James Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed* 11:13 James Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed* 9:53 James Turnover : Bad Pass (4 TO) Steal:Collison (1 ST)* 8:33 James Turnaround Bank shot: Made (25 PTS)* 06:53* [MIA 81-84] James Free Throw 1 of 1 Missed* 6:53 James Driving Layup Shot: Missed* 3:41 James Free Throw 1 of 2 (26 PTS)* 02:44* [MIA 86-93] James Free Throw 2 of 2 (27 PTS)* 02:44* [MIA 87-93] James Driving Bank shot: Made (29 PTS)* 01:38* [MIA 91-97] James Free Throw 1 of 1 (30 PTS)* 01:38* [MIA 92-97] James Substitution replaced by Miller* 00:29.3 I think he did OK... Definitely outplayed by Durant though.
They didn't lose because of LeBron tonight. OKC is a better team. If you expect LeBron to have another Game 6 in Boston eruption, prepare for disappointment. Wade and Bosh have to step up big time. I'll say this much: LeBron needs to nail some 4th quarter jumpers.
I wouldn't say he choked tonight. He's a great player, but definitely not as clutch as other superstars. Some guys like Durant seem to love to close and generally dominate in the fourth quarter and closing moments of big games. Lebron sometimes does it but sometimes doesn't. Even Harden and Westbrook seem to love taking the big shot but you generally don't see that from Lebron.
He didn't hit an outside shot all game and Wade was horrible. The game shouldn't have been as close as it was but OKC played bad in the first half.
I guess you can argue that Jordan or Kobe didn't have Wade taking so many shots away from him. When Wade is not hitting, he's worse than bad because he's taking shots away from LeBron. In some way, Wade is like Kobe. He can hit some amazingly difficult shots. But when he is cold, he still takes those bad shots and not letting the other star teammates takeover. LeBron played pretty well tonight. He didn't dominate as much as he was needed, but he didn't choke.
That is a debatable statement for two reasons: (1) He's played 9 seasons in the NBA and has had plenty of time to practice and (2) LeBron has hit the mid-range jumper fairly well the last 2-3 seasons. But besides the one explosion against the Celts, his jumper has been off.
The Heat need to use the same strategy that OKC uses. In the 3rd let one of your sidekicks take over such as what OKC does with either Westbrook or Harden and save your main guy for the 4th. If you notice Kevin Durant doesn't put up big 3rd quarter stats, but his 4th quarter stats are off the charts. In the 3rd OKC puts the ball in either Westbrook or Harden's hands and let them go to work and keep the pace up. The Heat have the personnel to do the same thing for sure. Letting Wade and Bosh take care of the 3rd and then telling LeBron to go in full out attack mode for the 4th and not worry about anything else. I think it would work really well for them.
Refs tend to let the players decide a tight game in the 4th quarter, especially in playoff. Unless you were Wade in 06 finals playing 8 vs 5, no one can drive to the hoop for every possession. Some jump shots must be made. Not the best LeBron or Wade can do.
Three Finals appearances in what, 9 years? 110 p/o games heading into these Finals? I'd kill to have choker/loser Lebron James on my Rox.
