King James Left The Playoffs As A Loser

[duncan228]

King James left the playoffs as a loser (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebron060109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Adrian Wojnarowski

I’m a winner, King James proclaimed. So, there you go. That’s his reason for rushing out of the conference finals without so much as a nod to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. That’s his reason for marching to the bus and letting the Cleveland Cavaliers’ spare parts take care of his responsibilities in the interview room.

Funny, but James stayed on the court to make sure the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks paid respect to him. As it turns out, there’s one thing allowed to happen at the end of a playoff series: Everyone bows down and kisses the King’s ring. Only, LeBron doesn’t have a ring. He’s never won a game in the NBA Finals.

So, yes, maybe they just have to kiss his ass.

“It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that,” James said.

No, nothing like that. Yes, James cares so much that it isn’t possible to be gracious and humbled.

You know me, he told the reporters in Cleveland on Sunday. I’m a competitor. “If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them,” James said. “It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.”

Here’s the question: Who has the guts to tell him that he sounds like an immature, self-absorbed brat?

Here’s the problem for the Cavaliers and James: No one.

It won’t be Cleveland Cavaliers ownership, front office and coaches. It won’t be the NBA. It won’t be Nike. And it sure won’t be those childhood sycophants who surround James and tell everyone what a brilliant businessman LeBron is because they can answer the phone when corporations call for a famous pitchman.

LeBron doesn’t want to win more than Michael Jordan did, but Jordan could stop and shake a winner’s hand. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird could, too. Julius Erving did. Kobe Bryant. Isiah Thomas led a walkout after losing to the Chicago Bulls after winning two NBA titles, but Joe Dumars never followed him. He stayed and shook Jordan’s hand, the way Jordan had always shook his when the Pistons had beaten him.

“M.J. had stopped, shook my hand and hugged me three straight years that we had beaten them in the playoffs,” Dumars once told me. “There was no way I walking off the court without shaking the Bulls’ hands.”

Within the Cavs, someone needed to tell James that he embarrassed himself and the franchise, but that won’t happen. They’re too scared of him. Most league executives with knowledge of Cleveland’s operation believe it’s far more of an ownership issue, than basketball operations.

If general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown privately disdain the ridiculous posing for pictures that James started with his teammates on a 13-game winning streak, the owner is believed to see the foolishness as a marketing dream.

Someone should’ve told James that the pregame Polaroid act was belittling and beneath a championship contender, but it never happened.

All season, the Cavaliers acted too entitled, too arrogant for a team that’s won nothing. They ran out demanding that Mo Williams be made an All-Star, when the truth bore itself out in the playoffs: Cleveland has one All-Star. Nevertheless, Williams still embarrassed the Cavs with foolish proclamations and guarantees his middling talent couldn’t deliver.

“If you believe in karma with that nonsense,” one Western Conference executive said, “then Cleveland got what was coming to them.”

The Cavaliers are terrified of James. When you’re around them, it’s sometimes embarrassing to watch the way they tip-toe and grovel with him. In their defense, that’s how James wants it. As a childhood prodigy, that’s all LeBron’s ever known. The Cavs are at his mercy until he becomes a free agent in July of 2010, and that isn’t going to change. There’s no chance that he signs an extension this summer, because that would be the end of the drama, the intrigue and LeBron James isn’t letting that go away.

Now, Ferry goes back to the phones and starts work on surrounding James with championship talent. Cleveland is sure to revisit the Shaquille O’Neal talks with the Phoenix Suns, and James and his associates will send out word that, hey, we’ll go to New York unless the Cavs deliver him his title. Well, they’ve reached the NBA Finals and had the best record in the NBA within the past three seasons, so they must have surrounded James with something that works there.

Nevertheless, James distanced himself in losing again, after a season in which he sold himself as all for one, and one for all. James had been an MVP until the very final moments of the basketball season, and then, he embarrassed himself and acted like a petulant kid. In a world where everyone in his life is too fearful or too dependent, LeBron James goes into the summer believing his own nonsense that he walked out of this season a winner.

As usual, there’s no one to tell him.

Except maybe now, Kobe’s puppet.

[Bob Lanier]

When's Poland ever won anything?

[The Franchise]

Good read.

[stretch]

the lebron hate is getting ridiculous

[21_Blessings]

When's Poland ever won anything?

14th century?

[Jose Ole]

Adrian Wojnarowski is about as credible as the garbage that should be in his trashcan- basically everything he writes. The guy is the worst columnist Yahoo has on staff. I don't even bother to read his articles anymore but I thought I'd give this one a gander... worth yet another goose egg.

