Heat vs. Celtics: Why LeBron James Will Choke Tonight in Boston
The Miami Heat versus the Boston Celtics tonight will be a crucial game as Boston looks to even the series to gain some much needed momentum.
The pressure is all on LeBron James to be the guy who will take his Heat team on his back and carry them to a Game 4 victory and 3-1 lead in the series. The Celtics have changed up their strategy and are pressuring Wade with double teams all over the court.
As a result, Wade launched 20 shots, but only scored 18 points and was not effective at all on either the offensive or defensive end in Game 3.
The Associated Press reported Dwayne Wade's frustration about getting double teamed this series:
""Like I said, it's no secret, guys," Wade told reporters before practice. "I'm getting doubled at the top of the key. I'm getting doubled in the paint, so let's not shoot a turnaround jump shot all the time, which is not a good shot for our team. We're going to have to find other ways for our team to loosen things up. And eventually, I'm a patient person, so eventually things will hopefully loosen up and I can get my opportunities where I can attack and get in a rhythm a little more."
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With a strategy in place on Wade where he is taken completely out of the game, everything in Game 4 will rest on LeBron's shoulders.
We have seen when the Heat have relied on LeBron in the clutch instead of Wade that it really has not worked out. Go back to Game 2, tied at 99-all and LeBron missed a layup, then went one-on-one with the much smaller Rajon Rondo and pulled up for a 15-foot jumper that clanked off the rim, thereby living up to his choke artist reputation.
Now, in overtime of Game 2, it was Udonis Haslem and Dwayne Wade that bailed LeBron out. I give LeBron all the credit in the world. He is the best player in basketball and can score, rebound, pass and defend better than anyone, but he becomes passive late in the game and does not attack like he did in the first three-and-a-half quarters.
I witnessed it firsthand in Game 2 of this series, and I will witness the same LeBron James choke artist tonight until he proves me wrong.
Still without Chris Bosh, the Heat thought they found some hope in Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier and Mike Miller in both Game 1 and Game 2; however, those role players decided to become non-existent in Game 3.
Keep in mind, LeBron also has to defend multiple positions; for instance, in Game 3 he was defending Kevin Garnett most of the night in the paint. The result was Garnett tore LeBron inside.
Moreover, more pressure comes on LeBron James to score 30-plus points, with multiple rebounds and assists, defend multiple positions and be the man in crunch time. One day media and fans will see LeBron James for who he really is: one of the greatest players in NBA history.
Five years have passed since LeBron showed his aggressiveness late in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons back in the 2007 Eastern Conference Finals. Since then, LeBron has been labeled a choke artist in every clutch moment when he passes the ball off or fails to attack the basket when his team needs him most.
The Heat need LeBron the most in tonight's Game 4, and LeBron will do what he does best: get 30 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds and choke yet again in the fourth quarter.
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