I Can't Defer

[Check my Stats]

The Heat went out of their way to showcase Dwyane Wade as the alpha dog prior to their preseason opener on Tuesday night, but LeBron James isn't ready to defer to his new teammate.

 

Wade went last in pregame introductions and when the Big Three posed for pictures James and Chris Bosh were on opposite sides of the long-time Heat superstar.

 

Regardless, LeBron admitted that he can't be a follower.

 

"I can't defer," James said. "I'm never in defer mentality."

 

 

I just wanted to post this instead of an LA fan posting it and getting torched.

[Guru]

No shock here. Lebron's ego is way too big for him to "defer".

[Flash]

Not worried lol.

[Check my Stats]

Not worried lol.

 

.....really?

[Real Deal]

WOW. A Raptors fan would post this. Scared that the Heat will win the East this year?!?! You mad the Heat will possibly have a better record than the Raptors?

[Nitro]

Wade went on record over the summer saying he wasn't going to change his style of play and that he hopes Bron doesn't, either. And that's how it should be.

[Flash]

.....really?

 

Not at all.

[Real Deal]

I don't think it'll be an issue for the regular season, but I think the Heat fans do have to worry once Miami has to play a team like Boston 4-7 times in the playoffs. I think the tension will be much higher, Wade and Bron will jump the gun trying to take over games when they see each other struggle down the stretch, and it could cause some trouble.

 

Don't forget, part of the self-destruction of the Kobe/Shaq dynasty was due to this exact thing. People can praise the Spurs all they want and talk about how great they were, but most Lakers fans will come in and admit that the two egos clashed often, in both the regular season and especially the playoffs, and it presented a problem after that third ring (and even during their dynasty run, to be honest, but it was never as severe as it was after the third championship).

[SRV]

Problem with Shaq and Kobe is that they both thought they were the greatest of all time. Wade has the ability to take a lesser role, I am sure he would welcome it after 7 years of carrying the team on his back. Even with a lesser role, he will still do what he does, just doesn't have to take those force shots like he has in the past.

 

I knew Lebron would want to the ball in his hand, but it doesn't mean he will be the only one scoring. Its never a bad thing when three guys on your team can take over the game. Its not like they will hog the ball just because they want all the glory.

[Flash]

I knew Lebron would want to the ball in his hand, but it doesn't mean he will be the only one scoring. Its never a bad thing when three guys on your team can take over the game. Its not like they will hog the ball just because they want all the glory.

 

This. These guys knew what they were in for when they signed. I don't think all of a sudden one guy is deciding to go above the others and declare himself "the man".

Edited October 6, 2010 by Flash

[Nitro]

Don't forget, part of the self-destruction of the Kobe/Shaq dynasty was due to this exact thing. People can praise the Spurs all they want and talk about how great they were, but most Lakers fans will come in and admit that the two egos clashed often, in both the regular season and especially the playoffs, and it presented a problem after that third ring (and even during their dynasty run, to be honest, but it was never as severe as it was after the third championship).

 

I don't think Kobe/Shaq is a great analogy. Yeah, that duo collapsed for that reasoning, but Kobe/Shaq were two of the NBA's biggest ego's who wanted to dominate with their scoring. Wade and LeBron aren't as head-strong in terms of basketball ego, and they aren't guys who mind being "everything" men.

 

What also destroyed that duo was Kobe was young and had never been given the keys to a franchise, while Shaq was already a proven commodity and the tail-end of his absolute prime. If they were both FA's in 2003, there is NO way they would have stayed a tandem. Meanwhile, Wade and LeBron WANTED this oppertunity, and have played together on FIBA so they know what to expect from each others' games.

[Real Deal]

Wade has the ability to take a lesser role, I am sure he would welcome it after 7 years of carrying the team on his back.

There's no proof of that, though. In that case, all three will want lesser roles, because all three carried their teams.

 

Seven years still puts these players in their primes. Technically, they aren't even NBA veterans yet (10+ years).

 

I think there are people overrating AND underrating what this team can do, both sides of the fence. But, I can't say I fully trust that the three will be able to share the ball similar to, say, the 2004 Detroit Pistons (who had no clear-cut dominant scorer).

 

And I feel like Kobe and Shaq DID take a lesser role. O'Neal never averaged 30 or more PPG in his career...but I have a gut feeling he could've. Bryant didn't hit 30 until the third ring was completed, and he took over 27 FGA per game on his way to a 35.4 PPG average, post-Shaq.

 

But, despite those two deferring to each other to win three consecutive titles, the egos intercepted their success. These were two guys who stated they were going to win championships together until they retired, stood by none other than Magic himself and told the world this. It's two guys who really did take a lesser role when Payton and Malone came in, 6-8 less points per game, just to win a fourth.

 

The only team that has had success doing this was Boston, and it may have been because they were all failing so much, they needed to defer. Garnett and Ray were much older, and none of them (even Pierce) had a ring to their name. None of them were dominant 30+ PPG scorers that found their way to the NBA Finals, and neither Ray or Pierce were among the top five in the league at any point of their career. Houston's experiment with Hakeem, Barkley and Drexler failed due to injuries and age. The Lakers' experiment that included Malone and Payton failed possibly due to that one injury to Malone, and Bryant and Shaq not being able to play together. Wilt, West and Baylor didn't make it due to injuries.

