Lebron Wins Fourth MVP in Five Years

LeBron James was at his best this season, and the voters tasked with selecting the NBA's Most Valuable Player took notice.

During the 2012-2013 regular season, Lebron James clearly displayed why he is considered as the best player in the world and the voters tasked with selecting the NBA’s Most Valuable Player agreed. Lebron came within only one vote away from becoming the NBA’s first unanimous MVP in history. 

The official presentation of the award came Sunday May, 5 and Lebron was welcomed with a heartwarming introduction video of his family and closed showing their appreciation. He then accepted his award and gave a very genuine speech showing appreciation to all those who have helped him be the man he is today. He highlighted his speech by thanking his family and friends for being a great supporting cast, and paid homage to his teammates, stating that without them, none of his individual accolades would be possible.

Throughout this season, Lebron has accomplished some pretty amazing things that will probably never be done again. James was the only player in the NBA to lead his team in scoring, rebounding and assists per game this season, had a record six straight games of scoring at least 30 points while shooting at least 60 percent, became the youngest player in league history to break the 20,000-career-point plateau and won five of the six Eastern Conference player of the month awards. James has also became the second player in NBA history to post at least 2,000 points, 600 rebounds, 500 assists and 100 steals in a season twice, joining Larry Bird, who did it three times. The only other player to do it once was Jordan.

I mentioned in an earlier post, James for MVP that Lebron would win the MVP and now I’m ecstatic to see that the voters witnessed the same level of greatness that I witnessed from Lebron.

Hello Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

On Sunday, the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 88-77 to close out the first round series 4-0.  This has made it the third straight year the Miami has swept their first round opponent out of the playoffs. The Heat were without all-star guard Dwayne Wade, as he rested up a bruise right knee that has been giving him problems the entire series. The absent superstar did not worry the Heat, Lebron James picked up the slack by putting up great numbers in route to the victory. He finished the game with 30 points, eight rebounds and seven assists; veteran shooting guard Ray Allen also contributed 16 huge points off the bench. In the four games of the series the Heat was not really challenged as each game was a blowout. But that does not change the “Win All” mentality of the team. “Yeah, it was a great series and although we may have won it easily, that does not change the fact that every game and team is different and we approach each game that way”, Lebron James stated when ask about the relax environment of the Heat’s first round opponent.
 

The Heat now awaits the winner of the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls series. The Heat leads the season series between both of the teams 3-1.

Lebron James leads Heat to a win in Game 1

In what many believed would be an intriguing series, Miami ousted the Milwaukee Bucks 110-87 in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round series. Lebron James led the way with 27 points on 9-for 11 shooting (81%) with 10 rebounds and 8 assists, finishing two assists shy of a triple double. James has never taken fewer shots in a playoff game than he did on Sunday night. But still being able to finish with the most points in the game shows the complete dominance James has on the NBA today. Ray Allen also contributed with 20 points off the bench and the defending champion Heat picked up where they left off in the NBA playoffs a year ago. Although the Heat may end up sweeping the Bucks out of the playoffs, the series will be a good one because the Bucks play unafraid of the defending champions and give their all each game. 

Below you can find the tentative schedule for the remainder of the games in the series.

 

•        4/23 Game 2 @Miami 7:30pm (ET)
•        4/25 Game 3 @Milwaukee 7:00pm (ET)
•        4/28 Game 4 @Milwaukee 3:30pm (ET)
•        4/29 Game 5 @Miami TBD
•        5/1 Game 6 @Milwaukee TBD
•        5/3 Game 7 @Miami TBD

I predict a 4-0 sweep but I would not be surprised if the Bucks manage to pull of one upset in the seven game series.

Here come the Playoffs!!!

The regular season is over and the Miami Heat finished with the best record in the NBA at 66-16. That is the best record in franchise history. The Heat will face number eight seed Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs. The Heat controlled the season series 3-1 with their only loss to the Bucks coming when their star players Lebron and Dwayne Wade sat out due to injuries. This should be a very intriguing match up but fairly easy for the Heat to move past.

Here is a highlight clip of amazing plays that the Miami Heat was able to provide for the fans:

Follow along as the Heat intend to repeat as World Champions!!!

