Originally posted by LA9erFan:
Originally posted by 49ersMyLife:
It's funny, ppl keep saying Miami has the big 3 and Lebron has so much help, as a way to knock him down. But, they also knock him down for passing the ball to a wide open Chris Bosh late in the close game. What good is this big 3 if they can't be relied upon to hit wide open shots?
Miami doesn't have the big 3 anymore. Hell, they are not even big 2 for 40 minutes a game due to injuries to Wade. That run in game 2 came with Bosh and Wade on the bench. A healthy Wade is a different story, but he hasn't been healthy in the playoffs for 2 straight years now. At least last year he'd go on a tear for a half from time to time. He can't do that either this year.
What good is Chris Bosh if he can't knock down spot up 3's with the game on the line? That question should answer itself. Before Miami, he was arguably the best offensive big man in the league. When LeBron's on the team, LeBron is the system, and the opportunities key players are diminished, especially in a playoff setting. Someone like Bosh isn't getting consistent opportunities to do what he's best at, and the idea that he should be chastised for missing an open 3 is absurd.
This team is challenging for a repeat because they are tremendous on the defensive end when they want to be, but offensively, LeBron's game diminishes the offensive games of teammates unless they're a spot up shooter or a dish & dunk big. And then it becomes, "these two all-stars who are at an age where it would be really weird for them to have a severe decline are having a severe decline." Wade & Bosh are still tremendous players offensively, they're just marginalized.
He could have been inside the 3pt line easily. He chose that spot. They were leaving him wide-open. I don't remember defenses purposely leaving Ray Allen or Garnett or Pierce wide open all game.
Also, I'm not saying Wade is declining. Wade is injured and I know he's still a top 5 player when he's healthy. But, he hasn't been healthy for the last 2 playoffs. Wade has averaged 21 ppg during the regular season and shot career high from the field...so I don't think playing alongside Lebron has diminished him whatsoever. If anything, he has been a better player. He's just having tough time staying healthy.
Bosh averaged 10+ boards in Toronto while playing next to Bargnani. Playing next to Lebron shouldn't have stopped him from rebounding. He averged 6.8 rpg in 2012-2013. In his rookie year, Bosh averaged 7.4
In game 1, Lebron shot 16 shots, so did Bosh and Wade had 15 shots...so it's not like when they are given opportunities - they're playing at a high level. Lebron has become a more efficient player too. He may be scoring 30 ppg in Cleveland, no question he is a much better scorer and player today.
Anyway, my point is...how can ppl criticize Lebron for passing the ball to a wide open Bosh or Wade? If they are truly big 3, he should be passing the ball to them when they are open. If he shoots 16 shots in a game, he is called passive. If this is truly a big 3, Lebron shouldn't have to win the games by himself. He has to do it because Wade is not healthy and Bosh can't handle the pressure and doesn't give 100% effort. Him struggling has little to do with Lebron...Bosh was great during the regular season.