LeBron James Promises Not Let Teammates Down Again in NBA Finals

LeBron James is a man at peace with his life and basketball career. So much so, that he’s willing to admit to the world that he played poorly in last year’s NBA Finals, and that he didn’t come through for his teammates against the Dallas Mavericks.

Given another shot at the championship and ultimate redemption, LeBron is determined not to allow what took place last year to happen again.

From the Sun-Sentinel and Miami Heat:

“I didn’t play well,” James said. “I think I said that 100 times this year. I didn’t play well. I didn’t make enough game-changing plays that I know I’m capable of making, and I felt like I let my teammates down. I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s something I haven’t said before. Just didn’t make enough plays … I’m happy and I’m humbled that I can actually be back in this position less than 12 months later, to do a better job of making more plays, more game-changing plays out on the floor on a bigger stage.”

Chris Bosh was asked after James scored a game-high 31 points to eliminate the Celtics on Saturday what he thought was accounting for James’ gargantuan postseason. “You have to credit all the times that he just thinks about what happened last year,” said Bosh. “When that moment [to get back to the Finals] comes again he had to seize it. And now we’re in that moment.”

LeBron James is on a mission this postseason, and he will likely be dominant against the OKC Thunder. But will that be enough to win it all?

If anything, it’s LeBron who will need his teammates not to let him down this time around.

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Tags: Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, James Harden, LeBron James, Miami Heat, OKC Thunder, Russell Westbrook, Scott Brooks

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Ldub

I think Dwade is gonna have to come to play. And play like he did in 06′. I watched a highlight video on this cat a few days ago and the things he was doing were bananas. I dont even know who he is anymore. Either its gonna need to be Batman, Robin and Nightwing (James, Bosh and Wade)…or its gonna need to be Batman, Batman and Nightwing. (wade, james and bosh). Either way…those dudes NEED to show up, and so does the Heat bench/role players. Even if the big 3 go for 70 a night…I dont think it will be enough against OKC. I am stoked about this series. I like the what Bosh said, while i was watching NBATV, yesterday. “Last year I was just happy to be there, this year I kind of know what to expect”. Im done making predictions…I just want to see a great series with the Heat ultimately becoming the 2012 Champs.
http://slamonline.com Caboose

MJ was very much an athletic freak, which is why he was able to dominate being a guard early in his career. You think the whole Jumpman logo was for no reason? Did you see the dunk contests? Youtube them. Jordan may not have been Lebron’s size but he was certainly every bit as athletic before he started to age and had to rely mainly on skill and fundamentals.
http://www.soundcloud.com/tray-5 T-Ray

Cosign Caboose
I don’t think people realize how strong MJ really was. He would just bully people on the block.
trueballer4life

GO GET’EM LBJ U GOT THIS! MIAMI HEAT PLAYERS STEP UP FOR THIS MAN TOO! GO HEAT!..
pyschoblab

@NBK
” the guy is 27 years old, has been on magazine covers getting national attention since he was 15, and he’s won 3 mvp’s and is making his 3rd finals appearance. ” <- welcome to your age of spoonfeeding.this is the same NBA that gave NAsh 2 MVP's.the same that deprived other stars of thiers when they most deserve it. with LJ's his god-given physique and talent. it wouldnt be a surprise if he accomplishes all this. if he really wants it coz he done it.
lebron failed in the past bcoz he allowed himself to. because at this point in his career, with the way the NBA is run now and the times,where everything is given before it is earned. where titles are given to people who are popular instead of deserving.

LJ beating the pistons was more of the Pistons doing although he did played the best playoffs of his career so far during that time.i dont know if u can compare 2007 pistons with bad boys and call it even. MJ once he got there didnt allow himself to fail. he used everything as motivation and progressed naturally as a player and as a teammate and as a great player.basketwall-wise, he undertook and came about in due time.he did all of these without asking for too much like fellow olympic teammates. Nobody is perfect. But with lebron. if you continually acknowldege ur capabilities then u better show the results otherwise shut up and just keep playing. Dont keep on jacking up long range shots everytime u feel like it while ur teammates are all watching while the game is on the line and call it game-changing. you get to work on ur post game only on your 9th season? u only figure that out this long? when u havent won anything yet?

