quickness, Deron Williams got his assists, and Dwight Howard his throw downs—but it was LeBron's impact that won the gold medal.
He wasn't concerned about showing off dominating dunks, or spectacular athleticism, or take over ability. He was concerned with winning, no matter what that took.
What I watched in LeBron James this summer was a transformation of not trying to win every game all by himself, but rather playing the game of basketball like it is supposed to be played. This has to carry over to the Cleveland Cavaliers winning an NBA championship.
Specifically, he has learned how to stay calm in all situations. Sure, LeBron has seemed to remain calm all of his career—and don't get me wrong, it is an asset when your leader does not get rattled easily—but it was all show. I can guarantee you LeBron knows what the world expects from him, and he thinks about it more times than he reveals.
He has now learned what the NBA is about, and how to handle almost every situation the way Michael Jordan would.
While his mind has finally caught up with his ability, believe it or not, LeBron's body has gotten bigger. Whether he has been lifting this offseason a ton or not, only LeBron and his trainer know that, but its almost as if he's gone through another growth spurt somehow.
We all watched Kobe go from a scrawny high-school kid, to an athletic playmaker, to the athlete he is right now—and LeBron is reaching that final leg in his career right now.
He is not concerned anymore with making spectacular plays, or scoring 55 points, or taking over games just to prove to the world that he can. He is concerned with winning and now understands how to do it.
Combine that with offseason acquisition Mo Williams. Williams' ability to shoot the ball consistently, as well as run the offense, will allow LeBron to focus solely on rebounding, scoring, and playing defense.
Mike Brown had the Cavs in a zone defense during their first game at Boston, which I would consider a huge mistake. Sure, the Cavs have a lot of guards, but they need to be able to man up and play defense—instead of playing lazy D and watching the LeBron show on the other end.
LeBron is a great defender, believe it or not, which is definitely the most underrated part about him. Sure, Paul Pierce scored a few times on him, but that's because LeBron is so concerned with playing team basketball that he isn't worried about Paul Pierce.
LeBron's anticipation and awareness are at an all-time high right now, like a great defensive back in the NFL waiting for the QB to throw the ball to his receiver.
Mike Brown, let LeBron James play defense on JUST Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Luol Deng, or Joe Johnson. Watch him shut them down, while your small guards rotate over when needed. See LeBron take control on the defensive end, and set the tone for the game and season.
Another reason why Mike Brown needs to let LeBron shut down the opposing teams' main scorer is because Z and Ben Wallace aren't quick enough to rotate down low any more. They need to man up and lock down who they're covering.
Sure, maybe they need to double over on guys like Emeka or Garnett—but, again, that just means rotation on the outside by the quick smaller guards. This sounds like a zone, but it will allow LeBron James to play great defense, get a lot more steals, and lead the team to a championship.
Believe it or not, but LeBron James is absolutely ready this year to take his team past the "revamped" East, to the Finals, and pick apart the best in the West.
With his body growing, awareness expanding, and anticipation leading, he is the deadliest player in the game—and he will play the game of basketball as it was created to be played.
28 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Micah Green 8 months ago
This article should be intitled "paul pierce...". Did you watch the cavs play the celts?? Pierce made him look bad on offense and especially defense.
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denz m 8 months ago
are you a member of lebrick's marketing department? sounds like PR bs to me...
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Rouj Chalabi 8 months ago
Sup, u got a good point but, really lebron thinks he was because kobe, was the really leader. He let is scoring go down so he can concentrate on defending the opposing teams best player so Team usa could not be embarrassed. Kobe was the first to there and probably the last to leave, I saw vids of him there many times before everyone, so not say lebron is not a leader, but the leadership came from the veterans on the team kobe and jason kidd.
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Benjamin Baroff 8 months ago
I completely agree that Lebron is ready to take over. Growing up outside of Cleveland I have been watching Lebron since his high school days. Let me just make one thing clear....there is a MAJOR difference between watching Lebron on tv and live. Watching Lebron live is probably the most entertainment in sports. You cannot predict what its going to be like because every night it is something different. The team and the city thrives off his energy and leadership. Lebron does not just carry the Cavs on his back but also the entire city of Cleveland. Kobe has nowhere near the involvement with LA that Lebron does with Cleveland and thats what separates the two. Lebron wants to be the greatest figure in the history of sports, and not to discredit Kobe, he just wants to win for himself. You may think this is biased but it is true. Take some time to watch Lebron play live and watch his intensity, his pride, and his energy. And then watch his postgame interview and listen to how knowledgeable about the game he is. Lebron is Cleveland's coach/GM/and superstar....Kobe is just the superstar. Lebron is truely something special to watch.
