Smack / Mar 3, 2012 / 6:12 am

LeBron’s Nightmare Continues; Wilt Chamberlain Night Goes Awry

LeBron James

LeBron James (photo. David Alvarez)

Maybe LeBron James is just stubborn. Maybe he’s perfectly capable of delivering game-winning hero moments whenever he wants, but since it seems the whole world is dogging him, he doesn’t want to give anyone the satisfaction of feeling like they’re telling him what to do. And maybe we’re really reaching there, but how else do you explain why LeBron does the things he does? … Last night’s Heat/Jazz game was almost a shot-for-shot replay of last week’s All-Star Game, with Al Jefferson and the Jazz wearing the Western Conference costumes. Utah dominated the first half, leading by as much as 18. But then, just like he did in Orlando, LeBron dominated the second half and brought his team all the way back before one questionable decision marred an otherwise brilliant performance. And just like in the All-Star Game, Dwyane Wade managed to sneak out of the gym free from blame even though he was the one who arguably cost his team a win … LeBron (35 pts, 10 rebs, 6 asts) was simply unstoppable down the stretch. He was incredible offensively and defensively. With just over one minute to go he drilled a three to put Miami ahead by one, and on the next possession hit a double-clutch, off-balance jumper while going to his left that was one big toe shy of being a three-pointer. One Utah announcer’s reaction to that circus shot: “Oh please! Unbelievable! Not from this world! He is not from this planet!” … But the Jazz hung in there and regained the lead when Devin Harris hit a floater over D-Wade, drawing a foul in the process and converting the free throw. So with 4.5 seconds left, Miami down one, the stage was set: LeBron took the inbound pass on the left wing and ran a pick-and-pop with Udonis Haslem that drew the entire defense his way. And just when you’re thinking LeBron HAS to take the last shot – standing not far from where Michael Jordan hit The Last Shot – he instead passed to a wide-open Haslem. Who bricked. Damn … As is typically the case with LeBron, it was the right basketball play to make. But that wasn’t the time for the right basketball play. Maybe if he’d been struggling offensively it would’ve made more sense, but LeBron was ON FIRE. Everything he threw up in the fourth quarter went in. Nobody would have blamed him had he taken the last shot and missed. OK, he still would’ve gotten a ton of hate for missing the shot, but now he’s gonna get it worse because he didn’t even want to shoot … The unsung goat was Wade (31 pts), who not only fouled Harris on the eventual game-winner, but also hacked Harris in the act of shooting a three earlier in the fourth, and missed a huge crunch-time free throw. How does Wade get away with it? He makes just as many mistakes as LeBron – probably more – but it’s like everybody forgets them as soon as the buzzer sounds … The unsung hero was Al Jefferson (20 pts), who was a monster when it mattered. Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin didn’t even need a playbook. Every key possession was “Give it to Al,” and then Al did things to Joel Anthony that would’ve made Detective Olivia Benson question what it all means … ESPN tried its hardest for a storybook Wilt Chamberlain tribute, but it was like the ghost of the late Big Dipper wouldn’t allow it. On the 50th anniversary of the night Wilt scored 100 points in one game, ESPN aired a doubleheader featuring two of Chamberlain’s former teams (Sixers vs. Warriors) and two teams known for explosive offense (Suns vs. Clippers). But the plan for a night of savage buckets to honor the most savage Bucketeer fell flat. Only one of the four teams (Philly) cracked 100 points, and the Suns/Clips game looked more like a mid-‘90s grind between the Knicks and Heat. Was this some kind of curse doled out by Wilt? Maybe his spirit is mad at ESPN for helping perpetuate the idea that Michael Jordan is the G.O.A.T. and Shaq is the M.D.E. … Apparently Lou Williams is one of the Ghostbusters, though, as he dropped 25 points in 27 minutes off the bench as the Sixers owned the fourth quarter and beat Golden State by 22 … Keep reading for a recap of the Lakers’ wild night …

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  • Ricky

    I was only talking about the last shot, but yes I think he could have got easier shots in the previous possessions.

  • http://datpiff.com beiber newz

    slick ric..your name resembles that of an 80s gay porn star. thought i should let you know

  • control

    It’s funny that some people always have gay porn stars on their mind…I couldn’t even think of the name of even one gay porn star, and have absolutely NO memories that would relate anything I might see or hear to gay porn, because I have no memories of gay porn.

    Chicagorilla

    I was shaking my head when LeBron took that crazy one footed fade away, and then was shocked that it swished through. I was thinking that was some Kobe shit, and that LeBron better not pickup THOSE habits…but god damn he was feeling it. I think he was trying to draw some weak ass contact, but the defender didn’t bite and he was in the air like “oh shit”. The guy’s arm strength is absolutely amazing, to actually shoot a perfect shot without any help from the legs, while in the air like that is ridicules…

    Everyone

    Can anyone name one player who is doing the shit LeBron is right now? There is no one in the nba better than him right now, so why are people hating so hardcore? What more can you ask of a guy?

