He passed it again.
LeBron James, a mere six days removed from his widely derided choice to pass the ball in crunchtime of Sunday's NBA All-Star Game, sat back and watched Friday as a teammate missed the potential game-winning bucket.
James' harshest critics will have a blast with this one. Unlike Sunday, when the game didn't really count, Friday's moment of deference came in a real game against a real opponent that played real defense, ran real plays and is fighting for a playoff spot.
With the Heat down by one point and the clock swiftly ticking down, James drew a double-team by Paul Millsap and Josh Howard, before he flipped the ball to Udonis Haslem at the top of the key. Haslem's shot rimmed out as time expired, and the Heat's nine-game winning streak came to an end.
It would be easy to jump on the bandwagon and say James is still afraid to take the big shot, but that would be ignoring what happened in the rest of the fourth quarter. James scored 17 points in the frame, and the Jazz were only in position to win because Dwyane Wade missed a crucial free throw down the stretch. Chances Wade gets panned for his failure to deliver in the clutch: 0 percent.
While it would seem Friday's non-shot is more inexcusable than in Sunday's exhibition, the circumstances say the opposite. On Sunday, James was one-on-one with Kobe Bryant and there was no way a help defender was coming, unless that player wanted to get slugged by Kobe. On Friday, the Jazz swarmed and Haslem, a reliable midrange shooter who has hit dozens of similar shots in huge situations before, was wide open.
It also can't be ignored that the Jazz's own leading scorer, Al Jefferson, facilitated the game-winning play by passing out of a double-team of his own on the previous possession. Devin Harris' three-point play with 4.5 seconds left never would have been possible if Jefferson, who scored 20 points, hadn't made the smart basketball play — a play that, at its most basic level, was identical to the one James made and for which he will be loudly chastised.
James receives more than his share of criticism, and sometimes that criticism is warranted. This time, he made the right play, but that's not the way it will be painted.
Photo of the day
Don't worry. Even in defeat, Erik Spoelstra's hair was still fully gelled.
Quote of the day
"Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again."
— former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, now with the Rams, admitting the Saints had a "bounty rule" that paid players thousands of dollars for injuring opposing players
Tweet of the day
You're right. Amid all the trade rumors and dissecting why the Celtics haven't been able to get on a roll this season, it's ludicrous that this important storyline has been ignored. It will probably be the difference between the Celtics winning another championship or missing the playoffs entirely. Thank goodness you are manning the watchtower, vigilantly keeping an eye out for such life-changing details. The rage conferred by your question mark/exclamation point combination is fully warranted.
Why has nobody noticed that Rondo is wearing his headband again?! @CelticsLife @celtics @ESPNBoston @NESN @GlobeCeltics @ESPNForsberg
— Nicole Roy (@knightsforlife) March 3, 2012
Video of the day
The new world record for largest human domino chain has been set. Congratulations, humanity.
