They have called him a traitor, flopper, cocky and after the NBA Finals' Game 6, LeBron James will cement himself as one of the best losers in the game of basketball. Best loser? It doesn't sound like it makes sense, but the numbers won't lie.
If James loses in Game 6, he will be 1 for 4 in his NBA Finals career. He was there with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007 and he lost to these same Spurs. Then in 2011, when he made the move to South Beach, James' cocky demeanor got in the way of his skills and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Heat in six games. The Heat were successful last season after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder, but luck doesn't appear to be on James' side this year.
The Spurs have proven more dynamic. They have talent, but it's impossible to compare their team to the guys in Miami. The Heat have players on their bench who can start for many teams in the NBA. However, Erik Spoelstra has had trouble mixing and matching his lineups. This of course, is outside of James' control.
James is single-handedly the most talented being in the NBA today. However, he seems incapable of taking over games the way a Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant were able to do when their teams were in trouble. James doesn't hog the ball and tries to involve all his teammates. With his skill sets, many are expecting James to take over the game and have the ability to lead his Heat to victory
Bryant and Jordan would find ways to leave their prints on the games, especially in the Finals. Bryant and Jordan never shied away from taking a lot of shots in a game. They were always the team's No. 1 option. This is why comparing Jordan or Kobe to James is unfair to the Heat's forward.
James could go down as the most talented player to play the game of basketball. He can guard a big man and then run the point guard position in the next offensive possession. It is still unfair, however, to compare Jordan and Bryant to James. Bryant lost two, while Jordan never lost when the lights were shining the brightest. James lacks the killer mentality that enabled Jordan and Bryant to intimidate opponents when it mattered most.
The Spurs have new life with the addition of Manu Ginobili to the starting lineup. They have the advantage heading into Game 6 since Spoelstra is still trying to find out what to do with his lineup. The Heat have a chance to win, especially since they are back in their home floor. They will need James to take over the game and they can't afford another poor shooting performance from their best player.
For James, a player of his caliber is frowned upon when joining forces with a future Hall of Famer like Dwyane Wade. If the Heat don't win the 2013 championship, James moving to Miami could go down as one of the most disappointing decisions in the history of the game.
