NBA Finals 2011: Did LeBron James Tank Game 4 for the Miami Heat?
Folks, we have a new series yet again.
Congrats to everyone who has tickets for Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals, because the Miami Heat will be coming home.
The manner in which they come back though depends a great deal on the results of a now crucial Game 5.
Miami can either return with a cushy 3-2 advantage needing only one out of two at the Triple A, or they can head to South Florida with their tails tucked between their legs, needing to win the last two games to hoist the trophy.
As for tonight's game, it was surreal how LeBron James barely showed up to play. He totaled just eight points all game. It honestly feels like he was almost saying, "Here Dwyane, you're the man according to everyone, so go out and win it."
Wade almost did.
A Heat win would've cemented him as a two-time Finals MVP. He was all over the place making plays on both sides of the court.
But when it counted most, he missed a free throw, then fumbled away Miami's last chance to win.
Chris Bosh for his part had a great first half before fading in the second.
The Heat had a nine-point fourth quarter lead at one point, but managed to blow it as they have numerous times this series.
Dallas had a balanced team effort with key contributions from at least six players, including five in double-digits.
Meanwhile, Miami had only two players net 10 or more.
James was outplayed by Shawn Marion and Jason Terry. He did nothing on offense and was allowing people to drive right past him in the last 12 minutes.
The more it sinks in, the more I feel James may have done a tank job tonight. Perhaps he didn't want the Heat to lose as much as he didn't want to seem to be caving into public perception and that postgame question he faced Sunday by appearing to go out and force up shots.
That wasn't a fake sign of frustration when Wade started yelling at James after he allowed Terry to drive past him on back to back possessions. That was real and it could have been the first sign of a possible friction to come.
What LeBron did was eerily similar to one game where Kobe played and didn't seem to want to score at all. Almost as if his image, feud with the media and public perception suddenly trumped what his team needed for them to be successful.
If it was on purpose and he did half ass tonight, then one can only see this as a very discouraging sign.
Was James trying to show the world, "Hey, Wade and Bosh can't do it without me?" Did he do it to bring even more attention and spotlight on himself so that he can come out and make a huge statement by leading the Heat to wins in the last two victories they need?
It would be somewhat brilliant, because as it stands, Wade's accomplishments in Games 3 and 4 are going to be overshadowed by the fact that it's all even at two games each.
So now essentially, James will have a blank canvas with which to work and try to create a masterpiece.
This guy can't be that devious and conniving, can he?
Whatever the case was, LeBron James is starting to play with fire as the Heat are now deadlocked in Dallas. If he doesn't drastically improve his play, then he will endure the longest summer of his life. Last year's "Decision" backlash will seem like a mosquito sting compared to the haymakers people are going to be directing his way.
Okay LBJ, we get it.
Miami can't win without you, but are you potentially ruining a friendship and collaboration for the sake of being petty and retaliatory?
If so, then a poor King you will make.
Two—maybe three—games left, the stage is all yours.