" He obviously improved. And is right back where he was last year. A mentally weak person would not put themselves in that situation multiple times or even have the ability too." a phsycially and talent gifted person with the attitude of wanting to get good teammates like any other normal human being would find himself in that situation most of the time. But trying to do everything to win it is another different story. this finals wil tell which is more eveident still, which is more ready to get it. let'ss ee if everyoe here is goa be right about Lebron. this time.
Tom

Lebron is this era’s Jerry West, a once in a generation talent who’s teams just aren’t good enough. And that is not a knock against Lebron in any way. Jerry west played what? 9 finals series? and he only won on his last attempt, he did everything he could to win, as does lebron (excluding the dallas/mia finals last year)
http://slamonline.com nbk

wow, there is too much stupidity and misinformation in your comment to even address. congratulations. you just wasted a lot of your own time. and mine.
pyschoblab

@caboose
i kow the arguement about Mj and his athleticsm would come aropund jsut as Iv’e seen quite often in each thread here. But im actually referring to LJ having point forward abilities while playing like present-day Dominique in Charles barkelys body. that kind of freak. all prime. Mj athleticms was o based more on how he was so good in controlling his body in mid-air. but as far as his body type. a dime a doze in todays NBA. paired with skills ad talent as good as Lj, not so much. even Kobe cant hold a candle as to that aspect.
Ldub

The more I read CABOOSE write…the more I become a fan. Im like a kid at a baseball game, with my favorite players jersey and hat on. Just hoping I can get his autograph as he passes by me. Kid has talent…kudos to you. 19 right?
http://slamonline.com nbk

“a phsycially and talent gifted person with the attitude of wanting to get good teammates like any other normal human being would find himself in that situation most of the time.”
.
that is a gem. every guy who has ever played in the NBA should be in the finals then. and they should be there every year. especially when you are getting “spoonfed”
.
by the way, who is holding the spoon that gives any player the ability to beat others? who chooses who wins, with their magic spoon? unless, ofcourse, you think the whole league is in on this “spoon-feeding”, and every player has just agreed to let LeBron average 27-7-7 over his career (which are numbers good enough to win MVP just about every year).
.
the problem is with expectations. even you, who are criticizing a guy for not winning a championship. you know what you have to be, to disappoint people and gather haters when you don’t win a championship……? you have to be better than everyone else. stupid.
http://slamonline.com Caboose

I’m not sure what you’re trying to say. You do realize that his combination of size and skill are a separate entity from his athleticism, right? The fact that Lebron is so skilled at that size doesn’t mean he’s more athletic than Jordan. He’s just bigger than Jordan.
pyschoblab

@Nbk,Caboose

I dont think so. I have never been a hater of lebron. but if I have to choose between him and Wade. id choose dwayne. only wade has fallen off his quickenss ad explosiveness a bit now which his game was built on. I really dont dwell too much on stats as you people here do so much. because the accolades given to each nba player each year since the millenium doenst eve make that basketball sense,too stats-centered. has too much politics in it. i guess when u try to blame poeple outside of Us about our perception blame Stern. u own the medium and the means. u manufacture that perception. us here. we watch the games directly on tv ad waht ever interview we get after that. thats all it is. I guess what im getting on the court thats where i get my analysis. if u guys would want to call it that. the only disadvantage is, im not that exposed to it that much compare to yo but as far as the worlds perception is of MJ and LJ. you have your own NBA to thank for with that. Thats not the global communitys fault. for me i look at the games. and it tells me that LJ thinks he can turn it on or off anytime. Your concern here NBK,Caboose, is who gives intelligent enough comments according to ur standards. my concern is insight, basketball-wise.Period.
Da-Meat-Hook

Caboose and nbk are goin’ in today! @ Caboose, that wasn’t me calling you “idiot” and “moron” the other day, it was that troll.
pyschoblab

its 3:35 am here guys. gimme a break. im trying to catch the 9am game later. im out. where’s allen p?
http://slamonline.com nbk

You can trust that I have watched more of every player we are talking about then you have, considering you are in a wholly different time zone, country, and don’t have nearly the access to the NBA that we do over here. If you actually added an opinion that led me to believe you watch and understand what you are watching i would acknowledge it. But you haven’t, infact, you’ve done the opposite.
pyschoblab

@caboose
lebron is with that kind of combination is an atheletic freak. compared to Jordan.Jordan does thos things imo, due largely to his work ethic and incredible will to win. it shows. Lj? is too complacent to work on his game therefore relies on his God-given gifts to much. he could do the same things Jordan did at a powerforward size. campare him to Charles. could you say charles could do the same for the most part of his career. though LJ might fall off considerably once he reaches his 30′s who knows.
pyschoblab

