LeBron James: Why the South Beach Star's Confidence Is Miami's Biggest Problem

LeBron James has been labeled a choke artist, a narcissist and anything else that would explain his disappearing act from a plethora of fourth quarters he has played. Somehow, the last moments of the game have become the most important and nothing that he has done prior should mean a damn thing.

Even when his first three quarters are atrocious, if he can manage a decent fourth quarter, nothing else matters. He is on the come-up.

Give thanks to the Tim Tebow syndrome for this mental outbreak.

But, watching LeBron play against the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night was probably the most inadequate he has been all season. Despite some big moments he had against his old team, James was practically invisible.

It was Chris Bosh who stepped up to the plate and ended the night with 35 pointsâ€"almost double LeBron’s point totalâ€"seven rebounds and he managed to go 14-of-14 from the line. But, still the light bounces off his monster game so that we can all evaluate what exactly was wrong with the Miami Heat against a Cavaliers’ team that was supposed to be easy money.

A lot of the blame for LeBron’s sometimes putrid performances against lesser teams can only be explained by his mental capacityâ€"more specifically speaking, his confidence. But it is not his lack thereof that should have head coach Erik Spoelstra shaken. It is his boisterous attitude when it comes to notably worse teams in the league that he should be worried about.

Last season when these two teams met for the first time, everyone saw the dog in LeBron. He was furious at how his exit had been treated by the fans that he had helped fill the stands with for seven seasons.

Dec. 2, 2010, LeBron James' stat line: 38 points, 60% FG, 8 assists, 5 rebounds

He is by far the most memorable and the most hated man that once wore a Cleveland Cavaliers jersey, but he played with a soft spot for his former franchise Tuesday night.

After losing to the Milwaukee Bucks, people expected that same hard-up Miami team that comes back and barrels from losses to prove everyone wrong. There is nothing wrong with having fun, but the beast in LeBron always makes for a much better performance, especially when there is no Dwyane Wade to back him up.

Miami came out in the first quarter displaying several of its weaknesses all at once. The Cleveland Cavaliers outscored the Heat, punched them in the mouth consistently with offensive boards, beat them in transition on more than a few occasions and simply played as if they had much more to lose.

How did LeBron do?

There was a play deep into the game where LeBron tried to get flashy and go behind his back through Cleveland defenders. Fighting for their pride as well as a tick in the win column, the Cavaliers forced another turnover.

Those signature blocks LeBron is so known for? Those were invisible while the Cavaliers were making those transition dunks all over the heads of seemingly confused Miami Heat players. The lack of intensity was intriguing and a bit telling as to why Miami is always ailing when it comes to teams it is supposed to defeat.

By not taking these franchises seriously at first glance, LeBron James shoots his team directly in the foot. Now, it was not only his lackluster efforts that put the Cavaliers up multiple times throughout the contest.

But, with Dwyane Wade out and proclamations being made to compare James to some of the greatest men to ever play the game, stepping up and shutting these teams down early would do so much more for a still growing squad.

LeBron is better than this. However, if he allows his confidence to force him to look past teams on his way to his very first NBA championship, it may be much longer before we see him and Wade hold up that trophy after a seven-game series.

Clips not a good fit for Dwight Howard - ESPN (blog)

LOS ANGELES -- Part of being a marquee team is constantly being in the rumor mill for superstar players and perhaps there’s no bigger sign of how far the Los Angeles Clippers have come in the perception department than the fact Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has included the Clippers in his short list of teams he would be open to be sent to via trade or perhaps sign with as a free agent.

Of course, this is nothing new. LeBron James had the Clippers on his short list before signing with the Miami Heat and the Clippers were on Chris Paul’s short list before he was eventually traded to the Clippers and paired with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to form “Lob City.”

CLIPPERS' PERSPECTIVE

In 10,000 season simulations the Clippers did show a measurable improvement if they traded Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan for Dwight Howard and Ryan Anderson.
BT - before trade; AT - after trade

LAC	WIN	LOSS	WIN%	PLAYOFF	DIVISION
BT	37.3	28.7	56.5%	72.0%	47.5%
AT	37.8	28.2	57.3%	76.0%	50.7%
DIFF	0.5	-0.5	0.8%	4.0%	3.2%

As the March 15 trade deadline looms, however, there are rumors that “Lob City” might be broken up before it ever truly had a chance to become a major municipality.

ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard on Tuesday wrote that the Clippers would be wise to trade Griffin and Jordan to the Magic for Howard and Magic forward Ryan Anderson.

While trading for the league’s best big man and an emerging power forward and adding them to a team led by arguably the league’s best point guard makes sense on paper, science isn’t totally in agreement.

Our friends over at AccuScore ran 10,000 season simulations of the proposed trade and the Clippers (as you can see above) show only a minor improvement if the trade went down while the Magic (shown below) would not benefit from such a trade. The Clippers would increase their per game win percentage by +1% and the Magic would see a decline of -3%.

MAGIC'S PERSPECTIVE

The decline for Orlando was actually more than the improvement by the Clippers.
BT - before trade; AT - after trade

ORL	WIN	LOSS	WIN%	PLAYOFF	DIVISION
BT	42.7	23.3	64.7%	97.8%	36.1%
AT	41.2	24.8	62.4%	96.3%	29.4%
DIFF	-1.5	1.5	-2.3%	-1.5%	-6.7%

(These projected records include each team’s current records. If you just looked at the remaining games the Clippers increased their per game win percentage by +1% and the Magic saw a decline of -3%.)

The short-term positive impact for the Clippers from the trade simply isn’t worth the long-term loss of Griffin and Jordan for the rest of their careers and ruining the chemistry that is being developed with Paul.

Howard may want to come to Los Angeles, but it doesn’t seem like “Lob City” is a good fit at this time.

Young wisdom - ESPN (blog)

US Presswire/Getty Images
On the topic of LeBron James, Cavs rookies are more mature than most.

There's a narrative out there that LeBron James is childish and foolish, and real deal longtime Cleveland fans could teach him a ton about what it means to be a real adult.

I'm going to pick almost randomly on Joe Tait here. (So many to choose from.) Tait's the longtime and much beloved Cavaliers' radio announcer, who recently retired and, as it happens, published a book, co-written with Terry Pluto. The book is called "Joe Tait: It's been a real ball."

Books by team broadcasters can be a bit saccharine, but not this one! Tait unloads on all kinds of stuff and when the topic comes to James, he is by and large even-handed. There is real respect for James in this book. But Tait entirely shuts the door to the idea that James might ever be able to offer life lessons of any value. Instead, in discussing James, he makes analogies about children, the insane, or criminals -- all of whom could use advice from someone like Tait:

• On Dan Gilbert indulging James: "Dan overdid it trying to placate LeBron ... It's like raising a child. If you give him everything he wants anytime he wants it ... that kid is going to come back one day and steal your car."
• On James' character: "He never has been, never will be a leader. And down deep, he knows it. That's why he left to go with Wade. He'd rather let Wade be the leader."
• On how the Heat were built: "I don't care how much these guys get paid. But I don't want the inmates running the asylum. I don't want the players acting like this is some summer league All-Star team that they put together themselves."
• On who should have been mentoring James: "You could say that an NBA lifer such as Joe could have been helpful to a young LeBron James ... or any other young player ... but most young millionaires don't think they need much advice."

Meanwhile, in the bigger narrative of James and Ohio, I can't help but feel that the real script is flipped. From what I can see, the younger people involved -- in this example James and rookies Cleveland rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson -- have scored almost all of the maturity points.

Yes, James tweeted something childish about karma, and after a year of the most vile, and cutting, often racially tinged criticism by the truckload, he said something about his critics having to go on with their sad lives.

But James has mostly taken the high road, or at least the silent one, in the face of an ugly ongoing vitriol. If I were James, I'd take these comments from Tait as entirely insulting. Yet they are mild compared to what has made it into print about James. But is it OK for adults to liken one another to children, inmates and teenagers in AAU who need advice?

