When LeBron James fails to get the job done in any scenario, regardless of circumstances or injuries, he tends to suffer the consequences – heavy criticism and scrutiny – from the media and fans alike.
“Theater of the absurd,” as Erik Spoelstra put it.
There may never have been another player in the history of the NBA to be under a bigger microscope than James – even after two championships later – and the trend continued late in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals when he could no longer play due to a sever case of cramps. No logical person would blame him for not being able to play under those circumstances, given that he essentially lost the ability to walk properly.
Logic goes out the window when it comes to James, though, and hate came strong after Game 1. So he did what he’s done best over the past few years in Game 2: shutting up the critics with a monster performance.
James did anything he wanted against the San Antonio Spurs – one of the best defensive teams in the league – and simply picked them apart. He drove by anyone that stood in his path, and rose over the outstretched hands of Kawhi Leonard and company, hitting one tough shot after another. Still, he helped beat the Spurs by doing what he knows best: make the right play. Here are some notable quotes, from Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report:
“C.B. had just missed the one before,” James continued quietly, his voice scratchy. “Don’t matter. Trust my guys, man. Live with the results.”
“I had seen it develop the whole time, and I wanted to try to put some pressure towards the rim, and I caught Tim Duncan peeking at me a little bit,” James said from the podium.
He caught a glimpse of Bosh. Again. As in Brooklyn. As in Indiana.
Of course, James is referring to the pass he made to Bosh in a critical situation with the defense doing all it can to crowd him. He did so throughout the playoffs, throughout the season, and throughout his entire career. That ability to make the best play possible is what makes him who he is, and the reason he left Cleveland was to be surrounded by players more capable of converting the ideal looks that he provides them.
Since the play worked out in Game 2, no one will say squat about how James once again deferred when it mattered the most. If it happens again and the shot doesn’t fall, he will be criticized again. Whether he’s playing the right way or not, James will always be judged by the ultimate result. Fair or not, it’s something he can’t seem to get away from. At least now, he’s equipped to handle the outside noise, from Brian Windhorst of ESPN:
“I’ve got a great supporting cast around me that allows me to vent at times, I try not to hold it in,” James said Tuesday. “I also understand at this point in my life what’s important and what’s not important.”
Meanwhile, Gregg Popovich says the Spurs are not good enough to try to beat the Heat individually – something he feels the Spurs tried to do in Game 2, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
“We didn’t take advantage of things. We made bad decisions,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “The ball stuck to us. I think we were trying to do it [individually]. We didn’t do it as a group. We tried to do it individually and we’re not good enough to do that.”
Given Popovich’s displeasure and what the score ended up being, the Spurs may still be in great shape if they simply stick to the game plan and do what they have done all season long: execute the other team to death.
DEREK FISHER TO COACH THE KNICKS:
The search is finally over for Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks with Derek Fisher agreeing to come on board as the coach of the team for the next five years, from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:
Derek Fisher has agreed to a five-year, $25 million deal to become coach of the New York Knicks, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
After Knicks president Phil Jackson lost his top coaching candidate, Steve Kerr, to the Golden State Warriors, Fisher became Jackson’s primary target and the 18-year NBA veteran will retire to take the job.
Fisher, 39, had been seeking the same five-year commitment the Knicks had given Jackson to be president, sources told Yahoo Sports.
Fisher’s deal matches the five-year, $25 million agreement Kerr reached with Golden State, but is less of a commitment than what New York initially offered Kerr to become its coach.
Fisher has a wealth of knowledge in terms of knowing what Phil Jackson wants preached. It’s fair to wonder why such a huge commitment has to be made to someone who has never proven anything as a coach, but this appears to be a matter of playing the market. Jackson tried to negotiate a deal with Steve Kerr – his first choice for the coaching job – only to be bested by the Golden State Warriors. Fisher may be inexperienced, but is well-respected around the league and there wasn’t even necessarily a guarantee that he was ready to retire as a player, so perhaps some strong convincing was needed to bring him on board for what is sure to be a difficult task in bringing back some semblance of respectability to the Knicks organization.
OTHER NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE:
Andray Blatche is counting down the days to become a Filipino, from Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN NY: “”I am very excited to play for the Philippines, and I thank everyone for making this once-in-a-lifetime chance happen,” Blatche said, according to Agence France-Presse. “I am Filipino now, so I will do my best to help my team.” Blatche met with members of the Philippine Senate, which passed a law that would grant him citizenship so he can play in the World Cup in Spain for the Asian country. He still needs the signature of President Benigno Aquino III on a Senate bill in order to become a naturalized Filipino. National team coach Chot Reyes said he expects that to happen before the June 30 FIBA deadline, again according to Agence France-Presse. Meanwhile, Blatche is currently in Manila, and he is quickly figuring out just how passionate the country is about basketball. “What I’ve learned so far is that people here love basketball,” Blatche said. “That means a lot. I would love to be part of a culture like that.”