@NBK
For that every same reason, you use that logic to flex ur basketball superiority over me? ur readily make that conclusion in your head? I would bet you wouldnt last a 1 on 1 full qtr., half or full court game with me. respectfully. Nbk. =)
jose

Lebron just needs to utilize that post game on Durant when he’s on him to wear him down. Durant’s gotten stronger since he was a rook but i mean LeBron can still over power him
AD

lmao idk why you guys argue with Lebron haters.. all they do is listen to lebron haters on tv and then type those comments on this website..
http://slamonline.com nbk

why, because you think that? you are 29 years old, and you are ignorant enough to think you are the best basketball player in a comment section? really? you don’t know me, just like i don’t know you. no reason for you to try and puff out your chest, it doesn’t add anything. the only thing that matters here is if your opinion is logical and intelligent…regardless though, i have never played a game of basketball in my life where i “couldn’t last” – whatever that means. do you beat people up when you play basketball or something? why wouldn’t someone last? are you really fast with great endurance, you just never stop running? ehh, whatever, as far as i can tell, you being 29 years old, with the things you’ve said, you frankly either aren’t a very good basketball player, or just aren’t a very smart player. One or the other.
pyschoblab

@ NBk
ok let me start over again a bit. since i value ur opinion that much.
last year after the finals. how may anti-lebron post did u have in here. cause I do remember a lot of u in here. beating LJ’ ass over that.

If your saying that LJ has been trying to remain humble after the decision. u have to thank his PR personel and shrink for that. he like like all other freak athletes naturally carry that air, though i varying forms. but deep down,lets not all be a hypocrite. any guy who ca say that “he’s been spoiling a lot of people with his play” after he bails out on his teammates in a playoff series..that is something. i would not further comment. MJ however adouche he is. Still tried his best to win. You all fail to grasp that end of the stick. Between a bro not firing that bullet in an ambush and a bro grilling in my face for not catching that grenade, ill chose the latter. atleast next time,i’ll come of better ways to survive.
http://slamonline.com nbk

In the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron averaged 33.6 points and 11 rebounds on 52.7% shooting, making him only the third player in history to average at least 33, 11, and 50% field goal percentage in a seven-game series (Wilt and Kareem are the other two). f
.
And for all the talk about him being a choker, this will be his third appearance in the Finals and he has the fifth-highest playoff winning percentage (.618) among players that won an MVP in their careers.
.
Also, for the record, Jordan was more arrogant and less humble than LeBron (which worked out for the better, and played right into his, “i can’t be bested by anyone ever no matter what even if that means i have to fabricate reasons to kill people on the court with my imagination” attitude) An air of overwhelming confidence is the only personality trait every great player in NBA history has in common. And frankly, i don’t give a flying sh*t about how any of these guys act away from the court, it’s irrelevant to anything. no matter how great or terrible a person each player is, their reputations are made on the court.
pyschoblab

@NBK
now my comments seem to get u off. hehe relax bro. dot ask me to elaborate too much on my vocabulary. your taking my comments to literally. of course i jsut meant bball. ehough with the questions.my reply wasnt made out to be a threat. more of like a challenge. m after all you have said to me here, im really looking forward to seeing ur comments again after this series is over. and id still use this same nick. hope u remember. its cool bro. whats with my age u saying it again many times. i only told it cuz caboose said i was too young. maybe u cant take all comments here literally. or That seriously. You right there’s no way of knowing. since we’re all jsut here. but all im saying. ive been in teams. and right here ,we emulate guys like Duncan on all aspects,manu,R.allen. as far as attitude, thats what matters most. LJ its bocz of his past. and guys didnt have a problem hating LJ last year? u know wanna give him a break. I understand. But i still see the same things hes done last year jacking up shots. not going to his strengths to much. getting extended to max by an old celts team. i mean i dont know if it;s riley not teaching spo enough or just plainly the superstars ego not truly respecting..that much.
http://slamonline.com Caboose

If you really believe that Lebron doesn’t work on his game you can’t know anything about basketball. Talent alone cannot and will not ever make you the best player in the league. The idea that he got to this point in his career on talent alone borders on insanity. It’s simply absurd. Even the biggest Lebron hater can at least acknowledge that the guy works hard. You want him to work hard at being Jordan, which is different than him being a lazy worker. Complacent? I just don’t think you watch enough basketball to have such strong opinions that go so far against reality. He is one of the very few players that has improved at least one area every season he’s been in the league. How is that complacent?
http://slamonline.com nbk

he just had the best playoff series of his career, and the most productive series of ANY player in 40 years bruh. to say you are wrong would be an understatement.
.
The reason Miami was taken to 7 games is because LeBron was the only good player on the Heat game in and game out (Wade was good during the second half of some games – and him and Bosh were good in game 7). I’m not sure if you know it, being 29 and all (since you don’t like me mentioning your age) with all your basketball experience (that you claim to have) you would think that would be something you’d notice, right?
pyschoblab

