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Did James Come Up Short in the Clutch? - HoopsWorld

Updated: May 31, 2012, 7:10 am ET

By HOOPSWORLD
Basketball News & NBA Rumors

That set the stage perfectly for (LeBron) James to deliver a winner. But with the ball in his hands and the chance to win, James missed two shots in the final 20 seconds of regulation. First, a contested lay-up that rimmed out after he set a high screen for Wade and rolled hard to the hoop.

“(Dwyane) D-Wade was able to hit me on a pass to the rim, and I missed the lay-up,” James explained. “I felt I had a good look at it, but I was kind of off balance.”

After saving the possession by securing the offensive rebound, James isolated on (Rajon) Rondo at the top of the key, running out the clock before launching a step-back jumper over the smaller defender. His shot rimmed off as the buzzer sounded.

“I had a great look at it at the end of regulation, it just didn’t go down,” James said.

The second shot was an opportunity at a signature moment but also a horribly passive decision, especially considering the match-up. There seemed to be some carry-over from the miss into overtime, as James missed his pair of free throws, halted a drive to kick out cross-court to Shane Battier for an errant three, and then found himself tied up with Rondo a few possessions later.

But the miscues alternated with flashes of brilliance, the product of relentless effort on both ends of the court. An on-target pass to Wade for a game-tying dunk. Two possession-ending defensive rebounds. A tip-in putback, his fourth offensive rebound of the game, to tie the game at 105 with 1:50 to play. A dish to forward Udonis Haslem for a go-ahead slam 22 seconds later. One final drawn foul, and two made free throws with 11 seconds remaining, to put the game out of reach, 114-108.

“He made winning plays,” (Erik) Spoelstra said. “He missed a couple of free throws and yet still hand an impact… It’s not always going to be about the shot. It’s about finding a way to win, especially against a team like this.”

via Ben Golliver of CBS Sports

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