Miami Heat: Why LeBron James Is the New King of South Beach

The Miami Heat are on a five-game tear in the Eastern Conference, which is why they are within one game of the top spot in the East and in the entire league.

The reason why the Heat are where they are isn't because of increased team chemistry, bench production or dominance by every member of the big three.

The Heat are close to entering the 2012 playoffs as the overall top seed because of one player, name LeBron James.

LeBron is single-handily willing the Heat to wins as of late, including a dominant 83-72 win over the Chicago Bulls just a few days ago.

The Heat are poised to, once again, make a run to the NBA Finals, and it's because LeBron has finally taken over role of being "the King" in South Beach, and here's why.

LeBron is 12-1 this season without Dwyane Wade on the court

On paper, the Heat are a better team when they have LeBron and Wade on the court at the same time, but in reality, the Heat might just be a better team with LeBron running the show by himself.

In 13 games without Wade this season, LeBron has led the Heat to wins in 12 of those games, which is a ridiculously impressive feat, considering the talent that he has along side him without Wade.

While LeBron's statistical production doesn't spike a ridiculous amount without Wade on the court, with a 28.2 points per game average without Wade, as compared to his 26.1 average with him, there's no doubt that LeBron knows how to control the game without Wade.

His ability to rally guys like Mario Chalmers, Chris Bosh, Mike Miller and Shane Battier together and win games is impressive in and of itself.

What's even more impressive is that LeBron has finally learned to be the leader on the court, even when Wade's out there with him, as he proved Thursday night against the Chicago Bulls.

Sure, it's just one game, but the fact that LeBron was able to control the pace of the Heat's offense, include Wade in the game, all while being the most productive and most efficient player on the court, with 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists on 44.4 percent shooting, is certainly impressive.

LeBron is the most physically intimidating player on the Heat's roster

I'm not going to sit here and pretend that Dwyane Wade's cheap-shot on Richard Hamilton was clean or deserved, but I will sit here and tell you that LeBron's hard screen on John Lucas was one of the best picks I've seen all season.

Sure, he leaned into it a little bit, but it wasn't close to being a moving or illegal screen.

LeBron's screen on Lucas was a way to tell his team that he's not going to let anybody mess with them. As the Heat's game with the Bulls was heating up and becoming more physical, LeBron, for once, decided it was time to overpower the other players on the court.

Where Wade resorted to a cheap, reactionary foul, LeBron decided to prove a point in an absolutely legal way, and that's a sign of a player who knows how to lead a team.

I know some people might think that play was just a stupid foul, and something that means nothing, but LeBron's physicality and willingness to put himself on the line for his team is something that the Heat will certainly believe in moving forward.

LeBron is hands down the 2012 NBA MVP

I know the MVP race is coming down to LeBron and Kevin Durant, but the way that LeBron's played as of late certainly solidifies him as the front-runner for the award as we head into the final week of the 2011-12 regular season.

If Dwyane Wade was the leader of the Heat, his name would be thrown around in the MVP race, and he would be the foundation of the Heat's offense, but he's not.

LeBron is the MVP front-runner for one reason, and that reason is that he's the leader of the Heat, and the entire NBA knows that.

Wade might very well be the more clutch player of the two, but there's no doubt that without LeBron's season averages of 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, on 53.1 percent shooting, the Heat wouldn't be in the place that they are.

The fact that LeBron's name is even in the MVP consideration speaks volumes about the value he brings to the Heat, and the way that they rely on him to win games.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are certainly different kinds of players, and there's no doubt that Wade is a franchise talent, but when the rubber meets the road, LeBron is the new King of South Beach, and that's the best news the Heat could get as they head into the 2012 NBA playoffs.

If LeBron continues to be the King in Miami throughout the postseason, he might be able to prove true on his "not one...not two...not three...but eight" NBA championship promise.