- Dwyane Wade was fined $5,000 for this flop that even Manu Ginobili couldn’t believe.
Before signing a big deal with Kentucky, John Calipari was in deep, deep talks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Brett Dawson of Yahoo Sports: “Before finalizing a contract extension with the University of Kentucky late last week, John Calipari had gone deep in discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a seven-year, $60 million-plus contract to become president and coach, sources told Yahoo Sports. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert had been persistent in his pursuit and kept returning to Calipari in an effort to deliver full control of basketball operations, sources said. Gilbert and Calipari had discussed a package in the range of $8 million-plus a year, sources said, and it wasn’t until midweek that Calipari finally rejected Cleveland and fully committed to his seven-year, $52 million extension at Kentucky. If Calipari had gone to Cleveland, the plan would’ve been for new general manager David Griffin to work with Calipari in the front office, but he would’ve ceded final decisions on personnel matters to Calipari, sources said.”
- Woj turned down the notion that the Cavaliers tried to acquire Calipari in an attempt to lure in LeBron James: “Calipari had $52M extension back in April at Kentucky. He never needed to use Cavs as leverage – and didn’t. He strongly considered job. The idea Calipari was ticket to recruit LeBron James is silly, though. James knows he plays for a far superior pro coach in Miami. Calipari’s a fantastic coach, but poll 30 NBA organizations on choice between Cal and Erik Spoelstra — and 29 pick Spoelstra. Pop and Spoelstra have much in common as elite coaches but one truth serves both well: In NBA, they understand the players are the stars.”
Michael Jordan is ready to bring in another star to town and was highly impressed with Al Jefferson this past season, from Rick Bonnell of Charlotte Observer: ““I always thought it was a great destination,” Jordan said Monday. “I think Big Al (Jefferson) proved you can come here and make a big difference. Hopefully we can look at that and attract some other superstar.”… This (offseason) we have a lot of flexibility. I’ve been speaking about that the last three to four years – (how) that flexibility is very important. We’ll utilize every resource to improve the team. I don’t think that will change this summer.”… Jordan said Jefferson, who averaged 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds, exceeded his expectations when they signed him nearly a year ago. “He was a little bit better – All-NBA,” Jordan said. “We were hoping for that, but it was a pleasant surprise how well everybody adjusted. Everybody surrounded him and got better. (Josh) McRoberts was a huge part of that.”
Speaking of Jordan, here’s how the Philadelphia 76ers lost their chance of drafting him, from Sean Deveney of Sporting News: “There probably has been no better tanking example in league history, in fact, than what the Houston Rockets did down the stretch of the 1983-84 season. “They completely died, blatantly, really,” said Magic vice president Pat Williams, who was general manager of the Sixers at the time. “Tanking is not new. That was the ultimate case.” Williams said the Sixers would have considered Olajuwon, but because coach Billy Cunningham was a North Carolina guy, he admits that Tar Heels coach Dean Smith would have talked Philadelphia into taking Jordan. “We were torn, Olajuwon or Jordan,” Williams said. “But that North Carolina bond runs very deep, as you know.” On March 6, 1984, the Rockets were 24-37, with a winning percentage of .393. They were three full games better than the Clippers, with 21 games to play. From there, Houston went 5-15, finishing just one game ahead of San Diego, which finished 30-52. Especially heartbreaking was this: On the last night of the year, the Clippers were still holding on to last place. But Houston lost to Kansas City, and the Clippers somehow scored a season-high 146 points to beat Utah, a playoff team that had 45 wins… “We were torn, Olajuwon or Jordan,” Williams said. “But that North Carolina bond runs very deep, as you know.” But then that final night happened, and everything went haywire for the Sixers. “We go from coin flip, Olajuwon or Jordan, to the fifth pick,” Williams said. “In one night. We were devastated. Absolutely devastated.”
Donald Sterling has changed his mind once again and will sue the NBA, from Ramona Shelburne of ESPN LA: “In a reversal, Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling will pursue a $1 billion federal lawsuit against the NBA and commissioner Adam Silver, and withdraw his support for the sale of the team negotiated by his wife. “I have decided that I must fight to protect my rights,” Sterling said Monday in a letter circulated widely among those involved in the sale and obtained by ESPN.com. “While my position may not be popular, I believe that my rights to privacy and the preservation of my rights to due process should not be trampled.” Sterling’s attorney Max Blecher earlier told ESPN.com in an email, “The deal is off.” Blecher also suggested Donald Sterling would be challenging wife Shelly Sterling’s actions and negotiation of the sale in probate court Tuesday. However, no action had been taken as of Monday night.
James Park is the chief blogger of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.