The Cramp game


jsupop33

Loyalty & Respect
Since the Heat closed out the series do you think the cramp game will be looked at as a historical moment in 20 years. Depending on how Lebron finishes his career, I think the cramp game and Game 6 of the ECF will eventually be very big deals.
 
Since the Heat closed out the series do you think the cramp game will be looked at as a historical moment in 20 years. Depending on how Lebron finishes his career, I think the cramp game and Game 6 of the ECF will eventually be very big deals.

Doubt it he made only 5 points with a cramp and it was at the end of the game with 4 min left also he didnt play the full 4 min...
 



Since the Heat closed out the series do you think the cramp game will be looked at as a historical moment in 20 years. Depending on how Lebron finishes his career, I think the cramp game and Game 6 of the ECF will eventually be very big deals.

I think Game 6 becomes a big deal over time, especially as people start to step back and evaluate his career in its totality and this playoff run in particular. The so-called cramp game becomes more of a moment inside this entire playoff run, which by any historical measure, its among the greatest ever.
 
If Lebron wins 4 titles, I think game 6 will be looked at as the turning point of his career.

Pop,

I'd argue that in years to come, people will look back at the Win or Go Home Game 6 (45 pts 15 rebounds) of the MIA/Bosten series and point to that game as where Lebron turned the corner and really embraced his "greatness".
 
Pop,

I'd argue that in years to come, people will look back at the Win or Go Home Game 6 (45 pts 15 rebounds) of the MIA/Bosten series and point to that game as where Lebron turned the corner and really embraced his "greatness".

You can go back to Game 4 of the Indiana series where he had 41, 18 and 9 as an inflection point game. But, LeBron has had better postseason games than the "Cramp Game," Game 6 against Boston or even against the Pacers.

Shoot, LeBron scored 45 against Boston in Game 7 back in 2008. And then there was him taking over that game against the Pistons in the 2007 ECF taking a ragtag group of bum to the Finals at 22. Against the Magic, he averaged 38 points a game in the 2009 ECF. I think LeBron has embraced his greatness long ago. His efforts just hadn't resulted in a championship.
 
Pop,

I'd argue that in years to come, people will look back at the Win or Go Home Game 6 (45 pts 15 rebounds) of the MIA/Bosten series and point to that game as where Lebron turned the corner and really embraced his "greatness".

That's the game 6 I meant sorror.
 
Since the Heat closed out the series do you think the cramp game will be looked at as a historical moment in 20 years. Depending on how Lebron finishes his career, I think the cramp game and Game 6 of the ECF will eventually be very big deals.



Not really since there have been other players who've played entire games with more serious injuries/illnesses. Like JH pointed out, IThomas played very well considering his injury and MJordan played an entire game with the flu. And don't forget about former Heat player, Alonzo Mourning, who played whiled diagnosed with kidney disease. I think he only missed about 3-4 games when he found out he had the cancer. And even then, he kept playing until he had really serious complications which forced him to retire for his transplant.
 
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You can go back to Game 4 of the Indiana series where he had 41, 18 and 9 as an inflection point game. But, LeBron has had better postseason games than the "Cramp Game," Game 6 against Boston or even against the Pacers.

Shoot, LeBron scored 45 against Boston in Game 7 back in 2008. And then there was him taking over that game against the Pistons in the 2007 ECF taking a ragtag group of bum to the Finals at 22. Against the Magic, he averaged 38 points a game in the 2009 ECF. I think LeBron has embraced his greatness long ago. His efforts just hadn't resulted in a championship.

I'd agree than LeBron embraced his greatness long ago, however after the examples you gave LJ still reverted back time and time again to being the passive and undecisive player that caused the media and fans to pull their hair out wondering why he was not taking over 4th quarter games with everything on the line.

Would you not agree, that since the Game 6 I referenced, Lebron appears to have step into the "King James Role" many have been waiting patiently to see, as if a light-bulb suddenly turned on........ And yes, his efforts obviously contributed to the Heat winning the championship.
 
