<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Dallas- Charles Barkley does not want to hear any more excuses when it comes to LeBron James and his lack of game-winning shots and a perceived deficiency in clutch play, especially during the fourth quarter of games. James is only 21, but Barkley said three years in the NBA is enough seasoning to step up his game and become more of a threat during prime time. "LeBron's not a rookie anymore," said Barkley, one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time and an analyst for TNT. "He's got to have an imprint on the game in the last minute, by making a big rebound, getting a stop, taking a big shot, any way he can get it done. "They shouldn't lose five or six games in a row unless they're playing the Spurs or the Pistons during that span. He shouldn't let that happen." The Cavs have certainly had their fair share of losing streaks this season, and it isn't fair to put all the blame on one player just like it isn't fair to give one player all the credit. Questions have surfaced about some of James' decisions late in games and his inability to make winning shots in the final seconds. The ball of criticism began to roll in January when James missed a potential winning shot against the Los Angeles Lakers and passed up open shots against the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers. Barkley especially jumped on James' play following the Cavs' loss to the Washington Wizards in their first game after the All-Star break. In the loss, James was 0-for-8 from the field in the second half and 4-of-12 from the free-throw line, including four straight misses from the line in the final minutes. Two days later, James was 1-for-4 from the field and 2-for-4 from the line in the fourth quarter against the Pistons. "LeBron's got to be more selfish," Barkley said. "His team is going to expect him to finish these games. He can't have three or five points in the second half. He's got to decide and say to himself that 'we're not going to lose tonight.' He's got to find away where the outcome of the game is in his hands. If he wants to be great, he's got to make it happen." Players such as Philadelphia's Allen Iverson and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, whom James considers two of the top clutch players, have made it happen. Bryant and Iverson also had to learn what it takes to step up during the final minutes. Charlotte Bobcats guard Brevin Knight recently told the Palm Beach, Fla., Post that James is not in that class yet. </div> Source
Charles Barkley is my all time favorite baskeball player. He was rough, tough as nails, clutch, rebound, scoring machine. But he is a huge idiot.
How is he a huge idiot? He's speaking the truth. After 3 years of seasoning, there is no reason why LeBron should joke in the clutch. He even passed up wide open shots this season because he isn't confident in himself. To be a true leader, you need to be able to pull out the victory when your team needs it, LeBron hasn't proved that yet.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting K8B:</div><div class="quote_post">How is he a huge idiot? He's speaking the truth. After 3 years of seasoning, there is no reason why LeBron should joke in the clutch. He even passed up wide open shots this season because he isn't confident in himself. To be a true leader, you need to be able to pull out the victory when your team needs it, LeBron hasn't proved that yet.</div> Yeah, true leaders don't pass to open teammates. Hasn't LeBron learned anything since he's been in the league?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting norespect:</div><div class="quote_post">Charles Barkley is my all time favorite baskeball player. He was rough, tough as nails, clutch, rebound, scoring machine. But he is a huge idiot.</div> Barkley is not an idiot, you're just a blind fan. If you don't agree with Barkley, then you're not watching close enough.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, true leaders don't pass to open teammates. Hasn't LeBron learned anything since he's been in the league?</div> The particular play I'm talking about is when LeBron was wide open in the corner for 3 and he passed it, for I believe, was a turnover.
Um...........he is 21 freaking years old boys and girls. My god, he came into the league with the most hype of any professional athlete ever.....and instead of folding, he actually lived up to the hype his first year, maybe even surpassed it. He has gotten better every year in the league, and has finally got some teamates who can play this year. Jesus christ, i'd take him on my team over anyone else in this league. How old was Charles, MJ, and anybody else for that matter when they lead their team to the championship? They weren't 21, thats for sure.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting norespect:</div><div class="quote_post">Um...........he is 21 freaking years old boys and girls. My god, he came into the league with the most hype of any professional athlete ever.....and instead of folding, he actually lived up to the hype his first year, maybe even surpassed it. He has gotten better every year in the league, and has finally got some teamates who can play this year. Jesus christ, i'd take him on my team over anyone else in this league. How old was Charles, MJ, and anybody else for that matter when they lead their team to the championship? They weren't 21, thats for sure.</div> No one is questioning his skill or talent.
i think the criticism is fair. if we're gonna consider him as an elite player and an "heir" to the throne, then hes gotta come through in the clutch. Which he doesnt so far. Barkley's being harsh, but if you've got teh potential like lebron and you've got so much hype around u like lebron has, then you've gotta come through at crunch time. Sure hes gnona stuff up every now and then, thats expected, they all do, but hes just not coming through very often.