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David Johnson 8 months ago
Absolutely man. He's a home town boy, and that's why I don't see him going anywhere but Clevelend when his contract runs up. People say he's going to New York? And yes, I can see the reasons, but LeBron is about more than hype, money, fame, glory... He is a living, breathing man who carries the weight of millions of people on his shoulers because he chooses to. I'm not saying he's better than Michael, and to be honest I think the two play completely different and in different eras of the NBA, but he is going to go down as a figure who billions of people knew. To me, he is a modern day Muhammad Ali, its incredible how he can command so much respect at the age of 23, unreal...
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denz m 8 months ago
"He wasn't concerned about showing off dominating dunks, or spectacular athleticism, or take over ability. He was concerned with winning, no matter what that took."
"No—in fact with the game on the line, he missed pivotal free throws that could have pushed the game into overtime."
If he was concerned about winning, he should be practising his free-throw more.
"If you were to take a bunch on mediocre players and put them on a team with Kobe and Jason Kidd and send them to China you would be guarenteed to lose. Now if you sent a bunch of mediocre players over there with LeBron, now you're looking at a legit shot at winning the whole thing."
umm...
1. 2004 olympics with "mediocre players" like wade, anthony, and others...didn't they lose? where's lebron's leadership?
2. 2006 world championship, lebron got another shot with the same bunch of "mediocre players" like wade, anthony and others... oops they lost again.
3. 2008 olympics - add kobe and kid... wow! big surprise! they won the gold. oh in that gold medal game, i believe i remember seeing wade carrying the team during the first half and then combining with bryant in the 4th quarter to win the gold.
"Has Kobe won the championship without shaq?"
ummm... lets see... Has lebron won an nba championship yet? oops...
and an even bigger question... has lebron won an olympic gold without kobe yet? big oops!!!
"It was LeBron's defense, never say die attitude, and endurance that lead the team to victory."
sorry, at this point i'll have to ask - are you on drugs?
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David Johnson 8 months ago
Your taking two sentence bits out of my article and responding to them?? There's a reason its an entire article, not five different articles.
To be honest, I see no point in arguing with you about our OPINIONS on the Olympic. The point is, is that the United States of America has the best basketball team in the world and NBA affects all levels of basketball globally. Every year, with LeBron or not, it is filled with million dollar athletes who are all very good basketball players, but used to leading, commanding, taking over, and getting a lot of attension. I WOULD NOT consider any player on the US team a mediocre player. DWade, Melo, and "others" are not mediocre players, but some of the best in the world.
Not to sound like I know you, but I can guarentee there are more people that knew the name LeBron James from when he was 14 years old than you have ever known in your life. Leading the world's best basketball players when he is 19 years old?
I've staked my claim and let you know what I think about Kobe vs. LeBron already bro...
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Bittu Ahlawat 8 months ago
How exactly is he going to take over? By choking in the clutch on the free throw line? let me give you Lebron fans few true fact who is the King of this league and will be until he is ready to give the throne to someone else. In his fifth season, Lebron put up the stats of 30/8/7 while being the main piece of his team. Kobe put up 28.5/6/5 in his fifth season while being the number 2 option on his team. Shaq put up 28/12/3 during the same year. Now ask yourself, does your Lebron can put up these stats while someone was putting shaq-like numbers on his team? I understand he is doing great things but media is making him out to be doing things that no one has done before? Just ask yourself this, if media hated him like they did with Kobe for most of his career, how many things they could pick on him for? First and foremost, for a person to be consider the King of the league, make sure he can hit some free throws. Am I only one who noticed that his best free throw percentage came when he was a rookie? he has progressively gotten worse each year. Personally, I think he could become what Shaq was (with better work ethic), the dominant figure that shaq turned out to be during his peak. Remember when Shaq was destroying everybody during early part of this decade, everybody said he was most dominant but no one said he was the best player by any means. Thats what I see with Lebron. For him to become the best player in the league, like you are suggesting, his jumper has to become much MUCH better than it is right now. His post up game and footwork is years behind Kobe's level. His three point shots average and selection need to improve dramatically as well. Obviously, free throw has to increase to about mid-80's percentage wise. He has become good team-defender and help defender, but he has got ways to go to become a lock-down one-on-one defender. Now, understand this, he doesn't and wont need to do that for whole games as he will be called upon on the offensive side a lot but like Kobe and Jordan style, during the last couple minutes of a close game, team need to be able to count on him to put him on the opposition's best wing player and shut him down. That is something he has improved a lot since his rookie year but got ways to go before at Kobe's level, let alone Jordan's level. On the rebounding and assists, he has been better than anyone on the wing since the Big O's time. As far as Olympics is considered, as anyone who has seen the last game, it showed who was the leader and who were the followers. Who wanted to step up to the plate and who were there just watching the show. Lebron is a freak of nature who is very fun to watch and has all to tools to become one of the all time greats. But this freakish body is only going to get him so far, just ask Vince Carter. Lebron has lots of work left on both side of the game. His mind is there but his skill set has to catch up to him, as scary as that sounds!
