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LeBron James: Clutch in Regulation, Choke Artist in Overtime - Fan's Analysis - Yahoo! Sports

Tonight the Miami Heat faced Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls in a potential preview of the Eastern Conference Finals. The game was in Chicago and had a playoff atmosphere. The Heat trailed 81-83 with just :49 seconds left when Chris Bosh found an open LeBron James in the corner for a three-pointer.

Of course, LeBron will miss it, right? I mean, after all, the guy is such a big choker he should just go ahead and change his last name to Heimlich, correct?

Actually, no. Statistically speaking, LeBron James is pretty clutch in the last three minutes of close games. At least in regulation, he is.

In tonight's game against the Bulls, LeBron caught the pass from Chris Bosh and buried the corner three-pointer, putting the Heat up 84-83 and helping to force overtime.

This was not the first big shot LeBron James has hit in the last 3:00 of regulation in games that are within five points, either. With data taken from Pro-Basketball-Reference.com, through April 3rd, 2012, LeBron James has been absolutely clutch this year at the end of regulation in close games.

LeBron James - Under 3:00 IN REGULATION, Game Within 5 Points (Data Here)

Field Goals Made: 13

Field Goals Missed: 11

Total: 13 of 24 (54.2% FG)

That's right, LeBron James is pretty dang clutch when the game is on the line at the end of regulation. True, the case could be made that LeBron noticeably shies away from the ball in those situations and defers to Dwyane Wade, but when James shoots with the game on the line, he is hitting a great percentage.

At least in regulation, that is.

But in overtime - LeBron is terrible when the score is within five points with less than three minutes remaining. In fact, terrible is putting it nicely. In fact, LeBron only has one overtime field goal this year when the game is within five points with less than three minutes left:

LeBron James - Under 3:00 IN OVERTIME, Game Within 5 Points (Data Here)

Field Goals Made: 1

Field Goals Missed: 11

Total: 1 of 12 (8.3% FG)

As unbelievable as that may seem, the stats don't lie. While LeBron is shooting 54% at the end of regulation in close games, he is shooting just 8% in the same situations when the game goes to overtime.

Fittingly, in tonight's game the Heat and Bulls went to overtime, due in large part to LeBron's clutch three-pointer with :49 seconds left in regulation.

So how did LeBron do tonight in overtime?

In OT against the Bulls, LeBron James attempted just one shot - a three-pointer with :58 seconds left. And, predictably, this time he missed. The Heat went on to lose 96-86.

If the Heat are going to win the NBA title in 2012, Miami fans had better hope none of the big postseason games to into overtime. Because if they do, LeBron James won't do anything to help the Heat win when the game is on the line.

Anybody know the Heimlich?

Andrew Sweat is a die-hard NBA fan. More from this author:

Lakers Most Clutch Player is Andrew Bynum, Not Kobe Bryant

The More Kobe Bryant Shoots, the More the Lakers Lose

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