Lebron James is done.
Lebron James will never make it back to the finals do you realize this? He’s never going to be the savior for LA like he was for Cleveland, I doubt he will make many more playoff runs like we’ve seen in the past.
It’s been a great run. 16 years of greatness. His peak lasted 14 years, you could argue that Lebron James had the greatest and longest prime in Basketball History. His durability when compared to his physicality and what the type of play he’s put on the floor is matched by no one, maybe in any sport.
Lebron James in any spectrum of measurement is an absolute freak of nature. He is the most naturally talented basketball talent of his generation by far, and his legacy is that of a young man who sought for greatness, grew up on the court, became a phenom, a superstar, a champion, a mentor and then a legend.
Lebron James, like most great players of that elite caliber, does not see his end, but it’s coming fast.
Similar to when Kobe Bryant’s prime ended over a 2-3 year span, being bounced from the playoffs early, developing a few different injuries ultimately the bitter achilles being the dagger injury to the Black Mamba’s career. Lebron James’ prime is also wrapping up. Don’t get me wrong the end has only begun, he has a some time in that hour glass.
But many folks refuse to see the simple truth, and that’s this. Lebron James is projecting blame that he should own onto teammates, coaches, the media. He’s been projecting since his 2018 finals run. He didn’t need to give up on the Cavs after JR Smith made the dumbest mistake in finals history, but he did.
He didn’t need to say he is the “best of all time” in his eyes on his HBO show and he has “nothing to prove”. He didn’t need to say that he was satisfied either way with his career even if he didn’t make the playoffs.
He didn’t need to call for a tweet from Woj on twitter during the Super Bowl, suggesting he needs the Lakers to trade for Anthony Davis instead of retain these young Lakers players.
Lebron is simply softening his fall because he senses it coming and softening his criticism. He’s doing what Lebron has done for a while, trying to control the narrative surrounding his legacy. The truth is, with the media pandering to his every word, it might work for him.
I would argue last year was in fact his best offensive playoff performance ever, he laid it all out on the line, he had push his body to play two 7 games series just to make it to the finals. He then makes it all way to the finals only to give up after a teammate makes a horrible, deflating, but predictable error.
The moment JR Smith forgot to put the ball back up in game 1 of the 2018 finals, Lebron James also quit on the Cavs. This was the moment Lebron James prime ended. I sense through his actions and words that he has had a feeling that would be the last time he went back to the finals.
Why else move to LA when it’s so much easier to reach the finals in the east? Los Angeles, Where you live during the off season, a place to start movie contracts and other business obligations not related to basketball. He knows he’s not going back to the finals again.
Don’t get me wrong, Lebron wants to get there again very badly. Lebron James is desperate, so desperate that he will trust a second year basketball president in Magic Johnson who is selling the Lakers as an old school “showtime” team. This gives Lebron an ability to stay in LA, pursue business, but say “well I trust Magic Johnson to take care of my legacy”
The same Magic Johnson who got rid of Julius Randle and Deangelo Russell who became amazing the second they left, and then drafted Lonzo Ball the circus show, who I admit can play some defense, but is closer to a bust than a star.
Lebron trusted Magic when he said “we will get Paul George”. Lebron signed, Paul George didn’t. Why? Because he doesn’t want to play with the soap opera that is Lebron James, and he wants to be the star of the team.
Similar to late in Kobe’s career when he won a few titles and Melo didn’t want to play with Kobe. Being great and having a giant ego make great ones, hard to play with. People would argue that’s why Steph Curry is so amazing, he has no ego.
Kyrie left Lebron, Paul George doesn’t want to play with Lebron and is having an NBA caliber season without Lebron. Reports are KD wants to smash Lebron’s legacy and has no interest joining the Lakers. Kawhi Leonard already beat Lebron in a title, what makes you think he will team up with Lebron? Those players like Lebron, probably also know the other truth.
Lebron’s whole overall game isn’t what it used to be. Lebron James and his fans can believe he’s still the best player in the game, and they will say it on ESPN to sell you something but the fact is his athleticism is only impressive on offense.
Those AMAZING chase down blocks on defense where he would soar through the air for a few seconds and swat the ball, we just don’t see those as often in his Lakers jersey. If Lebron jumps like that nowadays he takes a few plays off, switches to someone on defense for fear of letting 20 year old Trae Young speed past him like he’s on skates like we saw the other night against the last place Hawks.
Lebron is smart though know this, this off he’s intelligently developed a fade away jump shot. It’s more of a roll away and shot but his lumbering 6,9 275Lb body gets enough space for a higher %. That’s good Lebron, because you will need it on the way down.
See the media and all of us just because Lebron James the legend is done, but that doesn’t mean Lebron James the NBA player is done. Lebron can still rack up a multitude of records, all will affirm his greatness and his illustrious legacy as one of the games greatest all time players. Lebron has a unique opportunity that if I were him, I’d try to take advantage of, and maybe even shift the GOAT narrative towards.