It's OK, I'd argue, only if you buy into a childish need to demonize James.

Meanwhile, delightfully, as Kyrie Irving himself pointed out on draft day, and Brian Windhorst reminds us today, those rudderless "young millionaires" Tait was worried about aren't playing that game. LeBron James and the Cavaliers' ascendant rookies Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson ... they have been friends for years. They root for each other's success. They respect each other. And Thompson and Irving have developed tremendously well as players, Irving says in part thanks to emulating what he has seen from James and Chris Paul.

In other words, the most successful player in Cleveland history, and one of the most successful in NBA history, may have some valuable lessons of his own to teach. If only all those older, allegedly more mature and wise people were open to that possibility.

LeBron James a mentor to young Cavaliers

MIAMI â€"

LeBron James remains a villain in Cleveland. But to two of the city's brightest young sports figures, he's a mentor.

As high school stars, Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson met James at his invitation-only camp. Ever since then, the two Cleveland Cavaliers rookies have kept in contact with James, looking at him as a source of advice.

It doesn't matter that James broke Cleveland's heart, leaving the Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat. James' relationship with Irving and Thompson remains the same.

"I think besides what I do individually, I think that's just what I was born to do, and that's just try to give back," James said.

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Celebrities: See who is courtside at the Finals

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"I try to give back my knowledge of the game, give back what I've learned over the years to these younger guys coming into the league. I always have like an open phone invite. I've seen it all, everything. I don't have to break it down, I've seen it all."

That experience could be especially useful for Irving.

Like James in the 2003 NBA Draft, Cleveland chose Irving with the No. 1 pick in 2011. Also, much like James did, Irving has gotten his NBA career off to a fast start, averaging 17.4 points and 4.9 assists per game entering Tuesday's contest.

"He's not a rookie, really," James said. "His game is not a rookie-type game. He's always in control and he plays at his own tempo. It's great to see what he has been able to do just in his first year. But like I said, he doesn't carry himself or play like a rookie would play."

But there is at least one difference between James' rookie year and Irving's.

"He has no pressure," James said. "They're in kind of a rebuilding stage right now, as far as their team, and I don't think he has any pressure."

James-Cavs different this season

Last season, every time James went up against the Cavaliers, it was a big game. This year, it has a different feel.

"It's just another game," James said.

After facing Cleveland four times in his first season with the Heat, the excitement surrounding the matchup has died down. The only players left on the Cavaliers from James' time in Cleveland are Daniel Gibson, Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker and Anderson Varejao.

"I'm sure it probably means something to [James]," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But we played them multiple times last year, and I really only noticed it that first trip to Cleveland. It was very emotional and it was an awesome environment to play in."

Wade still out

Dwyane Wade is making progress, but not enough to return to the court yet.

The Heat guard did not play against the Cavaliers on Tuesday because of a sprained right ankle. It marked the fifth consecutive game Wade has missed and the eighth of the season.

But Wade will travel with the team to Detroit for Wednesday's contest. Still, his status for that game is unknown.

"Everything is the same as last game," Spoelstra said. "He's day-to-day. He has been doing work, and we'll let you know as soon as he has taken the next step."

Wade did participate in parts of Tuesday morning's shootaround, which is something he had not been able to do since spraining his ankle.

The Heat entered Tuesday's matchup against the Cavaliers with a 6-1 record without Wade this season.

LeBron James a mentor to young Cavaliers - Sun-Sentinel

MIAMI â€"

LeBron James remains a villain in Cleveland. But to two of the city's brightest young sports figures, he's a mentor.

As high school stars, Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson met James at his invitation-only camp. Ever since then, the two Cleveland Cavaliers rookies have kept in contact with James, looking at him as a source of advice.

It doesn't matter that James broke Cleveland's heart, leaving the Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat. James' relationship with Irving and Thompson remains the same.

"I think besides what I do individually, I think that's just what I was born to do, and that's just try to give back," James said.

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Celebrities: See who is courtside at the Finals

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"I try to give back my knowledge of the game, give back what I've learned over the years to these younger guys coming into the league. I always have like an open phone invite. I've seen it all, everything. I don't have to break it down, I've seen it all."

That experience could be especially useful for Irving.

Like James in the 2003 NBA Draft, Cleveland chose Irving with the No. 1 pick in 2011. Also, much like James did, Irving has gotten his NBA career off to a fast start, averaging 17.4 points and 4.9 assists per game entering Tuesday's contest.

"He's not a rookie, really," James said. "His game is not a rookie-type game. He's always in control and he plays at his own tempo. It's great to see what he has been able to do just in his first year. But like I said, he doesn't carry himself or play like a rookie would play."

But there is at least one difference between James' rookie year and Irving's.

"He has no pressure," James said. "They're in kind of a rebuilding stage right now, as far as their team, and I don't think he has any pressure."

James-Cavs different this season

Last season, every time James went up against the Cavaliers, it was a big game. This year, it has a different feel.

"It's just another game," James said.

After facing Cleveland four times in his first season with the Heat, the excitement surrounding the matchup has died down. The only players left on the Cavaliers from James' time in Cleveland are Daniel Gibson, Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker and Anderson Varejao.

"I'm sure it probably means something to [James]," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But we played them multiple times last year, and I really only noticed it that first trip to Cleveland. It was very emotional and it was an awesome environment to play in."

Wade still out

Dwyane Wade is making progress, but not enough to return to the court yet.

The Heat guard did not play against the Cavaliers on Tuesday because of a sprained right ankle. It marked the fifth consecutive game Wade has missed and the eighth of the season.

But Wade will travel with the team to Detroit for Wednesday's contest. Still, his status for that game is unknown.

"Everything is the same as last game," Spoelstra said. "He's day-to-day. He has been doing work, and we'll let you know as soon as he has taken the next step."

Wade did participate in parts of Tuesday morning's shootaround, which is something he had not been able to do since spraining his ankle.

The Heat entered Tuesday's matchup against the Cavaliers with a 6-1 record without Wade this season.

The Similar Situations of LeBron James and Arsene Wenger - King James Gospel

Jan 24th 2012

AUTHOR: Sam McPhee | IN: LeBron James | COMMENTS: |

Home » LeBron James » The Similar Situations of LeBron James and Arsene Wenger

I bet that’s a sentence you’d never thought you’d hear, see or read.

But I think that’s exactly where we’re at.

For those of you who don’t know who Arsene Wenger is (I understand a majority of Americans will read this and most will not know much about soccer), he is the manager of Arsenal Football Club, one of the top teams in the English Premier League.

On Sunday night Arsenal hosted long time rivals Manchester United. An 18 year old made their Premier League starting debut for Arsenal that night and by most people’s accounts, he was the best player on the field. His name is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. In England, as in football in general, fans have a much bigger influence over their club than anywhere else and any other sport in the world. If fans do not like a player they can all but force him out of the club. They’re that powerful. Yet Arsene Wenger has refused to concede this power, if any, to the fans and it has become apparent he has been making a conscientious effort to ensure this remains.

With the scores level at 1-1 with around 10 minutes remaining, Wenger took off the crowd favourite Oxlade-Chamberlain to the utter and complete dismay and anger of the crowd. I have never heard a reaction to a substitution like this is any sport in my life. Wenger replaced him with a player nearly every single Arsenal fan wants out of the club, a man that has been out of form for nearly 2 years and most of all a player irrelevant and ineffective to the situation he was being put into.

Wenger received a negative reaction unlike anything we have seen, at least in his tenure at the club. He is undisputedly loved by every Arsenal fan because of what he has done in the past, but a 6 season trophy-less drought has taken it’s toll and fans are no longer accepting of making the Top 4. They let their feelings known to Arsene Wenger that he has set extremely high standards for himself and for the club, and that fans accept nothing less.