Playing with The King: The Eric Williams Interview

I recently had a chance to sit down with 12 year NBA veteran forward Eric Williams and he was delighted to share his experiences with Lebron James from a teammates’ perspective. The two were teammates with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2003-2004 season. That season was Lebron James’s rookie year and also Eric Williams’ first and only year with the team. The two grew very fond of each other on and off the court that season and they continue to maintain a healthy relationship almost a decade afterwards. Lebron has credited Williams and his mentor ship as a major contributor to his greatness.

 

Question: What’s up Eric, How has life been after the NBA?

Eric Williams: Life has been great, my kids are healthy, and I’m nice and healthy (laughing). But everything has been great; I have gained a lot of publicity because of my involvement with the VH1 hit show “Basketball Wives”.  A lot of publicity and lots of money (laughing).

 

Question: Do you miss playing in the NBA?

Eric Williams: Of course I miss it. Basketball is my life. It has opened a lot of doors that have made my life even better after the NBA. I do enjoy the extra time I have to spend with my children and watch them grow. I do love that part of life after basketball.

Question:  With the playoffs approaching and Lebron playing the best basketball of his career,  does it make you proud of the things he is accomplishing seeing that he credits you to his success because of your role as a mentor in his rookie season?

Eric Williams: Hell yeah, shouts out to my little brother Lebron. I’m not surprised at all at what Lebron is accomplishing. From the very first time I've seen him grace the basketball court, I knew he would be one of the greatest to ever do it. He works so hard and that’s what most people don’t realize, this man is always the first person in the gym or weight room and the last to leave. I met him when he was only 18 and the things he could do at that time, I just knew that if this kid stays healthy, he  would be the best ever. And look at him proving me right.

Question: So exactly how was it to play alongside of Lebron?

Eric Williams: Man, it was great. Nah, I’m lying. I hated it (laughing) he killed everybody every day at practice and he made coach always get mad at us “average” players when he was out there killing us (laughing). But seriously it was great, I am proud that he thinks so highly of me for helping him out with a few words of advice. In actuality Lebron made me better, he made everyone around him better, that’s just what superstars do.

Question:  What were a few of the major things you tried to tell Lebron about the NBA?

Eric Williams: I was just telling him he had to develop tough skin and be able to take criticism because the media can really say some hurtful things. I also advised him to watch his money and how he spends, but as rich as he is I doubt if he cared about that (laughing).  Most people don’t realize that Lebron is a smart man, all the things I told him, he already had knowledge of, I just added my personal experiences to it, to better clarify for him.

Question: Did you reach out to Lebron after his small performance in the 2011 Finals against the Dallas Mavericks?

Eric Williams: Yes I did, I called him a few weeks later and told him to keep his head up and don’t worry about the hate and to use it as motivation to come back even better the next year. And he did just that and won the championship the very next year.

Questions: Do you have any favorites or predictions on this year’s NBA Finals?

Eric Williams: Yes I do, I’m going with the Miami Heat to repeat as Champions. I predict that they will play Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals and I see them winning the series in 5 games with a record of 4-1. You’ll be a fool to bet against Lebron James (laughing).

It was an amazing experience to interview Eric Williams; he shared great insight on how it is to play along Lebron “The King” James. I hope this interview gives my viewers a chance to visualize the actual role of a teammate plays when playing with Lebron James. Being as though Williams played with him his rookie season, the insight is perfect as it helps to understand how Lebron got to be as successful as he is today.

James's for MVP

With his extraordinary level of play this season, Lebron James is on par to be crowned this year’s regular season MVP.  That would make it four out of the last five years that James has been given the prestigious award. But this season of all his wonderful years in the NBA can arguably go down as his best yet.   

 

James is leading his Miami Heat team with 27 points per game, eight rebounds per game and seven assists per game, while shooting an amazing 54% from the field. The consistent level of play has been on display for the entire season and each game James seems to excite his fans more and more by doing something more amazing than the game before.

Assuming James ends up being named MVP, he would become only the fifth player in NBA history to win the award at least four times, joining superstars Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Bill Russell (five), Michael Jordan (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four). He would also become the first player since the NBA-ABA merger back in 1976 to win the MVP four times within a five-year span.