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David Johnson 8 months ago
It is absolutely debatable, but I would argue that a Shaq like player is exactly what LeBron is missing. I would say that Shaq helped Kobe rather than took away stats from him. Again, who else could put the two together and have the success they did other than Phil Jackson?
Its kind of wierd to compare Shaq and LeBron...??? I'm not quite sure where that came from. Personally I could care less what the media portrays someone as. I think LeBron James is dominant and unstoppable on all levels of basketball despite who makes him out to be whatever.
On that note, I don't think Shaq was that dominant at all or LeBron will have any sort of impact that Shaq did or does. As far as free throws go, they are such a small part of basketball, made out to be way too much. LeBron's mindset is so much that of taking over and his teammates and dunking over the world and creating momentum for his team that he AIRBALLS freethrows sometimes.
In order to be a "great free throw shooter" if there is such a thing, you have to have a shooting mindset, which LeBron DOESN'T HAVE. Do you think people will remember Ray Allen or Steve Nash for their FREE THROW SHOOTING? No, so again, its all opinion, but I'd take LeBron over Kobe anyday. As he is so much furthur ahead than any athlete of his age, especially Kobe.
Thanks for the input though man.
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Dracula's Buttocks has teeth 8 months ago
LaBron James is a man and Kobe Bryant is a little girl. End of story. I think that any real stand up guy realizes this. This comparison between the two amuses me. It says an awful lot about the people who argue on behalf of that soft little bitch Kobe.
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Dracula's Buttocks has teeth 8 months ago
P.S.
Dude, ...the abs photo,
...not cool.
Wrong site to post that kind of stuff.
The mockery will be relentless. I suggest you change the picture ASAP.
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David Johnson 8 months ago
yea, I take LeBron over Kobe any day man. I've come to respect what he's gone through, but not nearly as much as LeBron chooses to go through for his city.
Its just a picture bro, chill...
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Zach Kruse 7 months ago
Your name is "Dracula's Buttocks" and your teasing this guys photo?
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Dracula's Buttocks has teeth 7 months ago
Zach,
Good barb dude.
Funny stuff.
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Yama Hazheer 8 months ago
Good read. Cavs vs Lakers in the finals this year, but the Lakers might win keeping Kobe above LeBron for the year.
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David Johnson 8 months ago
I don't know if the Lakers can make it back, its possible, but I think Houston will give them a run for their money. Bynum looks really solid though and is a huge piece that was missing from last year, we'll see.
If the matchup actually did go down, it would be one for the history books. Arguably two of the greatest one-on-one players of our generation going at it for the title.
Thanks for the comment bro.
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Michael Inglis 8 months ago
"LeBron James was the leader of the Olympic team, like it or not. He played the soundest basketball out of anyone on the team."
Sorry, but no he wasn't. D Wade who averaged less minutes still managed to score more points, have a higher 3 pont %, FG %, and FT %. And with the gold medal on the line who came to the rescue. . . Kobe did, scoring 13 of the teams final 27 points and assisted on 5 other points.
"What I watched in LeBron James this summer was a transformation of not trying to win every game all by himself, but rather playing the game of basketball like it is supposed to be played."
I would imagine when you are playing with 11 or 12 other all stars it's a little easier to try and not win every game by himself. There was no transformation, he just had a hell of a team. He's not dumb, he knows he has kobe, Wade, etc to take the pressure off him. Besides even with the Cavs, Lebron plays the game the way it is suppose to be played. He does pass a lot and his assisst numbers are high. Maybe you should watch him play.
"He is not concerned anymore with making spectacular plays, or scoring 55 points, or taking over games just to prove to the world that he can. He is concerned with winning and now understands how to do it."
What are your facts for supporting that he only cared about making spectacular plays early in his career???? The man has been a team player from day 1. He did go to the finals two years ago and I've read that year he started preaching to his teamates the importance making the Finals in the preseason. It's seems like he has always been about winning, not just now.
How is Lebron going to take over if he can't hit a jump shot and he can't hit FT? It's almost to the point that it is embarrassing to watch him take FT. At the end of big games you have to hit FT and Lebron can't do it.
You asked how many Championships have Kobe won without Shaq?
