Paul Pierce lost the job. Kobe Bryant is too old. Kevin Durant still doesn't qualify.
LeBron James, the unquestioned best player in the NBA today and leader of the two-time defending champion Miami Heat, this week lamented to the Miami Herald that he lacks a true rival in the game.
"Paul was one of those rival guys, but I've been going against different guys the last few years," James told the Herald.
"It's not just one guy," James continued. "I haven't played against one individual for a long period of time - since basically it was me and Paul. Me and Paul, we had so many duels and almost every year we were going against Boston whether I was in Cleveland the last few years or Miami ... So, I don't know if there is one particular guy. There are some teams I believe are very competitive in both conferences, but it's not just one guy."
James, either intentionally or unintentionally tried to keep that rivalry going with Pierce when he came to the defense of teammate Ray Allen by accusing Pierce and Kevin Garnett of a double-standard when they skewered Allen for leaving the Boston Celtics - and Pierce and Garnett - to sign with the Heat before the 2012-13 season.
Pierce and Garnett left the Celtics after last season, joining the Brooklyn Nets, and received none of the criticism for leaving Boston as Allen did from them when he left.
Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder appeared to be that budding rival for James two years ago when the Thunder played the Heat for the title in 2011-12, but that has yet to materialize.
Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers peaked before James went to Miami to build a championship contender out of the Heat.
In fact, Allen could be the primary reason for James lacking a true rival in the game. It was his 3-point shot near the end of regulation in Game 6 of last season's NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs that saved the Heat from elimination. The shot tied the game and forced overtime. Miami went on to win that game and then Game 7 to win its second straight title.
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