Wiz-Cavs Final Thoughts

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve probably focused too much attention on the Cavs-Wizards series. Maybe it was the local angle. It was probably because Jay got involved. Plus, I had an inside source attending the games, giving me details that the general public didn’t get. And now, I’m kind of wishing I didn’t have it. Because the illusion that Lebron is this somehow mythical player has just vanished. Let me explain. Last week, I told you about Lebron and his quest for matching sunglasses. Despite the fact that he lost by 30, his post game concern was how his sunglasses matched the rest of his outfit. Post game 6, he left the conquering hero, wanting a new pair of shoes because he scuffed the ones he was currently wearing (I made a point of asking if these were Nikes or actually shoes. Because a new pair of Nikes to Lebron is like a new pair of socks to the rest of us. I’m fairly certain they don’t cost him a thing. But yes, they were actual shoes.)

Starting with the Pistons series last year, Lebron has done things that I never thought were possible on the basketball court. Just watch the Witness commercial last year of him dunking on Tayshaun Prince. I have never seen anyone get that high or dunk with that force in a dunk contest. This was in a do or die playoff game. It’s actually a thing of beauty to watch (alright, maybe this is revealing my inner basketball dork). But Lebron is a physical freak, unlike anyone the NBA has seen.

This Wizards series was no different. Against a team that had him beat in 3 out of 5 positions easily, his team won 4-2, losing one of those games at the buzzer. There were times tonight when I watched him play distributor Bron, and it was downright painful. Anytime he threw it to Ben Wallace or Joe Smith who were open for what would be an 80% shot for a normal NBA big man, it turned into, “Let’s just hit the rim and it will be a moral victory”. And yet, they managed to win by 20+ tonight to close out the series.

And that’s where it gets interesting. I was willing to let Lebron’s performance post game 3 slide. Sure, he got blown out, but I was will to chalk him wanting to know how his sunglasses looked up to him just being media conscience. After game 6, him throwing a hissy fit because his shoes were scuffed…ummm…I’m not quite sure how to handle this. I really want to take Lebron to task for being what I can only describe as a diva, or at least being a Hollywood celeb, but at the same time, I don’t know how. Why? Because I cannot possibly fathom what it’s like to be Lebron.

Lebron is 23. He’s been a celebrity since he was 16. He nearly lost his high school eligibility because for a) getting throwback jerseys and b) his mom getting him a Hummer. Who loses their high school eligibility for reasons other than grades? He’s been a celebrity or on the path to celebrity so long, his perception of reality is probably distorted from the rest of us.

Say what you want about Kobe (His only real competitor for best in the game. Sorry Chris Paul, you need to put some years on your resume), but he does have his human foibles. And he’s been through adversity. In short, he’s shown us his human side, even if that human side is buying his way out of divorce court with a diamond. Lebron? I’m struggling to find a time he didn’t appear to be the winner of the genetic lottery. He’s appeared on SNL and hosted the ESPYs, but I’m pretty sure he did not go outside his comfort zone.

I’ve always wanted NBA access. Now that I’ve got a source to get me that, I’m not really sure I did. Because I’m really struggling with how to feel about Lebron. How would I handle another NBA player if they were concerned about their glasses or shoes post game? Can I even relate to that lifestyle at this point? I was raised on Jordan. Has that completely distorted my expectations for players? I was especially hyped for in this series was to see a motivated Lebron. I ended up being mildly disappointed with 32, 12 and 9 games. Have my expectations been way too high? Because anyone else, that would be a tremendous game. Lebron, who I’m questioning his motivation, that’s an average game.

If I have a point (and I’m pretty sure I don’t) is that I’m completely confused as to what to make of Lebron and where he’s going. Is he more concerned with winning, or with being a global icon as he’s claimed? And if it’s the latter, should I even be disappointed? At this point in my life, shouldn’t I have accepted what professional sports are really all about? Or should I continue on this quest to find and enjoy watching greatness? Because Lebron represents the last frontier in what I can see in an NBA player. As good as Kobe is right now, he probably has half the physical talent that Lebron has. But outside of Jordan, there has not been one player as singularly determined as the Black Mamba (For good or bad. Remember, Jordan wasn’t always the greatest teammate either). At the end of this rambling, incoherent thing written at 12:45 at night, my main point is this: Do I need to lower expectations for the Lebron era or not?