Wenger’s stubbornness in refusing to appreciate and consider the fans’ opinion on the squad, his lack of ambition to spend money to bring the players into the club that it desperately needs and the fact he has brought no success to the club for over half a decade has taken it’s toll and fans are tired of it. No longer will they settle for mediocrity and they are holding Arsene Wenger responsible. They expect better.

That brings me to LeBron James. If you have not already seen the comparison I am trying to make, let me explain.

Earlier last week the Miami Heat hosted the travelling San Antonio Spurs. Miami started very slowly whilst the Spurs did the complete opposite, jumping out to a big lead. LeBron James missed his first 3 field goals of the game, then went to the free throw line and missed his first 2 attempts.

We then saw a something that will be a defining point in the career of LeBron James.

They booed him.

His home crowd booed him.

He had missed a few shots, the team was down early, that happens. It was nothing to do with that. It was the fact they are tired of seeing LeBron James be anything but brilliant. We all sat in shock during last year’s Finals as LeBron James disappeared following his incredible previous playoff series.

LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, and he is the greatest talent the NBA has ever seen. He may be the greatest athlete in the history of American professional sport, if not international sport. We expect nothing but the absolute best from LeBron James every night and  nothing less will be accepted.

Following the boos, LeBron James got mad and went berserk to the tune of 17 third quarter points, helping Miami come back from a huge deficit to destroy the Spurs.  LeBron James seemed to have gotten the message that no longer would the world accept good things from him. It has to be greatness.

The same goes for Arsene Wenger.

People saw the boos for both these men as huge negatives, as the fans turning on their leaders. That couldn’t be further from the truth. No one will ever turn on LeBron James, nor Arsene Wenger, but that does not mean we can sit back and allow them to continue living comfortably. They should always be striving to achieve better, to be doing anything and everything to better themselves and their teams.

The fans have finally let themselves be heard. Mr Wenger and Mr James, sit up and take notice. This is enough. It’s time to do what we all know you can do. It’s time to do what you should have been doing the last 5 years. Everyone knows you can do it, we’ve seen it before.

You set your own standards, and we will hold you to them.

Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Basketball, EPL, Football, Lebron James, Manchester United, Miami Heat, NBA, San Antionio Spurs, Soccer

5-on-5 preview: LeBron hosts the Cavaliers - ESPN (blog)

Steve Mitchell/US Presswire
LeBron is flying high for the Heat now, but will he ever rejoin the Cleveland Cavaliers?

On Tuesday, LeBron James and the Heat will face off against the Cavs for the fifth time since the two-time MVP left the only franchise he had ever known. The wounds have healed some for both sides, but still, a Miami versus Cleveland will always hold some more meaning than their respective records would suggest.

Have we seen the last of LeBron in a Cavaliers uniform? Is Kyrie Irving the favorite for Rookie of the Year? Is Norris Cole enjoying a better debut season than Tristan Thompson? Was beating Miami was the Cavs' brightest moment of 2011? Will the Heat play the Cavaliers in the opening round of playoffs?

In another edition of the Heat Index's 5-on-5 series, our stable of writers and voices play some "Fact or Fiction" with the story lines surrounding the Cavs-Heat matchup.

1. Fact or Fiction: LeBron James will be a Cavalier again.

Tom Haberstroh, Heat Index: Fact. Time heals all wounds even if it won't turn ashes to jerseys.

John Krolik, TrueHoop Network: Fiction. Stranger things have happened. But not a lot of them.

Jorge Sedano, ESPN radio/790 the Ticket: Fiction. Did we all forget about July 8, 2010? Yeah, most people haven't either. Though, I guess there is a possibility if Dan Gilbert all of a sudden writes an apology letter in Comic Sans. Outside of that, the only way he ends up a Cavalier again is if he trades himself in a future edition of NBA2K.

Michael Wallace, Heat Index: Fact. But for now, I only see it happening in the instance where, when it's all said and done - and much is forgiven - the Cavs do one of those 'sign for a day' deals so LeBron could retire as a Cavalier. But I don't see him actually playing for them again.

Brian Windhorst, Heat Index: Fact. Insane you say? Never? Impossible? Too much bad blood, right? Not in professional sports, where you can always go home again. And when it does happen the Cavs fans, for the most part, will welcome him back. Don't believe me? They're building a statue in Cleveland to Jim Thome right now and he ditched Cleveland for straight cash back in 2002. Not today and not tomorrow but someday James will consider it because time heals wounds, it just does. The Heat will not be championship contenders forever. James has outs in his contract after the 2014, '15 and '16 seasons for the record.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Kyrie Irving will beat Rubio for Rookie of the Year.

Haberstroh: Fact. As much as I think Ricky Rubio has teenybopper appeal for basketball fans, Irving has scoring, PER and the No. 1 overall pick status on his side.

Krolik: Fact. Irving is having a great scoring season for a rookie and passing the ball well, so Rubio's ROY claim would have to be based on the fact that he's a good defender while Kyrie is a bad one. And ROY voters are notorious about ignoring defense.

Sedano: Fact. As much as I love "La Pistola's" game (Spanish for "The Pistol." Yes, I'm showing off my Spanish speaking skills. By the way, I have no idea if he even likes that nickname, but I'm going with it), he has Kevin Love on his team and he's shooting less than 40% from the field. Kyrie is carrying the Cavs and is shooting 50% from the field.

Wallace: Fiction. Rubio is the bigger national/international media darling and he has more of a flair for the spectacular. That doesn't mean he's better than Irving, who I'd take in a heartbeat if the two were up for grabs. But as we've seen with the MVP voting, things get political and agenda-driven.

Windhorst: Fact. Rubio has some slick passing highlights but Irving has been the much better overall player. In fact, it is not even close. He has continued to impress opposing scouts and coaches with his maturity and skill level, even if he hasn't made SportsCenter as much. There's a reason the GMs recent voted Irving to be the most successful current rookie in five years.

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3. Fact or Fiction: N. Cole is having a better rookie year than T. Thompson.

Haberstroh: Fiction. The Cole Train has gone off the rails recently. He's missed more layups than he's made this season and has four assists in his last five games. I'm as guilty as anyone for overreacting to Cole's hot start and Tristan Thompson is proving that he's already an average NBA player. Thompson gets the nod, but I reserve the right to jump back on the Cole Train if need be.

Krolik: Fact, although it's kind of apples and oranges. Cole's numbers have fallen off, but he's still a bit part of Miami's "pace and space" attack because he, like Chalmers, puts pressure on the defense on both sides of the floor. Thompson has given the Cavaliers a lot of energy, and I think he has potential, but his offensive numbers are cringeworthy right now.

Sedano: Fiction. It's close. But, the Cole Train has slowed down after a fantastic start to the season. The last 2 weeks have been quite pedestrian. Thompson's FG percentage has been has been good so far. Points are a wash. Thompson's blocks and rebounds wash out with Cole's steals & assists numbers. It comes down to PER. Thompson wins by a hair.

Wallace: Fiction. I'd say it's a wash so far. Even in games when Cole doesn't score, he still dictates tempo and puts pressure on the defense in transition. Likewise, Thompson certainly has had his moments. But both seem to have hit a truncated rookie wall at times.

Windhorst: Fiction. Cole had a tremendous start and that great performance against the Celtics has carried him for awhile. The reality is he's been struggling for the last three weeks, turning the ball over a bunch and seeing his playing time and shooting percentage shrink lately. That's OK, it happens, he's a rookie. Thompson has been an effective bench player for the Cavs so far, showing off his extreme athleticism. He's been unsteady too because he's very much a rookie as well. He also might not play tonight with an ankle injury.

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4. Fact or Fiction: Beating Miami in March was the Cavs' highlight of 2011.

