Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Why so much hate on LeBron James?



Does LeBron James deserve all his hate for going to Miami just to win Championships? First let me state I neither like LeBron James nor do I dislike him. But, I have to bring these facts up because so much hate has been put onto LeBron. This all stems from the LeBron going to Miami to win championships with two other superstars. In the past ten years only one of the ten teams had less than two superstars or one superstar and three star players on them;  and this was the 2011 Dallas Mavericks. In these past ten years nine teams have had teams full of superstar players with stars surrounding them. Teams have been doing the same thing LeBron did for years. The Chicago Bulls had a team of Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, and Scottie Pippen. For years teams had great teams filled with unbelievable talents. The teams on this list all had won championships with either multiple superstars or future hall of famers.

Detroit Pistons 2004
Starting Lineup: Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton, Chauncey Billups
This team was one of the few in the past 10 years that did not have more than one superstar on them during the time, however they had three guys that were stars and two up and coming players. Nor did they dominate the NBA like most other teams did that have won championships, in fact they came in 2nd in the Central. Don’t get me wrong a team of Rasheed, Chauncey, Tayshaun, Rip, and Ben were a very good team. However, the team only had one all-star that season and that was Ben Wallace. At the time Tayshaun and Rip were still guys that were figuring out their roles on a very good team, that were led by the scoring ability of Billups, the fire of Sheed, and the defensive dominance of Big Ben Wallace. This team was one that wasn’t one of like that of the Heat, but they had a team of stars not superstars and hall of famers but, a starting lineup of stars.

San Antonio Spurs 2005, 2007, 2014
Starting Lineups: 2005- Nazr Mohammed, Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker
2007- Francisco Elson, Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen, Michael Finely, Tony Parker
2014- Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter
If we look at these teams they were all very good with one of the best Power Forwards ever to live in Tim Duncan. Each of these Spurs teams had 2 Super Stars in Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, with Manu Ginobili being a star 6th man. The 2005 team had a young Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili each of who dominated the league, helping bring a championship to San Antonio. The 2007 had Manu coming off the bench, with Tim Duncan, Michael Finely and Tony Parker as the star starters. The 2014 championship team was one with aging superstars with Duncan, Ginobili and Parker all coming towards the end of their careers. However, the team also had some young talents with future superstar Kawhi Leonard, and key role player Danny Green and Tiago Splitter. Each of these teams had 2 players that were one of the best at their positions and Manu being a key player off the bench. These teams again prove that one superstar cannot win a championship by themselves they need other stars.

Miami Heat 2006
Starting Lineup: Shaquille O’Neil, Udonis Haslem, Antoine Walker, Dwayne Wade, Jason Williams
This team was one filled with former superstars and future hall of famers as well as players that were up and comers and future superstars. This Heat team had players like Dwayne Wade, Shaq, Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton; four players that are Hall of Fame stars. This team was one with immense talent and strength. This was one of the best teams ever assembled, with so many veterans and so much youth and talent that they were able to get over the hump to win a championship. Key role players like Williams, Walker and the youth of Udonis Haslem, this team was able to put up one of the best seasons of all time. This was another team that was built of superstars, hall of famers, and role players. This is just like that of the new Miami Heat.


Boston Celtics 2008
Starting Lineup: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins
This team is another example of superstars joining together to win a championship. This team consisted of superstar Paul Pierce; which then the Celtics proceeded to bring in two superstars in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. With these additions the Celtics were able to get over the hump and just purely dominate the league. This was one of the best teams ever assembled with the amount of talent on the court. Three future Hall of Famers joining together to win a championship, doesn’t that sound familiar. This team also had future star Rajon Rondo as a youngster learning the ropes from 3 superstars, as well as having two very good veterans in Sam Cassell and James Posey. This team was unbelievable with so many great players on the court together there was no doubt that they would win the championship.

Los Angeles Lakers 2009 and 2010
Starting Lineups: 2009- Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Trevor Ariza, Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher
2010- Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest
This team of back to back champions was one of outstanding talents, the talents needed to beat out teams like the Boston Celtics. The Lakers matched this by bringing in guys like Pau Gasol and Ron Artest. The 2009 team consisted of a very good team with mega superstar Kobe Bryant, and stars Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The 2009 team was unbelievable one with stars and a superstar, but in 2010 the team would become even better, bringing in Ron Artest. This would make a team with 4 star veteran players and the superstar status in Kobe Bryant. This is another prime example of a team bringing together stars to win a championship. This is the same basic thing that the Miami Heat did to win their championship.

Look at all the teams I listed above and look at their rosters. They were teams either full of superstars or full of stars. I understand that LeBron and Chris Bosh planned this joining together of superstars and that is why there is so much hate. I also understand that LeBron broke the hearts of Cleveland fans several times. LeBron James is an immense talent and does deserve tons of respect. Though he had to join up with other superstars to get his championships does not take away from the things he has done in his career.  LeBron James gets too much hate for what he has done, though I do personally believe he has ruined basketball, he is still one of the best players of all time.

-Brett



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