Lebron James finished game 1 against the Spurs with a triple-double of 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists. So what’s wrong with that? The Miami Heat lost and suddenly the performance is negated especially since Lebron took just four shot attempts in the fourth quarter and passed the ball to a wide open Chris Bosh who took and missed a three-point attempt. With the loss the story shifts from Lebron being multi-faceted on the court to Lebron didn’t take over shooting like he should have. Despite the media spins and public opinion Lebron says he isn’t changing his game plan. Read more after the jump.
“I should have done more, right?” he asked rhetorically on Saturday, ahead of Game 2 on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ABC).
“I know what I say to you guys and I know the questions you guys ask me, but I don’t really read too much of what people say,” James said. “I do what’s best for the team. What’s best for the team doesn’t always result in a win.”
As much as people want him to have the Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant mentality that’s just not the type of player he is. Lebron isn’t the type to take every shot in the fourth quarter when the game is on the line. He’s the type to pass to an open teammate rather than take a contested jumper or drive in the clogged paint.
“My guys are open. I’ve got this far with them. I’m not going to just abandon what I’ve been doing all year to help us get to this point.”
Oddly enough he would be considered a selfish player and receive the same criticism’s as Kobe if he launched up 30 shots rather than get his team involved. The team first attitude Lebron carries is well received, except when the Heat lose…
“I’ve done more and lost before,” James said. “I want to win just as bad as anyone. I’m going to put myself and my team in a position to win. I have to try to make the plays. I can’t worry about if people are saying, ‘You should have done more. You should have been more aggressive because you got a loss.’ Winning and losing is part of the game.”
He was even defended by opposing and one of the greatest coaches of all time.
“He’s a grown man,” Popovich said. “He doesn’t need any of you to tell him anything. He knows more than all of you put together. He understands the game. If he makes a pass and you all think he should have shot it, or he shoots it and you think he should have made a pass, your opinions mean nothing to him, as they should not mean anything to him.”
Quotes via USA Today Sports
