NBA Finals 2012: 5 Reasons Why LeBron James Will Drop 40 in Game 2

In LeBron James' nine-year NBA career he's won three NBA MVP awards, made it to the NBA Finals three times, and he's had his fair share of memorable playoff moments.

The one thing, however, that LeBron does not have is a career-defining moment in the NBA Finals, and Game 2 is the perfect place for him to change that.

Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Finals wasn't a disaster for LeBron.  He actually set his NBA Finals' career high with 30 points.  But that doesn't mean that it was anything for him to be proud of either.  If LeBron can produce another one of his 40-point performances in Game 2 on Thursday night, LeBron can help the Heat even the series, while also getting that memorable NBA Finals' moment.

Ahead are five reasons why LeBron will drop 40 points in Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals. 

No. 5 Miami Heat Need to Win Game 2

In two of LeBron's three must-win games this postseason—in Game 4 against the Pacers, and Game 6 against the Celtics—he went off for 40 or more points.

While Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals isn't exactly on that 'must win' level, there's no doubt that the Heat need to win if they want to make the road to LeBron's first title that much easier.

This postseason it's seemed like LeBron has played his best when the pressure has been on him, and after an underwhelming Game 1 performance, the pressure is certainly on him to lead the Heat.

In the third and fourth quarters, LeBron didn't get all that much help from his supporting cast, and when that happened against the Pacers and Celtics, he decided it was time to take over.  That's exactly what will happen in Game 2 against the Thunder.

No. 4 LeBron Will Adjust After the Heat's Game 1 Loss

After seeing the kind of defensive pressure that the Thunder are going to throw at him throughout the 2012 NBA Finals, there's no doubt that LeBron will adjust his game to what will be open to him in Game 2.

Yes, the Thunder will make adjustments as well, but LeBron and his extremely-high basketball I.Q. will take over in Game 2.

LeBron is a student of the game, and he's certainly spent a fair share of time watching film from Game 1 and figuring out the holes in the Thunder's defense that will allow him to maximize his offensive efficiency.

After playing the Thunder once during the regular season, where he scored just 17 points on 44.4 percent shooting, LeBron doubled his production in the two team's second regular season matchup, which goes to show just how well he adapts to teams once he's faced them.

In the second half of Game 1, LeBron resorted to taking jump shots, which resulted in his offensive efficiency taking a hit.  He won't do that in Game 2 because the Heat can't win with him doing that, and he'll recognize that. 

No. 3 Both of LeBron's 40-Point Games This Postseason Happened on the Road

This one is relatively simple.

Both of LeBron's classic 40-point performances came on the road in pivotal matchups. While Game 2 isn't as pivotal as, let's say, the Heat's Game 6 win against the Celtics when they were facing elimination, it's still an important game for the Heat to win.

As a member of the Heat, four of LeBron's six regular season 40-point games also happened to come on the road.

While these statistics don't mean that he will undoubtedly have a 40-point game, the fact of the matter is, as a member of the Heat, LeBron's had eight 40-plus games, and 75 percent of them have come on the road.

If LeBron's going to have a 40-point game in the 2012 NBA Finals, Game 2 would seem like an appropriate place to do that. 

No. 2 Odd Statistical Similarities Between Game 1 and Other Pre-40-Point Games

Just take a minute and look at the average production of LeBron in each of the two games this postseason that preceded his 40-point explosions—Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers and Game 5 against the Boston Celtics.

LeBron James (Pre-40-point game): 26 points, 10 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 44.8 FG%, 29.0 3PFG%, 3.5 turnovers per game

Now compare those averages to LeBron's Game 1 performance in the 2012 NBA Finals.

LeBron James (Game 1): 30 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, 45.8 FG%, 33.3 3PFG%, four turnovers

Those numbers are pretty similar, aren't they?

While they aren't exact replicas of each other, they are certainly similar, and while it doesn't guarantee a 40-point performance, it certainly leads one to believe that it may just happen. 

No. 1 Game 2 Is LeBron's Chance to Finally Get His Epic NBA Finals Performance

LeBron James capped off his historical 2011-12 regular season campaign—in which he averaged 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game—by winning his third MVP trophy.

With that honor, he joined other players like Michael Jordan, Moses Malone, Magic Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to earn that many MVPs during their NBA careers.

While that honor is one for the ages, it doesn't change the fact that while LeBron has had quite a few memorable playoff performances, he still doesn't have his career-defining NBA Finals' moment, and it's time for that to change.

In Game 1 of the 2012 NBA Finals, LeBron set his NBA Finals' high with 30 points.  What better way to follow up that performance by outdoing himself and setting another career NBA Finals' high, while also acquiring that elusive career-defining NBA Finals' moment.

Sure, there will be other moments for LeBron to embrace and call his own, but Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals is a perfect stage for him to do just that, and he can do that by scoring 40 points and leading the Heat to a win.