Here we go again. Another playoffs, a disappointing Heat finish, and intrigue from media members about the ending of the Heat’s loss to the Pacers on Tuesday night 78-75. In an abysmal offensive performance, the Heat sorely missed injured forward Chris Bosh who, until now, was considered sidekick to the Big Two. While the media and fans might say otherwise now, very few people give Chris Bosh his due as a critical cog to the Heat team. Not anymore.
In Game 2, the Pacers won the rebounding battle by 10 and the non-All Stars of the Heat scored 21 points on 7-for-22 shooting. And yet, the furious fourth quarter comeback led by Wade and LeBron kept the Heat in the game, so much so it came down to a final shot…..by Mario Chalmers. The Heat lost an Eastern Conference playoff home game for the first time since the Big Three. So, where was the best player on the planet at the end?
If you don’t pay any attention to basketball, Chalmers’ name means very little compared to the guys who could be taking the clutch three-point shot to tie or win the game. Turns out the play design called for a Chalmers shot, but it does make you wonder why LeBron didn’t ask for the ball. (For a perfect example of this, watch the end of Hoosiers…or just watch this). Perhaps coach Spoelstra didn’t trust LeBron in that situation, considering he just missed two foul shots that would have put the Heat ahead with under a minute left? Perhaps he knew Wade would likely miss after a 8-for-22 shooting night? Maybe he thought back to Chalmers’ clutch three pointer last year in the Finals?
Who knows, but the point holds: even if King James did not take that last shot, his play did not define this game. Understandably, great players want the ball in these moments (tough to imagine Kevin Durant not taking the final Thunder shot in the playoffs) but I preach a bit of caution. We are discussing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Sure, clutch moment, but a little too early to open age-old questions about LeBron’s ability at the end of games. As I said around the All-Star Game, the sense of what classifies as “in the clutch” seems to be amplified in LeBron’s case. Even then, why aren’t folks clamoring about Wade not taking game-winning shots? He’s top five in the league and plays championship caliber basketball, after all.
The rebound and bench scoring numbers also tell us LeBron James did not lose this game. Maybe you want him to take the shot and, I agree, he should take that kind of shot. But, as questions about this swirl it’s as if that one decision lost the game for the Heat. He and Wade combined for 69.3 percent of the Heat points. In addition, LeBron filled Chris Bosh’s defensive spot admirably, holding David West to 16 points and only 5 field goals. He played very well all things considered.
You might take the angle that regardless of how well he played, James should still be taking the shot. Fine sentiment, but even if he missed the shot, the questions would still linger, maybe even double in intensity. To silence his critics, James must hit a shot to win a conference championship or a Finals. I can hear now what Sam Amick calls the “chastising chatter” blaming LeBron for the Heat loss regardless of how he might have played during the game. If we want LeBron to take the game-winning shot, he has achieved the status where his team’s success and failure depends on his play for most fans, regardless of fact or truth on the court. When teams do poorly, the best player receives most of the blame in sports culture, and LeBron will continue to experience that until he wins it all. But should he hear that during Game 2 of the second round?
I admit, I don’t like LeBron James, but the Heat have much bigger problems than him not firing the last shot. Shooting 1-for-16 from three point land doesn’t help either, so why not start talking about that instead of jumping on the “It’s LeBron’s Fault” train? I would also remind you all that there are multiple games left in this series and, if history can be the judge, the Heat can win on the road in the playoffs. When we get to Game 5, tied 2-2, and the game’s tied, if LeBron doesn’t take the shot I’ll jump on board. But, for right now, let’s enjoy the basketball of what should be a good series.
Bit #1: Conference realignment continues
This past week VCU announced it would move from the Colonial Athletic Association to the Atlantic 10 this fall. Like most things about conference realignment, the big boys went first and, a few months later, the little guys start filtering through to make their own decisions. For the CAA, it means losing another team after Georgia State announced it will bolt next year to the Sun Belt conference (low academic performance rating would keep them from postseason). In addition, VCU continues to draw national attention in March after their improbable Final Four run two tournaments ago. While other schools will likely want to join the CAA, the A-10 made off like a bandit with this deal. Pairing the addition of VCU with Butler’s arrival next season, the A-10 expanded its market despite losing Temple and Charlotte, a fact that TV officials will acknowledge with better revenue deals.
All in all, however, conference realignment continues behind the scenes. Rumblings from Louisville of the school’s unhappiness at being left out of the SEC and Big 12 perpetuate the theory that Louisville may leave the immeasurably weakened Big East. I expect more to happen in the next three years which will move towards five-ish major conferences with lots of member schools. Until everyone can be happy with their position, the landscape will keep shifting.
Bit #2: What does Clemens trial prove?
The Roger Clemens trial keeps wasting taxpayer money…there’s nothing more to say. Clemens, on trial for lying to Congress when claiming in 2008 he had never used human growth hormone, has gathered a pretty good defense team. Putting former trainer Brian McNamee on the witness stand allowed the Clemens team to brutally examine the chief accuser in the case this week. Glancing through the testimony, not much jumps out other than McNamee’s long silences before answering questions…as if he doesn’t remember details. I have another theory: like all of us, he’s tired of this saga and wants it to end.
Be real with yourself: the first accusation against Roger Clemens tainted his career forever. Steroids in baseball have that effect on legacies. No one cares Barry Bonds was found innocent of perjury, especially the writers who vote for the Hall of Fame. If Pete Rose can be maligned for gambling, those who gain leverage physically will receive nothing but contempt, from writers and fans of the game. Perhaps some new revelation will come out like McNamee created the web of lies for his own personal reason, but barring that level of shock even a not guilty verdict will not save Clemens from ridicule. Which begs the question, why devote five weeks to this trial? Two jurors have already lost their seats for sleeping during testimony. When the people involved with the issue are dozing off, it’s a good sign the greater world cares not about the verdict.
Bit #3: A libel suit against a sports media outlet?
Libel suits happen a lot in smaller towns or in more politically charged atmospheres. Local newspaper prints fabrications and draws the ire of a public official who publicly stands on the courthouse steps and makes it official he’s suing. Much rarer, however, is a libel suit towards a sports media entity, especially when that entity is ESPN.
Bernie Fine, former assistant coach at Syracuse accused of molesting ballboys decades ago, saw the media gamut firsthand at the beginning of the season, being fired for the federal investigation into his activities. ESPN reported during the Bernie Fine saga in October that Fine’s wife, Laurie Fine, knew about her husband’s alleged abuses of boys inside her own home. She contends ESPN took the scandal at Penn State last year and decided to include her name to boost television ratings about both Syracuse and Penn State scandals. ESPN denied the charge.
This will be very interesting to watch, especially as she might bring forward alternate evidence not previously heard in public. To prove libel, Laurie Fine must show the ESPN charges to be incorrect (more legal jargon inserted here but you get the picture) before a court so may need to unearth new facts to make that happen.
Bit #4: First NASCAR Bit Ever
Enjoy it while it lasts. NASCAR becomes interesting when drivers act like small children. Kurt Busch has done the for sure many times, but last weekend he received a $50,000 fine for speeding through fellow driver Ryan Newman’s pit stall, almost hitting multiple members of Newman’s crew. When informed he would have to start at the back on the next lap, Busch began one of his trademark rants that left little intelligible syllables or sounds. He’s had issues in the past with his temper and currently drives on a one year contract with his owners and, should this behavior continue, he might find himself out of a job for a while unless he can own his own race team (hint: you have to win to do that). I hope you feel smarter after reading this Bit.
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