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Sound Off: Is Lebron the Guy You Want Taking the Final Shot for the Heat?

06:01 PM - May 17, 2012 by RaychelSnr

Lebron James' clutch gene (or lack thereof) has been debated ad-naseum we know -- but we'd like to hear your thoughts. As the Heat prepare to try to break the deadlocked Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Pacers tonight, we are asking you all a simple question: Given a close game tonight, is Lebron the guy you want taking the final shot for the Heat?

Member Comments

# 41 wwharton @ 05/18/12 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaImmaculateONe


	i dont think people understand the difference between being a closer and being clutch. a closer is the guy who seals the deal when ur team is up or barely hanging onto the lead in the last few mins or seconds aka "kobe" being clutch is hitting a shot when down or tied aka "robert horry" look at kobe stats 7/27 thats 25% with those odds your better having someone else take the shot 75% of the time. Even Phil Jackson thought kobe shot too many last second shots when others where open. While lebron might not be "clutch" i think he's a great closer, maybe someone can find the stats of how many comeback loses he has in the final 2 mins

That's not how you work the percentages in that situation. That would assume that there is a combination of scenarios where always picking the correct one would get you to 100%

Throwing out the numbers for how many shots these guys take and/or make is actually just clouding things even more than they already are. If they want to present these numbers in a meaningful way they should show where Kobe, Lebron, etc. rank in terms of the rest of the league... or among everyone who's ever played in the NBA.

We're conditioned to thinking getting a hit 33% of the time is a great season in baseball bc we know the rest of the story. I have no idea why the picture's being painted that making 25% of the shots in the last 5 seconds of a game is not, without any evidence to say either way.

Now 0/7 (Kobe) is bad, and 0/11 (Lebron) is bad. But we still don't know HOW bad without seeing what EVERYONE else that even dares to take a shot in those situations is doing.

# 42 nightwing95 @ 05/18/12 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseySuave4


	Yes, this whole last second shot thing is getting ridiculous. It's all media driven mainly by ESPN. ESPN has talk radio, internet stories, Sportscenter, tv debate shows dictate what is and isn't big news and they turn everything Lebron does into ridiculously outblown news. Jordan was never under a microscope if he missed a last second shot. Kobe and Durant both have missed last second shots but nobody bats an eye or considers them failures or unclutch. This guy can't win. If he does it in the regular season it's not a big deal because it isn't Game 7 of the NBA Finals. If he fails in the regular season it's the end of the world. He's the only one who has remained healthy all year, he's been the only consistent on that team. Wade was hurt, Bosh is hurt, Lebron is always there night in and night out playing defense and giving 26+, 6+, 6+ but it's not enough. I've never seen a player get criticized under the microscope he is under. Not even Peyton Manning or A-Rod.

It doesnt matter who takes the damn shot. If it goes in good, if not oh well. Lebron misses just as much as anyone else in the league (wade, kobe, durant, etc.) but he is constantly targeted by the media. Why does he even have to take the shot? Shouldnt his team be winning anyway?

# 43 DavonBrown @ 05/20/12 08:57 AM

Yes! He can get to the basket, score and/or draw a foul whenever he pleases.

# 44 dramachild11 @ 05/21/12 12:10 AM

Forget who takes the last shot, cause I've seen plenty of instances where James harden takes the last shot for OKC even though Durant is on the floor with him ( although Durant seems to be making an art form of the clutch shot in these playoffs)... I'd be content with either born or wade taking the shot because their both great players, to my mind it all depends on the match-ups they are facing

# 45 NINJAK2 @ 05/21/12 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmik58


	I think the "Who takes the final shot" issue is one of the most blown out of proportion concepts in all of professional sports. When the game is on the line, you need to have scorers on the court. Blake, who attempted and missed the final shot for the Lakers last night, is also the same guy who buried three after three to help win game seven against the Nuggets. They're all professionals and the guys on the court in crunch time all can score. Any open shot is a good shot, it doesn't matter who takes it.

Great post jmik58. "The Best Closer" NBA Media discussion is getting very tiresome to me. Games are 48 minutes not 2 minutes and something/someone has to be acknowledged when these teams/players are in the position to win games in the final minutes. Often times other players play a big role in the "closers" being in position to win games down the stretch in the 1st place.

