LeBron James Miami Heat: Why Dwight Howard Will Eat His Words About Kevin Durant
LeBron James of the Miami Heat was singled out by Dwight Howard recently. In an interview, Howard was asked who he would rather have on his team, Kevin Durant or LeBron James. He answered, “I’m gonna go with Kevin.”
The thought that LeBron would be picked after anyone but Kobe is startling. That does not knock Kevin Durant in any way. Durant will be the next NBA superstar. He may even win an MVP title as early as this year. But he is not there yet.
As it is today, LeBron James is a better NBA teammate and player than Kevin Durant. I have compiled a list of reasons that James is better than Durant. I have also added some reasons that prove Howard will wish he had kept his mouth shut.
10: Schedule
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Dwight Howard may want his quote back. The Magic have to deal with the King four times this year. Compare that with the two time he plays the Thunder, and you wonder if he was thinking tactically.
This also raises the issue that LeBron James and the Heat are taking note of all of their naysayers. This has somehow put a chip on the shoulder for a team that should have none. It is a brilliant motivational tactic for James and his teammates. By saying they have something to prove, they deny the letdown that could happen with a talented team. Sometimes they rest on their laurels. As they have noted, there will be no let up for them this season.
9: Playoffs
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Sure they will meet four times during the regular season. What about the second season, the season that matters. The fact remains, the Magic will most likely have to go through the Heat to get back to the promised land. They do not want to get there and hear LeBron James and company keep clippings of quotes in their locker room.
It is always best to lay low and let your opponent think he can catch you by surprise. James and the Heat have the upper hand in this area.
8: The Heat Could Win
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It is best not to look silly when you are a public figure. Dwight Howard’s remarks can go a long way in doing just that. The whole of the NBA have pretty much written off the Heat. The fact is that they are without a doubt among the top three teams in the East.
Once they start to click with each other, the sky is the limit. LeBron has always been able to drive a team forward. I do not see why this year and this team would be any differnt.
7: Marketing
4 of 10LeBron may be the king on the court, but he is about to become the king of commercials . One thing we forget is that LeBron was once the most marketable NBA player for the past couple of years. With his recent Nike commercial making front page news, he may very well be back.
What LeBron James now brings the Heat is a good measure of what has been missing since their last title. The Heat now have one of the most recognizable NBA players in the world. With that, he brings back a little more swagger and cache. The Heat are instantly the most marketable team in the Association.
6: Better Teammate
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LeBron is also a better teammate than Kevin Durant. He is the epitome of a player that makes all around him better. While Durant is the future of the NBA, he has not yet established himself as a person that can get more from his players than they are ready to give.
Just taking LeBron out of the Cavaliers lineup has dropped them from being a contender to a team that will struggle to even make the playoffs. There is no doubt that James not only made his team better, he made them championship contenders. I doubt that if Durant were on the Heat and not LeBron you could say the same thing. At least not this early in Durant's career.
5: Better Defender
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One of the knocks on James early on was his defense. All great players work on that which they are deficient in. LeBron is no different. He is now a first team All-Defense player twice over (2009, 2010). More than that, he has become a player that calls for the tough assignments. He is truly a lock down defender.
Durant may improve on his defense. He has the length and wingspan to do so. But as it stands, LeBron is a much better defender in isolation and off the ball.
4: Wiser
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LeBron James is a seasoned veteran. That fact is indispensable to a team. He knows what it takes to not only get to the playoffs but to get deep within them. Kevin Durant is yet to make it to the second round. They call it the second season for a reason. It takes pacing and rhythm. James knows how to establish this.
The biggest offseason leadership move LeBron was able to accomplish was to manipulate the pressure the Heat were receiving. As a wise leader, he understood he had to dissipate that pressure. As I mentioned earlier, he did so by making the Heat players believe they have something to prove. Now a star-studded Miami Heat have a chip on their shoulder.
3: Size
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James also brings size to the roster. That is saying too little. He is built like a linebacker. The NBA has truly never seen a body like his. He has the ability to make defenders second guess their decision to stand in the lane. With that uneasiness come the ability to force blocking fouls.
But more than all of this is the speed and agility he has. He runs and handles the ball like a point guard while having the girth of a power forward. You cannot teach size, and LeBron has it.
2: MVP
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LeBron James is the defending back-to-back MVP. That should hold a little more weight than most arguments. He has been the pick for sports writers as the best in the business. It is an award that not only signifies the most talented player, but the one that was of the utmost value to his team.
LeBron James is without a doubt worth more to his team than any other player. As we saw in the opening game, he was the only player to have consistent production. Even though the Heat were playing horrible defense and equally terrible offense, he was able to will them back in the game.
1: He Is Getting Better
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I think what is lost on most of us is that LeBron James is only 25. He is yet to even hit his ceiling. There is no telling how good LeBron James can be.
Granted, to be mentioned with the elite, you must win a title. I think we are all believers that LeBron will one day wear at least one ring. But the startling thing is that he is just getting started. Most players at 25 would just be getting into their third season. LeBron is entering his eighth. For the next few years, you will see the man from Akron get better and more versatile.
