LeBron James: 10 Reasons He Won't Win the NBA Championship Anytime Soon
LeBron James put in another day at the office yesterday, tallying 31 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t enough to keep his Heat from losing their fifth straight game, 105-96 to Portland.
Miami started the year, in many eyes, as the presumptive favorite for an NBA title. Just over half a season in, they’re looking like a team that won’t be winning a championship this year or even in the immediate future.
Read on for ten reasons LeBron will still be waiting for his ring in the years to come.
10. Dallas Mavericks Have Too Much Depth
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At 46-17, Dallas boasts the West’s second-best record and has to be considered a legitimate contender to meet Miami in the Finals. If they do, they’ll bring one of the league’s most impressive collections of reserves (led by Sixth Man of the Year candidate Jason Terry) to face the Heat’s league-worst bench.
Add in that Miami, like most teams, do not have anybody who matches up well with Dirk Nowitzki, and a potential matchup with Dallas doesn’t look too inviting for James and company.
9. Transition Offense Isn’t Reliable in the Playoffs
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One of James’ (and Miami’s) greatest strengths is his ability to use his athleticism in the open floor. At 6’8”, 250 pounds, LeBron is too big and strong to be stopped by guards and too fast for forwards to keep up with.
Unfortunately for James, the NBA game slows down considerably in the playoffs. Fast-break opportunities are hard to come by, and the explosive dunks that fill highlight reels in December are few and far between in June.
This isn’t to say James isn’t dangerous in the half court as well, just that he’s at his best when he can run.
8. Orlando Has the Best Center in the East
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If the Heat face Orlando in the playoffs, they’ll get a very rapid education in half-court offense. Dwight Howard, the Magic’s MVP-candidate center, will dominate inside against the unimpressive Miami bigs.
If Orlando can slow the game down and pound the Heat inside, they’ll keep James’ offensive firepower from carrying Miami to the next round.
7. Great Players Are Not Necessarily Great Personnel Managers
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When James was in Cleveland, the standing assumption was that he would win a championship as soon as the Cavaliers found the right group of players to put around him.
When James got tired of waiting, he chose his own group of players and took them to Miami. While James’ approach seemed like it had a reasonable chance of working, NBA fans have already seen that great players don’t always know who their supporting cast should be.
Michael Jordan’s failed stint as a player/de-facto general manager with the Wizards (and subsequent spotty track record as an executive) provides the best example of a superstar who couldn’t necessarily find talent to match his own.
6. San Antonio Is Still a Top Contender (Yawn)
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In their usual boring fashion, the Spurs have quietly rolled to the NBA’s best record this season. Tim Duncan may be on his way out (All-Star start notwithstanding), but the Spurs’ juggernaut doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
If the Heat have to face San Antonio in the Finals, they’ll have a hard time compensating for the Spurs’ advantages in playoff experience and teamwork. San Antonio’s seventh-ranked defense won’t be any picnic, either.
5. Kobe Bryant Isn't Done Yet
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Having just taken over the sixth spot on the all-time scoring list, L.A.’s Kobe Bryant has his eyes on yet another championship ring. With the Lakers’ supply of young, talented post players to complement Bryant’s still-formidable perimeter game, Los Angeles could add yet another three-peat to Phil Jackson’s resume.
Many of the TV networks would love a LeBron vs. Kobe Finals matchup. But the games might not be as impressive as the names. The Lakers’ superior big men would likely steamroll Miami, and the prime-time matchups on the wings would be only a secondary factor in a likely L.A. win.
4. Chris Bosh Isn't Earning His Money
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In what has become a disturbing trend, Miami’s Big Three were reduced to a Big Two last night against Portland. Power forward Chris Bosh managed just seven points and four rebounds in the loss. This isn't the first time Bosh has disappeared against a quality opponent.
Bosh has put up solid numbers so far this year (18 points and eight rebounds per game), but has struggled when the Heat have needed him most, in a way that James and Dwyane Wade have not.
Most importantly, the Heat’s $110 million commitment to Bosh over six years puts severe limitations on their ability to add complementary players to the roster.
3. Chicago Bulls Are Learning How Good They Can Be
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Chicago needed its share of luck to hold off a Miami comeback last week, but the Bulls will be a threat to James’ championship hopes for years to come.
With a young superstar in Derrick Rose and a solid (not to mention affordable) supporting cast, Chicago is positioned to be a power team in the East for many seasons.
Thanks to Tom Thibodeau’s defense, the Bulls will have a shot in any playoff series against any opponent.
2. Boston Has Another Title Run Left in Them
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Just a year removed from their back-to-back Finals appearances, the East’s top seed will still pose a steep challenge to Miami. The Celtics’ lockdown defense and balanced offense will give the Heat fits.
Boston’s frontcourt depth could also get the Heat into foul trouble, a situation the thin Miami bench can ill afford.
Until Boston's aging stars retire, they'll be a threat to win the East every year.
1. Miami Can't Put a Full Team Around LeBron
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The salary cap space eaten up by Miami’s Big Three was inevitably going to limit the quality of the other nine players on the active roster, but few anticipated the Heat would have so much trouble getting production from those positions.
Coach Erik Spoelstra has been scrambling to find a combination of players that works, finishing last night’s game with a collegiate-looking three-guard lineup featuring Bosh at center, and James as the de-facto power forward.
Miami’s financial inability to assemble a functional roster around their top three players shows no signs of letting up in the foreseeable future.
