Interesting theory I heard on the radio today

[No coincidences]

I normally don't listen to -- or like -- Colin Cowherd on ESPN. He brought up a halfway decent theory this morning, though, that I could buy based on what I saw last night.

Instead of trying to "take over" the game, LeBron decided to "disengage" and see what kind of future he had in Cleveland by leaning on his teammates. His shots were selective, and he tried much harder to get his teammates involved and beat the Celtics that way.

Instead it blew up in his face, because as we know, his supporting cast is terrible and the C's bench ran circles around the Cavs reserves (as well as the starters).

Cowherd claims LeBron was basically assessing his situation and allowing his teammates to become the deciding factor. They didn't deliver, and he checked himself out.

What do you think?

[jim]

very interesting...

[No coincidences]

Cowherd's argument was basically because LeBron was making what amounts to a billion dollar decision in the offseason, he really needs to know where he stands and where this franchise stands. I think that, given the disaster last night and the owner's comments after the game, he got his answer and the Summer of LeBron sweepstakes begins after tomorrow night's game.

[Buckeye]

I listened to it also, but even if that was his theory for performing like the way he did. Is that the right way to handle a game in that situation? I still think he has explaining to do for the way he played. If the Cavs management had any balls they would suspend him for game 6 and just tell him he already to get ready for for offseason so he can make his jump to his new team.

[gshock1]

Guy always has some interesting points. Will give him credit about this though, he has said all along the Cavs were frauds. Outside of Lebron he somewhat likes Jamison, but rates him as a 'B' list player. Calls Mo Williams a big time fraud.

[suicidekings]

I normally don't listen to -- or like -- Colin Cowherd on ESPN. He brought up a halfway decent theory this morning, though, that I could buy based on what I saw last night.

Instead of trying to "take over" the game, LeBron decided to "disengage" and see what kind of future he had in Cleveland by leaning on his teammates. His shots were selective, and he tried much harder to get his teammates involved and beat the Celtics that way.

Instead it blew up in his face, because as we know, his supporting cast is terrible and the C's bench ran circles around the Cavs reserves (as well as the starters).

Cowherd claims LeBron was basically assessing his situation and allowing his teammates to become the deciding factor. They didn't deliver, and he checked himself out.

What do you think?

I think he already knew that going into the game. However his value on the free agent market will not be affected by a letdown at this point, so I can't dismiss it entirely. Seems to me that anyone in his position would get tired of being the one that everyone is leaning on all the time to force the win, with no one around him that's even close talent-wise, except maybe Jamison, who's just a temporary fix.

The only way anyone can really flourish professionally is for them to surround themselves with their contemporaries, and I'm pretty sure that's never going to happen in Cleveland. Lebron needs at least one more top tier talent to play with if he's ever going to push through and win a ring.

[WiseGrumpy]

If that is true, he should neve play basketball again, and if I would believe that even a little, I would never watch him again.
Since I don't it's a nice thing to think about and nothing more. The best of the best have bad games, that was a BAD game.
Tomorrow the king is back ...

[wrongturn]

not convincing theory. he had a whole season to check it out and they had best win ratio. if that has not convinced him the team is championship caliber, then what it is?

[lyon804]

I listened to it also, but even if that was his theory for performing like the way he did. Is that the right way to handle a game in that situation? I still think he has explaining to do for the way he played. If the Cavs management had any balls they would suspend him for game 6 and just tell him he already to get ready for for offseason so he can make his jump to his new team.

This +1 for me..


The above idea could be true but that ain't how you handle it. Lebron already knows his teamates are not clutch. He just exposed them and himself. That was a terrible effort. I can understand having a bad nite shooting or anything like that. We all have bad nites/games or whatever, but that effort was suspect. It was I don't give a damn like approach after the 1Q.

[jgiun1]

My theory....him and his young Thug friends from high school and most likely gang related people... decided to go "ALL" in and he helped his friends win money on Celtics and the points with ML.

[lyon804]

My theory....him and his young Thug friends from high school and most likely gang related people... decided to go "ALL" in and he helped his friends win money on Celtics and the points with ML.

Possible, but not likely. The dude is earning over 50 million a year. I am sure he could have given his thug frinds more money than they could make gambling. Besides could you imagine the repercushions of this if it came out? He would be done and you cant trust thugs.

[lakerboy]

did anyone ever think that it would be even worse for him to lose to kobe in the finals?

[No coincidences]

This +1 for me..


The above idea could be true but that ain't how you handle it. Lebron already knows his teamates are not clutch. He just exposed them and himself. That was a terrible effort. I can understand having a bad nite shooting or anything like that. We all have bad nites/games or whatever, but that effort was suspect. It was I don't give a damn like approach after the 1Q.

