NBA Playoffs 2012: LeBron James' Late-Game Choking May Cost Heat Title Shot

LeBron James is afraid in crunch time and it is becoming a thorn in the side of the Miami Heat.

The Heat hosted the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and, in a tight finish, James failed to cash in at the most opportune times. James shot 4-8 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, including two horrendous misses, with the Heat trailing by one point with 54 seconds left in the game.  

The Pacers went on to win the game 78-75 to tie the series, with Game 3 scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Thursday night in Indiana.

Missed free throws are one thing, but disappearing when your team needs you most is inexcusable. James was his dominating self for most of the contest. He finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, five assists and six steals. But his last field-goal attempt came with 3:35 remaining in the contest.  

In a TV interview with reporters after the game, James was not in the mood to explain his disappearing act. When asked why he did not step up when the Heat needed him most, James shrugged his shoulders and defended himself.  

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I don't read too many articles. I don't watch too much TV. And sportswriters, I don't get into that. I play my game. I do what it takes to help my team win. At the end of the day, I'm satisfied with my performance to help us win ballgames.

"

Dwyane Wade has not done very much to help Miami's cause either. In the first two games of the series, he has made just one three-point field goal in 22 attempts.

And according to ESPN, the LeBron and Wade act has consistently choked at the end of close games for the past two years. On Thursday morning, SportsCenter reported that the two stars combined are just 6-of-25 on game-tying or go-ahead field goals in the final 24 seconds of fourth quarter or overtime games. ESPN's analysts also broke down some glaring mistakes the two made in the final moments of Tuesday's loss.

If Miami is going to have a chance to get back into the series, James must produce from the field from start to finish. He also has to get focused at the free-throw line.

James shrugged off his struggles from the stripe. From ESPN:

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You hope for them to go in, but the last two didn't go for me. The game is not lost or won with those two free throws. You want to come through for your teammates. I'll get an opportunity again.

"

The heat is on James in more ways than one. With Chris Bosh out indefinitely with an abdominal strain, James has to play 40 minutes in the paint and guard all of Indiana's big men. This is obviously beginning to wear on him, but he better get used to it, because aside from Wade, he is not going to get much help.  

On Tuesday night, Miami's bench almost outscored the Heat's other three starters. The bench tallied 11 points, while Mario Chalmers, Udonis Haslem and Ronny Turiaf combined for just 12.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra does not seem to have an option when it comes to rest for James and Wade, who also played 40 minutes on Tuesday. According to LeBron, he would be happy with just two minutes worth, prior to the fourth quarter. He then repeated that refrain to the Miami Herald:

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Forty minutes in the playoffs is different than 40 minutes in the regular season. Intensity is raised. The grind is much more intense. Hopefully, I can get a few minutes here and there.

"

Meanwhile, Wade joined James in the choke department. He finished the game with 24 points, but missed a short layup that would have tied the game with 16 seconds to play.