I'd agree than LeBron embraced his greatness long ago, however after the examples you gave LJ still reverted back time and time again to being the passive and undecisive player that caused the media and fans to pull their hair out wondering why he was not taking over 4th quarter games with everything on the line.

Would you not agree, that since the Game 6 I referenced, Lebron appears to have step into the "King James Role" many have been waiting patiently to see, as if a light-bulb suddenly turned on........ And yes, his efforts obviously contributed to the Heat winning the championship.

That and Chris Bosh coming back in that Game 6 is when the Heat pretty much didn't look back. I agree. The light seemed to have popped on in Game 6

In the Finals, it was Battier hitting a lot of timely 3's since Game 1 that they sorely needed since Mike Miller was pretty much a no show until the game last night.
 
I'd agree than LeBron embraced his greatness long ago, however after the examples you gave LJ still reverted back time and time again to being the passive and undecisive player that caused the media and fans to pull their hair out wondering why he was not taking over 4th quarter games with everything on the line.

Would you not agree, that since the Game 6 I referenced, Lebron appears to have step into the "King James Role" many have been waiting patiently to see, as if a light-bulb suddenly turned on........ And yes, his efforts obviously contributed to the Heat winning the championship.

I agree with you on the embracing of his greatness. However it was the killer attitude that was not there. The game 6 vs boston (didn't see the indy series), it's like he just accepted his role as a top NBA player meaning no time off, consistency, drive, determination and giving the team what is needed for the whole 48 (unless the game is already decided). This series will bring about a different LB for next season.
 



The genesis of the perception that LeBron shied away from rising to the occasion in 4th quarter postseason games started in that famous Detroit series in 2007. In Game 1 of that series, LeBron had the ball at the end of the game, drove to the basket and passed it to Donyell Marshall who was wide open in the corner. He missed the shot. Cavs lost.

The next day LeBron got criticized for it even though that was the right basketball play. A year earlier or earlier series (I can't remember), LeBron did the same thing against the Wizards in the playoffs. He drove to the basketball and kicked it out to Damon Jones who made the GW 3-pointer.

This issue didn't come up again until the last two games of the Boston series in 2010 where many believe LeBron quit in Game 5 and Game 6. As we all know the perception of LeBron's introvert behavior in the clutch reached a fever pitch in the NBA Finals against Dallas when he flat out disappeared in the 4th quarter. To this day, it's hard to explain why it happened after closing out games against Boston and Chicago with Triple-H-like precision.

I think the light bulb for LeBron went off a longtime ago. I think we've forgotten everything he did (even last year in 4th quarters). It's the winning the championship part that was missing. Even though he was great against Detroit, Orlando, Chicago and Boston, those performances didn't mean anything because they didn't end with a ring at the end of it.

As it normally does, our perception of a player or team changes once that season ends in holding up the trophy. In the 4th quarter of these Finals, LeBron really, to me, didn't play any differently than before. In Game 2, he made one shot in the fourth quarter. In Game 3, he made two baskets in the 4th quarter. In Game 4, he hit two shots in the 4th quarter.

In none of these 4th quarters did he go on a barrage of scoring surges like Kevin Durant did against San Antonio or Westbrook did against the Heat or Kobe has done over the years against everyone. The difference is that his team won this time.

That's why it has been so perplexing to read and listen to all the comments about how LeBron finally showed up, or if he just played the same way against Boston like he did in Cleveland, he would have multiple rings by now. LeBron has been playing like this for a minute now. It's just the losing overshadowed those performances.
 
I agree with you on the embracing of his greatness. However it was the killer attitude that was not there. The game 6 vs boston (didn't see the indy series), it's like he just accepted his role as a top NBA player meaning no time off, consistency, drive, determination and giving the team what is needed for the whole 48 (unless the game is already decided). This series will bring about a different LB for next season.

Exactly!
 
Game On.........Let's see if LJ can dominate the league for a few years with championships or will be just another one hit wonder.......
 
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