LeBron James Passes Up Yet Another Game-Winner in Heat's 99-98 Loss to Utah Jazz

LeBron James proved on Friday night that he didn't learn anything from his 2012 NBA All-Star Game turnover that cost the East the win, which called into question LeBron's ability and desire to win games for his team.

With 4.5 seconds left on the clock in Utah, LeBron lined up on the baseline, came off a screen at the top of the key, and received the ball just outside the three-point line.

It appeared that LeBron was finally going to take the final shot of a game that we've all been waiting for this year. Instead, LeBron drove to the left side of the paint and passed the ball to Udonis Haslem at the right corner of the free-throw line.

Udonis Haslem jacked up his signature weird-looking jump shot, which ultimately clanked off the rim as time expired, resulting in the Utah Jazz stealing one away from the Miami Heat.

Really, LeBron?

You'd rather have Udonis Haslem have the ball in his hands with the game on the line instead of in yours?

I've been the biggest LeBron supporter—even in spite of his inability to close out games for the Miami Heat—but his final possession performance on Friday night was completely inexcusable. It was inexcusable because, for the entire second half, LeBron was single-handedly bringing the Heat all the way back from an 18-point deficit, to the point where they had a chance to win the game.

With the Heat down 94-92, LeBron looked like he finally had that killer instinct in his eye, as he nailed a three-pointer to put the Heat on top, 95-94, with just over a minute left in the game.

After a defensive rebound, courtesy of LeBron James, with just 46 seconds left in the game, LeBron once again attacked the Jazz defense straight on and put up a fade-away 21-footer that put the Heat up 97-94 with just 26 seconds left.

So, with the Heat down one point with just 4.6 seconds left on the clock, it seemed as though everyone on the Heat team, except LeBron James wanted the ball in his hands for the final shot.

With his pass to Udonis Haslem, LeBron proved that he's still not ready to put an entire team—and outcome of a game—on his shoulders, which is reason for concern as the Heat move forward in the second half of the 2011-12 NBA season.

If LeBron passed the ball to Dwyane Wade, that would have been one thing, but the fact that he dished the ball to an average offensive player at best just shows the lack of confidence and killer instinct in James.

It's not that I want or expect LeBron to make and win 100 percent of every single shot with the game on the line for the Heat. What I, as most every Heat fan wants, is LeBron to have confidence in his ability to hit big-time shots when his team needs him to.

If LeBron jacked up a fade-away 17-footer as time expired that missed the mark, it wouldn't have mattered, because at least then he would at least be displaying that he's ready to put the fate of the Miami Heat on his shoulders.

I've got to give credit where credit's due, though, and give some props to the Utah Jazz for suffocating the Heat defensively in the first half, and dominating the Heat in the paint with their frontcourt of Al Jefferson, Enes Kanter and Paul Millsap.

The Utah Jazz showed that they aren't push-overs in a stacked Western Conference, and that they're ready to make a legitimate run at the playoffs in the next few weeks.

With that being said, the Miami Heat put up a good fight, led by LeBron's 35 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.

Unfortunately, the Heat needed 37 from LeBron to leave Utah on a 10-game winning streak. But, instead, LeBron proved that he's still not ready to be the closer in South Beach. 

Next up, the Heat travel to the Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant's broken nose.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @peteremerick, because I don't pass up shots with the game on the line.