There is no question that the final minutes of a 4th Quarter are vital in victory in all sports but sometimes it gets annoying when the previous good/bad performance throughout the game can be nullified due to some fourth quarter failures/heroics. I guess it's better to suck for the 1st 3 quarters and ball in the 4th than to ball for 3 quarters and suck in the 4th.

# 46 NINJAK2 @ 05/21/12 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	You talking about 2007/2008? THAT Lebron was a different Lebron, a kid having fun playing the game. Not the same because he started being scrutinized after passing to Damon Jones for a wide open look, and everyone began the "Is he clutch" talk... He'd get 3 quarters through his answer and then stop... To answer the question, you give him the ball. He is as intelligent of a basketball player that there is in the game, let him read the situation. If he takes the shot, the shot needed to be taken by him. If he drives and dishes, it was "probably" the right basketball play. LBJ has GREAT knowledge of the game, and how to make the right play. He just doesn't force the issue when history has shown us that he should (if he wants a clutch label). The Buzzer beaters that Jordan made, Kobe made, the greats before him have made, weren't technically the "right" basketball play for the "team", but because they had supreme confidence in their individual game, they went against the grain, rose up and took the shot. And therein lies part of the problem. Lebron has confidence in his Team game, and his individual game is "behind" because of it. Best true talent in the game today, but isn't and probably will never be a selfish enough player, that the greats before him have conditioned us to believe is clutch.

Superb post WTF. Great job

# 47 youvalss @ 05/21/12 09:22 PM

That's the beauty - LeBron doesn't have to take the final shot. He just needs to get to the basket and dish it to a wide-open 3pt/midrange specialist.

# 48 RedSceptile @ 05/22/12 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by youvalss


	That's the beauty - LeBron doesn't have to take the final shot. He just needs to get to the basket and dish it to a wide-open 3pt/midrange specialist.

Which he gets crucified for.

# 49 SteelersFreak @ 05/22/12 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSceptile


	Which he gets crucified for.

By morons who know nothing about basketball. People think LeBron should be jacking up a contested, double teamed 24 foot shot instead of kicking to a wide open shooter in the corner. LeBron needs to realize he's gonna be hated no matter what and just play the game.

# 50 RedSceptile @ 05/22/12 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelersFreak


	By morons who know nothing about basketball. People think LeBron should be jacking up a contested, double teamed 24 foot shot instead of kicking to a wide open shooter in the corner. LeBron needs to realize he's gonna be hated no matter what and just play the game.

Well until he learns that or really accept that it's going to be an hindrance for his overall game.

# 51 BlastX21 @ 05/22/12 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSceptile


	Well until he learns that or really accept that it's going to be an hindrance for his overall game.

What makes you think he hasn't?

Quote:


	I�ve grown accustomed to it, I enjoy it, I�m very comfortable. And I�ve kind of accepted this villain role everyone has placed on me. I�m OK with it. I accept it.�

# 52 wwharton @ 05/22/12 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlastX21


	What makes you think he hasn't?

Not sure when that quote is from because after last year's finals he had an interview admitting that he couldn't handle the villain role. Back when he was saying how he may end up playing for the Cavs again some day and other nonsense.

In short, don't care what he says... it's painfully obvious he worries too much about what people think rather than what he needs to do to be successful.

And no, that doesn't mean always taking the last shot. But people generalize too much too. Drawing traffic and kicking to an open player is not the same as playing hot potato with the ball as soon as it touches your hands. The same can be said for recognizing a team isn't bringing a double team and making a play to score instead of searching for a way to pass to someone who isn't wide open. It's not a blanket statement about the last shot, as many have said here. But we've also all watched the games and it's pretty clear he's chosen to shrink in a few big moments... that's what he gets crucified for.

# 53 JerzeyReign @ 05/24/12 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelersFreak


	By morons who know nothing about basketball. People think LeBron should be jacking up a contested, double teamed 24 foot shot instead of kicking to a wide open shooter in the corner. LeBron needs to realize he's gonna be hated no matter what and just play the game.

So basically think like Kobe but don't take Kobe shots

# 54 BringTheHeat @ 05/25/12 03:56 PM

Yes I do. I want the Cleveland LeBron who would slice to the lane and get a layup with 1 second left. He's unstoppable when he attacks. And for God's sake Spo, run the LeBron/Wade pick and roll!!

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