Keller @ Large: This Is Real Greatness
BOSTON (CBS) - First, let me make it clear that I have great respect for LeBron James.
He is a superb basketball player, a unique combination of smarts and skill who excels in every phase of the game.
But I am a little put off by all the sycophants rushing to exonerate LeBron from any criticism over his team's failure to seriously contest the just-concluded NBA championship series with Golden State.
I keep hearing that after his team lost key players to injury, it was a Herculean showing by LeBron to drag his remaining teammates to a couple of wins in the finals. Much is made of his workload, and how exhausted he must have been.
Unfortunately, many of the fans and pundits falling over themselves to make these excuses know little or nothing of basketball history.
They would do well to hop online and check out the 1969 Boston Celtics, who limped into the finals with a 34-year-old player/coach named Bill Russell who had spent time in the hospital during the season with leg injuries. Their opponents, the LA Lakers, were considered a super team, with a big three of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, all future Hall-of-Famers.
Russell's supporting cast were better than what LeBron had to work with, but not by all that much. John Havlicek was in his prime, but the rest were aging and, in some cases, fighting off injuries.
The Celtics won that title, in a seventh game on the road, with seven players averaging double figures under Russell's leadership.
That is what a big-time leader and winner looks like, not what we saw with LeBron the other night.
Perhaps some day, he can hope to approach that level of greatness.
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