Miami Heat's Fate Is Sealed: Get Ready for the Miami Cavaliers
Now that some of the shine and glitter has been taken off of this year's Heat squad it is becoming painfully obvious that there aren't any shortcuts to becoming a champion. That isn't the only thing that this stretch has shown us, though. It is also revealing the true nature of one Mr. LeBron James. His fall from grace has been catastrophic and has taken a life of its own. Even the media outlets have seemed to turn their backs on the once beloved face of the NBA.
Ignoring History
With the creation of Miami Thrice, many fans were staking out potential spots along the parade route in South Beach. What they seemed to be ignoring was the shape in which James left the Cleveland Cavaliers. After being drafted it took a short time for the Cavaliers to go from lottery team to an NBA powerhouse. Seemingly carrying the entire city of Cleveland on his shoulders, LeBron took the lowly Cavaliers to new heights but ultimately failed to deliver the championship he repeatedly promised. The excuses came pouring forth, proclaiming that he didn't have enough help and was expected to shoulder too much.
Fast forward to the summer of LeBron. Everything was set for the Heat to dominate the basketball world. From the beginning of the season it became apparent that there would be growing pains. The fans and players alike shrugged it off as nothing. How can this be an issue? They have too much talent to fail.
What people are beginning to see is that James is not only a killer of ball movement and professionalism, but he is also a player that ruins coaches. First it was Paul Silas, then Mike Brown and if all goes according to James' plan, Erik Spolestra. He is a coach killer and ruins all the teams he has been on.
He Still Doesn't Have Enough Help?
I scoffed when people said he didn't have enough help on last year's Cavaliers. Not only were they completely built around James' talent, but they included the All-Star that the team "needed" in the form of Jamison. After LeBron signed with Miami I thought that notion would die in Cleveland. How wrong I was.
Somehow he still doesn't have enough help, despite having Wade and Bosh on the squad. I humbly ask, what more does he need? He has already stated that he cannot change his playing style, which of course consists of him dribbling for 20 seconds and occasionally kicking out to an open man. Deep threats? Jones and House would like a word. Post scoring? Big Z and Haslem before he went out.
As is always the case, his teammates get the brunt of the criticism. Arroyo and Anthony have taken way too much heat for their respective talent levels just as Mo Williams and JJ Hickson (two very good players) were crucified in the past. Now the media is trying to portray Wade and Bosh as lame ducks in this current team.
The Miami Cavaliers
With James planning a mutiny in the locker room and Wade/Bosh refusing to stand up to him, the Heat, as you may have known them, are now gone. James has infected the organization with the same disease that Cleveland had. They are constantly in win-now-or-else mode in order to appease the most frustrating superstar in the NBA. Is there any guarantee that even Riley can fix this mess?
How would his legacy look if he came back only to be another in the line of coaches that James made his scapegoat?
With Wade and Bosh being relegated to role player duty, how many NBA fans are having deja vu?
"That coach is ruining your chances."
"You guys are one piece away, man."
"If only LeBron had another superstar."
"One piece, I'm telling you."
"Maybe you guys should try for Antawn Jamison?"