I honestly believe that this should be James fifth MVP, in my opinion he was wrongly robbed of the award in the 2010-2011 season, which was given to Chicago Bulls superstar guard Derrick Rose. Even in that season, James was playing the best basketball but I believe that his decision to go play for the Miami Heat that season, which was already equipped with two other stars, weighed heavily on the voting. 

As a Lebron fan, this additional career achievement will feel great because it shows me that the world is coming around to the idea of James being the best player in the game today and maybe even the history.  

How To Execute a Crossover Dribble

Throughout the history of basketball, the ability to effectively handle the basketball has always been very important. Being able to dictate your movements on the basketball court without committing any violations to the rules of the game has become a main focus while attempting to learn how to play the sport.  You may watch a NBA game and see your favorite players like Lebron James and Kobe Bryant handle the basketball effortlessly and you may even get motivated by their abilities to try to do the same. Well in this post, I’ll be able to jumpstart you on the “road to NBA like handling ability” by giving you a clear and precise How-To guide on a crossover dribble. No I am not guaranteeing that after following my steps that you will initially be as great as the NBA stars, but if you put in years of practicing from my steps then maybe you can be just as great or even greater.

Step 1: Dominant Dribble

Dribble the ball with your dominant hand, on the dominant side of your body. For example, if you shoot right handed and feel more natural dribbling the ball right handed, view this as your dominant hand.  Use small, calculated steps as you step up to give you time to take in the defender’s position.

Step 2: Pause and Step
When you are within roughly three to four steps of the defender, pause and make one forward movement with the foot opposite of your dominant hand.

Step 3: The Persuasive Push
Push off the same opposite foot, while moving your body towards your dominant hand. Keeping a low center of gravity and somewhat lowering your dominant shoulder should make your defender believe in your "make believe" direction.

Step 4: Offset Your Own Momentum
Once you’ve gotten to this point, you will need to aggressively push off of your dominant foot, and then step to the side with your other foot. This specific step is most effective when you notice that your opponent is off balance. A huge part of learning how to do a crossover is being able to read the slight signals and movements demonstrated by the defender.

Step 5: The Switch of The Hands
You should then use a quick, low and hard dribble to switch the ball from your dominant hand to your other hand. This should be done directly in front of the defender, but also keeping the ball as close to your body as possible to avoid a turnover/steal. This will make the separation needed to attack the basket or just to get past the defender.

Step 6: Creating space to get to the basket
After creating the appropriate space between you and the defender, push off your non dominant foot towards the rim. As you push off, your dominant foot should be taking a giant step aligned with your opponent. Placing your striding foot as close as comfortably possible to the defender will keep them from reentering your driving lane. The defender’s attention should be in the opposite direction as you blow by him, leaving him confused and puzzled.

Here is a brief video of the move step by step for those of who need a visual aid as well:

I believe that practicing these steps that I have outlined will help develop you into a great ball handler and if you practice hard enough you may end up being one of the best to ever do it. I truly hope my how-to effectively do a crossover guide benefits you who dare to try it. Keep in mind that no matter how effortlessly Lebron James makes it look, he too had to start by using a similar guide. “THE SKY’S THE LIMIT”!!!

 

 

Joseph Goodman's Miami Heat

All day, I’ve searched and searched the worldwide web on a quest to find out about the thoughts and opinions that others had towards Lebron James and his impact on the NBA today. On my quest, I staggered upon a phenomenal blog, Miami Heat, which is run by Joseph Goodman.

Goodman covers the Miami Heat for the Miami Herald. He graduated from the University of Alabama-Birmingham with a degree in Journalism and English. He began working for the Herald in 2005 as a high school sports reporter in Boward County. Shortly after joining the Herald’s staff, Goodman was promoted to cover the Miami Heat. But enough about Goodman and more about why I feel he has an amazing blog.

Goodman has been operating this blog since December of 2005 and has made his blog one of the most visited blogs about the Miami Heat there is. The blog layout is very traditional being as though it is run from a web page of the Miami Herald newspaper. The page is very clear and precise and each function can be accessed very easily. Each gadget and advertisement surrounds the Miami Heat organization. You can purchase memorabilia and find out the latest news reports about the team from the gadgets on the page.

