LeBron James: Is the Miami Heat Star Better Without Dwyane Wade?

As a Cleveland Cavalier, LeBron James was quickly becoming one of the most popular players in the NBA. That is, until he made "The Decision" to take his talents to South Beach to partner up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to win an unfathomable amount of NBA championship rings. At least that's what he thought was going to happen.

Everything James has done since making his infamous decision has all basically said one thing: "I can't win an NBA Championship by myself, or even more specifically with me as the main guy."

Regardless of what James will tell you, he knows deep down it's Wade's team. All you have to do is watch any game from the recent NBA Finals series against the Dallas Mavericks to affirm that statement.

James played aggressively and more like himself, but only when Wade wasn't in the game. He seemed to post up more and demand the ball, but only when Wade wasn't in the game. See where I'm going with this?

When Wade was in the game, James seemed to be playing hot potato with the ball. He constantly passed it, not because it was the right pass to make, but because he was afraid to take the shot himself. He stood idly on the perimeter and once he caught the ball, he would either settle for a three-pointer, which would clang off the back iron or get rid of the ball as quickly as possible.

By playing in the aforementioned cowardly way, James confirmed exactly what everyone was thinking and former New York Knick Derek Harper stated on WFAN so succinctly: "He made the right decision to go to Miami because he doesn’t have the game or the mindset to win a championship by himself."

When James packed his bags for South Beach in 2010, he made two resounding statements. One being that he did not believe he could win a championship on his own, and the other one being a bit more arrogant, which was that he seemed to think he deserved to be there.

While he did not come out and say those exact words, after forming "Miami Thrice", "The Heatles" or whatever else it is they like to be called, he stated that the team would win more than five rings together, without ever playing in even one game together as a team.

The difference between James and Wade is fairly simple. Wade knows his game, and he plays that way regardless of who is around him. James on the other hand seems to get caught up in the fact that it is Wade's team and tends to play less assertively when he is on the floor.

Once James is able to forget about whose team it is, stops thinking so much and just plays, that will be when he wins his first NBA championship.

Just don't count on him doing it without Wade anytime soon.