LeBron James didn't stick around Saturday night to speak with anyone about the fall of his Cleveland Cavaliers, leaving the point guard who failed him to speak in his behalf.King James might not be happy this morning with how he was portrayed -- Mo Williams made him sound like a spoiled child.
Williams meant well when he started talking about the frustration that James was feeling, and why after James showered, he put on his headphones, ignored everyone around him, then walked to the team bus without talking.
"I understand his disappointment, but he'll be all right,'' Williams said. "He's a great professional. It is basically like, you're a kid at Christmas time, and you want that remote control car that you have been begging your mom for the whole time. Christmas comes and you open a present, and you open another present, then another present, and you never see that remote control car.
"You can have 10 presents; but you don't have that remote control car. You are going to be sad and disappointed anyway,'' he continued. "So, I mean, you will get over it. You will get over it.''
James, meanwhile, was already on the team bus. He had averaged 38.5 points through six games, cementing his status as the best player in basketball, but he let down his team when he failed to dominate Game 6, scoring a mortal-like 25 points.
By leaving Amway Arena without speaking, he will only fuel the talk that the Cavs still have not provided him with teammates who can help him win a title, furthering the notion that he will leave when his contract expires after next season.
Williams had 17 points and five assists, a decent game after a slow start. He was supposed to be the second star for the Cavs in these playoffs, but he struggled to fill the role throughout Cleveland's final series.
As much as anyone, he felt the disappointment of James, who had raised expectation in Cleveland, making everyone believe they could win an NBA title.
"It was frustrating for all of us,'' Williams said.
Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Props to Cleveland's season, but in the end the simple fact was, Orlando is the better team. Period. All of the LeBron media saturation they could muster was not going to change that. This doesn't mean the Cavs are not a good team, or that LeBron's "supporting cast" is all of a sudden crap just because they lost to Orlando. They also lost two out of three to them in the regular season. If they would have played the Magic in the first round, they would have gone home then. Cleveland had no answer nor matchups for their inside/outside game.
As to LeBron - I still like him and all, but it's sad he had to put a stain on the end of an awesome season - not be losing this series, but by his behavior afterwards. As much of a crushing and bitter disappointment the end of the Cavs season must be to him, and as understandable it is that he didn't want to face the press, walking off the floor and not congratulating the Magic players was straight up disrespectful. Ignoring the media after a loss is weak, but bolting straight to the locker room is Isiah Thomas Pistons stuff. Classless and immature.
I've noticed through the years that regardless of the occasional dolt who tries to claim Kobe is arrogant and immature etc, Kobe when facing the press, win or lose, has consistently and regularly conducted himself with class, maturity, humor, humility and accountability. Just his post-games from these playoffs alone provide a strong example of this.
If "The King" is man enough to sit there and act the part in front of the press when he wins, he oughtta be man enough to do so when he loses. I prefer Kobe's kind of leadership. Apologize, LeBron. It's the right thing to do.
The supporting cast is crap...they won 66 frickin' games, 66 dude...the first team in NBA history with 65+ wins not to win a title. They didn't even reach the title game. King James, a great talent, but not yet a great player...as much as this kills me to say...Kobe is the best player in the NBA.
The Refs make Lebron who he is. With out them he's just another mortal. If it weren't for the Refs the series would have been over in 4 games.
The League was fixing games.
Howard is twice Lebron's size and twice as strong. The only difference this game was the refs let him play and didn't penalize him for being the better than Lebron.
The magic won the regular season series against The Lakers, the Cavs & the Celtics (with Kevin Garnett)
Howard was the defensive player of the year. He's a monster. He's the most dominant player in the league. He averages over 15 rebounds a game while leading his team.
LeBron did the exact same thing last year in Boston after the infamous Game 7, in which LeBron had 45 points, but was generally outplayed by Paul Pierce who had 41 points and led the Celtics to the win. LeBron left the court in a huff, without any handshakes, etc. It was talked about a lot after that game.
Poor sportsmanship is a pattern for LeBron. Here is a recent description on ESPN of last year's incident:
"Head down, eyes trained on his Nikes, James stormed off the court in Boston last year. No congratulatory handshakes or good-luck hugs. No words."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=4125600
By contrast, after the Lakers were eliminated by Boston in a 39-point blowout, Kobe Bryant did all the right things. Kobe was a MAN -- LeBron was a BOY (and I am NOT a Kobe fan). Does LeBron really think that his competitiveness is greater than Kobe's?
People might be willing to forgive LeBron for the first occurrence, but when he does it two years in a row, it gives a true indication of his lack of character. He is like a selfish little kid who leaves the playground and takes the ball with him so that no one else can play.