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    @ beibernewz, umm… so does that mean you watch gay 80′s porn? I appreciate you coming out the closet beiber. I could tell you had sugar in the tank, you cared entirely too much about what others said about you over the internet, you lame.

  • http://datpiff.com beiber newz

    you guys are so caught up with lebron “making the right play” that you are blinded by the truth. the clutch gene lebron is displaying time and time again that he does not have.

    now, realize this.

    great players, offensively superior players, especially ones who are on fire can and should find ways to get wins for the team.

    the thing that boggles my brain is that you all who are saying it was the right play are essentially saying it was either lebron pass it or take a shot over 30,000 defenders.

    false. because you cannot say for sure that the latter would have happened had he kept the ball in his hands.

    let me go down the list:
    carmelo
    dirk
    ray allen
    pierce
    kobe
    durant
    jordan
    chris webber (just kidding)
    bird
    ginobili
    jamal crawford
    brandon roy
    chris paul
    deron williams is even getting there

    the constant with all those guys? they are all able to elude the defense and create a shot out of nothing and are able to do it in the most difficult, most pressurized of situations.

    now lebron james was on fire diring the final stretches of the game. making a pass to an open man is a great decision. yes. that is true. but what was haslem doing that game? what was haslem doing that week? the fact of the matter is lebron was in a zone.

    now, all you who say that lebron should have made the pass, ignore the fact that lebron ALSO could have found his own shot whether it be by, i dunno, finding a way for himself to get open!

    i’ve seen time and time again, ray allen get 2 or 3 screens to get an open shot to win a game. i’ve seen paul pierce hold the ball, use some fancy footwork that freezes his man and get a great look. i’ve seen carmelo jab step, spin off his man and bully his way to the rim or make a quick hesitation that allows him to raise over his man for a nice jumper. i’ve seen kobe find ways to go to the freethrow line. i’ve seen chris paul keep the ball in his hands, put his man on skates and float the ball in the hole. i don’t even need to talk about michael jordan.

    the main idea here is that, yes the pass was good. it went to haslem who found his shot in his sweet spot. but lebron was on fire. he was the best athlete on the floor. it is NOT A GIVEN that he would have taken a bad shot. wthe thing you guys are avoiding is the question of “why can’t lebron CREATE a good shot for himself?” i’ve even seen allen iverson, little short 6 foot iverson elude the defense to find a great shot.

    you guys are not psychics, nor am i. the thing i know for sure is that lebron is big and strong and fast. he has the tools to get a good shot. or does he? at least in the clutch.

    you guys are caught up with the idea that if lebron didn’t pass he’d be taking a shot over a bunch of defenders.

    if lebron was as good as history will want to write that he is, he should be able to keep the ball in his hands and create a good shot with the game on the line. ESPECIALLY when he is on….fire.

    period.

    in conclusion, wade is the reason the heat lost. lebron just couldn’t save the heat when he was in position to.

  • Big Island

    People hate on Kobe for forcing up shots all of the time. I do it myself. Lebron made a pass to a guy who hits the exact shot he got at the end of the game. Haslem lives around the free throw line area, and he had a wide open shot to win the game and missed. Nobody gets on Wade or Haslem for missing. Jordan passed to Steve Kerr for a Finals winner. Haslem hits that shot and he walks off a hero, Lebron walks off a beast. Instead Haslem is off the hook and Lebron is a bitch? Come on everyone. I guarantee that Haslem knew that ball was probably going to come to him.

    Fourth quarter, I have 17 or whatever IN THAT PERIOD, and there are a few seconds left in the game. Chicagorilla (only since Wade is from Chi, not because you aren’t clutch) misses free throws. We come on the floor, I know that Beiber knows if his man doubles he is getting the ball in his favorite spot for a wide open shot. Beiber knows it. Chi knows it. I know it. I make the pass to him and he misses it.

    Dudes just hate. I get it, I hate too, but call it what it is. Haslem missed a wide open shot from his spot on the floor for game.

  • http://datpiff.com beiber newz

    slick ric

    i feel uncomfortable even writing your fruity name. no way in hell would i ever call another man slick. you know how i know you gay? cuz you appreciate(?) when a man comes out. why is that something to appreciate? does that turn you on?

    and something else that’s sketchy.

    control never denied watching gay porn. he just said he doesn’t retain any memories of it. sketchy statement right there.

    how bout you two rent a motel together and watch some of slick ric’s classic films.

  • http://www.payattnstalkers.com Chicagorilla

    @Control and Big Is

    I hear what you guys are saying, but you’re not taking into account the other things i’ve posted. One, Lebron should have not used the screen. I don’t care what Spolestra calls in the huddle. If the play doesn’t end with Wade, Lebron, or Bosh (who was not playing) taking the shot, then Im not running the f^cking play.