Lebron James hasn’t suffered many injuries, he just had a groin strain a few weeks ago and that did keep him out a significant time. But Lebron’s body is kept in tip top shape as he spends over 1 million dollars each year on medical treatments and workout methods.
This durability and lack of wear and tear would mean that Lebron, being the 5th almost 4th all time leader in points scored, and having seemingly years left on his body to at least score around 20-25 points a game. Lebron would only need 3-4 seasons to do so.
Lebron James, known more for his assists, and ability to dominate the floor playing position less basketball, could be the all time leading scorer in NBA history. If I were Lebron James I would be more focused on that than I would be titles, because it may be a futile effort. Why not give us your very best offensive performances until you’re done with basketball?
Who cares if you don’t make the playoffs, who cares if Kevin Durant or Giannis are considered the best players in the league? Lebron James should be focused on leaving his names all over the record book.
As I’ve been saying, between his posture on the floor, his attitude on social media, and his responses to the press is sensing he can’t carry this young Lakers team to the finals, he can’t ever do it. By the time any other star could help him, even next year, his body probably will be in even worse shape and would he be a great guy to want to make a finals run with? I don’t think so.
For all these reasons, I think we’ve seen the best of Lebron and we should be happy. Lebron in his prime, was truly, one of, if not the greatest and most talented athlete to ever grace a basketball floor. Only a handful of players can reach that level of pure greatness on such a consistent basis, and to never suffer a serious injury just shows how gifted God has made this man.
I know Lebron James isn’t done having an impact on the world. He is just too smart, too business savvy, and too influential to the community. I look forward to seeing his next chapters, and hopefully a fitting end to a legendary career, that we may never see the like of again.-Joshua Bottorff
Luka Dončić, the next great one?
FS1’s Nick Wright wrote a list of the top 7 most valuable assets in the NBA in 2019.
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Was MVP candidate and 24 year old Giannis.
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Was Luka Dončić
I must agree.
One of the most amazing things, and rare things about Luka Dončić’s game is his ability to take over the game. The ability to flip a switch in ones brain and score points in clutch moments. Kobe has his Mamba Mentality Dončić has “Luka Magic”.
“The Wonderboy” as his Slovenian fans labeled Dončić is unique from any other basketball player we’ve ever seen, as he is already a star and a professional champion before he entered the league.
Luka at the age of 14 was facing professional level competition and learned even back then how to dominate the game.
Sloppy at times, Luka often will turn the ball over making ill advised passes.
Luka sometimes air balls early on, he can make his coach and team nervous.
But when the Mavericks need points, Lukas focus changes, his eyes become fixated and obsessed. All of the juvenile sloppy play that could be perceived as tunnel vision in the youths game turns into sharp, clutch, efficiency. In clutch FG situations, Luka is only behind Victor Oladipo at 57.1% FG % in the clutch. This kid is simply cold blooded, more so than almost anyone in the league.
Dončić is already one of the most amazing late game scorers in the league and his facilitating gets better by the day. Luka is far ahead of his age being able to play off the ball as a key shooter, but demanding the ball in key moments to make important plays.Dončić gets frustrated when the ball isn’t trusted in his hands in those moments and is seem barking at his teammates.
At the age of 19 this is simply unprecedented.
Even Lebron James who came into the league with his head on fire, did not demand the ball in pivotal moments as angrily and begrudgingly as Dončić does. He feels it is simply his role to take the game over, and we haven’t seen that out of any player his age.
His ferocity can only be compared to athletes like Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, his one time mentor Kobe Bryant, and Wayne Gretzky. Dončić’s youthful ability to flip a switch and take over a game is still in its infancy.
What are we watching?
Are we seeing something different than we’ve ever seen? A player with developing long ranged skills that space the floor similar to Steph Curry.
A body, 6,8, nimble, finesse and skillful.
A mentality to take over a game late, hindered only by inexperience and trying to make too many plays.
Some things come naturally to people and what we are seeing from Mavericks Rookie is unprecedented. Will Luka Dončić become one of the greatest basketballl players of all time? Or are we seeing as much as we are going to see out of this youthful phenom?
Will he take the Mavericks from a lottery team to a playoff team in one year?
Dueling players like James Harden, Paul George, Lebron James, Curry, and Lillard is giving Dončić the type of confidence that can change a sport, and he has the ability to be a generational player. The idea that Dončić is done improving just doesn’t seem like it’s realistic to me.
The Mavericks have moved players that took the ball out of Luka’s hands. Trading Dennis Smith Jr to the Knicks, and Harrison Barnes to the Kings. The Mavericks have also traded for Kristaps Porzingis, another Euro League SuperStar.
