CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) –
TV cameras caught LeBron James sitting on the Miami Heat bench with his eyes closed. Maybe he was asleep, whatever it was, James turned in an admittedly terrible effort in the Heat loss to the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the NBA Finals.
The Spurs crushed Miami 113-77 to take a two game to one lead in the series, and James took the blame, “I’ve got to be better. It’s that simple. If I’m better, we’re better.
I’m putting everything on my chest and my shoulders, and I’ve got to be better,” he said after the game.
James scored only 15 points, making only seven of his 21 shots and for the first time in four full seasons did not, incredibly, attempt a single free throw.
Even the Spurs were stunned by his passive play. “LeBron, it’s not just us stopping him, but he’s kind of stopping himself out there and we’re getting a little lucky,” said Spurs guard and former Cavalier teammate Danny Green.
Actually it’s been a series long, less than stellar LeBron, he’s averaging only 16 points a game, and his coach is looking for ways to get him going.
“He’ll figure it out, he always figures it out. I am not concerned about that. We’ll work to make sure that he’s getting to places where he can be comfortable and confident,” said Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra.
As great as he is, we’ve seen this before, James playing poorly in the big moment, most notably in his final game as a Cav at the “Q” in an awful playoff effort against the Celtics.
“He’s going to have to play better if we’re going to win the series,” said Miami’s Chris Bosh.
James knows this, “I can’t have a performance like that and expect to win the game,” he said.
And he’s right.
SOURCE: 19ActionNews.com
Article and Picture Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News
