NBA Playoffs 2012: LeBron James Needs to Be More Selfish in Game 7

There are times when you watch somebody play a sport, or do their craft, and you're just wondering, "How?" as you're totally speechless. And that doesn't happen a lot when you watch that sport all the time.

LeBron James' Game 6 performance yesterday was one of those times. Just like his Game 4 against the Pacers, or his Game 4 against the Bulls in 2011. 

What was more inspiring to any Miami Heat fan, or someone like me who wants to see LeBron succeed this June, was his assertion once Boston was making a little run in the third. LeBron hadn't touched the ball in a couple of possessions, and for once, he didn't seem like he was okay with it. 

We all saw it, and Stephen A. Smith happily tweeted it while myriads of followers re-tweeted in approval. LeBron stared down the whole coaching staff, his teammates and screamed at them to get him the ball.

At that point, he had been 12-for-14 from the field and just hit a gorgeous kisser off the glass over Kevin Garnett. More importantly, LeBron had the look in his eye. He wasn't smiling. Even as they were up double figures in the waning minutes of the fourth, LeBron's eyes and expression did not deviate from seriousness and being all business.

No one has ever really seen this before. LeBron was always smiling through every situation in his Cleveland days. When the national media rained hate on him for the Decision, he played with a sort of anger the next season, although it didn't really manifest into greatness the way it should have. 

This is probably the first time I've ever seen LeBron be selfish and display a look on his face that said, "We're not effing losing." During last year's NBA Finals, his facial expression said, "I'm scared out of my mind." Only Dwyane Wade had "the look" against the Dallas Mavericks last year.

The naysayers will say this isn't totally genuine, and he's just doing it because he's backed into a corner. Well, if he's going to throw up performances like this all the time, nobody will really care.

When LeBron James is locked in and focused, nobody can stop him. That's the reality. If he is, there shouldn't be a conversation about who is better between him and Kevin Durant. The Heat are 6-0 in these playoffs when LeBron is shooting 50 percent or higher. That percentage is usually coupled with a high volume of shots, meaning LeBron is taking the ball to the hole, often and effectively.

The Celtics looked somewhat tired in Game 6. Attrition will kick in at some point. On Miami's home court, LeBron needs to remember that fact and remember what forced the Game 7 in the first place: his aggression. Wade may have an off night, and Chris Bosh may still be working his way back from injury and will not be a factor down the stretch.

LeBron needs to know he can only take the Heat as far as he can shoot them there.