[bostonguy]

King James left the playoffs as a loser (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebron060109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Adrian Wojnarowski

I’m a winner, King James proclaimed. So, there you go. That’s his reason for rushing out of the conference finals without so much as a nod to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. That’s his reason for marching to the bus and letting the Cleveland Cavaliers’ spare parts take care of his responsibilities in the interview room.

Funny, but James stayed on the court to make sure the Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks paid respect to him. As it turns out, there’s one thing allowed to happen at the end of a playoff series: Everyone bows down and kisses the King’s ring. Only, LeBron doesn’t have a ring. He’s never won a game in the NBA Finals.

So, yes, maybe they just have to kiss his ass.

“It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that,” James said.

No, nothing like that. Yes, James cares so much that it isn’t possible to be gracious and humbled.

You know me, he told the reporters in Cleveland on Sunday. I’m a competitor. “If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them,” James said. “It doesn’t make sense for me to go over and shake somebody’s hand.”

Here’s the question: Who has the guts to tell him that he sounds like an immature, self-absorbed brat?

Here’s the problem for the Cavaliers and James: No one.

It won’t be Cleveland Cavaliers ownership, front office and coaches. It won’t be the NBA. It won’t be Nike. And it sure won’t be those childhood sycophants who surround James and tell everyone what a brilliant businessman LeBron is because they can answer the phone when corporations call for a famous pitchman.

LeBron doesn’t want to win more than Michael Jordan did, but Jordan could stop and shake a winner’s hand. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird could, too. Julius Erving did. Kobe Bryant. Isiah Thomas led a walkout after losing to the Chicago Bulls after winning two NBA titles, but Joe Dumars never followed him. He stayed and shook Jordan’s hand, the way Jordan had always shook his when the Pistons had beaten him.

“M.J. had stopped, shook my hand and hugged me three straight years that we had beaten them in the playoffs,” Dumars once told me. “There was no way I walking off the court without shaking the Bulls’ hands.”

Within the Cavs, someone needed to tell James that he embarrassed himself and the franchise, but that won’t happen. They’re too scared of him. Most league executives with knowledge of Cleveland’s operation believe it’s far more of an ownership issue, than basketball operations.

If general manager Danny Ferry and coach Mike Brown privately disdain the ridiculous posing for pictures that James started with his teammates on a 13-game winning streak, the owner is believed to see the foolishness as a marketing dream.

Someone should’ve told James that the pregame Polaroid act was belittling and beneath a championship contender, but it never happened.

All season, the Cavaliers acted too entitled, too arrogant for a team that’s won nothing. They ran out demanding that Mo Williams be made an All-Star, when the truth bore itself out in the playoffs: Cleveland has one All-Star. Nevertheless, Williams still embarrassed the Cavs with foolish proclamations and guarantees his middling talent couldn’t deliver.

“If you believe in karma with that nonsense,” one Western Conference executive said, “then Cleveland got what was coming to them.”

The Cavaliers are terrified of James. When you’re around them, it’s sometimes embarrassing to watch the way they tip-toe and grovel with him. In their defense, that’s how James wants it. As a childhood prodigy, that’s all LeBron’s ever known. The Cavs are at his mercy until he becomes a free agent in July of 2010, and that isn’t going to change. There’s no chance that he signs an extension this summer, because that would be the end of the drama, the intrigue and LeBron James isn’t letting that go away.

Now, Ferry goes back to the phones and starts work on surrounding James with championship talent. Cleveland is sure to revisit the Shaquille O’Neal talks with the Phoenix Suns, and James and his associates will send out word that, hey, we’ll go to New York unless the Cavs deliver him his title. Well, they’ve reached the NBA Finals and had the best record in the NBA within the past three seasons, so they must have surrounded James with something that works there.

Nevertheless, James distanced himself in losing again, after a season in which he sold himself as all for one, and one for all. James had been an MVP until the very final moments of the basketball season, and then, he embarrassed himself and acted like a petulant kid. In a world where everyone in his life is too fearful or too dependent, LeBron James goes into the summer believing his own nonsense that he walked out of this season a winner.

As usual, there’s no one to tell him.

Except maybe now, Kobe’s puppet.


The bold is a huge reason why I cant stand the Cavs. Their fans also acting that same exact way. Watching them fail was a beautiful thing to see.

[ginobme]

Dang, truth can hurt huh?

[DeadlyDynasty]

the lebron hate is getting ridiculous

and your LeBron love is getting disturbing

[SpursFanFirst]

EXCELLENT article, and he said everything I've ever thought about James and Cleveland.
I've never understood the love and admiration heaped on someone who's never won, not to mention comparing the guy to Jordan. Give me a break.

What really kills me is this:

After Cleveland lost in EC Finals, the "experts" were saying, "LeBron has no help. He has to do everything by himself." Boo Hoo...poor LeBron.

