Heat vs. Lakers: King James and Miami Trash Los Angeles, Silencing the Critics
LeBron James knows a thing or two about performing on the big stages.
Most players shy away from the grandest of stages and succumb to the pressure, but not LeBron James.
In his two biggest games of the season, at Cleveland then New York, James put on a clinic and showed the fans that their boos have as much chance of stopping him as the Sacramento Kings have of winning the NBA championship this year...so basically, not a chance.
At Cleveland, in front of James' hostile hometown crowd, James put up a season-high 38 points and added eight assists as well, as the Heat completely shut down LeBron's former team, reinforcing the idea that he had made the right decision in "taking his talents to South Beach."
In New York, at Madison Square Garden, James gave the Knicks and their fans a taste of what he could have brought to their franchise by putting up a monstrous triple-double of 32 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, as well as a triumphant victory by his Miami Heat.
On Christmas at the Staples Center, James once again proved why the big stage is no match for King James and Co. He showed his dominance on the court by putting up 27 points, 11 rebounds 10 assists, as well as five three-pointers and six steals. He got some help as well, as fellow All-Star teammate Chris Bosh put up 24 points and 13 rebounds and completely outplayed Pau Gasol in every facet of the game. Dwyane Wade wasn't too shabby himself as he finished with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists, and shut down Kobe Bryant on the defensive end.
The Heat completely caught the Lakers by surprise and showed them just how deadly of a team they are. LeBron James reloaded his teammates this offseason and ditched Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison for Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. He looks much more equipped and armed than before as he gave the defending champs a preview of what is to be expected if these two meet in the playoffs.
LeBron James keeps being welcomed with boos in every city he goes to, but that doesn't seem to bother him one bit. He's come up big time after time when the pressure has been the highest this season and delivered like only a true king can. This man should not be booed but rather applauded, because regardless of whether or not you were a fan of "the decision," it's time to pay respect to him for just being a superior basketball player, as he is one the best in the business and arguably the top player in the NBA.
The next six years look to be the reign of the King, and the rest of the league has been put on notice.
