I am working late tonight with a long night ahead of me, but I have the TV on in the background and saw an interview with The Three Am-EGOS (I guess it hasn't caught on quite yet, as I didn't see that as a caption...). At one point they were talking about the backlash and whether these three knuckleheads were surprised. Well, I wasn't surprised that only Wade and Bosh responded. Bosh basically said he didn't care...he's been on a losing team (most would suggest he was part of the problem) and he's just happy not to be in that situation any more ("I've struggled; I know"). Wade though decided to challenge the thought that Michael Jordan, Magic, and Bird "did it by themselves" in comparing how these guys must feel like they need each other to win. He disputed that those REAL legends "did it by themselves"...of course, they didn't do it by themselves! Nobody said they did Dwyane! The argument against you guys colluding to join the same team BEFORE the season was even over (and give me a break that this wasn't the case - Bosh quit on his team the last week of the season so the Raptors didn't even make the playoffs and LeBron gave up on his team in front of his then home crowd in Game 5) was that each of the legends named stuck with their teams (MJ in particular) rather than bolting for another team when things got tough. They each took on the challenge (LeBron, do you even know what this word means?) to get their OWN teams over the hump rather than bail and go join someone else's team. Well, I hate to break it to you guys...that's PRECISELY what you guys have done and diminished each of your legacies and marketability. I'm sure LeBron is starting to figure that out when he talks to Nike when his shoes stop selling. I'm sure they're trying to figure out how to spin this disaster as they are masters at doing just that...that must be why they have been so quiet since The Decision.
Best defensive team of all-time?!? That is what Wade is looking forward to? Really? I like Dwyane Wade and while he has quick hands and gets his share of steals and LeBron gets his share of blocks from behind, these guys are hardly defensive stalwarts. And Bosh?!? Really? Who is he going to guard because I've yet to see him play D in 7 years? He's averaged exactly 1.0 blocks from the front court and 0.6 steals per game the last 3 years running! I'm sorry, but that's not defense! Maybe you should have watched some tape of your new teammate because I think you're going to be a little disappointed. LeBron, while he certainly gets his share of highlights shone on ESPN, also averages 1.0 blocks but does get an extra steal per game (1.6). The block "king" from The Three Am-EGOS is actually Wade averaging a whole 1.1; he also leads the group in steals with 1.8. Let's totalize those numbers - 3.1 bpg and 4 spg. Dwight Howard averaged 3.5 bpg by himself while Manu Ginobli nearly matched The Three Am-EGOS on his own with 2.6 spg. I'm sorry, but defense is NOT at all what first (second, third, fourth, fifth...eightieth) comes to my mind with these three guys.
Bosh has started his last All-Star Game and will be a barely above average player starting today as long as Wade and LeBron are healthy. First, being the third option is certainly going to crush his offensive numbers; second, who is going to vote for him besides people in Miami? The health of these guys is certainly no guarantee - remember LeBron's elbow? What about the numerous Wade injuries and all the miles on his 6'4" frame while getting beat to a pulp bouncing off all those big guys for the last 7 years. And now that Bosh will seemingly be forced to play C most of the time, he'll be banging with the big boys too which he REALLY doesn't like to do so his rebound numbers could take a hit too.
Let's face it...the number one piece of the plan was exactly how LeBron announced his decision...to take your talents to South Beach...oh ya, and we might play some basketball in Miami too! Have fun boys...LeBron likes to win 60 regular season games, but he seems to prefer to take the summer off...that'll work out perfectly as Miami gets a little too hot in June anyway.
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