Haberstroh: Fiction. As deeply therapeutic as it was for Cleveland fans to watch their team destroy LeBron and the Heat at the Q, lottery night was the real turning point for the franchise. Funny how a lucky ping-pong ball can change everything.

Krolik: Fiction, because I think winning the lottery with the Clippers' pick was a more long-term moment. Personally, I wouldn't trade Kyrie for that one game when both teams' fates had been decided, but I think that night, on a purely visceral level, was more satisfying than the ping-pong balls bouncing the Cavs' way. Wow, I'm really hedging on these.

Sedano: Fact. Not only was it the highlight of 2011 for the Cavs, the fans at the Q reacted as if it was payback not only for The Decision, but for: A) The Indians losing the 1997 World Series to the Marlins; B) The Fumble; C) The Drive and; D) the fact someone thought it was a good idea to make several sequels to Major League. Lots of pent up frustration. I guess it's hard to blame them.

Wallace: Fiction. I'd say finally snapping that NBA-record losing streak was the highlight. Beating LeBron's new team ranks second to that. Had Cleveland beat Miami in that first December meeting, that would have been the high-water mark.

Windhorst: Fiction. It was winning the draft lottery with the Clippers pick they traded for in February. Irving is that good.

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5. Fact or Fiction: MIA will open the playoffs vs. CLE (now an 8th-seed).

Haberstroh: Fact, because that 1 vs. 8 East match-up in lockout-shortened seasons is always destined for drama. Am I right, Heat fans?

Krolik: Fiction. I don't think the Cavs will make the playoffs, and it could be tricky for the Heat to beat out the Bulls for the top seed. The matchup could happen, but the odds seem to be stacked against it.

Sedano: Fiction. I wanted to say fact, simply because I think it would make for great theater. We rarely get any interesting story lines for a first round series. So, I'd like it to happen, but I think the Knicks will get back in the playoff picture and Boston could be a likely 8th seed. Now that I think of it, that works too. Maybe @sportsguy33 can take part in 5 on 5?

Wallace: Fiction. While it's good that the Cavs are ahead of schedule and playing relatively well so far this season, I'm not so sure they'll be able to hold off Boston, New York and Milwaukee - three teams that are likely to get going eventually. Cleveland will contend for a playoff spot, but I doubt they make it this season.

Windhorst: Fiction. The Cavs are not a playoff team. They got off to a solid start at 6-6, but their schedule has a couple of brutally challenging periods and they're in a 15-game stretch right now against top competition that is already taking its toll on them.

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Create-a-Caption: KG's trash talk is weird - Yahoo! Sports (blog)

Kevin Garnett whispers some not-so-sweet nothings in the ear of Glen 'Big Baby' Davis. (Getty Images)

"You know I'm gonna cut you into small pieces, coat you with salt, cook you in a small preheated oven for about six minutes and serve you with mustard and nacho cheese to moviegoers as pretzel bites, right, Baby? You know this, right, Baby? Li'l redhead kids named Philip are gonna eat you during 'Chipwrecked,' Baby, that's my word."

All things considered, 2-of-9, four turnovers and a -12 on the night makes a lot of sense, Glen Davis. Hearing that kind of stuff from Kevin Garnett is bound to screw you up. I mean, "that's my word"? No one's said that since, what, Keak da Sneak in '05? That's got to mess with your head.

Best caption wins KG's culinary inspiration, which I'm told are just super, super hyphy. Good luck.

In our last adventure: Few professional basketball players enjoy a good from-the-rafters sneakpounce more than Elton Brand. Hardly any, really.

Elton Brand fouls LeBron James. Like, a lot. (Getty Images)

Winner, Matt: Elton checks to make sure it's not the fourth quarter ... when LeBron has no balls.

(NOTE: Not 100 percent sure that LeBron James has a history of being stripped of the basketball in the final 12 minutes of games. Will have to do some serious box-score data-mining later to confirm.)

Runner-up, Vaffanculo: Illegal use of the hands. Five yards from the previous spot and an automatic first down.

Second runner-up, EJ: NBA Cares: If you have an itch, Elton Brand will scratch it.

A Special Commendation in Ruling, "Don't Try This at Home or Actually Anywhere Else Because Oh No" Division, goes to Robert C, who offered the following: LeBron and Elton failed miserably at performing the infamous "Double Nutcracker."

Will LeBron James End Up Ranking Among the All Time Greats?

LeBron James has the talent to be among the best ever, that is indisputable, but does he have the drive? Will his immense talent translate to success?

There have been plenty to scrutinize James, both for his short comings as a clutch performer, and for his dubious decisions such as "The Decision." When you spurn a home town that has supported you not just for your pro career, but for your entire career, it doesn't go unnoticed by those who value loyaltyâ€"rare as it may be in sports.

But I don't want to talk about the things LeBron James has done that have caused him to be hated around the league. I don't want to dwell on how he thinks his Heat team is the sensation equivalent to the Beatles. No, that isn't important here.

What is important, however, is whether we will ever be able to consider LeBron among the best ever.

As I said, the talent level is there, as are the immense athletic skills. Some have commented that LeBron has the same build as Karl Malone, but with infinitely more athleticism. That's a fair comparison, but he may end up having more in common with The Mailman than that. Indeed, like Malone, LeBron may fail to ever win a ring.

And that stains legacies. People want to see a great player at least win a few rings, and LeBron is now zero for two in Finals appearances. Compare that to Kobe's five of seven, or even Jordan's six of six, and you're talking about a player that just fails to compareâ€"at least right now. As to whether James can get to that level, well, that remains to be seen.

He's going to have to improve several aspects of his game. Even his vocal leadership must improve, because he is viewed as one of the best in the league. It has to go beyond just leading the Heat too, he has to realize his popularity puts him under a microscope. It's an immense pressure to be sure, but James realizes his own greatness, and isn't afraid to tell others. As repulsive as it may be at times, that need to believe you are the best is universal among the best players who have ever played in the NBA.

MJ sure as heck had it. He could punch a team in the jugular going down the stretch, then nail the last nails in the coffin, as teams writhed under the pressure. Kobe Bryant does the same thing. They have impacted the game in a way James has yet to do. And I don't know that he ever will, especially if he fails to realize that he is in a situation right now that has caused even more scrutiny. If you are going to play with the best in the game, your team should win championships.

There's a lot to be said for what the Heat have done, of course. The Big Three got to the Finals in their first season together, and further developments in chemistry will help drive the engine further. They had the best Vegas odds on winning a championship going into this season at 2.5:1, and they've shown why. Their most formidable opponent may not even be the Bulls in the East, nor the Lakers in the West, but the Oklahoma City Thunder. If LeBron can prove his worth against Kevin Durant in an epic Finals show down, that would go a long ways towards beginning the building of his legacy.

I do believe that possibility is there, and because of it I have made no attempt to rule out the possibility of one day joining Bill Simmons' "Pantheon" of great players. The thing is, rings are required to get there, and right now, again, he is zero of two. Perhaps he can nail two of the next three Finals appearances and manage to walk away with a couple rings. He still has a few more years of prime basketball to do so, and maybe more, but I won't grant him extreme longevity with the amount of basketball he has played so far.

If James can put in another solid five seasons, his body of work will substantiate the inevitable Hall of Fame selection. But without the rings, he may not even be first ballot. I know that is a stretch, but rings play such a huge role in measuring greatness, whether people want to acknowledge it or not.

LeBron realizes that, and will be sure to do everything in his power to correct it, for without doing so, he'll never be mentioned in the same breath as even the players that have just won a couple championships, nevermind the likes of Kobe and MJ, who have more rings than fingers to wear them on.

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Will LeBron James End Up Ranking Among the All Time Greats? - Yahoo! Sports

LeBron James has the talent to be among the best ever, that is indisputable, but does he have the drive? Will his immense talent translate to success?

