The Gap is Closer Than You Think

by Austin Peters

I am wrong.

We are all wrong.

These words are the words that nobody in today's society likes to hear. Nobody likes to admit when they are wrong.  Usually when we are wrong we try to come up with an excuse as to why we are still right.  People are just stubborn. Myself included. I am not going to throw out a stereotype without admitting that I too fall under this generalization.

In the summer of 2010, I jumped on the side of everyone else in being the biggest hater of LeBron James.  Over the course of the last three seasons I have grown to dislike every flop, every complaint to the official, every curse word mouthed on the court, etc. just like all of you.  LeBron James in more ways than one has come to embody everything that NBA fans don't like.  I'd like to think it's split 50/50 as far as people that love LeBron and people that hate him.  My twitter feed is full of the hate because I like to follow the people that have the same distaste for theatrics in sports.

After watching this incredible seven game, grind it out basketball series in which LeBron captured his second title in a row I am starting to think that the other 50% of people that I have had countless arguments with over the last three years have nailed one thing on the head.  These people have figured it out.  They are truly living in the moment and fully appreciating the greatest player of our generation. And possibly the greatest player of all time.

Yes there was everything wrong with "The Decision" and this debacle that got us all fired up and immediately on the hater bandwagon. The Heat nevertheless proceeded to march through the regular season and playoffs before losing to the veteran-filled Dallas Mavericks in six games. All of us LeBron haters also remember rather vividly his worst interview ever after that Game 6 loss, giving us even more motivation not to like the guy.  His performance in that Finals wasn't very good no matter who you talk to: 17.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 6.8 APG, 60% free throws, 32.1% three pointers, and the stats that everybody loves to point out the 3.0 PPG, 33% field goals in the fourth quarter of that series.

Much to the dismay of all of us haters, LeBron responded the following year by winning his 3rd MVP award and capturing the elusive first title that we were all praying that he wouldn't ever get.  Karma was not about to catch up to LeBron as he led a Heat team that steam rolled the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder after losing game one in OKC. LeBron was nothing short of spectacular as he averaged 28.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 7.4 APG and shot a much improved 82.6% from the free throw line in the final series.

LeBron was again nothing short of incredible this last season.  He brought home his second straight and fourth in five years regular season MVP.  The Heat dominated the Bucks and the Bulls in the first two rounds before meeting some resistance in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers.  LeBron was great in the seven game series averaging 29.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 5.3 APG, and a remarkable 44.3% from three point land.  This series included a game winner in game one that looked all but won by the Pacers.  Don't get me wrong there was the ugly, like the back to back turnovers late in the fourth that led to the Pacers stealing game two in Miami. LeBron wasn't going to let that game stop them from ultimately going on to beat the talented Pacers squad.

Nor did he let anyone stop him from capturing his second championship. This year's Finals campaign had its ups and downs for both teams. It seemed that after every Spurs win people would start writing off the Heat and after every Heat win the same would occur for the Spurs.  After a few blowouts, we got spoiled and were able to witness two phenomenal final games in games six and seven.  LeBron started off poorly in game six but turned it on in the fourth and OT, willing his team back from a 13 point deficit and hitting a crucial three to cut the lead to three before Ray Allen had the defining moment that everyone will remember forever.  James had a triple-double with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.  Oh and the whole "LeBron isn't clutch" thing? 18 points in fourth quarter and overtime and had the go ahead bucket with under two minutes left in OT to put the Heat up for good.

He followed it up with another classic LeBron closeout game, putting the finishing touches on the series with a 37 point, 12 rebound performance.  Oh and the whole "LeBron isn't clutch" thing? Here you go.  James finished with averages of 25.9 PPG, 10.9 RPG, and 7.0 APG on his way to earning his second straight title and Finals MVP.  His 33.8 PPG in game sevens in the best of anyone in the history of the game.  The only other player to ever earn regular season MVP and Finals MVP in back to back seasons? Michael Jordan.

Hey speaking of Michael Jordan, do you all want to take a guess at how old Jordan was when he won his second championship? 29. LeBron? 28.  How many MVP's did Jordan have when he won ring number two? Three.  LeBron has four.  Jordan had eight All-Star appearances; LeBron has nine.  Playoff series wins: LeBron 19 to Jordan's 13. Every single argument that people want to use for Jordan and against LeBron, championships, MVP's, Finals MVP's, LeBron has either matched or surpassed Jordan when Jordan was at the same point in his career as LeBron.  I know that is hard for all of you people who have never seen a game of Michael Jordan's to believe but these are the facts.  LeBron is on his way to being something special.

Personally, I still feel that MJ is the greatest of all time.  The accomplishments and accolades that he has to his name are incredible and there are only a few other players in NBA history that you could put in the same discussion as MJ when it comes to that.  But LeBron isn't too far behind. Let's all give ourselves another chance and stop trying to dissect every single one of his press conferences and interviews and using that as our evidence that LeBron isn't a good basketball player.  Let's give credit where credit is due and cherish the years that we got to see LeBron play basketball because our kids will one day ask us, "what was it like watching LeBron James play?" Maybe I should follow more LeBron supporters on twitter because they have been doing what us haters should have been doing all along; appreciating a once in a generation talent who has captivated the league as we know it.  All of us LeBron haters need to take a step back and realize that we are not only witnessing one of the best players in the league today but a guy that is on track to be the greatest of all time.  The gap is a lot closer than you think.