Was Lebron serious last night?

Eastern Conference Finals… Six seconds left in the game. All my commercials talk about me beating Detroit to get to the finals. I blow past Tayshaun Prince, Sheed is too late for a weak side block. I have a clear shot to the rim and 35 pounds of muscle over Prince. This is the moment Wise Lebron talked about… Umm, I’ll pass to Donyell Marshall. He has not hit a three point shot all night, but he is my teammate and I love him.

Lebron just does not have that killer instinct that makes great athletes. Last night Lebron passed up the most important shot of his career thus far. It is easy to hit game winners against Antawn Jamison and the Wizards in the first round, but during the Eastern Conference Finals against Tayshaun Prince? Lebron has a long way to go.

My theory is Lebron struggles at the end of games because he never went to college. Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird all developed a killer instinct during their college years. NCAA tournaments made these players the NBA stars and legends they became. I had the privilege to watch Lebron in-person during high school; he was by far the best player on the court every night. He never had to learn how to take over a close game in the waning seconds, because he was so dominant. Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady have the same “take over a game” problems.

My college coach told me an interesting story about Kobe Bryant’s high school playing days that make him the exception to the rule. Kobe would dominate early having his team up by twenty, then Kobe would allow teams to come back, just so he could bring his team back or hit a game winner. Kobe has that rare Michael Jordan competitive edge, that just makes him scary. For the NBA’s sake, hopefully Lebron will eventual develop that killer instinct.

How bad was Vince Carter in the Playoffs?

Isn’t this guy in a contract year? Doesn’t Vince want to become a free agent for the first time in his career and command one last max deal? Not being able to score on Eric Snow at the end of a pivotal playoff game is causing the Orlando Magic or Charlotte Bobcats gag more than drool. Carter did little to prove he deserves the 3 year, 60 million dollar contract he is seeking.

Vince Carter has been an underachiever his entire career and is SOFT. How can you jump over a seven foot European and not get off a shot on Eric Snow? I thought Jason Kidd would rejuvenate Vince’s career and return him to stardom, but Vince can’t even get onto the new Team Nike Basketball commercial (more on Nike later).

Not only has Vince cost himself millions during the playoffs, he is killing Richard Jefferson’s effectiveness. The former Arizona Wildcat is stuck playing second fiddle to the overrated Carter and for this New Jersey Nets coach Lawrence Frank should be fired. He lets Vince dominate the ball the entire game, knowing Vince will not come through when it really matters. It is laughable that Richard Jefferson draws the assignment of guarding the best player on ever team they face, while his offensive talents are ignored so Carter can try to get his max deal. Lawrence Frank is secretly giving Carter an opportunity to shine so he can leave via free agency. By not allowing Jefferson to shine, Frank is making it impossible for NJ Nets President Rod Thorn to trade Jefferson, giving Frank the player he wants all along. Either way, down with Lawrence Frank for wasting talent!

I miss Lil’ Penny and the Fun Police

What has happened to the NBA sneaker world? I have yet to see any sneaker commercials during the playoffs except for the Lebrons. The Team Nike commercial was cool, but where is the follow up? Amare Stoudamire or Steve Nash can’t get their own Nike commercial? It is understandable why Nike does not give Kobe his own commercial and blends him in with the team, but what about Paul Pierce, Shawn Marion, or Sheed? What happened to the good old days when Lil’ Penny made me enjoy watching Anfernee in commercials almost as much as in games. Remember Sir Charles telling you he was not a role model? I miss the days of Kevin Garnett, Tim Hardaway and Gary Payton’s Fun Police, not to mention Spike Lee playing Mars. “It’s gotta be the shoes!”

The problem is the players do not wear the shoes they endorse anymore. Watch Lebron’s feet during the Eastern Conference Finals, there is 50% chance he will not wear the Lebron James’ that we all see at Foot Locker. I have no idea what Nike sneaker he had on last night (the Air Afraid to Shoot Zooms). Kobe Bryant is also a culprit, he never wears the same store bought Nike you wear.

Honorable mention goes out to the Adidas “starting five� campaign on a great Gilbert Arenas commercial, but what happened to the Tracy McGrady commercial or the Kevin Garnett commercial? Atleast Adidas only puts out one GilZero a season.

My favorite commercial of the NBA season goes out to Dwayne Wades Gatorade commercial. Because the commercial is never on television, I hooked you up with a YouTube link.