There have been plenty to scrutinize James, both for his short comings as a clutch performer, and for his dubious decisions such as "The Decision." When you spurn a home town that has supported you not just for your pro career, but for your entire career, it doesn't go unnoticed by those who value loyaltyâ€"rare as it may be in sports.

But I don't want to talk about the things LeBron James has done that have caused him to be hated around the league. I don't want to dwell on how he thinks his Heat team is the sensation equivalent to the Beatles. No, that isn't important here.

What is important, however, is whether we will ever be able to consider LeBron among the best ever.

As I said, the talent level is there, as are the immense athletic skills. Some have commented that LeBron has the same build as Karl Malone, but with infinitely more athleticism. That's a fair comparison, but he may end up having more in common with The Mailman than that. Indeed, like Malone, LeBron may fail to ever win a ring.

And that stains legacies. People want to see a great player at least win a few rings, and LeBron is now zero for two in Finals appearances. Compare that to Kobe's five of seven, or even Jordan's six of six, and you're talking about a player that just fails to compareâ€"at least right now. As to whether James can get to that level, well, that remains to be seen.

He's going to have to improve several aspects of his game. Even his vocal leadership must improve, because he is viewed as one of the best in the league. It has to go beyond just leading the Heat too, he has to realize his popularity puts him under a microscope. It's an immense pressure to be sure, but James realizes his own greatness, and isn't afraid to tell others. As repulsive as it may be at times, that need to believe you are the best is universal among the best players who have ever played in the NBA.

MJ sure as heck had it. He could punch a team in the jugular going down the stretch, then nail the last nails in the coffin, as teams writhed under the pressure. Kobe Bryant does the same thing. They have impacted the game in a way James has yet to do. And I don't know that he ever will, especially if he fails to realize that he is in a situation right now that has caused even more scrutiny. If you are going to play with the best in the game, your team should win championships.

There's a lot to be said for what the Heat have done, of course. The Big Three got to the Finals in their first season together, and further developments in chemistry will help drive the engine further. They had the best Vegas odds on winning a championship going into this season at 2.5:1, and they've shown why. Their most formidable opponent may not even be the Bulls in the East, nor the Lakers in the West, but the Oklahoma City Thunder. If LeBron can prove his worth against Kevin Durant in an epic Finals show down, that would go a long ways towards beginning the building of his legacy.

I do believe that possibility is there, and because of it I have made no attempt to rule out the possibility of one day joining Bill Simmons' "Pantheon" of great players. The thing is, rings are required to get there, and right now, again, he is zero of two. Perhaps he can nail two of the next three Finals appearances and manage to walk away with a couple rings. He still has a few more years of prime basketball to do so, and maybe more, but I won't grant him extreme longevity with the amount of basketball he has played so far.

If James can put in another solid five seasons, his body of work will substantiate the inevitable Hall of Fame selection. But without the rings, he may not even be first ballot. I know that is a stretch, but rings play such a huge role in measuring greatness, whether people want to acknowledge it or not.

LeBron realizes that, and will be sure to do everything in his power to correct it, for without doing so, he'll never be mentioned in the same breath as even the players that have just won a couple championships, nevermind the likes of Kobe and MJ, who have more rings than fingers to wear them on.

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LeBron 'like a brother' to Cleveland rookies - ESPN (blog)

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Many believe that LeBron burned his bridges with Cleveland, but the Cavs' rookies consider him a mentor.

MIAMI -- If both LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavs had control of such things, neither would mention their past love affair and everyone would just proceed through Tuesday night’s game like exes avoiding eye contact at a wedding.

The venom has run its course and there’s no reason to rehash old ground. But here’s the thing: Despite the "moving on" rhetoric, James actually continues to take an interest in the Cavs. And not like last season, when he waited for chances to take Twitter jabs at them during low moments.

No, believe it or not, he’s actually rooting for them now in the sort of way an NBA player can take such an interest in another team.

The Cavs' new core, the one that is designed to help them move past the James era, is actually tied to James as part of the NBA’s always tangled web of connections. Kyrie Irving, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, and Tristan Thompson, the No. 4 pick, both have long relationships with James and consider him a mentor.

Irving is off to a fantastic start to his career, an early front-runner to win the Rookie of the Year Award, like James did for the Cavs back in 2003-04, and has been getting advice on dealing with life in the NBA from the man he is essentially replacing. James has been watching and doing plenty of encouraging.

“We talk a lot; I’ve been knowing Kyrie since he was a ninth grader and it’s been great to see him continue to get better over the years and do the things he’s doing in Cleveland right now,” James said. “He’s been playing great. He’s been showing why he’s the No. 1 pick in the draft. Cleveland got a great pick.”

James has known Thompson nearly as long and last year Thompson selected one of James’ best friends and business partners, Rich Paul, to be one of his agents. For James, that virtually makes Thompson part of his extended family. The feeling is apparently mutual.

“Me and LeBron’s relationship is pretty close,” Thompson said. “He’s like a brother to me.”

This is a topic that may be uncomfortable for the Cavs and their fans. The team’s leadership knows this is a part of the NBA; players have relationships with other players. They have to continue operating and that means letting bygones be bygones as much as possible. But they cannot help but be sensitive to any mention of Irving and James being linked for so many reasons, with public relations near the top.

Irving, who was just out of high school and indifferent on the whole matter of James’ departure, knows that his new fans might not be thrilled that he looks up to their ultimate villain. But he’s also not planning to let it dictate how he interacts with James.

“Honestly, there’s nothing to juggle for me personally,” Irving said. “I wasn’t really worried about filling LeBron’s shoes or filling that void. I was worried about being the best rookie I could be. I set my own goals and on that goal list was never 'be like LeBron.'"

That isn’t just lip service, that is how Irving feels. The Cavs were already high on his talents but settled on him as the top pick largely because of his demeanor. He doesn’t carry any of the emotional baggage with James that anyone who was around in 2010 does, and that is a distinct advantage. It also makes it easy for Irving to accept James' counsel without a hint of guilt. Thompson feels the same way.

“I wasn’t in Cleveland when LeBron played there, so I don’t think I’m in the whole drama dilemma,” Thompson said. “He did what he felt was best for himself and I’m here and I’m a Cleveland Cavalier.”

Though he never really looked for a veteran mentor when he came into the league, James has played this role for top young players for the past several years.

Some of it is business; part of James' responsibility was to recruit college players to his agency and Nike. Sometimes it has led to such signings and sometimes it hasn’t. James developed a relationship with 2010 No. 1 pick John Wall and Wall picked a different representation agency and signed with Reebok. Irving also picked another agency but did sign with Nike.

But it is not all about money, it is part of James’ personality to be inclusive of young players. Chris Paul is one of his closest friends. His friendship with Dwyane Wade is a major reason he’s in Miami now. His contact list is deep, and as the Cavs' two rookies have experienced challenges and successes, James has been there to share those moments with them.

Though the Cavs come to town with a three-game losing streak, there have been successes. Especially for Irving, who is averaging 17 points and nearly five assists a game and impressing all along the way.

“He’s a smart player and even with the limited number of games he had in college, he’s already making an impact with them,” James said. “I’m happy for him.”

LeBron James: Why He Can Keep Up the Pace - Bleacher Report

LeBron James is the best basketball player in the world.

Further, if an MVP were awarded up to this point of the season, he would be it.

Kevin Durant, probably LeBron's principal rival for such an award at this point, in no way does all of the things that James does. While Durant is a great first violinist, James is the master maestro.

And we saw LeBron James outplay Kobe Bryant on national television just a few nights ago.

The second tier of contenders for an MVPâ€"Kevin Love, Dwight Howard and Derrick Roseâ€"have not been as highly consistent on as high a level as LeBron James has so far this season.

To wit, the more one sees his royalty “King James,” the more one appreciates him and his high maintenance of excellence.

Especially the finery of his game.

