LeBron As Quitter Is Unforgivable

CLEVELAND - I began watching last night's Cavaliers-Celtics game with the assumption that the newly crowned MVP LeBron James would put his fingerprints all over it. You know, by dominating from the opening tip and forcing Boston to beg for mercy by the time it was all over.

How foolish was I?

It wasn't so much that James had a very uncharacteristic 15 points on a putrid 3-of-14 shooting performance from the floor. It wasn't even the stunning numbers which read across the scoreboard at night's end; Celtics 120, Cavs 88. It was far bigger than all of that.

LeBron James was a coward and a quitter. Period.

I absolutely never figured I would see that from him, let alone write those words. But his listless performance, during which he seemed to be totally detached from the massacre that was happening to his team was as jaw dropping as one of his scintillating drives to the basket. His body language sagged and he seemed to avoid getting involved in the offense. Instead, he focused on setting his mis-firing teammates up which is fine on most nights, but is absolutely idiotic in a Game 5 at home with a series tied at 2-2. What's worse is the fact that Boston was clearly on a roll, Ray Allen was dropping 3-point bombs like a raging alcoholic drops shots of free whiskey in a bar. None of that forced LeBron's hand and given his colossal status in the league and larger-than-life basketball brilliance, it did not add up in any way, shape or form.

I understand that even icons have bad games. I was a student of Michael Jordan's career and even he had nightmare games. But Jordan NEVER quit, nor did he ever look disinterested. Put Jordan in the same position as LeBron was in last night, and MJ would've at worst shot the ball 25 or 30 times and even if he was way off on his shot, he would've gotten to the free throw line a good 20 times. LeBron wasn't anywhere near aggressive enough to do that. In fact, he showed zero leadership and let his team and city down.

He quit before he even began.

There has been an incredible amount of speculation as to whether James will stay in Cleveland or bolt to another team in free agency this summer. All I know is, if he does leave the Cavs, the respect that I have had for him all these years will drop precipitously. For a man so phenomenal in the game of basketball, his character would be equally disgusting. This city made him, not the other way around. If he leaves, it couldn't be justified by saying he's frustrated at not winning. It will make him look like a petulant brat who just happens to be an outstanding hoopster.

I hope I'm as wrong about him on this as I was about last night's game.