Miami Heat: Why LeBron James Is the Best Point Guard on the Heat's Roster

LeBron James running the point might sound like a ridiculous concept, but it's what he does best.

Not only does LeBron average the most points per game, with 29.2 ppg, and rebounds per game, with 8.5 rpg, on the Heat's roster, he also averages the most assists per game with 6.8 apg.

It's pretty evident that LeBron is the most dominant and most complete player on the Heat, but that's not what I'm here to discuss.

I'm here to discuss the reality that is that LeBron James is not only the best player on the Heat's roster.  He is also the best point guard that the Heat have, and they are a better team when LeBron is running the point.

In two of the Heat's most recent wins, against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the difference maker has been the Heat's ability to close out games in the fourth quarter, which is something they've struggled with so far this year.

More impressive than just closing out games is the way that LeBron and Co. have been doing it.

The Heat have been closing out games in the fourth quarter, by relying less on the sole offensive production of one of their star players, and relying more on the overall production of their entire team.

Miami is playing more like a cohesive unit, especially in the fourth quarter of games, as evidenced most recently by their 29-19 performance in the fourth against the Cavaliers, by allowing LeBron James to take over running the point.

Whether you like that move late in games or not, there's no denying that it's working for the Heat, and it's something that they need to do earlier and more often in games.

Against the 76ers this past Friday night, LeBron took over running the point to start the fourth quarter, with the score 67-63 in favor of the Miami Heat.  

All LeBron did was account for six assists in that quarter alone, leading the Heat on a 15-0 run that ultimately sunk the surging 76ers.

Against the Cavaliers last night, LeBron did the same thing, taking over the point-guard position late in the third quarter, with the score at 78-72 in favor of the Heat.  

LeBron went on to account for six points and four assists in the final 13 minutes of the game last night, sealing the fate of his former team, the Cavaliers.

While LeBron's performance wasn't necessarily dominant, his ability to run the point effectively and efficiently was the difference maker in the game, and the Heat need to focus on that moving forward.

Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole are solid point guards, but they are also suited to play the shooting guard position.  Both players have serious range from beyond the arc, and they also have the ability to penetrate into the paint and create easy offensive opportunities when needed.

With LeBron running the point, Chalmers and/or Cole could move to the shooting guard position, which would open up the court for the Heat's offense to be filtered through a pick-and-roll set that starts with LeBron James at the top of the key.

There's no doubting that the Miami Heat play their best when the offense is facilitated through LeBron and his impressive and unique play-making abilities.

LeBron, out of all players on the Heat, knows how to balance scoring himself, and keeping his teammates involved in the offense in a way that keeps opposing defenses guessing, and that is something that the Heat must utilize if they want to win moving forward in the 2011-12 NBA season.

I doubt it's likely to happen, but if head coach Erik Spoelstra was smart he'd realize that the Miami Heat play their best basketball when LeBron is running the show.  

That doesn't mean LeBron has to be the only offensive threat on the court, but when the offense runs through him as opposed to the Heat's weak isolation offense, the Heat are undoubtedly a better team.

What do you think, should LeBron run the point in Miami, moving Chalmers and/or Cole to the shooting guard position?  Let your thoughts out in the comment section below.