Together they may win many games, but will they win a title? If Luka is as good as he seems, why couldn’t they win a few?
The new look Mavericks are developing their young star, and next year they may be a real force to be reckoned with.
With teams like the Warriors aging slowly, and Rockets being sort of one dimensional this season. The Celtics seem to be relatively dysfunctional, who knows about the 76ers, Raptors, or Lakers.
Luka Dončić, Kristaps Porzingis, and the Dallas Mavericks may be the team to watch going forward sooner than we think.-Joshua Bottorff
The Boston Celtics, a legendary franchise, 17 titles, a city of championship teams.
The New England Patriots just won a Super Bowl with a Quarterback out of the 6th round, and an MVP receiver who not only went in the 7th round, but used to play Quarterback..
Boston, the home of Harvard, has always been the city of hard work, intelligence, efficiency, and not making mistakes.
The Celtics, like the Patriots, and the Red Sox, always won by focusing less on the star, and more on the team. Try to get Tom Brady or Bill Belichick to glamourize themselves or an individual teammate, you simply can’t, they are too team driven.
The Boston Celtics had guys like Kevin Mchale, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, John Havlicheck, Bob Cousy, and even more recently Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rondo and Allen. Blue collar, hard working players who cared far more about winning than seeing their names in lights. They created dynasties and teams that went to multiple championships.
That brings me to the 2018 NBA Playoffs, Where Brad Stevens, another Boston ”genius” as it were, had the young and injured Celtics team 7 games deep in a tightly contested Eastern Conference Finals.
The probability of this happening should’ve been little to none considering the Celtics traded 2 of their starters to Cleveland the year prior, and Kyrie Irving the asset they traded for had been injured the entire playoff run.
To make matters worse, star free agent Gordon Hayward had a serious injury that kept him out the entire season as well. That left the Celtics with Veteran Al Horford in the post, Marcus Smart at the point backed up Terry Rozier. Rookie Jayson Tatum and second year player Jalen Brown played in the backcourt as well.
How did a rookie in Jayson Tatum, and 2 second year players in Brown and Rozier lead the Celtics through the playoffs against superstars like Giannis and the Bucks, or Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and the 76ers seemingly with ease?
How did a 3rd string point guard point guard put up 20+ points in multiple playoff games and get the nickname ”scary terry”.
How did Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum, fresh, young NBA Players carry the load for this injured Celtics team to take an NBA Legend like Lebron James to 7 games?
Lebron James would inevitably win game 7 and would lose in the 2018 NBA finals to Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors.
Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward would rehab in the off season and come back to the Celtics during camp.
This 2019 Regular Season has been a very up and down one for the Celtics, and the issues are painfully obvious to anyone watching.
Hayward seems to be making a comeback slowly and working to assimilate. But Kyrie Irving has been surrounded with drama.
In the summer of 2018 after Irving was done rehabbing, Irving told a packed Boston Garden that he would resign with the team following the 2019 season, but since then, the Celtics have struggled. Kyrie Irving’s game is one that is a true spectacle to watch. The man can truly handle the basketball in ways that most couldn’t dream of. Irving is impossible to guard, but he’s toxic.
The true reason the Boston Celtics got to the Eastern Conference Finals and took Lebron James and the Cavaliers 7 Games on the backs of young players, one game from a title series, is because they played Boston Basketball. They ran Brad Stephens’ gameplan, they were disciplined, they made the extra pass, they didn’t make mistakes and they didn't focus on one player.
Kyrie Irving can’t help but focus on himself. Irving will take plays where he will dribble 25 times, maybe make one pass, demand the ball back, and shoot a mid range jumper. You may say ”oh well he does that to close the game”, and I would respond ”No, he does it 4-5 times a game, sometimes in key moments”. I can also guarantee that Brad Stephens does not approve of these methods.
Irving suffered a right knee sprain, Irving is prone to knee problems and has been for a few years now.
Irving also has an attitude problem and is relatively condescending. Why do I say this?
While voluntarily talking to the media, outside of required press time, Irving suggested to reporters that he had to call his former teammate Lebron James to apologize. His apology was for ”being immature” and he is having tk ideal with that now.
This, coming from a guy who can’t stay on the floor, and when he’s off the floor, the team does not slow down, and one could argue the offense is more fluid. Statistically speaking, Irving puts up great numbers, better than anyone on his team. But now in February, Irving has been hurt for 2 going on 3 games. First game against the 76ers, their playoff opponent from the playoffs before, and without Irving, again, the Celtics handily won.
Tonight, they took care of Detroit and with the ball mostly in Brown and Tatum’s hands the Boston Celtics are playing Boston Basketball.
