Holiday Style
LeBron James (photo. Mannion)Tuesday was all about LeBron. Starting before dawn at 23 different playground courts across New York City and ending with ‘Bron putting up 26 points as the Cavs destroyed the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on national TV, if you didn’t know any better you’d think a national holiday had been declared in LBJ’s name; you know the only reason NBA TV even chose to mic Q-Rich of all people for the game was that he was the main one guarding the guest of honor … If you were on DimeMag.com at all yesterday you couldn’t miss the day-long LeBron coverage. As for the game itself, ‘Bron came in getting cheered louder than anyone involved with the Knicks, and as the star-studded crowd (Jay-Z, Beyonce, Spike, etc.) was just waiting to explode upon his first highlight, he gave them a frank-man block on Chris Duhon a few minutes into the first quarter that got the job done. But aside from some early threes and a two-hand banger after the game had long been decided, it wasn’t the explosive performance everybody was looking for. LeBron didn’t even play in the fourth quarter of the blowout … The game was close for a minute, when Duhon and Cleveland’s backcourt (including Delonte West, who got braided up for the big stage) were slinging 24-footers at each other, but the Cavs turned it on and were up double-digits at the end of the first quarter, and flirting with a 30-piecing a few minutes into the second. And when Tim Thomas and Al Harrington checked in, the Knicks were done. The whole team had already refused to defend the three-point line, but it was like Thomas and Harrington caused everyone to suddenly stop moving the ball on offense and turn Mike D’Antoni‘s playbook into five guys who just happened to be wearing the same uniform playing a game of “21″ … E-mail from Dime’s Andrew Katz: “Do you remember coming to the Garden last year when the guys who leapfrog each other during timeouts were the most exciting thing to watch? We’re right back there.” …
WitnessesEven Kobe Bryant let LeBron have the spotlight last night, ’cause his chance to make Kobe vs. Vince Carter a major storyline turned out to be a dud. With Vince playing surprisingly good D on him, Kobe went 5-for-17 from the field (12 pts), and his only standout moment was when he skated past Devin Harris in the first half and dunked on Brook Lopez. While Mamba lost the individual matchup with Vince (14 pts), the rest of the Lakers smashed the rest of the Nets in his place. Lopez actually did his thing (17 pts, 10 rebs) against Andrew Bynum, but the Nets didn’t have an answer for Pau Gasol (26 pts) and their bench couldn’t see L.A.’s bench at all … No surprise to see the Pacers blow another fourth-quarter lead, especially against the suddenly red-hot Mavs in Dallas. With Danny Granger and Troy Murphy getting buckets on the Josh Howard-less front line, Indy seemed to have it in their pocket until Jason Terry (29 pts) and Jason Kidd (11 pts, 13 asts, 3 stls) caught fire, scoring all of Dallas’ points in a late run that Kidd capped with the go-ahead triple … Pacers announcer Quinn Buckner on Indy’s turnover problems: “If you want pumpkin pie, you gotta take care of the pumpkin.” … Under interim coach Ed Tapscott (or “Obama,” as Caron Butler said the team calls him, since “He’s light-skinned, he stands for change, he’s got a law degree, he uses big words, and he’s new in the district, and he’s in control now.”), the Wizards looked like an entirely different team in knocking off the Warriors. Decidedly less-depressing, Washington actually played some D, passed the ball — recording a season-high 27 assists — and basically looked like they cared, which wasn’t the case toward the end of Eddie Jordan‘s run. Caron dropped 35 in the win, and Antawn Jamison had 25 and 11 boards … Then there was Andray Blatche, who had the “Where the hell did that come from?” game of the night with 25 points, 12 boards, five assists and five blocks, and caught one nasty dunk over Anthony Randolph and Brandan Wright. True, those two are a combined 250 pounds, but they’ve got 16 feet worth of arms and bounce … The Thunder, meanwhile, still can’t get that first W since their coaching change. OKC was up double-digits in the fourth quarter against the Suns (sans Shaq) and still managed to lose the game. After Steve Nash (20 pts, 8 rebs, 15 asts) tore into that lead, then dimed Matt Barnes for a three with 25 seconds left to give Phoenix the lead (bad defensive rotation by OKC), Scott Brooks called a play that only led to Kevin Durant (29 pts) forcing a shot. Russell Westbrook tracked down the board with less than 10 seconds left, but instead of trying to get something set up for a good shot, decided to launch a turnaround fadeaway that barely drew iron (or as Wizards fans might call it, The Nick Young Shot). Then on top of that, the Thunder couldn’t catch Nash, Barnes, Raja Bell or Boris Diaw (yes, Diaw) and foul them before the clock ran out … Who’s your first-month MVP of the League? One of our guys casts his vote for D-Wade. Most of the office has LeBron or Kobe. For whatever reason, no one’s backing Joakim Noah … Also, we wanted to give you a heads up that we’ll have another guest author for a new Pass the Mic today. This was received pretty well the other day, so we’re coming back with a commenter that everyone knows: YOUNGFED … We’re out like the new-look Knicks …
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November 26th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Sambuu says:
1?
