| Is LeBron James The Next MJ Or The Next KG? Authored by Joe Pacampara - June 21, 2007 - 5:44 pm
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As great as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird were, they would not have had the remarkable careers they had without great teammates. Teammates like Scottie Pippen, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, and Kevin Mchale all helped these amazing players gain their championship rings. Who on this Cleveland Cavalier team will help Lebron capture his first NBA title? Here is a look at their top-7 rotation minus LeBron James.
1. Larry Hughes
Best Trait
Larry has great offensive skills. He can drive to the basket, shoot the midrange jump shot, and his passing abilities are exceptional.
Worst Trait
Durability. Larry missed 12 regular season games this year, and the final 2 games of the Finals. That has been his problem during this stint with Cleveland. Every time he seems to get into a rhythm, something goes wrong. He needs to stay healthy for a longer period of time to really impact the team.
Will He Help?
Yes, when he is healthy. He can play both guard positions, which gives Coach Mike Brown some flexibility. Although, if he continues to have injury woes, Cleveland might want to look at someone who can stay healthy.
2. Zydrunas Ilgauskas
Best Trait
Defence. His defence on Duncan in the Finals was as good as anyone’s. He is the reason why Duncan did not win his fourth MVP award. The fact that he can rebound also adds to his defensive abilities.
Worst Trait
Offensive consistency. It seems when his shot is not falling, he gets into a bad groove and it is difficult for him to get out of it. An example of this is Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan’s solid defence caused Ilgauskas to miss buckets when they needed them the most.
Will He Help?
Yes. He does have his flaws but his defence is what will help LeBron the most. His ability to shut down other power forwards in the league will keep pressure off LeBron’s offence. Throw in the fact LeBron puts a lot of trust in him and has made it public he wants Ilgauskas to stay in Cleveland, he will be an important piece of LeBron’s quest for a title.
3. Sasha Pavlovic
Best Trait
His 3-point shooting. His percentage is not as high as other 3-point threats in the league (41%) but he can nail the three when it matters the most. His 3-pointer in the dying seconds of game 4 of the Finals helped Cleveland’s short comeback.
Worst Trait
Defence. He is a liability on defence because he cannot keep up with the quicker shooting guards in the league. His perimeter defence is weak and he is also a horrible on-the-ball defender.
Will He Help?
No. His inability to defend the 2-spot causes LeBron and the rest of his teammates to help consistently. This is how Bruce Bowen was able to have a big game 3 and how Manu Ginobli was able to have a big game 4. If LeBron ever wants to win a championship, he needs a shooting guard that can do more than just shoot.
4. Drew Gooden
Best Trait
Midrange Jumper and rebounding. It is almost automatic when Gooden shoots his jumper from either the left or right side of the basket, 8-10 feet out. He also has the ability to take the ball to the basket when necessary. He can rebound the ball extremely well. He was a huge reason why Cleveland was 2nd in the league this year in rebounds per game.
Worst Trait
Defence. Drew Gooden has a tendency to get lazy on the court. When he is inspired, his defence shifts into a whole new level. The problem is frustration causes him to slack on the D. When his offence struggles, his defence follows. Gooden should not become discouraged when he is missing shots and try to affect the game on the defensive end.
Will he help?
Yes. The Cavaliers found success in the playoffs when LeBron James played pick-and-roll sequences with Drew Gooden. Gooden puts pressure on the defence and gives LeBron another consistent option on offence.
5. Daniel Gibson
Best Trait
3-point shooting. Much to the dislike of the Detroit Pistons, Daniel Gibson proved he could shoot the open 3-pointer with high consistency. Although he disappeared for the second half of the NBA finals, it was more because he was not playing his natural position. He can also play good stingy defence. He pokes balls away and does a good job of getting in front of opposing players with his feet.
Worst Trait
Consistency. There are some nights where it seems like he cannot miss and there are some nights where he cannot buy a basket. This could be because of inexperience but the best players in the league are the ones who can knock down shots night in and night out.
Will He Help?
Yes. His game resembles B.J Armstrong’s or John Paxson’s. The difference is both Armstrong and Paxson knocked down shots on a nightly basis. They helped Michael Jordan go to the basket because defenders would be scared to help. Gibson needs to learn to do the same for LeBron
6. Anderson Varejao
Best Trait
Rebounding and drawing charges. Varejao is a high-energy player. He gets his minutes by rebounding the ball and playing good defence. He leads the league in charges drawn and also drew four technicals and 1 ejection in these playoffs.
Worst Trait
Offensive decision-making. Sometimes, Varejao looks lost in the offence. He understands the pick-and-roll scenario very well, but when the offence changes, it’s like he does not know what to do. There is also the example of the last shot in game 3 where he decided to attempt an awkward looking lay-up instead of passing it back to LeBron. He needs to work on making the smart plays at the most important times of games.
Will He Help?
Yes. He is still new to the league and this NBA Finals experience will help him tremendously. If he continues to get better at the offensive end while still maintaining a high effort on defence, The Cavaliers may be able to win some hardware.
As Tony Parker knows, the one important flaw in The Cleveland Cavaliers is their vacant point guard position. The Cavaliers should definitely go after guys like Jose Calderon, Mike Bibby, or Luke Ridnour. LeBron is at his best playing off the ball. If the Cavs can find a decent point guard to help run this team, the team and LeBron’s first championship may become a reality.
Comments or questions can be directed to joepacampara@gmail.com |