Where were these so called "expert" comments when Cleveland had the best record in the league, and swept through 2 series? No one was complaining then.

I am so sick of this guy. I seriously wish he'd just disappear and take Kobe with him.

[stretch]

and your LeBron love is getting disturbing

your kobe dick sucking is fucking gay

[angel_luv]

What is ridiculous is that James is getting all these articles written about him, keeping him in the spotlight when it was Dwight Howard who won.

Mention the James tatrum in a paragraph of a Dwight Howard article, but give James no more press than that.

[DeadlyDynasty]

your kobe dick sucking is fucking gay
Wow, you really are worked up over the Cavs loss...don't cry Bastian, it's all part of the neverending story

[TheNextGen]

The same guys who thinks James has no support are the same guys who chose Cavs in 6.

[ducks]

the lebron hate is getting ridiculous

they cried when mo williams was not an allstar they deserve it

[BruceBowenFan]

What is ridiculous is that James is getting all these articles written about him, keeping him in the spotlight when it was Dwight Howard who won.

Mention the James tatrum in a paragraph of a Dwight Howard article, but give James no more press than that.

never thought of that.

[lefty]

14th century?
Hey !

Those polish dudes could really dunk back then

[Cry Havoc]

What is ridiculous is that James is getting all these articles written about him, keeping him in the spotlight when it was Dwight Howard who won.

Mention the James tatrum in a paragraph of a Dwight Howard article, but give James no more press than that.

People are just reveling in LeBron's loss, because they know it might be the last time they really get a chance to enjoy the words "LeBron James" and "lost playoff series" in a sentence.

[Morg1411]

don't cry Bastian, it's all part of the neverending story

:lol

[LakerHater]

Hes at the free throw line!

http://i42.tinypic.com/2sblxs1.jpg

[Allanon]

This year was LeBron's only realistic chance at a Ring. Cavs are ins such a mess they pretty much need to blow up the team and start over again.

If they keep this same roster, they'll be in 4th/5th Place in the East come next year.

[DeadlyDynasty]

People are just reveling in LeBron's loss, because they know it might be the last time they really get a chance to enjoy the words "LeBron James" and "lost playoff series" in a sentence.

Well we've heard it four years in a row now...and counting...

[TheNextGen]

People are just reveling in LeBron's loss, because they know it might be the last time they really get a chance to enjoy the words "LeBron James" and "lost playoff series" in a sentence.

should we "take note"?

[mytespurs]

This year was LeBron's only realistic chance at a Ring. Cavs are ins such a mess they pretty much need to blow up the team and start over again.

If they keep this same roster, they'll be in 4th/5th Place in the East come next year.

who/what types of players do the Cavs need and who/whom can they get? I think many players would like to play with Lebron but what specifically do thy need?

I recall it took MJ years to win his first of many championships so I don't think all is lost for Lebron so long as the Cavs FO has the smarts and wherewithall to put together good players around him to win a championship....easier said than done of course. :king

[Ghazi]

This year was LeBron's only realistic chance at a Ring. Cavs are ins such a mess they pretty much need to blow up the team and start over again.

If they keep this same roster, they'll be in 4th/5th Place in the East come next year.

Youre retarded. They have expiring contracts to dangle next year and are under the cap for 2010-2011.

[Armando]

Karma that it was that is. The Suns in 2007 suffered the same fate due to thier arrogance. Remember Trophy guy among other things.

[DPG21920]

Ghazi, they still have to resign James.

[Ghazi]

Allanon's just retarded is all I'm trying to say.

75 win ecstasy faggots

[Armando]

Here is a word the Cavs and James's mooches need to say more often to him NO

[Allanon]

who/what types of players do the Cavs need and who/whom can they get? I think many players would like to play with Lebron but what specifically do thy need?

The Cavs have two problems:

1) Age problems. The Spurs had this same problem but this was AFTER their huge title runs. Cavs are hitting the age issues even before they've won probably because Ferry learned how to retool on the fly from Pop. But retooling also means getting lots of veteran players.

BigZ, Joe Smith, Ben Wallace are their 3 big men with Verajao and all 3 are way past their best years at age ~35. Wally Szerbiak hasn't been a good shooter for awhile and he's not getting younger.

2) The craziest thing? The Cavs have invest $18 million into 3 guards...all of whom are <6'3 and too short to play shooting guard. 6' Mo Williams plays like a shooting guard but he's the size of a small point guard. Delonte West is pretty good but he's said that he's only 6'2. By playing both at the same time, the Cavs are screwed against Big teams like the Rockets/Lakers/Magic/Trailblazers to name a couple.

Cavs aren't winning a championship with 3 guards <6'3.



