LeBron may have been the one who anointed himself "King James" in the first place, with some recent help from the three dozen or so loyal fans he's gained down in South Beach, but he really is trying to shake that public perception that he's the villain in these NBA Finals.
He embraced it at first. He thrived on being booed in every single city. It motivated him to become even better. Don't believe it? Look back at that 38-point firestorm he unleashed on the Cavaliers in his Ohio homecoming back in December. He had a little extra edge to him.
But that edge has worn off. The criticism is now getting to LeBron. He's tired of being labeled as an egomaniacal jerk. He came to Miami to be a good teammate and win championships together with his close personal friends, but no matter how he handles the pressure, he can't win.
The case of Sunday night's misguided postgame question from CBS columnist Gregg Doyel is just one of a zillion examples. Most pro athletes are put at the podium to spout cliches and empty rhetoric. LeBron instead finds himself on trial every night.
Read these words. Think as you go — what is each guy thinking as he steps to the microphone? What's his motivation?
GD: LeBron. Three games in a row for you, fourth quarter, not much. That's the moment superstars become superstars. Seems like you're almost shrinking from that. What's going on?
LBJ: I think you're concentrating on one side of the floor. All you're looking at is the stat sheet. I'm a two-way player. Tonight, [Dwyane] Wade had it going offensively, so we allowed him to handle the ball and allowed him to bring us home offensively. But if you watch the film and you see what I did defensively, you'll ask me a better question tomorrow.
Doyel is on the offensive. He's already fashioned a case against James in his head, and he wants the world to hear it. So he makes a bold accusation — he basically calls LeBron a choker. LeBron James — the same guy who singlehandedly took a figurative blowtorch to the Celtics' playoff run, and who scored eight points in a minute and a half to vanquish the Bulls — can't get it done in crunch time.
LeBron, on the other hand? He's starting to attempt playing the good guy.
He may only have nine fourth-quarter points in three games this series, but that's OK with him since he can be a playmaker and a defender. Remember, he's not trying to be Michael Jordan — he's Magic Johnson instead. Different breed of champion.
LeBron is making exactly the right move here. He wants to be seen as unselfish, he wants to be a complete all-around player and he wants to be a good teammate. He's saying all the right things, but he still catches heat, no matter what he does.
In a lot of ways, it looks like he can't win.
But if he keeps doing the dirty work he's doing, and Dwyane Wade continues his glamorous job of dropping 30-point games, the two can win the ultimate prize together — a championship. That's what really matters.
Is LeBron James getting the credit he deserves for Miami's 2-1 lead in these Finals? Share your thoughts below.