He disrespected the Celtics, he disrespected the Magic, and he disrespected the fans. He also disrespects his own teammates when he refers to them as "supporting cast" and "complementary players". How does he expect to ever get any decent players around him when he has such a demeaning view of teammates? Can you imagine how a guy like Carmello Anthony or Paul Pierce would feel if they were called a "supporting cast"? I'll bet that there aren't ANY superstars in the NBA who would want to play on this guy's team.
PS: Kobe remains the "best player in basketball". Especially when it counts most.
lebron did show disrespect in not being a man about the situation but it was what he worked for all season and why he busted his @ss all season long and why he made it to to the playoffs with one goal in mind even with 25 points his teammates were a keypart why they lost in a all or nothing game and lebron with all the media and the pressure the adversity was all to much to lose. when it came to losing that game he felt deep inside he had lost his purpose and let his fans down but i cant blame him that was one of the biggest dissapointments in the nba orlando could have cared less if lebron said good game they were busy celebrating anyway good game to orlando but kobe isnt going to let take it
"King" James, and The Burger King are tied with zero championships..
I like Lebron, but I'm sorry that was in poor taste. Lebron didn't shake hands with Orlando, and then didn't do his press interviews. All great players show sportsmanship. Even those of you Laker haters will know that Kobe has whenever the team has lost, including last years lost to Boston. It's a disappointment that Labron didn't man up, he just acted like a spoil baby.
This is nothing new for LeBron. When he was knocked out by Boston last year, he did the exact same thing. He's a sore loser.
I would be upset also it I was LeBron. This man has busted his gut, averaging many points and the team (coaches and all) were not supportive. One man cannot make a team, peopl ebest realizing he needs good players along side him. He gives his heart and I would be fed up also. Bein gfrom Cleveland, I'd hate to see him leave, but he needs management to assist him in getting a title.
After 44 years watching Cleveland sports, I know exactly how Lebron James feels.... Probably the best decision is to leave the city and get his championships because this city has eaten our dreams alive..... Coach Brown was like every Coach this city has seen since 1964.... He thinks almost getting there is good enough after he personally was one of the biggest reasons we didn't get there. Plain and simple he shouldve sent every player into Dwight Howard with the ball and forced foul trouble early and often, but Brown became Marty Schottenheimer and strangled the team until the lead got to big.... Fatman Van Gundy was right about 1 thing he said the Cavs were not a tough team.... Z never showed up.... Mo Williams guarateed a victory but only shot 5 times in the half.... that's quitting..... the only player that showed up to play with Lebron was Delonte. The people Lebron outta be upset with is Daniel Gibson, Moe Williams, Z, Wally, Ben Wallace.... they all quit on him before the game started, but the real mirage is the coach.... he is not deserving of Coach of the year.... he reverted back to the dude that didn't make adjustments during the finals against the Spurs.... for a team with no excuses that advertised that motto all year on our tv sets.... they sure seemed to be content using the excuse that Orlando was a bad matchup.... my ass.... that is the biggest excuse of all....Just leave Cleveland Lebron why bother, it doesn't matter to true fans here.... we have come to expect teams and players to up and quit on us..... hell, theyve done it for 44 years.... if Cleveland fans were smart theyd stop filling up these damn staduims and the pockets of owners that use them for money and could care less what they do to our dreams and aspirations.... go on to New York and be a big star.... leave us behind Lebron..... you are a great athlete but you are not great enough to overcome the black cloud hovering over this city..... it's everywhere dude..... the media is full of it, the radoio is laced with it, and the PD reporters love it......... all Cleveland is remembered for is the city of losers.... we've been stamped with pernament ink.... and refs use it to screw our teams.... last night Dwight Howard couldve elbowed open four faces and that crew was not gonna call them.... it's a fact... half the refs had money on Orlando througfh alias names we are not stupid or blind.....They mug Cleveland players....Howard swung elbows grinning its on tape and nothing was done about it...... There is 1 way to stop the bullshit is the fans refuse to pay for rigged games, crappy players, and owners like Dolan and Lerner who don't give a crap...... I will not spend 1 more buck on jerseys, ball caps or anything from Cleveland sports.... I will wait til I see a trophy before I ever believe in anything again.... I want Mike Brown fired today.... don't let him screw up the last year Lebron is playing here cause he will.....Dan Gilbert are you gonna be the new Randy Lerner or Larry Dolan and set back and do nothing..... Lebron left his teammates hanging after the game cause they left him alone on the court...they deserved it....the best thing Danny Ferry and Dan Gilbert could do uis call Coach K and offer him the moon and stars to replace Brown.....Mike Brown will never win hear mark my words he's a Marty Schottenheimer type fellow, a nice guy with loser