Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
LeBron James went for 23 points and 11 assists in a snoozer of a win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, but it was his celebratory dancing that got Joakim Noah upset. The video here is taken from a free throw situation in the fourth quarter, when the outcome of the game was all but decided, and shows Noah taking exception (and vehemently, if you can read lips) to LeBron's moves -- which had been part of much of the second half, both after plays or on the bench -- and getting King James a technical foul.
ESPN's Ric Bucher says the quotes in question were rather pointed, and I can see where Noah crossed a line in calling out LeBron. But is dancing on the bench after baskets he wasn't even involved in (watch the last few seconds of the video) really what the Cavs and the NBA want out of a superstar who has, it seems, regressed from consummate champion-to-be to someone whose work ethic got maligned for silly summer pickup games and a poor sport who could not handle defeat with dignity?
Incidents like these will stick in craws more this year because we are jaded by LeBron's regular-season brilliance; he's already done nearly all a player can do from November to April, and now we will await his ultimate triumphs in the NBA playoffs, poaching on incidents like last night's to impugn the man. Fairly, LeBron should (and will) ignore that like we ignore his routine excellence, and his chance to paper over any puerility with an NBA title this summer has nothing to do with whether he was gyrating on the sidelines during a December win. Winning, especially winning the big one, makes almost anything easy to forgive.
And, Jo, if you don't want 'Bron to dance, make sure he loses the game. It's a lot harder to justify celebrating a loss.This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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You’r not the only one Joakim. I’ve been sick of Lebron’s dances/antics for the longest! LJ should save that dance for a better time like maybe winning an NBA tilte?
by Steel817 on Dec 5, 2009 4:38 PM EST reply actions
Joakim Who?
by Andy Michel on Dec 5, 2009 5:01 PM EST reply actions
LeBron King Baby James, isn’t winning a title. Right Now Kobe is the best player in the League Bar-none. So save the dancing for when it matters which will be…NEVER.
by Gersh5 on Dec 5, 2009 5:45 PM EST reply actions
Gersh…Kobe has way more talent every year than LeBron has ever had. If Lebron had Gasol, Artest, and Odom I’m sure he would be winning championships too.
by AstrosWIN on Dec 5, 2009 6:18 PM EST reply actions
Stros – you left off Bynum. If Lebron had only Bynum he would win Championships!
by red789 on Dec 5, 2009 6:48 PM EST reply actions
@AstrosWIN- Than LB needs to get some better talent than dancing and doing stupid antics while on the court. Joakim was right for calling him out like that. Orlando should of danced when they tapped that butt last year. Dude is a joke. Stop crowning him King and let him earn his way.
by RomanBP24 on Dec 8, 2009 3:56 PM EST reply actions
AstrosWIN -
Every year? That is patently untrue. The fact is that Kobe took the worst starting 5 to the playoffs in the impossibly tough Western Conf in 2006.
Starting lineup:
Smush Parker
Kobe
Luke Walton
Lamar Odom
Kwame Brown
Nobody… nobody… including LeBron has taken a worse starting 5 to the playoffs as far as I can remember. And except for 2008-9 (and arguably the year before) top to bottom there is much, much stiffer competition in the Western conference in recent years.
Is Kobe not also partly responsible for integrating Gasol so neatly in 07-08 and getting the Lakers to the Finals despite missing their starting center (Bynum) most of the season and with 2 key injuries that kept other key bench contributers out the 2nd half of the year (Ariza, Walton)?
Whether or not ’you’re sure’ that LeBron would be winning titles or not is irrelevant. The fact is that Kobe has made the new roster and led the rebuilding of a miserable squad starting in ‘05 and made them into a championship team. All your BS second-guessing about ’what if’ means absolutely nothing.
Not saying LBJ isn’t deserving and even more talented than Kobe but he did not dedicate himself to defense until recently and still has not worked enough on a post game. He simply has not put the work in Kobe has and you can’t take that away from Kobe with your ‘guesses’ you pull out of your azz. LBJ is young and we’ll see what we will see but Kobe has actually done it – not just shown potential – and that is to his credit.
by oldfish on Dec 8, 2009 4:07 PM EST reply actions
I used to like Lebron, but he is a little diva bit#h. I hate Noah, but I’m glad someone had the balls to say something to this pompous punk.
by MRCUTLASS on Dec 8, 2009 11:55 PM EST reply actions
I hope someone puts LeBrenda on his ass the next time he decides to show up another team.
by balzakblue on Dec 9, 2009 12:59 AM EST reply actions
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