Cowherd claims Kobe did something similar against the Suns in '06 (I think? Maybe a Laker fan can confirm this) during an elimination game.

[Nuggz]

Scott Van Pelt pretty much just tore up the argument on his show, I think lebron just had a terrible game and maybe got moody, or maybe his elbow is hurting.

[lakerboy]

Cowherd claims Kobe did something similar against the Suns in '06 (I think? Maybe a Laker fan can confirm this) during an elimination game.

Kobe didnt do anything like that in game 7 in phoenix. The lakers were up 3-1 with a shitbox team and lost game 6 in ot at home and thus all momentum. Game 7 drubbing was inevetiable.

covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/results/2005-2006/boxscore735205.html


Go and look at Kobe's stats in that game. He did fine. Go and look at his teammates.

[lyon804]

Kobe didnt do anything like that in game 7 in phoenix. The lakers were up 3-1 with a shitbox team and lost game 6 in ot at home and thus all momentum. Game 7 drubbing was inevetiable.

covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/results/2005-2006/boxscore735205.html


Go and look at Kobe's stats in that game. He did fine. Go and look at his teammates.

I had forgotten how bad the Lakers were..Kwame Brown starting?? Smuch Parker starting? Luke Walton Starting?


man that team was awful. I don't think it is a stretch to say Lebron has a better team around him than that.

[No coincidences]

Kobe didnt do anything like that in game 7 in phoenix. The lakers were up 3-1 with a shitbox team and lost game 6 in ot at home and thus all momentum. Game 7 drubbing was inevetiable.

covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/results/2005-2006/boxscore735205.html


Go and look at Kobe's stats in that game. He did fine. Go and look at his teammates.

He claims it was in Game 6.

I don't know.

[wrongturn]

did anyone ever think that it would be even worse for him to lose to kobe in the finals?

he thinks losing to a player named rondo is supposed to make him feel better than losing to kobe? no way.

[lakerboy]

He claims it was in Game 6.

I don't know.

covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/results/2005-2006/boxscore735205.html

Kobe had 50 points in game 6. Cowherd is a fukkin moron just like Hollinger. Above is game 6.

Kobe shot 57% in that game. Kobe has had stinkers no doubt but that performance by lebron last night was shameful. Lebron has no excuses.

[No coincidences]

covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/results/2005-2006/boxscore735205.html

Kobe had 50 points in game 6. Cowherd is a fukkin moron just like Hollinger. Above is game 6.

Kobe shot 57% in that game. Kobe has had stinkers no doubt but that performance by lebron last night was shameful. Lebron has no excuses.

Wow. Either I'm quoting him wrong or he has no idea what he's talking about.

In any event, I think LeBron and the Cavs are finished.

[Mikail]

did anyone ever think that it would be even worse for him to lose to kobe in the finals?

Good point. It is obvious James has an ego. We all saw this become evident in the Orlando game that sent the Cavs packing last years playoffs. Possibly bailing out because he knew it wasn't happening. After the game he made a statement to the tune of "I spoil people with my calibre of play" WTF is that? Sounds like proof to me he consciencely went into last nights game with the decision already made that he would lose.

[lakerboy]

Good point. It is obvious James has an ego. We all saw this become evident in the Orlando game that sent the Cavs packing last years playoffs. Possibly bailing out because he knew it wasn't happening. After the game he made a statement to the tune of "I spoil people with my calibre of play" WTF is that? Sounds like proof to me he consciencely went into last nights game with the decision already made that he would lose.

He also pointed out that he has had 3 bad games in 7 years. 2 of them were in this series for fukksakes. Guy probably keeps track of his own stats in his head. Kind of like when you baseball as a kid and you know that you are 7-29 so far .

[big0mar]

I don't think Lebron need to do anything last night to realize how bad his team and coach are. Its been well established for years now.

LeBron did what most players should do in that situation. The entire defense was geared toward stopping him. The only hope they had last night was if the rest of the team stepped up. And once LeBron tries to take over, the team almost always goes into "lets watch LeBron" mode.

[lyon804]

covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/results/2005-2006/boxscore735205.html

Kobe had 50 points in game 6. Cowherd is a fukkin moron just like Hollinger. Above is game 6.

Kobe shot 57% in that game. Kobe has had stinkers no doubt but that performance by lebron last night was shameful. Lebron has no excuses.

Like I said above..bad games are possible for anybody...What Queen James had was beyond a bad game. He shit the bed big time. He looked disinterested,confused,unmoved,unsure. It was the worst performance..