stamped across his forward..... the old prevent defense got us again.... prevented us from winning.....why wasnt James covering Dwight Howard? Why was he on some meaningless guard? Why didnt Z attack Howard drippling the ball? Why wasn't he made to? Why was an old Ben Wallace defending a three point shooter with the game on the line? Why did Mike Brown allow Moe Williams to shoot only 5 shoots in the first half of the biggest game in Cleveland history? Why wasn't every oplayer that had the ball not going right into Dwight Howard early and often in the 1st Quarter.... Why Did Mike Brown refuse to coach the series against Orlando? How did Mike Brown allow his team to lose home court advantage? the answers are simple.... hes a very ordinary coach at best..... says all the right things, but offers up excuses for failure. We Cleveland fans have seen it all time and time again..... you think we don't have millions and billions of dollars invested in loser jerseys and caps and balls since 1964 hanging in each and everyone of our closets.... Lebron you are a special player.... and I am one of your biggest fans..... my advice to you don't let this city ruin you like it has ruined us the fans........ leave us behind for brighter lights and bigger stages.... hell thats what the refs want or have been ordered to do by Stern and his jailbird thugs he calls refs..... these guys all bet on the games they officiate.....and to all the fans out there.... why is there 1 fan at a Cleveland Indians game..... explain that ticket purchase to watch the worst team play baseball and the worst owner Larry Dolan fill his greedy pockets with your money..... Fans in this city outta surround the staduims and not let these teams bring us down......but we don't.... we are Cleveland fans, and with the right bait, we surely will bite again on that hook of thinking we are gonna get a championship of some sorts, when in reality..... it will be another 44 years and most of us will have spent our money on losers and owners that dont care......let it go Cleveland fans..... bringing back the Browns has worked out well hasn't..... Lerner a spoiled little rich kid that hates our city and won't live here, pockets millions, and why? Cause the NFL owners awarded the Lerner family the team after selling it out to Baltimore from beneath us..... Lerner is a twin to Model.... they were on the plane screwing the loyal fans just like Art Model.....Lebron come speak and tell the fans you're leaving after next season because you can't win championships here, just be upfront with us..... go to NY or whereever the NBA comissioner has it mapped out so it can all be about money..... screw the home town....Do you ever wonder if the gms take secret pledges to hire idiot coaches, cause they all seem to be stupid.... everyone of them..... the only time they play hard is when they need a staduim or something..... do not lock yourself into a longterm situation in Cleveland Lebron unless you get part ownership in the team..... cause as sure as I'm typing this.... Danny Ferry is gonna keep trotting up Mike Brown......and with that coach, no matter who suits up..... you will lose.
I think your comments are very accurate,in looking at the situation I don't understand why Cleveland can't win a title in anything.I have to agree with you 100%, college sports, professional sports, it sure seems someone has a hex on your poor town.I wish there was something I could do to help I feel your pain!!!!
The reason LeBron wasen't covering Howard was because HE COULDN'T, Howard is way stronger, James would've needed help, Howard had already made all their bigs look like school girls. Don't you think that if James thought for a second that he could stop Howard he would of, he knew he couldn't...Period...
Give the people of Ohio a break and jump in the river. You obviously did not notice that James packed it in and quit in the second quarter last night.
This Cavs team is a shoe-in for ESPN "Top 5 Reasons..." and "Most Over-rated Teams in NBA History" count down... and with that performance, they solidified the no. 1 spot, period...and for many years to come if not forever. That Cavs team was a total farce, from top to bottom.
You are absolutely on point...Coach Brown is thee biggest reason for this pummeling...no adjustments whatsoever...offensively nor defensively. A depleted, weary Boston team can push Orlando 7 games and this team can only pull out 1 decisive victory....that was pathetic.
Wow, 66 wins and no cast to win a championship. Are you serious? Plain and simple they didn't get the job done! Don't look at management, look in the mirror! It starts with that person. I laugh at Lebron, but you did do something like MJ did before you. Didn't shake the other teams hand, like he did when the pistons knock his bulls out. Lebron you may be great and rich, but you have to show some class too!! Swallow the defeat like you would a victory and learn from it.
Come on folks..........give the Magic the credit they deserve. They won this series - it wasn't handed to them. And for Lebron's actions after the game...........very unprofessional. We have all been taught that in life you win as a team and you lose as a team.
The after game situation in Boston when Orlando won the series was gracious whereas this was not.
LeBron should have been more gracious in losing and not another Tiger Woods. One Tiger is enough.
You did the best you could LeBron, winning is not the only thing as Coach Lombardi said when he was totally wrong.
How L eBron acted was childish what is he showing these young kids who look up to him poor sportsmanship.