“In the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron averaged 33.6 points and 11 rebounds on 52.7% shooting, making him only the third player in history to average at least 33, 11, and 50% field goal percentage in a seven-game series (Wilt and Kareem are the other two).”
- u dominate the ball, u like getting it esp. on crunch time. u better do something with it. i can say lebron has indeed improved this year. i hope it will be enough against OKC bcoz his overall team deosnt quite stack up a bit against. with that said this will be the perfect scenario for him to show if he is indeed made of that same stuff MJ was and maybe even more since you compared them earlier.again this are all personal stats. what matters most is the WIN. CHIP. Do people still remember Barkley’s stats? or Ewings. I dont eve olajuwon’s ad rRobsinsons head to head comparisons matter that much now except the youtube videos of him getting outplayed with that several shotfakes will go on forever.him geting 3 mvps?. he can with next 3 doest matter. if he doesnt will his team to win. Bosh was healthy last year. o excuse. Now? let see if anyone’s gonna use that. We are all a sum presently of what we did collectively in the past.
“And for all the talk about him being a choker, this will be his third appearance in the Finals and he has the fifth-highest playoff winning percentage (.618) among players that won an MVP in their careers.” – This. all talk about being a choker..this will be the 3rd finals where he still hasnt won.I hope the 3rd times the charm. truly.
http://slamonline.com nbk

LOL, losing IN THE FINALS, is not choking. What he did last year in most of that Dallas series, that was choking. Just losing, because the other team is better, is not choking. Plus, to get to the finals, you have to win more than everyone else. So, your opinion should reflect like this, “every player who doesn’t win a title, chokes” – but i’m sure it irrationally doesn’t.
http://slamonline.com Caboose

Jordan was about the same age when he won his first. It took him a couple of seasons shy of a decade, but let your romantic revisions tell it and Jordan won everything right in the beginning. If Lebron doesn’t play well and the Heat lose because of it, I can understand the criticism. Right now, based on his play, the unwarranted comparing and contrasting to Jordan are useless. Wait until the guy fails before you try to make him out to be less than he is. And it’s pretty silly to try to downplay a player by saying he isn’t Jordan. Newsflash: no other player is.
pyschoblab

I get you like Lebron. but all talk is cheap really. he has been given the chance last year after being there 4 yrs. ago. and what? he ahsnt learn anything? enough to know ot to disappear? and now that hes doing ok. though that shooting % may largely be in part because of him going to his supposed advantage which the post. only after 8 freaking years? what? only after consulting Olajuwon. waht akeem invented the post play?u call that wokring on ur game. he doesnt even rely on midrange game stilll. he takes too may iso 20 footers or 3′s. You are all inventing excuses for him this east finals going into the finals, he certainly didnt have that problem last year with his team.And who knows Dwade is giving him a taste of his own medicine? though that remains to be seen until series is over.
http://Slamonline.com nbk

Phsycholab fu(k you. Waste of a human life. Fu(k off piece of $hit!
http://slamonline.com nbk

Actually, Jordan was 28. LeBron is 27.
.
And save me the, “But LeBron is in his 9th season and Jordan was in his 7th” argument. Before you say that, please just ask yourself, what does college do for players? (hint: it might teach them how to win, maybe). So it’s safe to assume Jordan had a better grasp of what it meant to win a championship at the same age then LeBron.
http://slamonline.com nbk

psychoblab, i’m done arguing this with you. your opinion is broken, and frankly, stupid.
http://slamonline.com nbk

especially now that my troll friend is here
lakernation

Lebron being the only good player on the Heat wont win them nothing against the Mighty Thunder…. HUSH WITH THAT FOOLISHNESS! KD for MVP next year.
tpathi1

there is no question that if Lebron had a well known coach with an established reputation that he would have gotten to the finals and probably a couple more times..most likely atleast won the title last year for sure (cmon if your a bball fan and you don’t think that the dallas mavericks victory was a little flukish then something is wrong with you). Every great player had great coaches they played for, Lebron is the only one who doesnt…why doesn’t this get talked about at all???
http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/shaq-kobe-highlights/ shutup

