LeBron James: Heat Star Absolutely Right About Lakers' Final Play
LeBron James defended Metta World Peace's decision-making in the Lakers and Thunder's Game 2 matchup. He was right too, and no one should be surprised. The play was originally drawn up for Kobe Bryant — of course — and rightfully so.
But Steve Blake, a 41 percent three-point shooter, was left wide open in the corner.
MWP abandoned the play and passed it to Blake, who missed the wide-open shot, and the Lakers lost the game.
James has been routinely criticized for making the right basketball play in his career. It happened as recent as the Heat's Game 2 loss to the Pacers.
Instead of taking the game's outcomes in his own hands, he deferred to some future Hall of Famer named Dwyane Wade, who subsequently missed a layup he makes nine times out of ten.
The Heat lost their Game 2 matchup as well. That may seem like a simple trend, but as usual, there is much more to these situations.
Some will make a case for having the ball in your best players hands in crunch time, and I genuinely agree with that, but when a situation like these two examples arise, it is right to abandon that thought process.
Basketball is a team game. Even the superstars of each respective team will have to depend on their lesser talented teammates to make crucial plays. If a 41 percent three point shooter is wide open in the corner, there is no better shot to get.
What can't go without discussion is how the Lakers arrived at this point in the game. They had a five point lead with less than two minutes remaining. The Lakers didn't score in the final two minutes.
That time span included a Bryant turnover and two missed field goals by the Mamba, who was being defended well by James Harden. Considering these facts, passing to a wide open Blake was even more acceptable.
What we remember is always the last play, but there are always events leading up to that moment that are as crucial, if not more.
LeBron is right and consistent in his philosophy of always making the right basketball play. Some may say he wants to hide, or he doesn't want to be the man.
But what people must remember is that James' passing and play-making ability has always been the most unique aspect of his game.
His game has never been selfish, and he has always tried to create opportunities for his teammates. His 6.9 assists per game over his career is proof of that.
James is better off speaking his mind, as he did in this instance. He has committed and consistent haters that look to jump on every word he says. He will never please them and he should never attempt to.
He can say, "I like Archway Cookies", and his critics will say something stupid like, "that's because your soft." (Even though Archway Cookies can get quite hard if you leave them out-of-the-package and uncovered, but you get my drift.)
MWP and James made the right plays in their respected games, it just didn't work out. It's basketball, that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
Follow Brian Mazique and Franchiseplay.net for reactions, analysis and news from the world of sports and sports Video Games
