Miami Heat: Will LeBron James Continue to Fail in the Clutch?

The impressive start to the season for LeBron James and the Miami Heat made people think that things could be different this time around.

They very well could, but after the last two games, both Miami losses, there's a little cause for concern.

That little bug called the fourth quarter reared its head again and LeBron did nothing to silence his critics, or help his team win. In fact, he may have poured more fuel on the fire.

Then you have to ask the question. Will James continue to fail in the clutch?

Let's look back at the past two nights first.

In Tuesday's loss to the Golden State Warriors, James went over seven minutes in the fourth quarter without taking a shot, which shouldn't happen. He then proceeded to score only two points in the fourth quarter, both on free throws, and two points in overtime on a layup.

He did miss a three-pointer at the end of regulation that could have given Miami the lead.

During the past two seasons, he's now 0-for-6 on three-point attempts in the last 24 seconds of a game that would have given the Heat a tie or the lead.

Clutch players need to make clutch shots.

Then during last night's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, James did not score in the overtime session.

He missed three consecutive baskets in overtime and he was only 6-of-10 from the free-throw line in the final 5:49 of regulation.

To be fair to LeBron, none of the Big Three were very good late last night. James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade missed on a combined seven shots in overtime and they weren't much better in the fourth quarter, combining to go 3-for-8.

But it's James that's viewed as the best in the world. These are the exact situations he needs to excel in.

Will he always fail in pressure situations? It's hard to give him the benefit of the doubt and say yes until he starts performing like a superstar in them. Until he does, you must consider the possibility that tight pressure situation will always get the best of him.

Sure, he may knock down a game-winner from time to time. Plenty of NBA players do.

But until he begins to own tight fourth quarters and overtimes, you can't exactly be surprised any more when he fails in the clutch.