Pacers were tough in the playoffs and should have Danny Granger back playing. The Bulls can once again attack the Heat ' s weak link at point guard with a healthy Derrick Rose.
Winning is certainly the best way to silence critics and LeBron has done that the past two seasons. Something he had even when he wasn ' t winning titles was incredible numbers and while some basketball fans may not like him playing for the Heat they can ' t dismiss his Hall of Fame statistics. That all started in Cleveland as he was Rookie of the Year and the next season was Second Team All-NBA and the following year was First Team All-NBA. Right out of high school he averaged 20.9 points per game, while adding 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds. That would be a career-year for many NBA players but it was just the start for LeBron and every season since then he has managed at least 26.7 points per game, 6.0 assists and 6.7 rebounds.
Fans who thought they disliked James for leaving Cleveland for Miami can have their mind changed by some of his highlight plays. If there is something that all sports fans appreciate it is hustle on the defensive side of the game. While Kareem ' s signature move was his Skyhook and Tim Hardaway ' s was the " UTEP Two-Step " dribbling move and most other players in NBA history have to have the ball in their hands for a play that they are remembered by, it is an unbelievable defensive play that James does with regularity that endears him to fans. A breakaway dunk or lay-up is something that many players give up on when defending as they don ' t want to waste energy or fouls. Stopping this play is what James does that no other NBA player has ever done as well. The player has a big start and is sprinting down the court to score with no defenders near him and that is when James starts his chase. What looks like a guaranteed score is erased at the backboard as James comes out of nowhere for the block.
Another way James is winning back fans is by continuing to improve his game. The fans said he didn ' t play well in the fourth quarters of games but he has addressed that. One weakness he was said to have was outside shooting, and when he was at Cleveland and for his first season in Miami he was often around 33 % for three-pointers. James hit his outside shots at 40.6 % in season 2012-13. James has also improved his field goal percentage every season for the past six seasons. During the season, he expressed his desire to improve his free throw shooting, wanting to improve his FT percentage from 75.3 % to the 80s percentile. Numbers like that show that James puts in the time and energy during the offseason to improve all aspects of his basketball game.
One reason why many basketball fans have stopped disliking LeBron James now is because his former team isn ' t doing too badly. Fans thought that Cleveland landing the first pick and drafting Kyrie Irving was justice for James leaving. The Cavs have now landed another top overall pick, picking Anthony Bennett who does have some similarities to James, so fans are not as sympathetic of their plight as they were when James left. Not only are the Cavs loaded with lottery talent now but they have a trade asset in Anderson Varejao and room in their salary cap. They could still have room in twelve months’ time if LeBron wants to make a decision to return to Cleveland as a free agent.
If James really wants to boost his popularity among basketball fans around the world he can remedy that by doing one thing he excels at, dunking the ball during the All-Star Weekend. There are times when he is warming up before games that James decides to put on a show for the lucky fans in attendance as he brings out his power dunks. James is more athletic than Dominique Wilkins, taller than Michael Jordan, more powerful than Vince Carter, so if LeBron
Sports Passion The Magazine | 16 August 2013 | Issue No. 1