Lebron James played insane tonight. BUT. I don't know if it was ALL effort. Speaking as a streaky jump shooter, when you start to make a few, it opens up EVERYTHING. If he's making his jumpers, he's basically unguardable, and you can't just effort your way into hitting 18 footer after 18 footer. Everything flowed off of that, and I don't think it really mattered what expression he had on his face.
As others have noted, there is no reason for refs to get involved when LeBron James blows the Celtics out by himself. However, revisionist bullshit and media narratives aside, let's not act like James hasn't taken over hugely important Conference Finals games before. For instance, there was that time he scored 48 points in a double-overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons in 2007 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Oh, and James scored his team's last 25 points all by himself. I recall at the time, Bill Simmons called it the greatest playoff performance EVER. (And it's not as crazy as you think; it's definitely in the top 5-10, and allowed the Cavs to make the Finals instead of the Pistons, who were a much more solid, well-rounded team) LeBron uncorked another amazing, hugely clutch performance last night. He has had a lot of them in his career already. He will have many more.
There's also the series against Orlando where he averaged 38.5, 8.3, and 8. With a triple double, and a 44/14/12 game. Or the time in Game 7 against the Celtics team that won the title, where he went for 45, 5, and 6.
Thinking is dangerous for some people. Yes, the expression on his face matters. Are you kidding me? It affects his teammates. Wade was on the bench and he was mirroring the same expression. It makes Mario Chalmers not scared to shoot those 3s, it makes Battier play tougher defense, it makes Mike Miller who is as healthy as a shambling zombie play tough. The Hate Face means a lot, if the leader has the Hate Face on, they're not going to complain about the officiating (which wasn't a problem) they're not going to get lazy on defense, they're going to continue to hustle for every rebound even when they're up 15 points, they're not going to relent one minute. When the Boston Celtics go on a run in the third quarter, Spoelstra calls the time out, LeBron James walks back to the huddle and says nothing else besides "Get me the fucking ball" with the hate face on...everyone locked in. The game ended there. It matters the most because that was an elimination game, in the Eastern Conference finals. I'll say it again. This is the version of LeBron James we've wanted to see. I don't care if he's had similar numbers before. I've watched him in the playoffs before, yes even the Detroit game. This was different. If you didn't watch that and feel something different...then I am enjoying myself more than you and I feel sorry for you. That's all I'm going to say about that.
OK, and if he'd been unlucky rather than lucky, and gone 9/26 rather than 19/26? Would anyone care about his mean-mug? Everyone feels good after a 20 point win, and less so after a loss. He mean-mugged like a motherfucker in that Celtics game in 2008. As did Paul Pierce. That was an elimination game. Game 5, 2009 was an elimination game, and all the man did was HAVE A 37 POINT TRIPLE DOUBLE. 2009, elimination game in Boston? TRIPLE DOUBLE AGAIN. The idea that he has typically been some shrinking violet in elimination games is baseless nonsense: the guy averages 31.4 points per game in playoff elimination games. But we don't remember it, because they didn't win them all, and history remembers the winners. You sound like Skip Bayless with this Hate Face shit. I didn't feel something different last night, because I am used to LeBron doing this stuff. He does it all the time.
Just because I don't buy into shaky narratives doesn't mean that I'm not at maximum enjoyment. The Celtics missed a lot of makeable shots. Lebron James was downright amazing, and hit way more jumpers than he normally does. He was bold and didn't back down from the moment, and that's important, but like MC said, if he's mean-mugging and missing those shots, all people are talking about is how "he's all bluster and can't finish", "look at him pretending to be tough," and "awwww look how hard he's trying."
Also, everybody mean mugs when they're on fire. Except Tim Duncan. He just kind of sad mugs all the time.
Apparently LeBron was doused with beer by a fan as he was leaving the arena after his 45 point game. While this isn't some major tragedy (a lot of pro athletes have been the victims of this at opponents' arenas), it's one of those times you genuinely feel sorry for the guy.
That was unnecessary but pretty innocuous as far as dousings go. If I was LBJ, I would take it as the ultimate sign of doubt I just dropped on the hometown fans. I have always said that once a fan breaks that 4th wall between the stands and the court/players, then it's open season. I had less of a problem with what Artest did in Detroit than most. You want to get physically involved with me, then let's dance. Going into the stands over what a fan says in unacceptable. But there should also be limits. I dont want to hear anything about the guy's family. And if you want to be profane, be prepared to answer to some of your fellow fans with kids. I bring my 7 year old son to Dolphins games and I have little patience for some drunk asshole yelling obscene shit, especially from where I sit.
When that dumb cunt writes stupid shit, just ignore him. Don't give his nonsense additional credence by copying and pasting it. Anyways, amazing game going on right now. Boston's top 4 are all playing well, but so is everyone on Miami except for Wade.
Amazing game by LeBron. I like that after he missed some over-ambitious perimeter shots with a defender in his face, he either comes back to drive hard to the basket or feeds a teammate for an open shot. That's a truly clutch player who doesn't insist on playing hero ball all the time, like a Kobe.
Holy fuck, it was that bad? I knew they were at 86 for a good three minutes, I didn't realize that they fucked up that many possessions.
That was some of the worst possessions I've ever seen at the end of the game by the Celtics. They looked like chuckers at a local rec league.