I think all of this negative reaction will change LeBron....for the better!

When I heard the reports that LeBron James got booed at Carmelo Anthony's wedding this weekend, the thought occurred to me that all of this negative stuff, the bad rep, publicity, the name calling, the jersey buring, the hating, all of it, may have an unintended effect of getting LeBron James to really play like the king in the clutch from now on.

I don't wish to be too harsh on him in that respect either. While he clearly cannot close like Kobe and really not even like D-Wade, he still was the best regular season player on the planet for the past 2 seasons. He also finally hit a big game winning shot in the Eastern Conf Finals Game 2 against Orlando last year, even after passing up the potential shot in Game 1, which I did rip him for. So he can, when prodded, come up with a big shot in a big moment. I realize they lost that series, but the fact that he went out and scored around 40 a game in that series and averaged nearly a triple double said something. It's hard to rip a guy too much when they lose if he was as effective as he was and the other team shot the lights out, like the magic did.

Fast forward to this year. Another MVP campaign for the self annointed King James. A second consecutive year with the best record in the NBA for his Cavs. But these playoffs told a different story. This time he did not play as well, and indeed it looked like he misfired and some say he quit against Boston in the final 3 games. He looked bad and as we are all painfully aware, he has made things worse by the way he has handled his free agency and his subsequent departure to Los Heat.

Here's where I think all of the negative publicity will change the guy. For the first time in his career- in his life really- he will not be laughed with and fawned over by every single person on the planet no matter what arena he goes into. His little choreographed picture taking act before games will only play at home, and the rest of the league will be derisively riding the guy. His reaction to all of this, all of the fans and media turning on him, even if not wholly, will prompt this narcissistic yet all time great talent to turn on the jets and play more cleanly and effectively in the clutch. I think he'll hit more than just the one game winner every year during the regular season. I believe he'll play better than ever in the playoffs, and with his new teammates, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, taking some of the heat off of him, James will produce like a champion. I am certain the Miami Heat will be in the Finals against the LA Lakers come June 2011.

   I know what you're thinking. Wade will be taking all of the game winning shots, anyway. LeBron won't have to close. Heck, most games won't be close enough to matter. Good points, except I think James will truly be motivated and has something in him we've heretofore only witnessed briefly. He has within in the ability to not just put up a triple double on the stat sheet, and play highlight reel defense when the regular season lights are on. I believe he will shine brightest under the harshest glare, which undoubtedly will be cast upon him and his mates in Miami. He'll come up big in the huge moments, and put his team in the hunt for a championship for the first time (I am not counting that trip to the guillotine against the Spurs in '07, when clearly his Cavs had that deer in the headlights look about them.)

Why do I believe all of these things? Why do I have the idea that the player before us will perform like never before? Because in my opinion, we've seen glimpses of greatness already. Now with D Wade and Chris Bosh making up the rest of the triumvirate now known as the "three kings," he'll feel less pressure at certain times of games. That, coupled with an anger within him that usually brews within great players when questioned or criticized, rightly or wrongly, will unleash a determined and consistent effort to bring home a title the first year. I realize I said, "bring home," when he now has relocated to D Wade's home, but that's the reality he has now earned and will live with from now on after his messy divorce from Cleveland. 

  I relaize I could be wrong. I know LeBron could go out and brick a game winner during an important game at some point this season, or even pass up a game winning shot when he has the best look. I am aware the pressure will build and the heat in Miami will be more intense than anything he has witnessed or felt to this point in his life. I am just going by what I think is inside this great player. I am going by the fact that normally in NBA history, when great players are faced with a situation where they simultaneously are presured like never before and they have the right mix of youth and experience and surrounding talent, they come through and prove they are all time great players, worthy of being called Top 10 material in the annals of basketball lore. 

I could be whistling in the dark. I might even be wrong about how LeBron will react to the situation, yet right about the Heat making out of an improving Eastern Conference. What with Wade already having the ability to win a title and close out games, and with an excellent power forward in Bosh, Miami has some things going for them besides James. Oh, and does anyone really think that by the All Star break, The Godfather (Pat Riley) won't be rolling out the basketballs and drawing up the plays on the sidelines?

This season will be a more intriguing one than it would have been, had "LeGone" stayed on the northcoast and gotten to the 2nd round only to evaporate before June yet again. I am willing to see if I am proven wrong. My bet is on this player responding with a scowl, a chip on his shoulder, and with great basketball that culminates in a trip to the Finals. Then the pressure will really be on, won't it?  

How's Tiger doing dealing with all the bad publicity and loss of the great image he once had??

has it come to that?  Tiger woods and LBJ is in the same sentence.

Tiger lost his wife and millions of dollars to his wife and sponsors leaving left and right.

LBJ changed teams.....he did not get convicted or indicted of a crime....he did not commit adultery....he was not accused of a crime......he just exercised his option and switched teams.

IMO, this hate on LBJ is legit.......and has been building for some time now

1.   He did not shake hands........while true he did not shake hands -- this was in actulaity a non-troversy and was over-blown by the media and the Haters....who shakes hands at the end of playoffs series and if you don't do so, is it the end of the world?  ---- yes it is a good gesture --- but not what everyone made it out to be.......

2.    He got dunked on and took the tape ......  while this too was true --- this was a nontroversy too --- another episode of Haters trying to put negativity out there on LBJ

3.   Now he becomes a free agent and leaves Cavs --- this too is true....but he is villified for going to a better team....and a better organization.....again another nontroversy..... that folks are trying to make it into a controversy.

Good points ct1016...

Listen, to put tiger and lebro in the same sentence is laughable except to admit that their value or "brand" has taken a hit. But as far as LeBron's shooting or health or speed or clarity of thought on the court.....come on now. None of that will be affected. And I think he will turn into an angry machine now that his popularity has been ravaged by some of his actions, coupled with people's jealousy and unwarranted anger.

I don't think humility is an important trait to win a championship. I think fire and passion and the desire to take the last shot....those things will be more evident than ever in this guy. At least I think that's what will happen.