Well, my question to you is how many championships has shaq won without another all NBA player on his team??? Would the Lakers have won those 3 championships w/o Kobe. . . . I doubt it. And Miami never would've won without Wade because he carried that team.
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David Johnson 8 months ago
Well your defending my point for me about how great LeBron is. Its just a matter of opinion on his transformation this offseason. LeBron is absolutely the ultimate team basketball player.
Like Keener and Denz you are taking one sentence of a comment or article and choosing to respond to it like its all there is to the topic.
There are no facts, its called an opinion. I'm not creating a Hitler docterine and demanding that you follow it or you will go to a concentration camp Michael, its just an article.
I'm not defending Shaq at all either. Honestly I think shaq was blessed with an incredibly athletic build, but been unbelivably lazy with it.
I would argue that LeBron has more of a scoring/slashing mentality when it comes to his offensive scoring ability, rather than a shooter and a byproduct is that he does not have a good free throw percentage, but again that's just what I see man. With the game on the line LeBron SCORES the game winner on the floor, he doesn't go to the line and shoot FREE throws, he works for his points and his teammates to bring victory to Cleveland.
All in all, I believe that LeBron has reached the age, mental awareness, and point in his career where he understands what it takes to win an NBA championship with whoever on his team; and although it is a whole other conversation/topic, a lot like Brett Favre always has. Not to take away from DWade or even Kobe, but those guys had solid teams overall, and great coaching while they were the superstar leading the way.
LeBron does not need a "great coach" or even a "solid team". I think he just understands the game from so many different perspectives at this point to be able to win an NBA championship.
Thanks for the comment though Mike, appreciate the debate.
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heat2009champz wonka 8 months ago
LOL at this article. I am not a kobe or lebron fan but I can confidently call BS on this article. Lebron is not poised to take over anything. This is his sixth year and his game is still the same. He has NOT improved on anything. Also lebron was not the leader of team USA. Kobe and kidd were. Just because lebron talked the most does not make him the leader. Lebron is good,but right now he is not even the best player from his draft class. That honor goes to a healthy wade. Did you see what wade just did against the kings in only 26 minutes of play? Please lebron homers save yourself the ridicule and stop writing such nonsense. Nothing lebron has done over the summer or during the first week of play indicates that he is ready. What does fading in the gold medal game mean he is ready? Does getting worked by pierce all game on opening night mean he is getting ready? Give me a break. That's why no one takes lebron homers seriously. They always come with off the wall stuff. The nba pecking order still stands With kobe at the top. After him it is kg and pierce. Then after that it is a healthy wade!
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David Johnson 8 months ago
By healthy Wade are you he is somehow more healthy than LeBron?
.... I don't even know where you start or what to say to you man ....
uhhhhhh......
LeBron has not improved on anything? Okay? Did I ever mention that because LeBron talked the most that this made him the leader?
Pecking order?? LeBron homers??
Man-to-man Mike Brown... LeBron absolutely crushes Pierce any day.
Love DWade man, always have, loved him at Marquette, never expected him to gain that much muscle or develop his J like he did, although I don't see Dwayne Wade at all in the article.
Well, at any rate, thanks for the comment I guess heat2009, and I hope DWade continues to bounce back like he has so far.
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Jeff 8 months ago
hahahahaha, is this david guy for real? he's as mentally challenged as it gets. i'll give him nice though. he's definitely nice. unfortunately he's the nice but dumb kind.
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Dan Whitcomb 7 months ago
I honestly have NO idea why anyone who is not a Cavs fan automatically hates LeBron.
Really, I am totally baffled.
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David Johnson 7 months ago
Becuase of his attitude is my guess. Its so dominating, so conrolling, it drives people insane when he does what he does when he wants. I know what you mean though, thanks for the comment.
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Zach Kruse 7 months ago
I'm a Bucks fan, and I love LeBron. ESPN said the other day that he weighs 271 pounds—pure muscle too. He's a scoring point guard in a power forwards body! There isn't a defender that can stop him
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David Johnson 7 months ago
Thanks Zach, yea I think we're for sure on the same page man.
LeBron is a freak train and there's no stopping him no matter who you are. He would dominate any player in the world one-on-one. Yes, even Dwight Howard and Shaq. He can do things that no other player in the world can do right now, especially Kobe.
Thanks for the comment bro.
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Pat Bateman 7 months ago
how many times has lebrick been voted to the all defensive NBA team?? yeah..yeah..think about it.
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David Johnson 7 months ago
Think about him and DWade or Chris Bosh playing together in a few years after he goes to the finals THIS year. yeah..yea..think about it
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David Johnson 7 months ago
Think about him and DWade or Chris Bosh playing together in a few years after he goes to the finals THIS year. yeah..yea..think about it
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