The Dallas Mavericks beat the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals 112-103 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. The series goes back to Miami for the final two games, with Dallas only needing to win one of those games to win the NBA Championship. It won't be an easy task, but it's very doable as Dallas has been an excellent road team this postseason. And if Dallas happens to take care of business in Game 6 on Sunday night, just remember who predicted that outcome (two thumbs pointing at this blogger, and called all the correct games). But for as exciting as tonight's win was for the Dallas Mavericks, putting them one win away from the NBA Championship, that is not what people will be talking about tomorrow. And that is not what I want to write about.
I'm hear to join the others in attending the magic show, featuring the disappearing act of LeBron James (LBJ for the rest of this blog) from the 4th quarter and crunch time. This is the second straight game that LBJ has, for some reason, disappeared on the court in the 4th quarter and crunch time. Everyone recalls his disappearing act in Game 4, when LBJ was no where to be found on the court. He was eventually scene roaming the three-point line, most of the time on the opposite side of the court from where the ball was. He took a passive approach, deferring to D-Wade to make all of the important calls and plays. It was much of the same in tonight's game, as LBJ only had 2 points in the 4th quarter, and the ball not in his hands during crunch time. D-Wade, injured hip and all, once again was called upon to have the ball in his hands and relay the troops for one last effort at a win, but would ultimately come up short. And while I don't want to take any credit away from the Dallas defense, LBJ needs to be more involved and take over the game like he is suppose too.
It reminds me of the movie Top Gun. Near the end of the movie, in the pivotal screen where Maverick is in a dog fight and for some reason disengages and Merlin has to constantly yell and plead with him from the rear to get back in the fight; all the while Maverick is mediating, trying to channel Goose for his guidance from beyond. For the Miami Heat, D-Wade is Merlin; yelling and pleading with LBJ (Maverick) to get back into the fight. But unlike in Top Gun where Maverick would eventually get back into the fight and lead the charge to victory, LBJ doesn't seem to want to re-engage and take the lead in the dog fight; and it's costing his team a chance at victory.
There is no denying that in Game 4, LBJ definitely seemed out of sorts. Overall, he had only 8 points total in the game, with half of those points coming from the free throw line. In tonight's game, LBJ had a more impressive stat line of 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assist, a triple-double. However, he only scored 2 points in the 4th quarter, and for as good as his overall stat line may look, that is not what he was brought to Miami to do. That's not the stat line I want to see out of LBJ. If I'm head coach Erik Spolestra, I don't need LBJ getting me 10 rebounds and 10 assists. I need him putting the ball in the hoop and getting me 25+ points, with some of those points coming in crunch time. LBJ was signed and brought into Miami, for the most part, to be that closer, that assassin, that Mariano Riveria at the end of games. No one will publicly admit it as too not offend D-Wade, but that is why he was signed I believe. LBJ needs to be that closer for the sake of his legacy. If we are going to start the comparisons of LBJ to the likes of Jordan and Kobe, than he needs to have that mentality. If he is not showing it now, when will he ever?
Much was made when he first signed with the Heat about who would be the one to close out a game: LBJ or D-Wade. He left Cleveland because he wanted to be surrounded by more talented players. Everyone assumed that was because he was getting tired of having to shoulder all of the pressure and brunt all the attention during the game, but still wanting to be the man with the ball at the end. But in watching LBJ shrink in the 4th quarter and crunch time these past two games, it seems to me that the only reason why he wanted to be surrounded by more talented players was so that he could pass off the pressure and crunch time situations onto someone else. That's not what I want in my closer.
Game 5 was a defining game for LBJ. He even said it himself prior to the game, tweeting out "Now or Never" and even calling Game 5, "The Most Important Game Of My Career." And while in the box score it will appear that he did his part in gathering a triple-double, for as good as LBJ's stat line is, it's not what he is suppose to do.
Mr. Armchair Speaking
I think you have this mostly right, but I don't think LeBron was brought in to be a closer. Outside of that ridiculous Detroit game a few years back when he scored the last 25(!) points for Cleveland, he never had a reputation as a closer, and in fact, came into Miami on the aftermath of that horrid Boston series.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right that he left Cleveland to get better help, because I think he knows his limitations. He doesn't have the pedigree of a closer. He can't shoot like Kobe. He doesn't have the post moves of Dirk (who has been THE CLOSER this whole playoffs) he doesn't have the drive of Michael, he doesn't know how to move without the ball and he doesn't have the same offensive package as DWade.
The reason LeBron is so good on both ends is his freak athleticism. He's like a cross between Dr. J and Wilt. He is nothing like Kobe or Michael. Maybe he'll figure it out, but DWade has example after example of being a closer. DWade should ALWAYS have the ball at the end of the game.
Maybe they win both in Miami and we forget all about this like what happened to Peyton Manning, but I don't think he should ever be considered a "closer".
Good joke I heard today:
ReplyDeleteIf you let LeBron borrow a dollar, he'll only give you back .75 cents. He never give you the 4th quarter.
I heard an interview today with Charles Barkley and he said it's not in LeBron's character and nature to be that closer, that guy who steps on your throat when you are down. Barkley also described LeBron as a selfless superstar who would rather pass the ball in crunch time whether than shoot it.
