Is the East Just Playing for the Right to Lose to the Thunder?
Guest Contributor | Monday, February 6, 2012 ;)
Photo Courtesy of Dave Gillem’s stream on flickr.com. Will LeBron go missing again this year?by Shaba Nassar, 2L
Miami Heat fans cheered across the world as the team welcomed Lebron James last season. They also applauded as the Heat defeated the Chicago Bulls during the Eastern Conference Finals. Then embarrassment clouded the Heat franchise as the team was demolished by the Dallas Mavericks’ championship. James’ woeful play in the Finals left ESPN critics declaring that the “Heat can’t finish close games.”
The current, lockout-shortened season has resurfaced 2010-11 playoff sentiments. A third of the season in, Lebron James is now averaging 29.7 points per game, three points more than last season. Nonetheless, the injury-ridden Chicago Bulls are currently leading the east. The Bulls even won a number of games last month without its toe-injured star guard, Derrick Rose. Suspense built as the two teams faced-off on January 29th. Derrick Rose carried the Bulls on his back throughout the game until he missed two free throws and a jumper in final seconds. The question became whether the Chicago Bulls will learn to ‘finish close games.’