David Brent would be a better NBA owner than the Dunderhead in Cleveland

It is just kind funny to contrast to see what the guy who portrayed the definitive rude and crude boss, David Brent, says about Steve Carell leaving The Office franchise, compared to what another guy said recently about a star leaving his franchise.

"It was expected of me, as executive producer, to persuade him to stay on. With syndication in full swing the more successful the show remains, the more billions we all make. It was tempting, but the truth is, I believe he is doing the right thing. He's fulfilled his contract and more, and is a huge film star now ... I'd be lying if I said he should do more. He shouldn't. He should move on, continue to do great work."

Would that Dan Gilbert had an iota of Ricky Gervais' sense and self-awareness.

Something else Gervais did with The Office that Gilbert never did in James' seven years in Cleveland: Surround the star with a deep supporting cast.

One way LeBron could have got people on his side

Allowed Jim Gray to ask, "LeBron, lemme ask you: It seems now there is an opening. The American public is very forgiving. Are you willing to show contrition, admit you're just in it for the money, and make some sort of apology to that effect?"

Two points, and two only, about Chris Bosh and LeBron James

The LeBron James free-agency story, and to a similar extent Chris Bosh in southern Ontario, have hit a point at which everyone thinks he/she has to say something clever for fear of getting kicked out of the cool kids group.

Spare it. This is all that need be said.

1. Bosh: The only question is how to react the first time he returns to Air Canada Centre with the Miami Heat to play the Raptors. There should just be silence and 10 seconds of head-shaking since he came across very well until two weeks ago. Booing would just be misplacing anger at the Raptors' inaction and at the Toronto sportgeist being unable to be patient while a franchise bottoms out strategically.
   
   
2. LeBron: Manufactured outrage that involves pandering to our worst tendencies to drum up page views is dead (Oz has spoken) is dead; this is just the parasitic-symbiotic relationship between sport and corporatism run amok; and you should have got an idea about him when he wouldn't speak up about Darfur until it was convenient for him, as if an athlete is supposed to be held to a higher standard. Plus, this is his prerogative, did you forget that too?

Enjoy the show.

The Superstar has brought the NBA back to prominence

The Conference Finals have been a blessing from the heavens for the NBA, the greatest possible outcome imaginable. For a league based around promoting their superstars nothing could be finer than watching one player after the next step into the spotlight, ensuring that – regardless of how it plays out – the Finals will be loaded with intrigue, as well as the season to come.

At the outset of the Conference Finals Lakers GM Jerry West came out and made the proclamation that LeBron James had officially surpassed his own superstar talent Kobe Bryant, that inevitable time had finally come.

"If I had to have somebody make a last-second shot, it would be Kobe Bryant," said West…But even though it's hard for me to be objective, because I brought Kobe to Los Angeles, I do think LeBron has surpassed Kobe as a player."

For a player like Kobe, rivaling the competitive nature that ‘His Airness’ possessed while in the game, to hear that from his GM, from the logo himself, the man who built various Lakers dynasties over his time as GM in L.A., it had to sting. It’s quite obvious that as much as it may have been the truth it was also used to motivate Bryant, who was not the best of the best in the pervious series against Houston.

It appears that the words of West were received, but not just by Bryant however; all the superstars left standing in the playoffs have stepped it up a level this series. The Conference Finals round has been a superstar cavalcade, serving up one outstanding performance after another and proving the best ball of this postseason would not just be reserved for that outstanding Celtics-Bulls first round tilt. There are now a handful of NBA players that Most Valuable Puppets be damned will give the title of player that made the playoffs this year a serious run before it’s all said and done.

But before things get too crazy the two men of the hour have done their part. Kobe has certainly proven his worth, not to discount ‘Black Mamba’ in any way. Averaging 35.25 ppg so far throughout the first four games, on top of many clutch shots late in the game (something West did give the man sufficient credit for doing). And all the while having to deal with the far more physical Denver defensive strategy. And LeBron has also answered the call, and beyond the Jordan-esque buzzer beating three from way downtown in Game 3. The reigning MVP has put up nearly half of his teams total points all series long averaging 44 ppg for the postseason and 42.25 this series, scoring nearly two-thirds of their total Fourth Quarter points. And now he’s moved on to playing the entire second half of games (and all of last night’s Overtime as well!). If Cleveland’s bench production was not so minimal (at best!) the Magic would not be enjoying the 3-1 series lead they have right now. King James is playing like a man possessed, and I think it’s fair to say that people would not have been surprised had his running 3 point attempt at the buzzer from just over half gone in last night (almost did too, just rimmed out).

But there are other players grabbing the spotlight as well, with no interest of letting go. While Carmelo Anthony has had the spotlight shone on him for some time now this playoff run has been his coming out party. He’s become a physical force under the net and his Defensive game has proven to be quite troublesome for Kobe. His teammate Chauncey Billups, who came out West to gel the Denver squad and take them to new and unexpected heights this season, has proven himself the best floor general still standing in these playoffs. His clutch shooting and the very intelligent way he manages the pace of the game can’t be underscored.