That's fine and admirable, but if I'm paying a guy $14.5 million a year, I would like for him to show up in the 4th quarter and be involved in the game. And I think LeBron wants to be that guy, but doesn't want to deal with the pressure that comes with it, or doesn't know how to handle it. I mean, come on, he has a tatoo on his back that reads "chosen one." He even refers to himself as "King James" (take a look at a Michael Wise article from the Washington Post, pretty interesting). He wants to be great and have that same legacy as MJ and Kobe. But in order to get up to their stature, he needs to have that killer instinct and closer mentality.
I will agree that D-Wade is a closer and has shown that in the past. But you don't bring in and court LeBron that why Miami did and have him come in the way he did with his whole "decision" and "bringing my talents to south beach" and "i'm here to win, not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, not six....championships" and have him be a gloried role player. That role was reserved for Chris Bosh.
So what is LeBron's legacy going to be then?? I agree that it's silly to compare him to MJ and Kobe because their games are completely different. They simply are not the same players. But if it's widely believed that when it's all said and done, LeBron will be regarded as one of the best players to ever play the game, yet we are to never consider him to be a "closer," than how do we compare and interpret his legacy to MJ, Kobe, or anyone else??
One last thing I forgot - LeBron can physically take over and dominate a game whenever he wants to, but choose not too?? That's a little frightening to me and if I'm Pat Riley, I'm wondering what kind of player I really got. It's almost a waste in my opinion if you are going to have his physical skill set paired with his current mentality he has toward the end of games.
ReplyDeleteI think Pat Riley got a player that is other worldly, only the fit doesn't match. I said this right after the decision (no proof of course) that two things would perpetually hold Miami back: No clear distributor/pure point guard and LeBron and Wade both need the ball in their hands. I think both of these reasons are why LeBron acts the way he does at the end. First, he clearly the most talented passer on that team. Second, he knows what Wade needs. What I think holds him back, is that he thinks being a distributor means also playing outside the 3 point line the whole offensive set. Which is stupid.
ReplyDeleteHe needs to put in some Kobe type offseasons to fix one of his flaws. Either the lack of a post up game or his shooting touch. Contrary to what we saw in the first two games of this series, LeBron is not a great shooter. If he fixes one or both, he can actually become effective off the ball. Wade can penetrate and dish, or Lebron can get out on the blocks and start sucking in a defense leading to some open elbow and free throw jumpers for Bosh and Haslem which is their strong suits. In fact thinking about that, it is probably their greatest half court weakness. NO ONE on that team can post up. Dallas has like 2.5 (Kidd can still post up but hardly does it anymore). It's how they have been getting these open looks. It's why Chicago couldn't. No one on that team can really post up either.
LeBron's half court offense consists of barrel towards the basket or dribble around and take some off balance shot. That works in the regular season but not in the playoffs. He took four shots in the 4th quarter: 1 was 17 feet, 2 were 3's and 1 was a driving garbage layup. He needs to improve his half court technique. I think it's as simple as that. He has lived so long on his ability to run up and down the court, the playoffs just put him in uncomfortable positions.
It seems like you are saying that if LeBron was doing what he was "suppose" to do or what he was brought in to do, then the Miami Heat would never be beaten and they'd have no problem againt the Mavs. How is it then that you could even pick the Mavs to win before this series started?
ReplyDeleteAnd why does a legacy have to be determined for LBJ already? The kid is 26 years old with many prime years left. What if the Heat lose this series and then the Heat rip off 3 Finals wins in a row? Why does this one poor series have to determine his entire career? Dirk is turning 33 and his "legacy" could be drastically different after this season. I don't understand why "everyone" is acting like this is the final and last chapter of LeBrons career. All the negative press and pressure this guy receives is one of the main reasons why I want to see him win. I just want all the doubters to get off his back so we can all move on and appreciate what a rare athlete we actually get to watch (over an entire career) during our lives.
If LeBron had any semblance of a 4th quarter in Games 2,4, and 5, then you are right; Miami would already be crowned the champions. But he didn't, and now Miami is one lost away from finishing as the first losers. But when his team needed him the most, he wanted no part of it and disappeared.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, LeBron is a freakish athlete. He is the most gifted athlete in the game right now. But when you bring upon yourself the attention that LeBron has, you are expected to produce like a superstar and the best player in the game in crunch time. And if it is personal or mental and something is getting to him, you need to bring me something more than that. The best player in the game can't use that as an excuse. Brett Farve's dad died and the day after, he throws 4 touchdowns. Kobe was on trial for his life, flying back and forth between court dates and games, and still playing at a high level. He has to be able to push that out and still produce, if in fact he wants to be regarded among the games greatest, which I believe he does.
He is still young at age 26, but he's been in the league for 8 years. He quit on his team in Cleveland against Boston in Game 7 last postseason when they needed him, and he is where to be found in crunch time this series. Why?? Mental shutdowns can't occur. Maybe you are right, Miami wins Games 6 and 7 and LeBron plays well in the 4th quarters, all is probably forgotten and we move on. LeBron may, probably will, go on to win multiple championships. But right now, we can only judge him and go by the sample size we have.
What do you do during winning time?? That's what differentiate a good player from a superstar. A superstar wants to be on the foul line for the game winning free throws. A superstar wants the ball in his hands for that last shot. A good player, defers to the superstar.
Who is LeBron???