Miami Heat: When Will Dwyane Wade Have the Ball in His Hands?
Article Brought to you By: Crank Up The HEAT
The Miami Heat are losing close games faster than a person loses their money in a casino. Not only have these games been lost, but they’ve been epic losses.
First, we lost to Chicago on Feb. 24 by four, then we give up a lead to the New York Knicks and lose at home, then we blow a 24-point lead to the Orlando Magic.
After that, we were “blitzed” in San Antonio and lost by 30 in probably the most embarrassing game of the season.
Then on Sunday, we once again let the halftime lead evaporate as we let the Chicago Bulls sweep the season series from us in a heartbreaking 87-86 defeat.
The only thing constant in those losses, the ones that were close at least, was the fact head coach Erik Spoelstra had LeBron James have the ball late in the game.
Regardless of how he played the entire fourth quarter, LeBron gets the ball and always does the same thing…an isolation play at the top of the key, in which he either drives in (like versus NY and Chicago) or shoots a three (like the February 24 Chicago game or Orlando).
Where is Wade? Oh he’s in the corner, wide open to take the shot, but he’s not getting the ball.
Excuse me LeBron and Coach Spo, can either of you give the ball to Dwyane Wade? You know, that guy that has carried this franchise from day one.
The guy who brought Chris Bosh and LeBron James to play in Miami. And most importantly, the guy who brought us our first NBA Championship in one of the most clutch performances in the NBA’s biggest stage.
The Heat left Chicago defeated on Feb. 24, after LeBron didn’t even hit the rim on a three-point attempt in a possible game-tying situation. Then three days later vs. the Knicks, LeBron had his shot blocked by Amar’e Stoudemire with seven seconds left and missed a game-tying three with two seconds remaining.
On Thursday night, it was LeBron, who bricked a triple at the buzzer that would have tied the game against Orlando, and it was LeBron, again, on Sunday vs. the Chicago Bulls that missed the game-winning layup when he drew three Bulls defenders in the paint and was forced to throw up a layup that was not even close.
I’m sorry, but how many game-winning or even game-tying shots are you going to let LeBron miss before you realize Dwyane Wade is the true closer of the Miami Heat, Coach Spoelstra?
Look, LeBron surely has earned the right to take any shot he wants; he’s the two-time reigning MVP.
He puts up ridiculous numbers night in and night out every season (26.2 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.1 APG this season), he’s terrific, but like every great athlete, he has his Achilles' heel and that is his lack of killer mentality and inability to hit clutch shots.
LeBron is one of the greatest players in the world, no debate there, but he doesn’t have a killer mentality. Ask fans in Cleveland if he was clutch in the biggest moments or if he shined when it mattered most.
Look, I’ll say it again, I’m not here to criticize LeBron, he has hit some game-winning shots, but his clutch shot ability doesn’t compare to Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade.
The great news for him and Erik Spoelstra? Dwyane Wade is his teammate.
LeBron has taken over. To him, this is his team now and he’s their vocal leader. Has LeBron’s ego got so big that he has to be the one taking the final shot?
Why can’t Coach Spoelstra, who knows first-hand how clutch Dwyane Wade is, call his number?
From my point of view, it almost seems as if LeBron has hypnotized Spoelstra into making him the No. 1 option at the end of the game.
Miami is 5-13 in games decided by five points or less and are only 13-15 this season against teams that are above .500.
Miami is going to need clutch baskets during the next few games because they are all against playoff-bound teams.
If Wade gets the ball, the results will be better...sorry, LeBron, it’s the truth.