I think Danny Ainge build a contender through the draft and he doesn’t even realize it. We keep hearing ’Celtics could get Anthony Davis’ or ’Celtics could trade Jalen Brown and Tatum’ so much so that there is rumors that young rising Star Jayson Tatum said he would welcome a trade. Doesn’t sound like he even wants to play with Kyrie Irving and who could blame him?
He went deep in the playoffs without Irving, and all Irving does is take the ball out of his hands.
I’m here to say to Celtics Nation and Danny Ainge … I know you know talent, but take ’yes’ for an answer. Squash those rumors about your young stars, get rid of Kyrie Irving, keep drafting and building around your genius coach and let this thing happen organically. You don’t need one big star, you don’t need someone worried about their brand first, you don't need Kyrie Irving, you need to win by the collective, you need to win like a Boston team.- Joshua Bottorff
Why the NO Pelicans shouldn't trade Anthony Davis to LA, why LA shouldn't even want Anthony Davis.
Lakers fans What makes you Lebron James and Anthony Davis would have great chemistry in Los Angeles together?,
Why the heck should New Orleans do LA a Lebron and Magic a favor. if the Lakers do decide to gut their roster and potentially mortgage their future it has a very high chance of blowing up in their face.
I'm Josh
And I and I want to ask the question
What proof have we seen that Lebron James can work with other forwards?
Antwan Jamison? No.
Chris Bosh? Kind of?
Kevin Love? They played better when they weren’t on the floor together.
It’s a wonder to me why the Lakers aren’t targeting someone like Damian Lillard, Bradley Beal, Kemba Walker, or Kyrie Irving, someone who is proven to benefit from Lebron's presence and adds something to it on the floor.
Besides that point alone, the Pelicans shouldn’t be in a hurry to let the Lakers try their chances this season with Anthony Davis and Lebron.
For one, what’s the benefit to New Orleans? Why feed the Lakers ego by giving them what they’re asking for? What ESPN and other media outlets fed into? Who benefits besides the Lakers?
I saw Dell Demps the GM of New Orleans wasn't answering the Lakers phone calls and none of the offers the Lakers front office have given haven't been prompted a counter offer.
Sadly for the Pelicans, the best potential trade in my eyes is now off the table.
The Knicks in what looks like an emotional move, pulled the trigger seemingly prematurely on a Kristaps Porzingis trade. In a perfect world, the Pelicans could have acquired KP and the Knicks #1 pick for Davis, which would've given New Orleans a chance at Zion Williamson or RJ Barrett.
But since that ship has sailed, the main stream sports media is telling us that the Lakers and the Celtics are the only destination.
The Pelicans are not in the playoff hunt, and still have assets like Nikola Mritic and Jrue Holiday.
If New Orleans is serious about competing in the near future, they should not be interested in what the Lakers have to offer. Anything short of their entire young core; Kuzma, Ball, Hart, Zubac and Ingram, + 2 first round picks they should hang up the phone.
The benefits of trading Davis east far outweigh the benefits of trading him to the Lakers, especially if they have any type of roster left after the trade. A team like the Celtics, may not be as interested because of recent comments by Anthony Davis’s father about Danny Ainge’s treatment of Isaiah Thomas.
But if the Celtics are willing to roll the dice Davis, they do still have valuable draft capital to offer. If it's somehow possible to take for Dell Demps to get a combination of Terry Rozier, Jayson Tatum, and Jalen Brown from the Celtics with any type of draft capital for Anthony Davis and whoever, I think that is a much better trade for New Orleans.
Jayson Tatum showed us last year in the playoffs that he has the potential to be a franchise player. The Celtics to me look like they are giving the franchise to Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, or at least they are conflicted on it at the moment.
If the Celtics are willing to take the risk of losing Davis after the season, New Orleans should pull the trigger on that young core.
Another team that could want Davis is the Chicago Bulls.
I don't know what Chicago would be willing to give up, but similar to New York, their 1st round pick is most likely going to be a lottery pick. Davis is from Chicago and I'm sure the Bulls would love to land Davis.
The Raptors could offer an attractive package of core players and draft picks in an attempt to try to keep both Kahwi and Davis, although I don't think that would be a well-advised move for the Raptors.
The point is that the New Orleans Pelicans, because of Anthony Davis’s public announcement, have a lot more leverage than the media is reporting.
I'm sure they aren't angry with Davis as he did give them 2 contracts and the team doesn't look like it has any sign of improving around Davis.
I think this is a great opportunity for the Pelicans go form a core around players like Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brown or Kevin Knox and one of the Duke Stars.
Collect young stars, give them the reigns, and watch a contender become formed in New Orleans for the first time.
Don't give the city that stole Chris Paul away from you another chance at stealing your star player, win this trade, and send him east.
Los Angeles is trying to use their fan base and media power to control the narrative, and suggest that New Orleans best offer is in LA, but there is some value in not letting the Lakers do this, again.
-Joshua Bottorff