I recall it took MJ years to win his first of many championships so I don't think all is lost for Lebron so long as the Cavs FO has the smarts and wherewithall to put together good players around him to win a championship....easier said than done of course. :king

My bad, I didn't mean his last chance forever, I meant his LeBron's last chance in a long time. The Cavs are saving their money for 2010 to re-sign LeBron and maybe another SuperStar.

But that pretty much means Ferry's going to sit on his thumb in the 2009/2010 season. And if LeBron flames out of the Playoffs even worse in 2009/10, would he re-sign with the Cavs?

And if he doesn't sign with the Cavs, he's going to be rebuilding in another city (New York?) where it will take 2-3 years for them to be serious contenders again.

Ferry took the retooling/win now approach; this was also an all-or-none gamble. They came close to getting it all but ended up with None this year and at least next year as well.

[Allanon]

Allanon's just retarded is all I'm trying to say.

75 win ecstasy faggots

Enjoy Tabuse, he'll save the Mavs.

[Allanon]

Youre retarded. They have expiring contracts to dangle next year and are under the cap for 2010-2011.

Hahah, showing your lack of knowlege once again Ghazi.

Alright, let's make a Sig bet Ghazi.

I'll bet you right now the Cavs will not even be in the Finals next season either.

Serious Sig bet...loser gives up his sig to the winner's desire for a year.

Will you back up your words or chicken out like the little bitch I think you are, we shall see.

[Ghazi]

just kiddin allanon u always right, u the man :toast

[Allanon]

just kiddin allanon u always right, u the man :toast

No, YOU're the man :toast

[DeadlyDynasty]

Allanon's just retarded is all I'm trying to say.

75 win ecstasy faggots

well, techincally LA has 77 wins right now:lol

[DrHouse]

I think you really see into a player's character in their moments of defeat. When they face adversity, how do they respond?

[cobbler]

and your LeBron love is getting disturbing

Where is the frontal pic of the soccer team in your sig?

[redzero]

I think part of the LeBron hate comes from Kobe lovers, just waiting to find a reason to hate him. However, I just hate his teammates and the ref love he gets. Leaving without congratulating the Magic was also a sign of disrespect.

[cobbler]

People are just reveling in LeBron's loss, because they know it might be the last time they really get a chance to enjoy the words "LeBron James" and "lost playoff series" in a sentence.

And what makes you think they will have a better chance than this year with Garnett out for Boston and Nelson out for Orlando? Not to mention whoever comes out of the west should the Cav's fluke into the finals.

[Cane]

You'd think after getting you ass swept in the finals you'd have some more sportsmanship and character than that. Disrespectful, especially to his Olympic teammate Dwight Howard.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Where is the frontal pic of the soccer team in your sig?

A Spurs fan PM'ed me with that same question. I wish I knew...

[cobbler]

A Spurs fan PM'ed me with that same question. I wish I knew...

Damn!! Now my day is ruined!

[redzero]

And what makes you think they will have a better chance than this year with Garnett out for Boston and Nelson out for Orlando? Not to mention whoever comes out of the west should the Cav's fluke into the finals.

Exactly. I expect both Boston and Orlando to get better records next season. LeBron's best bet would be Boston eliminating Orlando in the semi-finals, just to get out of the East--if they can beat Boston. And the Lakers would rape the Cavaliers if they somehow do get out of the East.

[Armando]

And what makes you think they will have a better chance than this year with Garnett out for Boston and Nelson out for Orlando? Not to mention whoever comes out of the west should the Cav's fluke into the finals.



I agree but I will go one better there is bound to be a team in the East that makes a deal for a superstar player. Miami? Detroit? Washington?

[Ghazi]

fucking Washington? lol

[Armando]

fucking Washington? lol



Why not? They have a great coach in Saunders. Who by the way Billups swears by. The have a top 5 draft pick and they get Arenas back. In the East they are good enough to be a playoff team. And don't be surprised if they swing a deal on draft night.

[KidCongo]

What is ridiculous is that James is getting all these articles written about him, keeping him in the spotlight when it was Dwight Howard who won.

Mention the James tatrum in a paragraph of a Dwight Howard article, but give James no more press than that.

Exactly people can't get enough of LeBron.

[NewJerSpur]

If you're going to have a small backcourt you better at least have a presence at the rim outside of your starting SF who trails guys to get the majority of his blocks. At least LeBron's frontrunning ways have been revealed for those who were blind to them before and he's out of the playoffs 'til next year.

[urunobili]

gr8 read thanks for sharing :tu

[Spurs Brazil]

Great read

That picture thing was pathetic

[Das Texan]

Fuck Lebron. After that display of primadonnaness he can do fuck himself to hell.


I'd almost rather see Kobe win than Lebron now. I've always been annoyed by his stupid King act, but didnt care.


This is just piss poor bullshit. Fuck him.