How he can manage a contest from end to end, bringing the ball up court, until he reaches the forecourt to direct a play; how he shrewdly roams on defense, with his roving frequently ending with a shot block against a bigger player; and how he can set up teammates with a captain's surety, passing the rock to them where they can score best.

As Mike Lupica of the NY Daily News put it recently: “He [LeBron] has an amazingly complete game and impeccable basketball values.” 

Lupica's take is to the point of why King James can keep his eminent play ongoing throughout the 2011-2012 NBA season, now one-quarter completed.

LeBron James has, in this current hoops campaign, indeed gone back to wisely, and evidently superbly, executing fundamental basketball values. His showy “cave man” beard is even a living daily symbol of his rudimentary approach.

Watch LeBron perform. With the Miami Heat team a year more knowledgeable about each other, James understands he is going to receive his deserved number of shots. Therefore, he always seeks to exploit his teammates abilities first.

LeBron James recently explained in an interview with The Guardian (U.K.) about his new-old approach:

“But, right now, it's all about building my team's legacy. How can we continue to get better and to approach the game in the right way during a championship playoff. One year in, we gave ourselves a chance and we're looking forward to the next one. For me, I just want to give myself the best opportunity to win games....Everyone has to be in tune and understand that the individual can try and do as much as you can but you're going to need those other four guys on the court."

Carmelo Anthony, are you listening?

As this writer speaks, LeBron James is averaging 29.7 points, 7.3 assists, and 8.3 rebounds. And he is shooting a wondrous .564. All of those statistics are above his career averages.

Very nice job by Mr. LeBron James.

But if you are not convinced, check around the league: Who else compares in an all-around sense to the two-time NBA MVP and former NBA Rookie of the Year?

Quick answer: no one.

Chris Paul cannot score or defend with LeBron. Kevin Durant is not the rebounder, shot blocker, or passer that LeBron is, and Durant's stats exhibit this fact. In general, Dwight Howard is still too inconsistent in comparison with LeBron, and Howard has not hit the statistical highlands LeBron has reached.

Visibly, LeBron James' game has flourished even more this year in the Miami Heat's new “no-huddle, spread offense,” which Heat coach Eric Spoelstra picked up in the offseason from Oregon Ducks' football coach Chip Kelly.

Within Miami's new scheme, the team's spacing is much more pronounced. Further, during any given game you can see coach Spoelstra waving his arms to LeBron James and others to keep “pushing it“ up court, to maximize advantage.

In essence, the Miami Heat team becomes perpetual motion.

The design is working: On the fastbreak, LeBron James can feed Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier, James Jones or Mike Miller for threes, hit Dwyane Wade slashing to the rim, or find Chris Bosh as the “trailer” for a pull-up jumper.

Alternately, in the half-court offense, when Chris Bosh becomes the team facilitator from the head of the circle, LeBron James gains more freedom to find his potent offensive niche.

Or to display his “new moves.”

It is infinitely more of a pleasure this year to watch James play basketball.

He has boldly unleashed, on a captivated NBA, a “show-and-tell” repertoire learned from Houston Rocket legend Hakeem Olajuwon this past summer. His newfound stock of go-to maneuvers has rendered would-be defenders not only sick with surprise, but sunken in their powerlessness to stop him.

Now James fears to tread on no area of the court. He backs in, pulls up, or turns and shoots with equal confidence.

He'll moreover, for example, “dipsy-doo” you with a running one-hander. The scary thing is that James will get better at all that he has newly discovered.

LeBron James' one weakness, staying a superstar in the fourth quarter, is well-documented and well-known. However, this, his accentuated Achilles, was due in part to his limited individual basketball options as a player.

Now he is unlimited basketball-wise. And Miami's new offense won't hurt his ability to eliminate his glaring flaw, either.

New York Knicks Reportedly Considering an Amare Stoudemire for Dwight Howard Trade - Yahoo! Sports

ESPN insider Stephen A. Smith is reporting that the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic have discussed a deal that would send Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler to Orlando for Dwight Howard.

Smith works as an analyst on ESPN First Take and is well-known for reporting that LeBron James and Chris Bosh would join the Miami Heat one week before the two stars had announced their decisions. Smith mentioned the potential STAT-D12 trade on his radio show in New York on January 22.

Here is the exact quote:

* Stephen A. Smith via 1050 AM in New York: "As I told you a little bit earlier in the hour, I have some news to report about your New York Knicks. The Orlando Magic, I will preface my statement by telling you that they have categorically denied this, but my sources tell me that they have inquired about Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire going to Orlando for Dwight Howard. Let me confess to you that I'm torn. From a basketball standpoint, it would seem you do that trade in a heartbeat. You don't teach seven-feet and you don't teach the dominance and the skills that the best big man in the game, Dwight Howard, has. But I like Tyson Chandler. I like the fact that he rebounds and defends."

It should be noted that this is not the first report of a Howard-Stoudemire swap. Two weeks ago, former NBA player Donny Marshall reported that the Magic and Knicks had opened talks that would send Amare to Orlando for D12.

Trade buzz comes at a crossroads for both teams. Unless the Magic are certain that they can resign Howard, they must trade him before the March 15 trade deadline, or they risk gaining nothing but cap space from his exit. In the Big Apple, there are rumblings about chemistry issues and finger-pointing.

Ever since the Knicks traded for Carmelo Anthony, Stoudemire's productivity has taken a plunge. He is averaging 17.6 points per game and 41.3 percent from the field, both significantly lower than his averages in New York prior to Melo's arrival. He is also collecting 0.5 blocks compared to nearly 2 in 2010-11.

On the other hand, Howard is currently putting up 20.6 points per game on 57.5 percent shooting, along with a career-high 16.1 rebounds per game, 2.4 blocks and 1.4 steals. Howard is on his way to winning his fourth consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award.

More from the Yahoo! Contributor Network:

Top 5 Reasons Dwight Howard will join the Los Angeles Lakers

Dwight Howard Trade Rumor Roundup

Kobe Bryant reportedly recruits Dwight Howard

Top 5 Reasons LeBron James is still better than Kobe Bryant

Miami Heat haunted by the legend of Michael Jordan

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Jersey Sure: LeBron James & Miami Heat Beat 76ers, Fall To The Bucks - Sunshine Slate

[Miami, FL] You win some and you lose some â€" even in a time machine.

This past weekend, LeBron James and the Miami Heat wore colorful “throwback” jerseys inspired by the ABA’s Miami Floridians for their games against the Philadelphia 76ers (Saturday) and the Milwaukee Bucks (Sunday).

The Miami Floridians were South Florida’s pro basketball team from 1968-1972, spending two of those years battling away in the ABA. While successful on the court, the team could never gain a big enough following even after changing from the Miami Floridians to simply The Floridians and playing all over the state.

It was 16 years later that the Miami Heat franchise was born.

And speaking of Heat, the players even got into the throwback spirit, posing for 70s-style pictures complete with Afros, groovy mustaches and boom boxes. The whole things smack of a Semi-Promotion (you know the redunkulous ABA-basketball movie starring comedy legend Will Ferrell).

The Miami Heat previously wore the 1970-71 Floridians uniforms for seven dates in 2005-06 as part of the NBA’s “Hardwood Classics” program. The Heat dancers even wore bikinis and go-go boots back then.

So, how did the team do in their old school unis? They ended up splitting the throwback games, making the jerseys less of a good luck charm than say, the “back in black” jerseys they were sporting in their decisive win over the Lakers on Thursday at home.

They have four more chances to make right with the Floridians garb (Feb. 5 and 7, and March 6 and 7).

I’m guessing both looks will fly off of stores shelves (and the internet equivalent) as they are stylish. Get your black here and your Floridians here. Free black and throwback wallpapers here.

