The then LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Atlanta Hawks in round two of the 2009 NBA playoffs. It was game four, the Hawks down three games to none. For about a quarter or so the Hawks put up a fight against the Cavs, but over the course of the game, James and his teammates came out on top, completing a series sweep of the Hawks.
After the game James said it was his team’s first taste of what he called adversity and they welcomed it. They after all didn’t have much trouble winning the first three games against the Hawks or sweeping the Detroit Pistons in the first round.
Fast-forward nearly two years, James is finally surrounded with superstar talent and finds himself a loser of five-straight games, potentially six after tonight’s matchup with the Lakers.
Hey LeBron, allow me to introduce you to your good old friend, the real adversity.
According to James the Miami Heat have yet to reach rock-bottom. Perhaps the first step in overcoming adversity is admitting failure and defeat much like the Lakers did just before the All-Star break after losing to the NBA-worst Cavaliers.
Since then the Lakers have been on a tear, winning eight-straight games, some against the NBA’s elite teams. It’s a little easier to overcome adversity when everyone on the team has a clear understanding of the roles they play and how they can contribute to weather any storm.
Next: Heat still have questions left unanswered
Who takes the last shot for the Heat? Should James work off the ball more? Does Chris Bosh have to be more aggressive? These are all questions that remain unanswered and with only a handful of games left this season, the time is running out for the Heat to figure themselves out.
The Lakers don’t have that problem.
“The difference between us is we all know what our roles are, everything is cemented for us,” Kobe Bryant told the media during practice Wednesday. “I think for them, they’re still trying to figure that out.”
Bryant’s the closer, Gasol is the multi-dimensional skilled post-threat, Artest is the defensive specialist, Bynum clogs up the lane, Fisher does the little things, Odom provides an offensive spark off the bench and the Renegades—well, they’re there to maintain and build leads.
When everything works to plan and everyone is in sync, the Lakers are that much harder to beat.
Aside from having to figure out who serves what role on the team, the Heat still have to figure out how to play under the media glare and microscope. The Lakers have had that covered too—going on three years now.
“You can’t run away from challenges, I mean they’re defending champions, two-time champions,” said Dwyane Wade. “The [Lakers] carry a bulls-eye every night, every city they go in and that’s something that we’re going to have to learn and continue to grow over the course of our careers playing together.”
Kobe’s response? “It takes a little adjusting, I guess,” Bryant said of wearing the bull’s-eye. “I don’t know. I’m still trying to kill people. I don’t really look at it that way.”
Next: Heat should take a page out of the Lakers how-to media book
Ever since their inception last summer, the Heat have had to endure an equal amount of praise and ridicule from the press, media and fans alike. No one particularly cared for the all three of the biggest free agent acquisitions taking matters into their own hands and forming a super team. James and Co. could’ve used that animosity to fuel their competitive juices and prove everyone wrong. At least in that way, accepting the villain tag and winning would’ve garnered them some respect.
Now all that remains are questions left unanswered.
“It’s been dramatic, it’s been very dramatic,” Phil Jackson said. “I’ve always said that one of the reasons the Bulls were very successful, and the Lakers also, was that they engendered good feelings. People were rooting for them. They wanted to see them be successful. I think from what I’ve heard, this [Heat] team feels like they’re being looked at to lose or they’ve been hoped at to lose. … Nationally, if that’s the case, that’s a burden to carry. And then those games that are dramatic become bigger than they really should be.”
On Christmas Day, the Heat came into Staples center riding on a cool winning streak. They had yet to get a victory against the upper echelon teams in the league and were hoping to get a win against the Lakers. The Heat beat the Lakers convincingly. Chris Bosh outplayed Gasol, the bench players were contributing and no one could put a stop to James.
This time around, the tables are turned. The Lakers are one of the hottest teams in the NBA while the Heat continue to melt under the pressure. The Heat would benefit from taking a page out of the Lakers how-to book on dealing with the press, mainly to not worry about what they’re printing in the papers and concentrate on a game plan.
LeBron James’ game plan?
“We can probably lose every game for the rest of the season and make the playoffs. The playoffs are what matters.”
Go ahead and make what you will with that.