LeBron Faces Reality of Loss to Bulls in OT

March 10, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: Who was that unmasked man? None other than LeBron James of the Miami Heat. The guy who scored 61 points last Monday while wearing a mask to protect a broken nose. The guy who went 8-of-23 from the field Sunday in a 95-88 overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The guy who did not have a free-throw attempt. On national TV via ABC. One would think King James understood the ABCs of basketball better than that. If it had been Michael Jordan misfiring, you can be fairly certain he would have found a way to get to the foul line.

A photo of LeBron James or Lily Aldridge? Tough call. Video of both below.

* In the three games since James’ 61-point performance, he has totaled 58 points on 23-of-59 shooting (1-of-9 three-point attempts). Even so, he is a player you would rather have on your team than the opponent’s. Especially in the postseason.

* Only a skeptic would think the Heat’s three-game losing streak and the Indiana Pacer’s four-game skid serve as anything other than false hope for other Eastern Conference teams dreaming of reaching the NBA Finals. Just as the Oklahoma City Thunder (second in the Western Conference) losing Sunday to the Lakers in Los Angeles (with the worst Western record) gives hope to pretenders in the West.

* Is there some way to credit Bulls center Joakim Noah, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds, with a triple-double by adding his assists (seven) and blocked shots (five) together?

* Dwyane Wade, who led the Heat with 25 points, had a minus-11 plus/minus rating. James led the team with a plus-six. Noah was a plus-eight; Taj Gibson led the Bulls with a plus-14.

* Credit D.J. Augustin (team-high 22 points in 37) for providing points off the bench. And — like Noah, who logged 42 minutes — only one turnover. Jimmy Butler’s defense on James was impressive, too. All in all, Bulls fans can rejoice. Well, until San Antonio visits Tuesday night.

* One of the keys to winning (other than scoring more total points) was a 27-6 advantage the Bulls had in second-chance points. Duly noted by Heat coach Erik Spoelstra: “Second chance they pummeled us. Not only did they get the offensive rebounds, but every single time they got one, they scored. They grinded us the way they do. You have to give them credit for that defense. We coughed it up far too many times. We’re not that good to give up that many possessions combined on both ends of the court. Surprisingly, we still had a chance to win at the end.”

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