Dave Miller on Lebron

I don't know Dave Miller but I've heard him on the radio lately talking about the playoffs; he is apparently a former coach.  Tonight he was talking about this ridiculous chatter about Lebron's mediocre production in the 4th quarter of these finals.  Miller said he has watched Lebron since he was in the 8th grade (!), and has always considered him a facilitator first and foremost.  He was never comfortable scoring big points and had more court sense than any comparable-sized player ever other than Magic.

But of course the media and many fans would prefer to place everyone in a nice neat category.  Why do we want simply copies of previous players?  Kobe has to be Jordan.  Lebron has to be Jordan or Magic.  Tonight ESPN was desperately trying to compare Wade to someone; West, Baylor, Havlicek, etc.  Let's just let players be who they are and appreciate them.  Lebron is hard to categorize and we shouldn't need to.  He is somewhat unique and that's all the better for the game.

Only in our overbearing culture would we criticize a player(s) for being too unselfish, too willing to do whatever is necessary, who too easily shares the spotlight.  Need him to close out Boston because Wade was struggling?  No problem.  Need him to guard Derrick Rose and close out Chicago?  No problem.  Need him to take a backseat to Wade against the Mavs because Wade has the favorable match-up?  No problem.  How can we not appreciate that?

S