To Win Title LeBron Must Accomplish The Improbable

LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, and it is not even close. The only question is whether he will be the best player of all time. I think he will be the best ever. First he has to pass the unreasonable test of winning a title before his greatness is confirmed.

Hakeem Olajuwon once won an NBA title without an allstar teammate by his side. What he did have however was a cast of highly skilled players that ultimately helped him make it to the top. The team included big time shooters like Robert Horry, Kenny Smith, Vernon Maxwell and Sam Cassell. Providing the muscle was strongman Otis Thorpe. 

Since that time, and every year before, no team has ever won a title with a single allstar player. If he is going to get a title this year, that is precisely what LeBron James will have to do. Kobe Bryant could not do it neither could Dwayne Wade or Tim Duncan.

The LeBron critics, and there are many for some reason, hold his feet to the fire regardless of who is a part of his supporting cast. These critics must be fair and honest. Kobe Bryant was irrelevant when he did not have a star by his side. Remember those years, when Kobe blew a 3-1 lead against the Suns? No one was calling him the best closer in the game then. Dwayne Wade is a front runner: when he is surrounded by great talent he is at his best. Remember his 2006 title team had Alonzo Mourning, Shaq, Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, James Posey and Jason Williams. When he played in the Olympics same thing and the 2010 allstar game. When his team lacks star power, he is irrelevant, individually spectacular, but not a factor in the Eastern Conference.

Conversely, LeBron has always been straddled with average to below average players as teammates. He has over achieved by any stretch of the imagination. Even his team this year does not have a star player outside of him yet the team has the best record in the league. Last year's 66 win team had LeBron and Mo Williams as allstars but the team got terrible play from their big men in the playoffs and was presented with a matchup nightmare against the Magic. Shaq will help this year as will J.J. Hickson.

If the Cavaliers get Amare Stoudemire, then LeBron has a legitimate allstar next to him and I would expect this team to win the title.