November 26th, 2008 at 6:10 am
John says:
I wonder if D-Wade will have the same publicity than Lebron, when he visits NY next time
November 26th, 2008 at 6:40 am
weng santos says:
^ Uhm, NO.
DWade is someone you’ve seen before. The NBA has had every version of DWade- basically a scoring, slashing 2-guard. And right now, Kobe is still better as a 2-guard.
But LeBron? He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player. There was no one like him before, and we won’t see another like him for a long time. He’s a physical freak with so many skills and tremendous court vision. He doesn’t need to score to affect the game, and he’s unselfish.
I mean, if you’re looking to build your team around someone right now (like the Knicks are), would you pick DWade over LeBron? LBJ is getting the love because New Yorkers want him on their team badly.
LeBron is a true phenom, and phenoms like him are rare. What he does is extraordinary. It’s not the case with Wade. If you miss out on Wade, you could go after Kobe, Caron, Manu, or Monta and essentially get the same thing.
November 26th, 2008 at 6:44 am
YOUNGFED says:
Andrew Bynum is a bum. BTW….I’mmmmmmm Baaaccckkkk. (lol)
YOUNGFED’S BANGER OF THE DAY: Common and J-Dilla
http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=30428
You know what it is. FIYYYYAAAAA!!!!!
November 26th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Chris Duhon says:
Whats a frank-man block?
November 26th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Ashlov says:
@ Weng
Caron, Manu, or Monta? You’re out of your mind. Wade is right there with Kobe and Lebron, if not better. I would love to have seen either Kobe or Lebron in Wade’s shoes during the 2006 NBA Finals. I don’t think either one of them could have done what Wade did in four straight games. When it comes to skill, Wade and Lebron are extremely similar, but when it comes to clutch, Wade just has it over just about everyone else in the L.
Again, Kobe and Lebron are great players, for you to dismiss Wade like that, it’s ridiculous.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Yoooo says:
Easy son. Dwade won his chip against the Mavs the same year Kobe outscored them through 3 quarters. They don’t have ANY perimeter defenders. Not even high ass Josh Howard…
November 26th, 2008 at 7:31 am
s.bucketz says:
wuts the word on nate’s injury??
and i dont think d wade is gunna get this type of hype wen he comes to msg cuz hes not a nike player nd this was all orchestrated by nike
November 26th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Fox says:
Weng, I think if you were starting a team and when your pick came up the options are Wade, Caron, Manu or Monta you would pick Wade in a HEARTBEAT and not think twice of it. No he’s not better than Labron or Kobe but he’s third!!
If he had just One 7 footer worth talking about in Miami with him they would definitely be a playoff team and with Wade’s clutch ability they would be a Title threat. HELL if he had somebody like Brendon Haywood they’d be aiight!! Lol!!
November 26th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Sweet English says:
It sucks that you are all asleep right now, i gotta wait till like 2pm GMT before any of you in the USA are coherent enough to start making some interesting points.
I didn’t even get to see the game last night, and i drank a whole six pack of Red Bull to make sure i stayed up late enough. But god damn it, late night T.V is so boring i was out by 2 am.
I had to pat my crotch when i woke up just to make sure i hadn’t pissed myself.
