Four key points in the aftermath of the Boston Celtics' 93-91 overtime win in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat:
LeBron James passed up a game-winning shot. Dwyane Wade missed his try.
We view basketball players in black and white, as heroes or villains. We ask, what would Michael Jordan do? We're certain we have the answer: He'd make the shot. Everytime.
So neither James nor Wade matches our fading memories of Jordan. It's been more than nine years since he last laced up his Nikes for an official NBA game, but his spector hangs over every star more and more with each passing year.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are not Michael Jordan. And they shouldn't be. That doesn't make them perfect, and it doesn't make their distinct attempts to win Game 4 perfect.
James initiated the offense too late in the shot clock. By the time he drew a triple team and passed to Udonis Haslem, the burly forward had barely enough time to fling a prayer at the basket. His shot airballed, and we were headed to overtime.
Wade could have attacked the basket, as he does best. The Heat were down two in overtime, and Wade isn't a three-point shooter. He also could have found Mario Chalmers, a fine three-point shooter who was open on the wing. And he could have given his team a chance for a putback. He took the three, instead.
"He had a good look," Chalmers said weakly at the postgame news conference. "Usually, that's a shot he makes. So we can't ask for a better look."
Neither James nor Wade represented the Heat on the podium, though they both fielded questions in the Heat locker room. Can you blame them for eschewing the spotlight for once in their chronicled postseason adventures?
But Jordan would have taken questions. We're certain of that. We're certain Jordan wouldn't have fouled out, as James did with 1 minute, 51 seconds remaining in overtime. Then again, James seemed certain he didn't really foul out, too. "I don't foul out; I don't foul out," he said. "And sometimes, if I'm going to foul out ? that's six fouls ? I wish I had earned it, it would have actually been a foul on me."
James was the hero in the first half, scoring 20 of his 29 points while every other Heat player was cold. Wade was the hero in the third quarter, leading Miami's surge back into the game with nine of his 20 points. James was the hero on defense, playing Rajon Rondo physically late after the Celtics point guard torched them in the first half. Wade was the hero running the show, finishing with six assists while playing aggressively and helping teammates get good shots. James was the hero leading up to the final shot of regulation, when he hit a three-pointer to tie and drew an offensive foul on Kevin Garnett to get the ball back.
Two of the best players of the generation, playing together, had moments of greatness and moments of inadequacy in a key playoff game. They totaled 49 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists. The totaled 11 turnovers, 10 fouls and 19-for-47 shooting.
But James passed up the game-winner in regulation. Wade clanked it in overtime. That's what we'll remember. Jordan would have made it twice.
The referees are going to take criticism for this one. James is right that the final foul called on him was a strange one. James essentially posted up Mickael Pietrus, who fell over and took the Heat forward with him. James wasn't being more aggressive than normal, and Pietrus didn't pull him down. But as ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy, calling the game, said, when two players fall down, you have to make a call. Even beyond that call, the referees were a bit trigger-happy. Fifty-eight fouls were called: 30 on Boston, 28 on Miami. "The play-calling was all over the place, as far as the refs," Garnett said.
Ray Allen looks armed and dangerous again. The best shooter of his generation played 46 minutes, taxing considering his ankle injury. So his 2-for-8 shooting after halftime should be considered a sign that he's still not healthy. But the Celtics guard was wonderful in the first half, making four of seven shots, including three of five three-pointers. His cuts off screens were sharp, and his shark had its natural, glorious lift back.
Which Tim Duncan shows up Monday? Game 5 of the Western Conference finals (9 p.m. ET, TNT) returns to the AT&T Center, which should help the San Antonio Spurs. But the Oklahoma City Thunder have shut down their efficient giant for most of the series, including the Spurs' home games. Then, in the second half of Game 4, Duncan came alive. He scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting after making 34% of his shots for the first 3� games of the series. Can he continue to bully the more athletic Thunder big men? He used a nice hook shot on Kendrick Perkins that may be a good go-to option.
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