LuckyNumber7 said:Also, you've got to keep in mind that sometimes that's a set play. I'm certainly no basketball coach so I couldn't really tell (Headache I'd like to hear..?), but how much leverage do you think LeBron is given to make whatever decision he wants? He could just be doing what he's told...?
This is a no win argument for you, for a few reasons.
First... any time I've drawn up a play for a last second shot, it was designed to get my best player the ball in a spot where he is comfortable.
I've seen best players used as decoys before. We had a kid one year who was very unclutch so we used him as a decoy a few times. Ironically he's in the NBA now and the kid who got the shot is a D3 player... go figure.
But in lebron's case... no answer is good for him. Either his coaches know he's not clutch and are purposely not giving him the last shot... obviously not good... or he's just such a nervous nelly that he's simply pooping the bed when it matters most.
it happens. Not everybody is born clutch. Not everybody tells the world how great they are, either. When those two things are combined, you're gonna get yourself mocked.
There is a giant mental aspect to sports that can not be overlooked. Its why I laugh at stat geeks who try and take any sort of humanity out of sports. There is no stat to tell you why lebron pusses out in big spots, while a journeyman, mediocre player like Robert Horry can become legendary for hitting big shots. Some guys have it, some guys don't.
Talent will only take you so far.
As to the actual play its self... that was definitely drawn up for lebron to take it to the rim. Battier inbounded and went strong side corner. Wade and Chalmers went weak side to pull the help defense out of the way. Haslem was there probably to crash for any potential offensive rebounds.
Haslem is the worst offensive player on the court. You do not draw up a play to hive the ball to your worst scorer. Haslem's man did sag off, but there was still plenty of room for lebron to get to the rim. He passed.