WAKE UP PEOPLES! I NEED SOME DEBATE!
November 26th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Smitty313 says:
Lebron once in a lifetime. Lebron is a bigger, stronger version of the old Grant Hill. Kobe needs to go to the rack he settles to much for his jumper these days. I think he’s locking himself up. Garden game was a huge let down. The Suns, OKC was the best of the day.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Smitty313 says:
D-Wade is getting paid by Nike, because they own Converse. But he still won’t get that hype.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Kudabeen says:
If Kobe was in Wade’s shoes on that Heat team instead of …They wouldn’t have had to win the way they did. Heat would have took that in an easy 5 probably…
Wade is a much better player this year. I would argue that at this point Wade is a better individual threat, but Kobe is in win mode right now, while Wade is in destroy mode…hard to compare.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Mikey says:
Decent but not great performance from LeBron.
Terrible job by Kobe
Jason Kidd on fire and hitting a go ahead triple?
Andray Blatche being the player of the night?
That has to be one of the craziest nights the NBA has seen this year.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Fox says:
@ Sweet English,
There’s a great debate goin on right now “where you at”?
@ Kudabeen
Screw KOBE!! He had a chance to do what D Wade did but he didn’t want to do it with Shaq. Now he has to settle for Bynum and Gasol. I guess they kind of equal one Shaq in his prime. But still not good enough to win a Chip. So all you Kobe Lovers and Laker bandwagon jumpers out there, don’t get ya hopes up too high. The East will bring the ring home again!! Celtics or Labron and the rest of his team.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:41 am
jl90 says:
This whole lebron thing is getting ridiculous. can we please focus on these next two seasons and not on a longshot free agent class in two years?
November 26th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Big Sia says:
YI AND LOPEZ ARE THE TRUTH(S)
November 26th, 2008 at 8:43 am
QQ says:
Kobe for the first month mvp…..
November 26th, 2008 at 8:48 am
YOUNGFED says:
Lebron gets MVP so far, but it doesn’t matter cause his team is trash.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Ashlov says:
@Kudabeen
No sir, Wade is all about win mode. Deep inside, Wade hopes that you’re up at the start of the fourth, it gives him wood. Watch a few games, and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:56 am
justice says:
Kobe was killing everything in his path that year had he been on that heat team, it’s no way they lose more than one game in the series…d wade is very very good, kobe is great…
November 26th, 2008 at 8:58 am
justice says:
what’s the argument here i know it’s not that dwade is a better clutch player than kobe that’s just dumb,and i know it’s not that he’s a better scorer,bean can lead the league in scoring anytime he wants period
November 26th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Kermit the Washington says:
WHY?? In God’s name, WHY? You gave YoungFed the mic?! This is sooooo going straight to his head; he’s gonna be on some Kanye “you can’t tell me NOTHIN’!” Why have you done this, Dime…..
I won’t hate; go get ‘em, Young…
November 26th, 2008 at 9:27 am
weng santos says:
@ everyone:
That’s what I’m saying! Wade is not better than LeBron and that’s why LeBron gets the love in NY that Wade won’t! (The original question is if Wade gets the same treatment as LeBron if Wade visits NY.)
LeBron is a true franchise player- one who can take his team to the penultimate games without a big name sidekick. Can you say that about Wade, or Kobe for that matter?
Sure, if I was forming a team and my turn to draft came and Wade was still on the board and LeBron and Kobe weren’t, then sure I would pick Wade. But I would still feel I missed out on LeBron.
But if my turn came and Wade wasn’t on the board, I wouldn’t feel like I missed out on a whole lot. I could get a Butler now a Deron later or a big guy like Garnett, Bosh, Howard, or Duncan and I feel I could make up the difference. Maybe that could be better, as staking everything on Wade is one shoulder-separated-in-a-wheelchair incident away from being a complete disaster. But LeBron? There is no combo that replaces him, his skills, freakishness, and durability.
The point is, if I missed out on Wade, I wouldn’t lose sleep over it. Not like I would if I had the chance at LeBron and messed it up.
Everybody, chill. I’m not dissing Wade. I like the man’s game, especially if he could add a reliable long jumper, he’d be one of the best. He’s just not THE best for me right now, even at his spot.
