NBA Playoffs 2012: Knicks Beat Heat, Miami Loses with Hero Ball

There was a lot to chew on in New York's 89-87 escape from elimination. A huge Carmelo Anthony game, a gruesome Baron Davis injury, a gritty Amar'e Stoudemire performance that conceded nothing to fire extinguishers.

Most of all, I fixated on the bizarre way Miami ultimately gave up a chance to tie. With one final possession, down by two, the Heat elected to flatten out and have Dwyane Wade play hero ball. There was a pick-and-roll action with Chris Bosh, but apart from that, Miami relied on Wade to just make something happen out of the ether.

The result was a stymied drive and a hideous fadeaway three that missed its mark. On the play before, LeBron had found the room to knife to a three-point conversion while managing to foul out Tyson Chandler. It seemed odd to relegate James to the corner on the following, final possession.

Perhaps Wade earned that "make something out of nothing" privilege with this sick block on Anthony.