 

While it'll always be about the team as a whole, it won't seem like it because there are three monsters in Miami. One goes down, though, and then it will be very evident that the entire team is most important, and that's where those other teams failed in the past.

 

Only problem is, most of the ones I named were older, ringless (or hurting for wins), and desperate. I'm really not sure if this current Heat trio shares the same characteristics, and that maybe, it's this trio that will have the biggest concern with chemistry and selfishness.

[Real Deal]

Wade and LeBron aren't as head-strong in terms of basketball ego

You can give me that argument for Wade, but there's no way you'll ever convince me that LeBron's ego isn't as bloated as Shaq or Bryant's.

[Flash]

^^I don't think either Wade or LBJ have the same infatuation for being "the man" like Kobe or Shaq did. Not nearly.

 

Also, Shaq's ego alone > all 3 of those guys combined.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Flash

[Real Deal]

Haha, okay, nothing to worry about. They will all defer when necessary, and play perfectly. Lots of proof, no reason to speculate.

[Nitro]

You can give me that argument for Wade, but there's no way you'll ever convince me that LeBron's ego isn't as bloated as Shaq or Bryant's.

 

LeBron has a huge ego, but it's guided in a different direction from Shaq/Kobe. LeBron has an ego of the Magic Johnson variety. He knows he's one of the 2 best players in the league, and has supreme confidence in his abilies. However, I don't think he has the same ego as young Kobe/Shaq, who demanded touches, shot attempts and the glory of being "the man." I think he'll be perfectly content with a decrease of shot attempts, but being able to showcase all of the incredible things he can do.

 

As I said, if either Wade or LeBron had ANY concerns regarding shot attempts and being labelled as the clear-cut man, they wouldn't have made this trio happen.

[SRV]

All three of them knew what they were coming into. Lebron knew this was Wade's team, Wade knew Lebron wanted the ball at all times, and Bosh knows he is the third wheel. Don't know how they play together since Wade only played 3 minutes, but from what I saw, Lebron and Bosh mixed perfectly.

Edited October 6, 2010 by SRV

[Flash]

Haha, okay, nothing to worry about. They will all defer when necessary, and play perfectly. Lots of proof, no reason to speculate.

 

No one's saying that, but at this point you're just trying to find ways to say they'll fail it seems. You have no proof to say that they will play poorly together either. They've played one pre-season game.

Edited October 6, 2010 by Flash

[SRV]

No one knows...but all signs point to them playing well together. I have yet to see a reason as to why they will all become egotistical ballhogs. Using Kobe and Shaq is a horrible example because they still won 3 straight titles, I don't see what went wrong there...plus, these three aren't Kobe and Shaq, they are Wade, Lebron and Bosh.

 

Its like saying Jordan, Magic and Bird would be a massive failure because they are all big time players.

Edited October 6, 2010 by SRV

[Real Deal]

but at this point you're just trying to find ways to say they'll fail it seems.

LOL, I don't know how many times I have to repeat it (maybe it's because you guys drool over hearing it?), but I think the Heat will win 60+ games and probably get to the Finals. I don't have a motive to post reasons why I think they will fail. I really don't care. If I was insecure about my team, it would be a different story...but the Lakers are the two-time champs, they have Kobe, they have Phil, and we're in the West.

 

All I'm simply saying is that there should be a little concern, at least in the playoffs, about selfish play, based on their previous averages, James' ego and his latest comment. All you guys are saying is that there's no chance of it. Very convincing, fellas.

 

Just noticed that Dee is rooting for the Lakers, if her Mavs don't win it all. She has always hated the Lakers, since our days at JBB (in 2004). I'm starting to see a lot of people doing this, also, and for very good reason, and a lot of it doesn't have anything to do with LeBron leaving Cleveland.

 

Criticizing the Heat doesn't make you a hater, but saying they will do this and that, nearly perfect trio, makes you the ultimate homer.

 

Let me go ahead and write the reply a few of you will give...

 

I can't wait until the season starts. I love the hate.

So, again, cool. Your team has no holes, has the three best players in the NBA, and has already won six consecutive titles and 73+ games, is already the greatest trio to ever play together. They will be perfect. Their games complement each other to perfection. Perfect. Chalmers and Co. will be much, much better players, the Heat will go 16-0 in the playoffs (because who the hell can defend Wade AND LeBron, right?) and all 29 other teams' fans will eat crow for being haters.

 

Hope I covered it all. [expletive] is making me want to leave my own site and never turn on ESPN again...and yeah, it's definitely not just the media anymore.

[Flash]

All I'm simply saying is that there should be a little concern, at least in the playoffs, about selfish play, based on their previous averages, James' ego and his latest comment. All you guys are saying is that there's no chance of it. Very convincing, fellas.

 

Why? They've only played one pre-season game together. If they have struggles throughout the regular season then I'd see reason for us to be concerned. However, after one pre-season game where they all played together for 3 minutes there's just no basis to say we should be somewhat concerned.