Photo: Miami Heat

Udonis Haslem helped LeBron James get into the groove against the Sixers

Breaking The Spirit of 76ers

Coming off of that monumental win against the Los Angeles Lakers, The James Gang was ready to give the 76ers a big helping of the same championship caliber stuff on Friday that the team has been dishing out as of late.

And with Dwyane Wade still unavailable â€" missing his third straight game â€" Mike Miller was (again) called up to step into a starting role. He did not disappoint.

The game started off slow in the first quarter for the Heat, with the game going back and forth. LeKing and Chris Bosh did most of the work throughout. Lou Williams and Nikola Vucevic kept Philly close to the Heat. At the end of the first, the Heat were up 29-28.

In the second quarter, it looked like Miami was going to run away with the game. With Miller making three-pointers, and Bosh making jump shots, the lead was gradually increasing. But, with the help of Evan Turner, the 76ers came back and cut the lead down to as low as 7 just before halftime.

Miami increased their lead in the third, going up by 12 at one point. LeBron scored and passed the ball throughout the quarter, he was in full command of the game. At the end of three, the Heat were up 81-69.

Much like last season, has again developed a trend to stop playing the game at the start of the fourth quarter. They did the same tonight. But this time they finished the job, going up by 19 with around 8 minutes left. That pretty much put and end to all that Philadelphia freedom. The final score was Heat 113, 76ers 92.

Impressively, in the past week, the Heat have beaten three divisional leaders: The Spurs, Lakers, and now the Sixers.

“We looked at this as a huge week, a huge opportunity for us to get on a roll,” said LeBron James, who scored 28 points and dished out 9 assists.

Chris Bosh also had a big game, pouring in 30 points and collected 7 rebounds.

“We believe in our offense,” Bosh said. “We feel that when we move the ball, when we get stops first and then we’re out in the open court in transition and being aggressive, we feel that we cannot be stopped.”

Photo: Miami Heat

The Bucks Stop Miami Here

After dismantling the 76ers, the Heat were primed to demolish the Milwaukee Bucks.  The team had been playing so well that many people were suggesting that the Miami was actually better off without superstar Dwyane Wade. Hopefully after this game no one will say that again.

In the first quarter, both Milwaukee and the Heat were going back and forth. Surprisingly, it was pretty much only Mario Chalmers and Bosh doing the scoring. Uh oh. At the end of the first quarter, the Heat were up 20-17.

Perhaps feeling that the Heat were tired as they were playing their third game in four nights, the Bucks controlled the second quarter, outscoring the Heat 28-20.  Most of their scoring came from Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings.

For the Heat, LeBron James scored 13 points in the quarter, and 19 points in the half.  During the locker room break the score was Bucks 46, Heat 41.

Both teams once again went back and forth in the third quarter. Jennings and Ilyasova were scoring at will. Although Miami outscored the Bucks 22-19 in the third, Milwaukee was still up at the end of the quarter, 65-63.

This was probably the worst offensive outing for Miami all year. The sloppy play showed late in the fourth quarter.

But they almost pulled it out â€" Miami got close to tying the game, being only down 83-80 with 2:15 left on a pair of free throws by Bosh, before Ilyasova rose to the challenge and restored Milwaukee’s five-point lead with just under 2 minutes left.

After that, Milwaukee went on an 8-2 run and ended up winning the game by the score of 91-82.

In the most sloppiest and worst offensive performance by the Heat this year, they shot a pathetic 37.3% from the field, 3-of-12 on 3-pointers, recorded only nine assists and committed 22 turnovers. The nine assists were one above the franchise all-time low.

The Miami Floridians would be so ashamed.

Photo: Miami Heat

 D-Wade rocking the old school look

Chris Bosh was all over the place tonight, scoring 23 points and with a career-high, 8 turnovers.

“It happens,” Bosh said of his turnovers. “I don’t like it. But there’s nothing I can do. I just have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was getting frustrated during the game, but also saw some bright spots.

“We competed at times, and were matching the physicality of the game,” Spoelstra said, “but couldn’t come up with the rebounds or the loose balls.”

By: Michael Tristani II/Sunshine Slate. Additional reporting by Mark Christopher

Images: Miami Heat

LeBron James' proteges Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson await opportunity with Cavaliers

MIAMI -- Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson were just a couple of high school basketball stars the first time they met LeBron James.

Thompson attended the Nike skills academy in Akron, Ohio, before his senior year and Irving was even younger the first time James showed interest in him.

When one of the greatest players on the planet starts calling high school kids, they generally embrace the opportunity. Only now it has evolved into something a little more complicated.

As the Cavaliers prepare to face James and the Miami Heat for the first time tonight at American Airlines Arena, Irving and Thompson have been thrust into a fragile predicament. James remains the despised villain in the eyes of many Cavs fans, who never forgave him for leaving town, while Irving and Thompson are the future stars destined to replace him.

The dichotomy requires a careful balance between business in the NBA and sensitivity toward Cleveland fans, but both Irving and Thompson approach it as two kids with no ties to the past.

"I just got to the Cleveland Cavaliers," Irving said. "I was at Duke last year. I'm just coming in as a rookie trying to play well."

Added Thompson: "I wasn't around in Cleveland when LeBron played there. ... Most fans understand you can't fault a kid that wasn't here at that time."

Thompson's ties run a little deeper. He is part of Creative Artists Agency, the same superpower agency that handles James' affairs. Thompson is represented by Rich Paul, one of James' inner-circle figures and the man who ultimately called the Cavs to tell them James wasn't returning to their organization.

Through all the bluster of James' departure, Paul maintained a very good working relationship with the Cavaliers. Thompson, meanwhile, was ready to participate in James' Homecoming Tour in Akron last month, but it was ultimately postponed when the NBA lockout was lifted.

"He's like a brother to me," Thompson said of James. "But at the same time, it's a business. We're trying to go to Miami and win the game. That whole friendship feeling is out the window when we get on the court, and I think he has the same mind-set, too."

Since early in his career, James has taken an interest in the top high school players. Whether it's merely an effort to coax them into signing with his fledgling LRMR marketing firm or sincere interest in the league's future stars remains up for debate, but James' track record is consistent. He forged the same type of relationship with John Wall and Tyreke Evans when they were about the same age.

Irving said before the Cavs drafted him, James was talking to him at least once a week during his toe injury, keeping his spirits up. James told the Beacon Journal last summer neither he nor Irving can worry about how the relationship is portrayed.

"We can't control our relationship with them," James said, referring to Cavs fans. "I've been mentoring him since he was in high school. He's continuing to get better, and he's going to go out there and make Cavs fans proud."

It's just that Cavs fans would probably be prouder if he severed ties with James, but that isn't happening anytime soon. The NBA is a fraternity, and Irving and Thompson are the freshman pledges.

"Whatever me and him have going on is between us," Thompson said. "The main thing is playing basketball and that's what we're here to do."

Asked whether he was concerned at all how fans would react to his relationship with James, Irving had a simple response Saturday: "No, not at all."

LeBron James' proteges Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson await opportunity with ... - Detroit Free Press

MIAMI -- Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson were just a couple of high school basketball stars the first time they met LeBron James.

Thompson attended the Nike skills academy in Akron, Ohio, before his senior year and Irving was even younger the first time James showed interest in him.

When one of the greatest players on the planet starts calling high school kids, they generally embrace the opportunity. Only now it has evolved into something a little more complicated.

As the Cavaliers prepare to face James and the Miami Heat for the first time tonight at American Airlines Arena, Irving and Thompson have been thrust into a fragile predicament. James remains the despised villain in the eyes of many Cavs fans, who never forgave him for leaving town, while Irving and Thompson are the future stars destined to replace him.

The dichotomy requires a careful balance between business in the NBA and sensitivity toward Cleveland fans, but both Irving and Thompson approach it as two kids with no ties to the past.

"I just got to the Cleveland Cavaliers," Irving said. "I was at Duke last year. I'm just coming in as a rookie trying to play well."