    No one is questioning if he made the right pass or not. The question i have is WHY WAS THAT EVEN AN OPTION!!!
    Haslem was 2-4 FG shooting at that point. Add that to the fact that he is shooting 41%FG on the season. Add THAT, to the fact that Dwayne f^cking Wade, who had 31pts on 50%FG, was on the court and NOT INVOLVED at all in the play.

    If Lebron isnt smart enough to back the ball out and attack off that pick n pop or even wave off Haslem then he doesn’t need the ball in his hands at the end of games. It’s not to say he’s not good, but it does say he’s not clutch.

  • Big Island

    I have spent the last half hour dying imagining Ian under a tree while his better half is running. At least you went out there. Every Wednesday my gf heads into my gym to spin, and I have to hustle out to make it seem like I have been there the whole time she has. I used to go in with her, then head out to the donut place across the street and make it back before she finished class, but I got caught (ratted out), so I don’t do that one anymore. I just can’t lift when she’s in there. “That’s too heavy! You’re going to hurt yourself! You should be doing cardio! OK, I am leaving, gimme a kiss.” Jesus woman! I have 120lb dumbells above my face right now on a friggin incline bench! Can it wait another 3 reps?!?!! Look, all I have going for me is being kinda tall and kinda strong. Is it too much to ask to let me lift in peace?

  • K Dizzle

    @ Big I

    I’ll agree with Chi-rilla and put 50% of the blame on Spolstra for that dumbass playcall. You have a hot LBJ, DWade and Battier was 6 of 7 from 3. Now, I’ve seen all 3 of these guys hit HUGE shots so Spo runs a pick n roll…with Haslem? Who’s taken 4 shots all game? Who’s shootin 41% this season? 41%???
    The two factions won’t agree on this. One side says “You the best player in the world. You’ve hit 5 impossible shots to bring his team back. This is an oppurtunity to shine, not shirk responsiblity to your teammate who been strugglin this season. Shoot the ball!”
    The other side says “He made the right play. He drew the double n found his teammate in his sweet spot”

    Well, they lost the game n the blame falls on Lebron again so yeah, shoulda just shot it lol

  • control

    KDiz and Chicagorilla

    I’ll agree with you guys 100%. That pick and roll was a horrible play selection for the last fucking shot of a game you were just down 18 points. Wade or LeBron SHOULD have shot that ball, that situation should not have occurred. I’m sure Haslem can hit that shot ALLLL day in practice, but he shouldn’t have been in the position to. I only want Haslem taking the last shot if he hustled down an offensive rebound with a second left on the fucking clock.

    LeBron made the right play, at the WRONG time. That’s a play you run in the second or third quarter…Honestly, though I can logically say he made the right choice, he really should have been a touch selfish and just drove to the rim. Who is stopping that guy when he drives? Ain’t nobody stopping that train.

  • Dana Walker

    Not a Lebron defender or lover, I actually can’t stand the prick but, he did the right thing, passed to an open teammate, said open teammate missed shot. Not his fault. Again Wade also made a ton of mistakes down the stretch. You can’t blame one guy all the time. Plus, they have Bosh, why not run something for him endgame? That team has three legit all stars/superstars yet one of them is getting all the flak

  • Dana Walker

    Big…your gym story is fap worthy. I want to play Maroon 5 songs and have dreamy thoughts as if you were the hunky next door neighbor who is always cutting the grass without a shirt or slow mo-ing out of his pool.

  • Ian

    big island
    finally back home
    listen man this woman wakes up at 5 am everyday runs a few miles , bikes some more miles and swims. after work she hits the gym. crazy well shell look good when we are 50 (ill prob be dead if i dont start doing some stuff). this is my 3rd one going with her to these things i get breaks cuz she runs and i can just walk and stop cuz she isnt watching me. sadly i dont get donut breaks. oh and i almost died in one last saturday.

  • Ian

    “Jesus woman! I have 120lb dumbells above my face right now on a friggin incline bench! Can it wait another 3 reps?!?” hahaha

  • yoda

    why people keep saying that dirk chocked in 2006. when refs gave title to miami?

  • First & Foremost

    @Dime, At the beginning of the season every news outlet ran some story about coach spo going up to Oregon to tweak his offense. Look at the benefits of that decision.

    So when will you guys run a story about how Scott Brooks’ offensive gameplan was inspired by NBA JAM? Coming out of timeouts, you can clearly see him calling out a play named, “Boomshakalaka”

  • First & Foremost

    I just looked at the Nola Hornets roster for tonight… That team is never getting sold.

  • http://datpiff.com beiber newz

    the people who said the clippers-hornets trade was a better one, please raise your hand.
    …………….come on now, don’t be shy.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    beiber newz

    no, I appreciate honesty, be who you are beibs, if you watch gay 80′s porn, that’s your business man. Just don’t disrespect me with that shit. you were the one who knew of gay porn stars names from the 80′s. mr sensitive, with your everybody hates me ass.

  • http://datpiff.com beiber newz

    WOW!!! dirk, 40 points ! in less than 29 minutes of action. you go dirk!

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