Wow, I just wanna point out LJ never played point-forward that was Anthony Mason. I also contest that Jordan was a better athlete than Lebron, but its a slim margin. Lastly there is no reason that admitting your faults should be seen as a weakness, Lebron has showed tremendous growth, and although I prefer Durant to Lebron, I wont be upset if either wins, it really is a great time to be a NBA fan. One more point Spo is getting better as a coach little by little and when in Clvlnd Lebron had Mike “iso” Brown running the show, Jordan had arguably the greatest coach of all-time.
http://Slamonline.com nbk

His opinions are just fu(ked up.
tpathi1

and what happened to my post about MJ??! did any of u guys ever hear about jordan’s “king of the hill” comments he made after he won his first ring. Or about how he dumped Horace Grants food tray on the plane on Horace and famously said “no food for you” because he didnt grab a rebound in a game they lost?? MJ was a G…young Kobe would constantly try and act like that but only MJ got away wit that attitude. You gotta love Chicago for that!!
pyschoblab

@NBK
And save me the, “But LeBron is in his 9th season and Jordan was in his 7th” argument. Before you say that, please just ask yourself, what does college do for players? – i didnt know i was coming into u as trying to make this arguement but ur opinion really matters to me so…

Lj is a victim or ur own phuking marketing machinations and u try to defend him now cuz u worship his dick. So, ill let u at that..meanwhile caboose last statment made perfect sense. And thats what my sleepy brains t bee trying to say. will u see u during and after the series. hopefully, u being sucessful with ur surgery with lerbons dick attached to your forehead and his nutsucks dangling under your chin.Oe each beside your lymph nodes.
tpathi1

also…i think, but am not too sure but athletic ability is mostly determined on how high you can jump off of one foot. Both MJ and LBJ can do plenty of that..but if you want to talk about weaknesses in lebrons game..then i will say this..he definately does not have the same explosion when jumping off two feet vs. one foot. There is a clear difference, and it takes him a lot of time to gather for a two foot jump. In the low post its crucial..i have seen lebron get blocked down there a couple times when big men double team him. He can’t just bully his way down there, like I would think that he could to start off this season and plenty more. @psycholab..i do question why it took Lebron so long to discover his post game..I have been waiting for it..he scores in it…so as long as he found out he can get buckets down there easier..i think he will be okay. For you to fault him for not being able to discover this sooner, like i said..where was his coach to let him know about this??!
pyschoblab

Mj i beleive started with Doug collins.was he considered great? and Phil didnt start right away as a great coach, DID HE? i think he started winning chips a couple of season after when Mj and crew were starting to reach thier peak. he grew as a great coach together with the Bulls team. OMG.
http://slamonline.com nbk

lol, at least my troll got to somebody.
.
pyschoblab (by the way, what the hell is a pyschoblab?) you handled that like a very mature 29 year old. kudos.
http://slamonline.com nbk

Actually, Phil Jackson won a title in his second season in Chicago. Which was his second season as a head coach in the NBA. So…..once again, you don’t know what your talking about “pyscho”
pyschoblab

@tpathi1
Self-motivation is hard to find. Kobe and Mj had it.Lebron had that every opportunity but i guess the lure of instant stardom was too much to handle for anyone, I guess.
tpathi1

he grew into the best coach of all time..even if spo and the heat win 7 rings..do u foresee yourself comparing spo to jackson, riley, auerbach and the likes? i mean..maybe Spo is rubbing off on lebron…i dont think so
davidR

mike brown is nowhere near phil jackons level. neither is erik spo
pyschoblab

@nbk
now your being childish.referring to my nick.
http://slamonline.com nbk

is nick, short for nickname? I was honestly asking what the hell a pyschoblab is. or even a pyscho? you mean psycho? that’s what i assume, and the level of intellect in your comments leads me to believe you didn’t even realize you spelled it wrong
http://slamonline.com Caboose

LOL Your arguments are getting worse and worse. First you have a problem with the “arrogance” of him admitting a fault. Then you had a problem with him answering questions in a damn media session. Then you make the asinine claim that he’s too complacent to improve. You then admit that he does improve his game but you just don’t like how he does it. You’re right. Stardom is too much to handle for the guy who never got arrested, doesn’t have a gambling problem, and is a three-time MVP putting up video game numbers in the NBA playoffs. You proved us all wrong. Congrats.
Bravo

Shut up all of u

LeBron James Promises Not Let Teammates Down Again in NBA Finals

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