After watching the despicable excuse for television that was The Decision, and after seeing what an egomaniac Lebron has become, the events of the Heat-Bulls game on Wednesday really didn’t surprise me. With the Heat down 92-89 with 16 seconds left, Lebron chucked up a one dribble pull up three, with Luol Deng standing a few steps away with his hand up. The shot (if we can call it that) missed badly, not even touching the rim and barely grazing the backboard. The Bulls got the rebound, hit a few free throws, and the game was over.
Horrible shot, but frankly I’m not surprised. Lebron’s been making a lot of bad “decisions” lately.
16 seconds is a lifetime in basketball. There was no point of rushing a shot, especially not a semi contested pull up three. The Heat (and Lebron) could’ve moved the ball around for a few seconds and gotten a much more high percentage shot. Lebron was definitely not the best shooter on the floor for the Heat at the time, and he wasn’t even wide open.
With 16 clicks left, even a quick two would’ve been fine, and this is why this was such a bad shot. Lebron had a clear step on Deng, and could’ve used that step to get the Heat a quick bucket. Announcers always fawn over Lebron’s quickness and strength, and they say he can’t be stopped once he gets into the lane with a head of steam. With this in mind, Lebron could’ve easily gotten inside (he already had a step on his defender) and finished, maybe even drawing a foul.
Looking back on the play, it seems like a no brainer. The Bulls were defending the three and Lebron could’ve easily gotten to the paint. The Bulls would need to then inbound and make two pressure packed free throws, and the Heat would still have enough time to run another set. Even if Lebron didn’t get an easy layup, he could’ve looked for an open teammate (if a Bulls defender had helped on him), which would’ve resulted in a much more high percentage shot. Lebron had a few different options here, and clearly, taking a contested three pointer was not the right basketball play.
But Lebron doesn’t care about the right basketball play; he cares about the right Lebron play. If Lebron had made that shot, it would’ve been heroic. The whole state of Florida would dub him the greatest player of all time, he would be inducted as ruler of Miami, and they’d build a golden statue in his liking outside the arena. OK, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit for a game played in late February, but you see the point I’m trying to make. Lebron wanted to take that shot because it was the right play for him, and it had the potential to lift his reputation. He didn’t take it because it was the right play for the Miami Heat.
Lebron could’ve gone for a quick two (as I said before), or he could’ve swung the ball around and looked for an open teammate. But he didn’t, because it wouldn’t have caused even close the same electricity as a game tying three ball.
That’s why I was almost expecting Lebron to take that shot, even though the moment he threw it up, it was clear it was the wrong play. Lebron wants to be remembered like MJ is remembered; he wants people to reminisce on his incredible shots and clutch buzzer beaters. What he needs to realize is that MJ wasn’t planning on hitting crazy game winning shots; they just happened. MJ only cared about winning, and that’s what Lebron needs to do also.
All Lebron needs to do is worry about winning a championship for the Miami Heat, and then the buzzer beaters will start to fall. As the great Herb Brooks once said, great moments are born from great opportunity; Lebron is an incredible player, but he needs to wait for that great opportunity, and seize it. He needs to learn to make the play that will win his team the game, and not the play that might catapult him into further stardom. Whether that “right” play is a clutch three, a strong drive, or a great dish to an open teammate, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is the end result. Make the right basketball play, and the glory will ensue. Just ask Kobe Bryant.
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