Added Thompson: "I wasn't around in Cleveland when LeBron played there. ... Most fans understand you can't fault a kid that wasn't here at that time."

Thompson's ties run a little deeper. He is part of Creative Artists Agency, the same superpower agency that handles James' affairs. Thompson is represented by Rich Paul, one of James' inner-circle figures and the man who ultimately called the Cavs to tell them James wasn't returning to their organization.

Through all the bluster of James' departure, Paul maintained a very good working relationship with the Cavaliers. Thompson, meanwhile, was ready to participate in James' Homecoming Tour in Akron last month, but it was ultimately postponed when the NBA lockout was lifted.

"He's like a brother to me," Thompson said of James. "But at the same time, it's a business. We're trying to go to Miami and win the game. That whole friendship feeling is out the window when we get on the court, and I think he has the same mind-set, too."

Since early in his career, James has taken an interest in the top high school players. Whether it's merely an effort to coax them into signing with his fledgling LRMR marketing firm or sincere interest in the league's future stars remains up for debate, but James' track record is consistent. He forged the same type of relationship with John Wall and Tyreke Evans when they were about the same age.

Irving said before the Cavs drafted him, James was talking to him at least once a week during his toe injury, keeping his spirits up. James told the Beacon Journal last summer neither he nor Irving can worry about how the relationship is portrayed.

"We can't control our relationship with them," James said, referring to Cavs fans. "I've been mentoring him since he was in high school. He's continuing to get better, and he's going to go out there and make Cavs fans proud."

It's just that Cavs fans would probably be prouder if he severed ties with James, but that isn't happening anytime soon. The NBA is a fraternity, and Irving and Thompson are the freshman pledges.

"Whatever me and him have going on is between us," Thompson said. "The main thing is playing basketball and that's what we're here to do."

Asked whether he was concerned at all how fans would react to his relationship with James, Irving had a simple response Saturday: "No, not at all."

James settling in with Heat - SunHerald.com

MIAMI - He had the ball on the baseline with the Milwaukee Bucks' Mike Dunleavy defending him Sunday night. When Dunleavy leaned ever so slightly to his right . . . LeBron James took one dribble and stormed toward the basket.

He soared under the rim and emerged on the other side, ripping down a ferocious dunk that left the sold-out crowd in AmericanAirlines Arena roaring in approval. James stood there for a moment in a hulking pose, admiring his work and enjoying a moment that looked exactly like so many he had for seven years at Quicken Loans Arena.

As the Cavaliers prepare to face James and the Miami Heat Tuesday night for the first time this season, James is still adjusting to his new life. Last season was the complicated transitional phase, but he is flourishing this season.

The Heat are 6-1 without Dwyane Wade, in large part because of James. Wade has missed the past four games with an ankle injury and is questionable for Tuesday night's game. The Heat scored impressive victories over the Spurs, Lakers and Sixers last week, until tired legs gave out in a sloppy loss Sunday against the Bucks.

James is averaging 29.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists - numbers in line with his career averages of 27.7, 7.1 and 7.0. He entered the season promising to shed the villain role that he encountered last season. He was going to smile more and enjoy the game again.

"He's very committed, he's very focused and he was last year," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "If he happens to do that with a smile on his face this year, I don't have a problem with that. He's been very committed as a leader of our team."

Despite the highlight dunk, James didn't play his best game Sunday night, particularly in the final minutes, when he missed a jumper, blew an easy layup and was part of the Heat lineup that allowed tiny Brandon Jennings to get a key offensive rebound and basket when the Heat were trying to rally.

But James was at ease in the locker room afterward, joking about an errant blow to the face he received from the Bucks' Andrew Bogut.

Depending on who is speaking, James, at times, appears more relaxed and comfortable than he was last year and sometimes he's not.

"Obviously, it was a whirlwind of a season last year," Heat center Joel Anthony said. "He's a lot more comfortable in his position here in Miami. That's to be expected after getting over that first year."

The Heat recently created gimmick posters with a 1970s theme, one of which features James in an afro wig and sunglasses and holding a disco ball, reminiscent to all those skits and singing performances he would give on the Jumbotron during Cavs games.

LeBron James back in do-everything mode for Wade-less Miami Heat - Plain Dealer

AP photoWith Dwyane Wade out of the lineup, LeBron James has returned to his ball-dominating ways familiar to Cavaliers fans as he greets his old team to Miami on Tuesday night.

MIAMI -- LeBron James is playing some of his best basketball since joining the Miami Heat a season ago. All it took was an injury to the superstar who helped woo him from Cleveland in the first place.

It's foolish to suggest the Heat are a better team with Dwyane Wade out of the lineup -- although a 6-1 record in his absence is eye-opening. But with the shooting guard nursing a sprained right ankle, James has returned to the role in which he's most accustomed -- being his team's undisputed No. 1 option.

He's dominating the ball and the running the Heat offense from the wing, something Cavaliers' fans watched for seven seasons at The Q. They will likely see it again Tuesday night as the Heat (11-5) play the Cavaliers (6-9) in American Airlines Arena.

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra gave his club the day off Monday and James was not available prior to Sunday's 91-82 loss to Milwaukee, denying out-of-town reporters a chance to broach the subject. Needless to say, it's a sensitive topic for the high-profile club and not a new one.

Since the Big Three was birthed a year ago, questions have persisted as to whether James and Wade could coexist in the same offense. The fact they came within two wins of an NBA title is a compelling argument for the affirmative. But there's not another star tandem in the league with such a similar skill set. James and Wade are each slashers capable of carrying ateam offensively.

Wade already has won a title and is somebody who, despite the Finals setback against Dallas, enhanced his reputation as clutch playoff performer. James is missing both credits from an otherwise impressive portfolio. Chris Bosh, the Heat's third wheel, did James no favors in arecent GQ interview in which he said Wade is the teammate who should be taking the big shots at crunch time.

Why?

"Because of his success in the past, given what he's done," Bosh said. "He's a champ. He's an MVP, and he's hit a bunch of last-second shots. That's the time you have to put pride aside a little bit, and do what's best for the team. He's quickest, and he's gonna get a shot off. He relishes those moments."

James isn't going to alter that perception until he thrives in June and makes good on his promise to deliver championships. Until then, he can only keep building on his regular-season dominance. James is off to one of the finest starts of his career -- averaging 29.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists and shooting 56.4 percent from the field. All those numbers exceed his career totals.

In his second season, teammates say James is also more relaxed in his surroundings a year removed from The Decision and the astonishing publicity it generated.

"He's a lot a more comfortable, a lot more himself," Heat center Joel Anthony said. "Obviously, it was a whirlwind of a season last year."

Added Mario Chalmers: "He's not thinking as much on the court and the big thing is he's more energetic. [Getting through last season] has taken a lot of pressure off him. He doesn't seem to be worrying about what people say about him."

James told ESPN in the preseason his goals were to have more fun and eschew a villain's role born from a nationally-televised breakup with Cleveland and perpetuated by his post-Finals South Beach diatribe to his detractors: "They have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today. ... They have the same personal problems they had today."

Wade's ankle will be rehabilitated before James' image, but his coach appreciates how hard the Akron native continues to work.

"He's very committed and very focused as he was last year," Spoelstra said. "What I've said is if he happens to do that with a smile on his face this year I don't have a problem with that. ... He put a lot of time in over the summer to improve his game. Not many two-time MVPs really have that mindset to [say] 'Hey, I want more and to get greedy and improve more facets of his game' and he's arguably the most complete player already in this game for a long time.

"That has set a tone, a strong message to the rest of the team not to be satisfied with our Finals appearance last year."

The Cavs get their first look at James this season on Tuesday. With his friend and teammate still on the mend, it's a look that resembles the player who flourished in a wine-and-gold uniform.