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LeBron’s Shot To Tie Gets Denied

LeBron making his “signature” shot in the black and red digs has still yet to be witnessed.  He had a chance to deliver, with the 76ers ahead 84-82 and eight seconds left in the final quarter.  With the rock in his hand, LeBron drove right and put up a potential game-tying teardrop.  His first “big-shot” opportunity in the Playoffs never reached the rim, as it was rejected by Elton Brand.  In a game where the Heat (despite shooting less than 39%, 5-23 from 3) seemed to have put away the Sixers up 82-76 after a Wade tip-in with 1:35 remaining, the persistent young bunch of Doug Collins came firing back, running off 10 straight points to send the series back to South Beach.

Evan Turner put in four of the final 10 points, including a pair of free throws to clinch it.  Turner, the second overall pick from Ohio State last June, had a playoff-high 17 points.  Jrue Holiday, the team’s ’09 pick, who assisted Turner’s running floater the possession prior to make it 82-78; followed by depositing a three-pointer through the nylon to cut the lead to one.  Leading up to that play, Turner saved the inbounds off the Mario Chalmers missed three. The  Turner and Holiday Show?  Next, the ensuing shot belonged to Dwayne Wade.  He took a mid-range attempt with 27 ticks on the clock, and missed.  Lou Williams preserved the defensive board, which set the stage for the third last straight from High School to pros entry.

One of the best bench players in the Association, the Georgia native Williams took Wade to the party at the top of the key.  Lou offered Dwayne to dance, showed off his moves, and then put his fun shoes on.  He dramatically proceeded to take the biggest shot of his career in a try to keep his team alive for one more opportunity on Wednesday.  Williams, contested by Wade from beyond the arc, elevated and put up a rainbow missile – which was almost blocked by Wade.  However, as it brought down rain, it also brought more than that; it brought the Wells Fargo Center spectators to their feet in a frenzy.  “D-Wade gave me a little room and I was able to knock it down,” Williams said. “We’ve always been a team that fought, all the way until the end. I just wanted to give us an opportunity to win the basketball game.”  Wade was in disbelief.  “That shot right there didn’t beat us,” Wade said.  Oh, really?

It was a shot you would expect from a two-time MVP or an NBA Finals MVP, indeed?  It wasn’t from a guy with a nickname of the “king” or one who is in a ton of T-Mobile commercials.  It was Lou Williams, a H.S. to NBA member like LeBron, and a shooting guard who can score in a hurry like Wade.  Not totally unexpected, still, not really expected.

Maybe a star was born.  Possibly a pair of rising stars, or even a trio of up and coming play makers.  The fact is, Turner had the best game of his rookie season, Holiday made the biggest shot of his life, and Williams became “Mr. Clutch” for one day to the City of Rocky with an “ice water in his veins” bomb from long range.  Keeping it in perspective, it’s more than likely the Heat will wrap things up on Wednesday night in South Beach.  We may forget Williams’ late moment heroics.  Yet, nonetheless, it could be that the inferior team’s (young Sixers) ability to close out a tight game could be something the superior team (star-studded Heat) can learn from in the next round.  Well, that is, if the superior team doesn’t choke and the inferior team doesn’t continue its thing hitting clutch shots.  Doug Collins, do you have something else up your sleeve? “If you have faith, you have hope. And if you have hope, you have life,” Collins said.  Going to need a lot more than just that, Doug.

“We’ve proven all year long that we were able to close those types of games out,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We were not able to tonight.”  I must have missed the times when “they closed those types of games out” during the regular season.  All I can say is; 1-19.  Maybe a Sixers team and their play in the final seconds of Game 4 will bring out late game execution for a team bound for the Finals and aspirations toward future titles?  “We’re going to have to actually do it when it counts most,” Bosh said.  You can say that again, Chris.  It’s your turn, Heatles, the ball’s in your court; both figuratively and literally.