LeBron James has been linked to Michael Jordan throughout his entire career. In fact, if you take out the little fact about James having no rings compared to the trillion Jordan has (trillion may be an exaggeration), James may actually be the better basketball player. But now, thanks to Charles Barkley, you can link LeBron with another famous MJ who was one of the best at what he did, Michael Jackson.
In an interview given on The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday, Barkley took a shot at the Heat as a team while commending James, saying that he was like Michael Jackson playing with a bunch of Tito Jackson's.
“LeBron James don't have a lot of help.” Barkley said. “He's Michael Jackson playing with a bunch of Tito Jackson's.”
“It's a shame too. I picked Miami to win that series and I still think they have a good chance to win this series, but if they don't give him any help they're in trouble because Oklahoma City has a very good team.”
Barkley, a respected basketball analyst for TNT, has been one of the few media personalities who has been supportive of James and his accomplishments, and he has a real point here as well. Without Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh stepping up big during the game or even bigger down the stretch — the time when LeBron seems to cool off unless the team is up by double digits — then this series isn't going to be very long at all.
In Game 1's 104-95 loss to the Thunder, the duo of Wade and Bosh combined for 29 points on 11-for-30 shooting. That type of support just isn't going to cut it against the equally talented yet vastly deeper Thunder team that is as focused on a Championship as any team ever.
No, James must have help, and fast, if the Heat is going to get the first of what they hope will be many rings under the trio of James, Wade and Bosh. They will get their chance to redeem themselves tonight, as Game 2 takes place at Oklahoma City and can be seen at 9 PM, EST. on ABC.
James LeBeau is a sports contributor for CraveOnline Sports and you can follow him on Twitter @JleBeau76 or subscribe on Facebook.com/CraveOnlineSports.
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