ERIC RALPH   

LeBron James had to win this ring.

Without a trophy, everyone really was still right. As much as the mean-spiritedness of it spoiled everyone’s point, the critics were spot-on after last year’s disaster in Dallas.

It’s not like a man like Charles Barkley (my personal favorite basketball player) isn’t still revered without winning a title. However, he never had the opportunities James has had in his career, especially now that he’s playing with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Plus, James didn’t have to go against Michael Jordan.

Those 6 championship seasons are a grace for all other teams – it’s forgiven for Barkley, Reggie Miller, etc. It wouldn’t have been for James.

The way LeBron James won stood out. First, he brought a new face: “the look” was born. No more buying into headlines that gave him an unnecessary spotlight. His teammates were too strong this season to detract from. He clearly was focused.

During the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Indiana Pacers, the Heat lost big man Chris Bosh. Trailing 2-1 in a best-of-seven series, I had my doubts. That’s when the MVP took his trophy.

First, he beat the Pacers 4-2. Then, trailing the Boston Celtics 3 games to 2 in the Eastern Conference Finals, James had the best showcase of offense in the 2012 Playoffs, scoring 30 first half points in Boston to send the series home to Miami, where the Heat would eliminate the Celtics 4 games to 3.

In the NBA finals, we waited for the Heat to really come alive as a team and play their absolute best. With Bosh back at the end of the Boston series, everyone knew the “Big 3” had it in them. Finally, after four tug-of-war games that had the Oklahoma City Thunder trailing 3 games to 1, Miami unleashed 121 points in game five to win by 15.

Mike Miller, with seven 3-pointers, had half of the Heat’s NBA Finals-record 14 3’s in game 5. Playing at home, James recorded a triple double and won the Finals MVP award.

Not only does he win his first ring, he put his team on his back.

via The King is Free – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com.