Take Kevin Durant for instance.. He shot the ball awful against LA did he not?? Do you think Durant had a bad game? Me, personally I think Durant played well even we he shot horrible.. One game Durant probably shot 20% on multiple shots but still played excellent defense and rebounded the ball 18 times. You and I also made alot of money that nite because of his effort. Bottomline, Durant couldn't have thrown it in the ocean that nite and Artest was owning him, but did he quit?? NO. He is a fine player. He won that game of OKC with his defense and rebounding and still got to the foul line and made shots..


Pull that game up from covers LB and let's look at Durant's stats against Lakers in game 3 I believe when he had 18 rebounds and locked Kobe down over the last few minutes of the game when they decided to switch him to Kobe.

[lakerboy]

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Durant had 29 points and 19 boards.

[wrongturn]

difference between kobe's team and this lebron's team is that lakers was #7 seed, and it was obvious that kobe could not win a championship with his team in that year. if mj, kobe, wade or any other half decent star (perhaps besides dirk ), has a team as #1 overall seed in playoff season, you bet he is going to lead in every game, because that is all he can ask for to make a run at championship.

[williams22]

The game he must have been alluding to is Game 7 against the Suns. Kobe threw a fit at halftime and refused to shoot in the second half.

[TylerDurden]

The game he must have been alluding to is Game 7 against the Suns. Kobe threw a fit at halftime and refused to shoot in the second half.

Little different scenario though as everyone in the world knew they were done after they lost game 6 being up 3-1

[lyon804]

covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/results/2009-2010/boxscore794353.html


Durant had 29 points and 19 boards.

Thanks for pulling that up.



Yes he did but was held to 33% shooting from the floor. The Lakers made him work for his shots and he missed some good looks as well,but he did not quit. He couldn't win the game with his shooting so he did it with defense and rebounding.


I am sure if before the game you told Phil Jackson Durant was going to shoot 24 times and have 29 pts he would take that. I would. Durant was offensively inefficient, but refused to give in to defeat. That's what great players do they find a way to win no matter how bad it goes. One day Durant will be considered a great player.

[jgiun1]

I think his elbow is worse than people are saying.....clearly by passing the ball more and not taking shots last game. I hate him, but haven't seen a bad game like he had last night in a while from an all star caliber player.

[TylerDurden]

Like I said above..bad games are possible for anybody...What Queen James had was beyond a bad game. He shit the bed big time. He looked disinterested,confused,unmoved,unsure. It was the worst performance.. Take Kevin Durant for instance.. He shot the ball awful against LA did he not?? Do you think Durant had a bad game? Me, personally I think Durant played well even we he shot horrible.. One game Durant probably shot 20% on multiple shots but still played excellent defense and rebounded the ball 18 times. You and I also made alot of money that nite because of his effort. Bottomline, Durant couldn't have thrown it in the ocean that nite and Artest was owning him, but did he quit?? NO. He is a fine player. He won that game of OKC with his defense and rebounding and still got to the foul line and made shots.. Pull that game up from covers LB and let's look at Durant's stats against Lakers in game 3 I believe when he had 18 rebounds and locked Kobe down over the last few minutes of the game when they decided to switch him to Kobe.

I think having Westbrook drop 27 and Harden 18 helped as well. Lebron had one player score more than 15 points.

[williams22]

Little different scenario though as everyone in the world knew they were done after they lost game 6 being up 3-1

So that made his performance acceptable? Isn't that just making excuses like many Lebron-haters are claiming people are doing now?

[lyon804]

I think having Westbrook drop 27 and Harden 18 helped as well. Lebron had one player score more than 15 points.

Very true it does, but you missed the point entirely. Without Duran't rebounding and defense OKC would have lost that nite.

[TylerDurden]

So that made his performance acceptable? Isn't that just making excuses like many Lebron-haters are claiming people are doing now?

No just saying game 6 was the BIG game in that series with all the pressure, and Kobe dropped like 50. Look don't get me wrong I think Lebron is a gamer, just look at his stats over his like 70 playoff games and that's pretty undeniable. He just just layed an egg last night for reasons I don't know. I think if you put Lebron in Kobe's place as a laker with Phil when they've had a solid big guy with performing role players and he has 3-4 rings.

The bigger issue is that this is a team sport and I don't think you can get through 4 7-game series leaning solely on one superstar. Iverson is the classic example of this. I think the Cavs tried to address this with Jamison, Shaq, and Mo, but they have sucked this series. And even with solid role players you're most likely need a performing big. (Kobe-Shaq, Wade-Shaq, Kobe-Pau, Parker-Genobili-Duncan, Boston with the big 3, etc).

[TylerDurden]

Very true it does, but you missed the point entirely. Without Duran't rebounding and defense OKC would have lost that nite.

Oh I see what you mean. True