And I was talking about the best here.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:45 am
fallinup says:
“LeBron is a true franchise player- one who can take his team to the penultimate games without a big name sidekick. ”
Until the time comes when he has to hit a clutch free throw.
“Can you say that about Wade, or Kobe for that matter?”
Don’t have to…all Wade and Kobe can do is show you their rings….can Lebron do that?
You’re sold on the all the hype Nike bought for Lebron last night. It was all a ploy.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Ric Hardwood says:
The Lebron hype in NY last night was pathetic… Not hating on Lebron, he can take a ‘turrible’ team to the finals… but I’m disappointed in NYC… never before (that I know of anyway) have I seen a player on a visiting team get this much more love than the home team. The Knicks actually looked good in D’antoni’s system earlier and yesterday they were pummeled and loved every minute of it… turrible… doesn’t Cleveland have any say in this? because of last night, Lebron’s chances of leaving went up exponentially…
November 26th, 2008 at 9:56 am
that's whats up says:
@ post 26 – “never before (that I know of anyway) have I seen a player on a visiting team get this much more love than the home team. ”
His name was Jordan and it was called the Nineties
November 26th, 2008 at 10:02 am
rell says:
For the next 2 years Lebron will be the most loved player in New York. If King James decides not to come to New York, you will never see the level of hate toward one player by the New York media and fans since Jordan left the league. Lebron will probably go down as the most hated athlete in Knicks history if he decided not to sign with them.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Ric Hardwood says:
@ post 27 – New York fans didn’t have everyone in the Garden rock Air Jordan shirts in the Chicago Bulls team colors (The MSG crowd was all wearing RED witness shirts for crying out loud). Last I checked, Red is not a Knick team color… in the nineties, the Knicks fan respected Jordan for his skills but they still wanted their Knicks to win…
November 26th, 2008 at 10:15 am
John says:
Until Lebron win a chip and finals MVP, and until Kobe win a chip and finals MVP (not hanging in Shaq’s balls), I still think that D-Wade is the guy that I want in my team at the end of the day. NBA Finals is where you separate the boys from real players. Peace.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:42 am
dapro says:
Ric
The Knick fans are doing this to lure Lebron, if the NYC area or any other city thought they had a chance at getting MJ then the maYor would have been recruiting him
The hype surrounding Lebron is some what warranted but I’ll have to take Wade as of now
November 26th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Ric Hardwood says:
Dapro
I know why they’re doing it, but it still doesn’t feel right… just a notch worse than tanking games to get the first pick in the next draft… the fact that they aren’t even trying to hide their intention is a slap in the face to Knicks fans for the next year and a half… just saying…
November 26th, 2008 at 10:56 am
dapro says:
I agree Ric it is a slap in the face but I was referring to your MJ comment
November 26th, 2008 at 11:06 am
weng santos says:
@ fallinup
For the record, I don’t like LeBron’s game. I think he’s too dominant. He’s overpowering, and I;m partial to finesse guys. But I have to acknowledge talent when I see it.
Dude, you twisted my words. My question was, can Wade or Kobe get to the penultimate (i.e. FINALS) games without a big-name sidekick? Kobe was there last year with Gasol and Odom. Wade won it with a still-good Shaq. Sure he won Finals MVP, but in that Finals you couldn’t breathe in him without sending him to the line.
When Kobe won his 3 rings, who was the Finals MVP? That’s right, Shaq. So in that case, Kobe WAS the sidekick.
I’m not sold on the hype alone. But as a city basketball coach, as a varsity league official, and as a sports marketing man, I’m sure you will agree with me that it is one creative sales pitch. The purpose was to generate hype, and you can’t say it didn’t work.
November 26th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Chaos says:
is this new coach the one that turns adray blatche around….all signs point to maybe…the kid got the skills but not the motivation is it seems like to put it together. the wiz could go with a pretty big lineup with a pg, caron, jamison, mcgee and adray blatche and let caron handle the ball
November 26th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
fallinup says:
weng
It worked in New York. But I think it also tarnished and disrespected the NBA (although I doubt Stern cares because it’s New York..imagine a sales pitch like this going down in San Antonio)…the New York Knicks (current players especially)…and the people of NY for buying the hype.
