NBA Finals 2011: The Pressure Isn't on Mavs or Heat, It's on LeBron James
Regarding recent trash talk from Deshawn Stevenson of the Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James replied, "Talk is cheap."
Really? It's hard to believe a guy who went completely AWOL on both sides of the court during an NBA Finals game would have the audacity to fire anything back.
The irony compounds with the "talk is cheap" retort, as James gave a heart felt "lay it all on the line" speech prior to Game 4. He went on to score eight points in the affair.
If James goes on to coast by, being nothing more than a glorified role player, even earning a championship ring won't be enough to silence the critics. Win or lose, he will still be known as a guy who disappears in the moment.
The only way he is going to shake the critics is to turn the buzz on its ear. He's got to close out this series averaging at least 25 points a game.
LeBron already built this game up as the biggest game of his life. If he elects to fade off into the background, as he has done for the majority of the series, he only adds to the notion that he's a choke artist.
James doesn't have to be Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kobe or anyone else. He's an NBA superstar, and suggesting that he rode Dwyane Wade's coattails to get to where he is is absurd.
That being said, he's got to contribute something. If he is a Hall of Fame/NBA legend type of player, he's got to step up in some capacity. It doesn't necessarily mean he has to drop 40, but giving up on both ends of the court is inexcusable.
James has a window here to redeem himself. It's Game 5. The series is tied at 2-2. Win here, and Dallas has to win back-to-back games to take the championship.
Lose though, and the pressure is intensified even further. If James wants to defer to Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh, rather than take it upon himself to be an offensive difference maker, that's understandable to some extent.
If he elects to pass to Mario Chalmers when he has a wide open look at the basket, that's a different story.
People aren't criticizing Wade for botching the free throw at the end of Game 4 because he has already proven himself as a clutch performer. He's got the ring, and the team earned it on his back.
Comparisons between Bird having lackluster playoff games and James' Game 4 performance are coming forth, but like Wade, Bird had enough spectacular performances to make up for a poor game here and there.
Game 5 is where we will really see what LeBron is made of. It's do or die time. Everyone is watching and his entire team is relying on him. This is the difference between being an All-Star and having a statue outside of the building. No pressure.