And Dwight Howard, the Defensive Player of the Year, has also given the highly favoured Cavaliers fits on both sides of the ball. While not reaching the spectacular level that his superstar counterparts consistently last night was certainly Superman’s moment. After a game where the Magic heavily relied on the outside shot Howard dominated the Paint in Overtime, scoring 10 of his 27 points in that frame.

The NBA runs on their superstars, marketing and promotion seems to be given more importance in Basketball in comparison to the other major 4 North American sports. To see the Conference Finals take the form they’ve taken so far has to give Commissioner David Stern the biggest smile on his face. While the Most-Valuable-Puppets commercials may prove to be a wash, and Doug Smith of the Toronto Star may prove to be a genius for his playoff predictions of an Orlando-Denver Final, the star power is being established on every team that remains thus far.

Jerry West called out Kobe to take it up a notch, to reach that higher level, knowing the man could and would as well, but unfortunately for West he did not take into account that there were others around not interested in letting Bryant go it alone. It has been fortunate for the League however, and the fans as well, to watch the superstar showdown. The NBA Playoffs are the best action being played anywhere right now, thanks to the re-emergence of the superstar.

LeBron: Maybe so, maybe not, but it was a helluva shot

It's not this site's place to burnish LeBron James' iconography. A colleague did suggest there was a remarkable similarity between King James' buzzer-beating three that tied the NBA Eastern Conference final on Friday and Michael Jordan's shot which eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1989.

LeBron:



Jordan:



Well, it was in the same city and it was a straight-on look at the hoop with almost no angle.

It could be a fun debate which was the greater unlikelihood. Jordan had to shake off Craig Ehlo and a very long defender, Larry Nance to give himself the sliver of an opening he needed. It was also on the road.

LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers had only one second, though, and it was a three-pointer.

Andrew Bucholtz has a comprehensive post up at Sporting Madness. It's worth the click-through.

King James receives his crown

There is no disputing the MVP this season in the NBA, the King has finally been crowned. If there was ever any doubt that LeBron James is one of the most dominant players in the game today those were put to rest this season.

While many have built the case for James all season long, and many more are reigning praise down upon the young phenom after this announcement – many who do a far better job than I can in this area – I will say that James is deserving because of what he has accomplished. And that accomplishment, quite simply, is that he has improved the game on the whole, in every aspect, and that is something the Most Valuable Player in a major sports league should accomplish.

He has improved his team dramatically, because if anyone told you that Mo Williams was the missing piece in Cleveland before the season started they would likely get laughed out of whatever building they were standing in (bus shelter, wooded area…well you get the picture!). LBJ, or King James, or whatever you want to call him has elevated the play of his entire team while elevating team morale as well. There have been dominant players, such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, who have brought out a combination of both fear and respect from their teammates, leading to overall team success. James however has brought out camaraderie. On the court you can see it in the way they encourage themselves and how they play together.

Cleveland nearly tied a home record set by the 1986 Boston Celtics team with a far more impressive lineup. One player alone can make a big difference in a sport like basketball sure, but not a change this drastic. He needs help to reach a 39-2 home record, and James went out and got the necessary change out of his teammates himself this season. As a player, James is a motivating factor for his teammates.

LeBron James has also proven statistically that he is one of the best this season, but by providing his results in one of the most highly entertaining manners it helps set him apart. He finished second in points-per-game (28.4) overall this season and so far has carried that well into the playoffs, leading all scorers after the First Round with 32.0 ppg. He lead his team in total points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks, which apparently only three others have done since 1974. And he finished in the Top 25 in the Association in assists, rebounds, steals and blocks on the year. While his offence was always there the improvement on his defence really caught the eye of onlookers.

But what’s amazing is that he doesn’t just get the job done, he does so while delivering a level of emotion and ferocity rivaled by few others around the Association. This man is no robot, yet ridiculous spectacular block after ridiculous spectacular block and precise shooting may lead one to believe otherwise. The term ‘freak’ comes to mind at times while watching James. Combined with the knowledge that this ultimate competitor IS there for his team, and not just using his tremendous skillset to intimidate them to play well, it’s so hard to dislike what this man brings to the Floor. In the boxscores James is one of the best statistically in the NBA.

And lastly he has become an iconic image of the game. His powder toss at the start of the game has become a highly anticipated tradition. His crossover to acting has surpassed many superstar athletes who have tried the same (not all though, I’m sorry but Peyton Manning really raised the bar on SNL!). In his sixth season his branding is reaching a level where it seems destined to rival Jordan’s, and his name is definitely reaching that level of familiarity. In one of his early commercials he said he wasn’t the next MJ but the first LeBron. That statement certainly holds true.

I’m beginning to wonder if James is on course to Karl Malone (if you will) a number of others superstars; that is to deny excellent players in their own regard the MVP due to his level of play, like the way Jordan denied Malone oh so many times. While I don’t think it will be that bad, as I’m sure Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, and possibly Derrick Rose and Kevin Durant will get their chance at some point as well, I don’t see this being the only MVP in James’ career. Unlike Kobe this man is loved, and as a result he will be rewarded for his amazing ability unlike Bryant

LeBron James is the rightful winner of the 2008/2009 NBA MVP. Looking around its hard to detract from his accomplishment. Right now its his time, hail to the King!

NBA taps LeBron, 24, as MVP (ESPN)