"Cleveland LeBron"...a recipe for disaster

If you are unable to view a Miami Heat playoff game, just check your social media method of choice later that night...you will get the answers you seek. If Miami won and LeBron James played lights out, then things are relatively quiet. If LeBron struggles and the Heat lose, there will be postings, pictures, and confetti. lol

And no...this is not a tale of why you should love LeBron...so I digress.

After his Herculean third quarter effort in game five of the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron James made a statement that raised the "uh-oh" antenna.

"I just kinda went back to my Cleveland days at that point".....

Um LeBron...you do realize why you left Cleveland right? Because if I remember correctly, you lead the league in scoring but lost to better teams in the playoffs. Key word being team. And that's nothing to be ashamed of.

 It's also nothing new.

The Celtics, Lakers, and Pistons dominated the 80's with their respective dynasties. All three teams had multiple Hall of Famers. Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon were both Hall of Fame solo acts, but were a combined 0-3 in the Finals before joining forces in the mid 90's. Kobe had Shaq, Shaq had Kobe...and the Spurs will undoubtedly have multiple Hall of Famers as well. And yes, even the great Michael Jordan would be title-less without the Hall of Fame efforts of Scottie Pippen. Before you respond in haste, please check Pippen's playoff box scores.

This year's playoffs were no different. Dwight Howard was no match for the Spurs without Kobe. Kevin Durant's numbers went up in Russel Westbrooks' absence, and he was still no match for the Memphis Grizzlies. The old song lyrics were spot on..."It takes two to make a thing go right."

LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen got the message. Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, and Allen Iverson obviously did not.

My point?

"Cleveland days" ball may win a quarter, a game, and maybe even this series. But it definitely will not beat the Spurs. San Antonio is the epitome of team. Bottom line...Miami needs "triple double" LeBron more than it needs 50 points a game LeBron. His passing skills for a man that size is what sets him apart from any other athlete in the world.

 If LeBron can't trust his teammates...then "not 4, not 5, not 6" will count toward playoff failures...not championship titles.     follow @plcolter