During an appearance on the Mind the Game podcast, James commented that the Heat’s roster at the time lacked sufficient complementary players, describing them as primarily “all minimum guys.” Smith interpreted these comments as excuses for the team’s defeat and didn’t hold back in his response.
In a passionate monologue, Smith denounced James’ remarks as “straight bullish*t,” expressing disbelief that James would make such statements publicly. He asserted that rather than blaming the roster, James should acknowledge his own poor performance as a significant factor in the Heat’s loss.
Smith highlighted James’ below-par performance throughout the 2011 Finals, particularly in Game 4 where he managed just 8 points on 3-11 shooting, with no points scored in the fourth quarter.
While acknowledging the truth in James’ assessment of the Heat’s roster construction, Smith emphasized that the primary issue was James’ own performance, which fell short of expectations.
As Smith pointed out, James’ lackluster showing in the Finals was a significant departure from his regular-season performance, where he averaged 26.7 points per game compared to his 17.8 points per game in the Finals.
The exchange between James and Smith underscores the ongoing scrutiny and debate surrounding James’ legacy and performance, particularly in crucial playoff moments like the 2011 Finals.
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