I hate Barkley 'coz of the way he disses my Mavs, but I gotta agree with him on this one. He does have a valid point - Being 21 years old is not an issue with Lebron. When you're in the league for 3 years, you have to know how to win close games. He is the franchise player already and should be willing to get his team through a close game or atleast show some improvement. Wade, Carmelo and Bosh from the same draft may not have better numbers as Lebron, but they have the respect of their teammates and are able to lead their team better. This is where the debate of NBA players coming straight out of high school comes in. Kobe, KG and Jermaine have proven to lead teams coming out of high school, but attending college even for a year will help the maturation process out of these kids. But its not totally Lebron's fault. You have to blame the coaches he has had as well. They should've had the right strategy at the right time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NaKz:</div><div class="quote_post">i think the criticism is fair. if we're gonna consider him as an elite player and an "heir" to the throne, then hes gotta come through in the clutch. Which he doesnt so far. Barkley's being harsh, but if you've got teh potential like lebron and you've got so much hype around u like lebron has, then you've gotta come through at crunch time. Sure hes gnona stuff up every now and then, thats expected, they all do, but hes just not coming through very often.</div> He's gotten two assists for game winners in the last few weeks. If that was Jason Kidd doing that, we'd call that an example of his great leadership: "Brilliant directing of offense in crunch time." But because fans are hardwared to believe players with LeBron's scoring abilities need to shoot everytime in crunch time, they overlook that he's usually making the correct basketball play.
Poeple forget that kobe wasn't hitting clutch shots fromt he beginging either, wasn't it during the 2000 WCF he hit that big airball to cost a game. the difference is that KG's first few years and kobe's first few years, they didn't have nearly the pressure to lead thier teams like lebron has. they were allowed to develop more slowly.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Johnnybrasco:</div><div class="quote_post">Poeple forget that kobe wasn't hitting clutch shots fromt he beginging either, wasn't it during the 2000 WCF he hit that big airball to cost a game. the difference is that KG's first few years and kobe's first few years, they didn't have nearly the pressure to lead thier teams like lebron has. they were allowed to develop more slowly.</div> I think that was like 97-98 when Kobe put up those airballs against the Jazz. His second season.
missing the point in my opinion I don't have a problem with LeBron missing shots or not being clutch YET...it's about not Competing. I don't get the sense he is playing hard AT ALL. He looks like he is playing a friendly game in the park. Kobe said LeBron is "laid back" - if you are a cavs fan do you want him to be laid back or do you want him to be hungry and determined to get into serious contention in the east? THat's why i don't enjoy watching lebron. I'd rather watch guys like shane battier or raja bell who put themselves on the floor to get that W. PLUS I get the feeling that Cleveland organization and coaching staff are so desperate for him to not leave their minor market they let him do what he wants. No one's going to call him out for not playing hard or not delivering. he is literally King James
Bah. If you ask me, a big part of the reason for his weak 4th quarters is simply his minutes.. I mean he is playing as many minutes a game as just about anyone in NBA HISTORY.. It's kind of expected that he'd fade in the 4th, close game or not.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">He's gotten two assists for game winners in the last few weeks. If that was Jason Kidd doing that, we'd call that an example of his great leadership: "Brilliant directing of offense in crunch time." But because fans are hardwared to believe players with LeBron's scoring abilities need to shoot everytime in crunch time, they overlook that he's usually making the correct basketball play.</div> Yer i'm not doubting lebron on his decisions to pass etc. I acknowledge that, and i respect that he did the right thing in crunch time then. But there have been more times when hes done the wrong thing in the clutch or just plain missed crunch time shots.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NaKz:</div><div class="quote_post">Yer i'm not doubting lebron on his decisions to pass etc. I acknowledge that, and i respect that he did the right thing in crunch time then. But there have been more times when hes done the wrong thing in the clutch or just plain missed crunch time shots.</div> You could say the same thing about virtually every player, though. But when LeBron makes those kind of mistakes, it gets magnified in the media because of his team's history of choking down the stretch.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">You could say the same thing about virtually every player, though. But when LeBron makes those kind of mistakes, it gets magnified in the media because of his team's history of choking down the stretch.</div> Also that and the fact there are huge expectations of lebron. Most of which came from before he even played an NBA game. Lebron is so talented, which leads people to expect him to be clutch. Don't you think it's hard to consider someone someone truly one of the best, if not the best in the nba, if they can't win the game for the team in crunch time one way or another. When Kobe missed those game winners early in his career, there wasnt the same amount of media attention to him as there is to lebron. (correct me if i'm wrong there, was a long time ago) Also factor in that kobe then wasn't on the same page as lebron is now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">He's gotten two assists for game winners in the last few weeks. If that was Jason Kidd doing that, we'd call that an example of his great leadership: "Brilliant directing of offense in crunch time." But because fans are hardwared to believe players with LeBron's scoring abilities need to shoot everytime in crunch time, they overlook that he's usually making the correct basketball play.</div> Jason Kidd is not the biggest scoring threat on hi team though, he's not even the second biggest. Great players want the fate of the game in their hands.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting norespect:</div><div class="quote_post">Um...........he is 21 freaking years old boys and girls. My god, he came into the league with the most hype of any professional athlete ever.....and instead of folding, he actually lived up to the hype his first year, maybe even surpassed it. He has gotten better every year in the league, and has finally got some teamates who can play this year. Jesus christ, i'd take him on my team over anyone else in this league. How old was Charles, MJ, and anybody else for that matter when they lead their team to the championship? They weren't 21, thats for sure.</div> Um......First Charles won no rings in his career so I seriously doubt that you even like Charles Barkley as a player. Second, I don't think Charles is complaining about LeBron not winning a championship team or blaming LeBron for ruining a championship team. I think he is rather urging LeBron to lead his team better. That's all. You know who Charles Barkely is, right?
