much has been made of lebron going to miami to be pippen to wade's jordan and that he will be happy to have wade around to close games because wade is clutch and lebron doesn't want that responsibility. considering all of the plays lebron has made late in games over the years, that seems kind of ridiculous. and then there are their clutch stats from 82games.com. per 48 minutes, last year their clutch stats were: lebron: 66.1 pts/8.3 asts/15.9 rebs/3.2 blk/3.2 stl/4.1 TO on .488/.340/.80 wade: 32.6 pts/10.0 asts/6.3 rebs/2.7 blk/2.3 stl/4.3 TO on .388/.292/.67 even going back a year to when wade had better numbers, it still looks like this: lebron: 55.9 pts/12.6 asts/14.3 rebs/1.7 blk/3.8 stl/4.8 TO on .556/.421/.85 wade: 49.2 pts/9.4 asts/5.4 rebs/4.9 blk/3.0 stl/4.2 TO on .470/.281/.73 so i'm having trouble seeing lebron as the guy coattailing on wade's clutchness. needless to say, they are both excellent and will undoubtedly each get a lot of chances, but i'm thinking as time goes on lebron will be seeing the ball more at the end of games.
It will depend on which player is having the better game, or has the edge on that particular night. Both are fantastic closers. More than anything, the Heat will benefit from having two players of that caliber in crunch time. And not just on the offensive end. Both Wade and James are superb big possession defenders.
"Clutch stats"? I'll go with the guy who can actually hit a jump shot and can be trusted at the ft line in a close game in the playoffs, and has actually led his team to a championship. Not the guy who has great regular seasons and then quits.
I voted for LeBron... for the simple fact of him having that ball at the end of the game... whether he takes the shot or makes a play for Wade or Bosh or whoever else doesn't matter.
Who cares. There are two good things about Miami Thrice: 1. Our Knicks picks are still good. 2. Nobody from the LeBron generation will eclipse the legacy of Olajuwon. In fact, Dream's status may be improved nationally after this circus starts performing.
LBJ is a very good clutch player, arguably better than Wade, but I think he is far more likely to defer to Wade.
lebron is a much bigger star, and the media is already putting him at the center of the big 3. so lebron will be the main guy from the media's perspective. last shot? it'll depend. i think the ball will be in lebron's hands more b/c he is a mismatch to every and anybody. but wade will get his share. but hey, that's a problem spoelstra will gladly have. or any coach.
The closer on that team is whoever has the biggest mismatch head to head. I think Lebron and Wade will take turns being the closer.
Lebron, he might not have the better jump shot but his ability to drive to the basket and make something happen is amazing. However, if there is 5 or so seconds to go, I want Wade taking the shot.
With Dwyane Wade's track record in the crunch, it can't NOT be him. That said, there's nothing wrong with having 1a and 1b in the crunch as long as they both understand that's the situation.
