Another Test for LeBron
Added on Jun 03, 2013 by Scott in
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LeBron James quest to supplant Michael Jordan as the greatest player to grace the NBA continues tonight when the defending champion Heat attempt to dispose of the relentless Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. A victory means one more shot at seizing another title. A loss means another setback for a player whose legacy will be heavily scrutinized until the day he retires.
Making James’ task that much more challenging is the lack of production he has been getting from his supporting cast. Dwyane Wade is both hurt and out of sync. Chris Bosh is playing like a guy who is 5’11″ not 6’11″. Ray Allen is mired in a prolonged slump. The rest of the roster is unreliable on a nightly basis.
However, all-timers don’t make excuses or step out of the spotlight. James knows he must carry his teammates to the Finals. A little help would be appreciated, but if Miami loses, the fans, media and pundits will lay the majority of blame at James’ feet, whether it’s deserved or not.
The Heat were constructed to be more than a one-man gang. A season ago, Wade was healthy and knocking down clutch shots. Now it’s the LeBron Show starring LeBron. There hasn’t been a Scottie Pippen to alleviate a portion of the pressure.
James faced a similar situation with the Cavaliers in 2007. His superior talent was enough to propel an otherwise lackluster Cleveland team to the Finals. His skill-set has improved since then, and more importantly his confidence has grown. He’ll need both to put away a ferocious Pacers squad that is seeing Paul George and Roy Hibbert playing the best basketball of their young careers.
Superstars don’t fail in this spot. Superstars accept the burden of their status. Superstars inspire their struggling teammates to rise to the occasion. Superstars understand they are the ones responsible for writing their own legacy. None of this should be news to LeBron James.