The content of each blog post is filled with great substance and analysis that can be respected because of Goodman’s connection to the team. Goodman’s does a phenomenal job of excluding his personal biasness onto his blog as he reports on positive and negative aspects of the team. I found this to be fascinating because when discussing sports its really hard to keep your own views out of the text but Goodman does a good job at hiding his own perceptions. Meaning he does not exxagerate because he is closely connected he delivers the whole truth to his audience.

In his post TRASH TALK GOLD: Lebron 'glad' he dunked on Jason Terry, Goodman highlights the incredible dunk on Lebron James over Jason Terry. I too mentioned the incredible dunk in one of my post, STREAK UPDATE !!!, but Goodman took a different approach than I. He provided the reaction of James, something that I should have done to show the actual importance of the dunk to James. Terry is known for trash talking players and Lebron has been one of the players who has admitted to being affected by the “smack talking”, so here him express his happiness about the dunk and who it was on, was something that I too should have mentioned. In my opinion, that was a job well done on the behalf of Goodman for the inside analysis on James’ feelings.

 I found this blog interesting because most of the blog topics were similar to things that I have blogged about. Goodman’s twist to the stories is also interesting because it opens up perspectives that I have never thought of. It was a pleasure to view the Goodman’s blog, Miami Heat and I hope that you all go visit the blog and enjoy it as much as I did.

The Wiki World

In one of my older post, I explained how my curiosity drove me to explore the Wikipedia page of the Cleveland Cavaliers, in hope of seeing if the information it provided on Lebron James was truly accurate. In the post, I pinpointed that the “2003-2010: The Lebron James Era” section on the page was missing substantial information on the impact of Lebron James.  The revisions I made gave the proper respect to James without disrespecting the integrity of the Cavalier's Organization or any one player.

Losing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Cavaliers now focused on Lebron James and the fact that he was now becoming a free agent. Owner Dan Gilbert realized the demand would be very high for James and many if not every team would place their bids. On July 8, 2010, James announced that he had decided that he would sign a long term deal with the Miami Heat.  This announcement was aired on ESPN as a one hour show named The Decision. The repercussions of this announcement left many in the city of Cleveland and many in the Cavalier organization furious and feeling betrayed. Many Lebron James jerseys were burned, and the famous Nike "Witness" mural of James in downtown Cleveland was immediately taken down. Shortly after James made his announcement, Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers, announced in an open letter on the Cavaliers website that James' decision was a "cowardly betrayal" and promised a NBA championship for the Cleveland Cavaliers before Lebron James wins one as a Heat player. Despite being ridiculed for the letter by the media, Cleveland fans embraced the owner, even offering to pay the $100,000 fine given by the NBA.  Instead of paying homage to a young man who has created many opportunities for the Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland’s economy, James was ridiculed and disrespected for making a decision he believed would benefit his life. The new formed hatred for James followed him into 2011 NBA Finals, after the Heat had reached the finals in James’ first year with the team. When the Dallas Mavericks closed the Miami Heat out in Game 6, many in Cleveland celebrated as if the Cavaliers had won the championship. At the time it wasn’t about the Cavaliers not winning but mainly about Lebron losing. There were even tweets from Cavaliers ownership of sly remarks about the Heat losing in the Finals. For a man who did nothing but benefit the City in many aspects, this treatment was very harsh.  With the emergence of Kyrie Irving as a Superstar in the NBA, it is probable that the hate for James would decrease because of the increase in love for Irving. 

I felt the need to make edits to this particular paragraph in the section because it lacked the emphasis on how the events occurred during the end of the Lebron James era with the Cavaliers. Unfortunately my revisions were immediately changed back to the original the text. The fact that my edits were changed within 24 hours after I posted the edits on Wikipedia showed me the Cleveland Cavaliers fans were not as grateful to what Lebron contributed to the city, as I thought they should be.

In my opinion, Lebron forever changed the dynamic of sports in Cleveland. As a member of the Cavaliers, he enhanced revenues for the downtown business districts which created many job opportunities for the residents of the city. I believe someone who has that much affect on a city in such a positive manner should receive a lot of appreciation for all that they have done.