I think a very big majority out of the greater metropolitan area thought that all that media attention was nothing more than red shirted, free hotdog eating, Get your new Nikes pitchin’ HYPE. Shame on the lame brains for falling for it.
November 26th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
LakeShow84 says:
“If you miss out on Wade, you could go after Kobe, Caron, Manu, or Monta and essentially get the same thing.”
We should have the dumbest shit said post and this quote would win the weeks draw.. And yeah your basically saying you would pick Dwade over Kobe.. WOW
Weng how can you even breathe Kobe into that group?? What a joke.. And no respect for the bigs.. Wheres Timmy, Yao or Howard?? Come on now everyone has said it.. This was a Lebron/Nike publicity bash.. But i cant be mad cuz half the fools on this site are tools and buy into EVERYTHING they see in media.. Sad..
I call you all the “McCain Supporters”
LOLOLOLOLOL
November 26th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
LakeShow84 says:
Please no one respond to the McCain thing.. i just had to say it..
November 26th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
hoopsguru says:
maybe it’s just me, but I think it is an NBA conspiracy set up by Stern to get a big name back in NYC. For what reason would people automatically assume that Bron is going to NYC next year????
November 26th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
K Dizzle says:
So Kobe had 12 and the Lakers won by only 27. Yeah, he really shoulda “stepped up”. Kobe musta seen the Steph Curry Loyola game or else Steph been watchin Kobe this year. Basically coast in the blowouts and cut throats in the nail biters
Vince already had his back in Toronto “showin em what they missin” game so he’s done for the year. Vince don’t give a damn lol I’m lovin the rest KB is gettin. Dude will be the freshest player in the playoffs if this keeps up. Killin my fantasy team but I’m all big picture.
I’m feelin goin 41-1 in the first half…
November 26th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
GEE...Smell my fingerrsssss! says:
Houston up! I am just thinking. If they went that much out for LeBron and we still got 2 years left. No telling what will happen next time dude visits MSG.
On top of that I won’t be shocked if a few other teams throw some nice pub his way. Crazy though, with it being a long time off. If he somehow mangages to bring Cleve a championship before that, then you know he is gone.
Even outside of LeBron it will be interesting to see where everone else ends up as well.
I am personally interested to see what Houston does with T and Yao being up for grabs.
Anyone needing a shooter can holla at Redd then.
The sleeper pick that might better serve ya squad better than LeBron might, just miiight be Wade.
Still I am all about 2008 what is going to happen now.
Houston up!
November 26th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Derrick Rose says:
Im the ROY…
November 26th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
baron von faulk says:
LEBRON and KOBE are two of the worst players in the league.
Donyell Marshall will destroy them both from the arc with his veteran craftiness.
Nick Collison will posterize them.
Jacque Vaughn will cross them over into oblivion.
November 26th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
baron von faulk says:
GEE….your fingers smell like butterscotch, yo.
November 26th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
VERTMAN says:
Steve MVP Nash was AWESOME last night! Especially last 4 mins. Dude can flat out ball it out like no ones biz.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
weng santos says:
fallinup,
That’s the thing, bro. NY (and the rest of the world) are full of lame-brains. You and I, we’re not the target demographic of this marketing move, but the masses who don’t know any better. This hype caters to them, and I say it worked in raising the consciousness it wanted among the regular fans.
lakeshow84,
Read my posts again. I said Kobe is better. My point was basically that there are a a lot of scoring 2-guards (with Kobe as the current standard), but there is only one 6-9, 260 pounds freak athlete meets court vision in LeBron.
My post wasn’t about Kobe at all.
Also, read my other post, maybe 3 posts ahead of you. Did I not mention I would rather get Garnett, Duncan, Bosh, and Howard? Oh wait, I DID! Is that not respect?
Which post is dumber now?
Observe, think, react. Don’t jump the gun.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
weng santos says:
fallinup,
You’re right bro. It worked in NY, and Stern won’t care.
LeBron is his new cash cow. Stern’s a businessman, and he’ll probably milk this for everything while the hype is there.