LeBron James Defies Hate, Newly Crowned King

The most polarizing man in sports continued to defy the odds, left the world in silence and finally mastered a lifelong dream that nobody can ever take from him. LeBron James, a man bothered by his failures and criticized for choosing to leave Cleveland on national TV during an infamous announcement, is believed to be the most hated athlete in America.

There's not a more despised player than James in basketball, and while he was on a mission to erase a bitter ending and shrug off an onrush of criticism, he finally validated a place in history and silenced his critics once and for all. So now, America should circumvent bitterness toward a newly crowned winner. It takes some kind of courage and spunk to leave a native town for a change of scenery to contend for a championship with a bottomless team built to climb into primary contention. That's assuming why he took his talents to South Beach two summers ago, and realized Miami was a perfect destination to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and embark on a journey for his elusive championship ring.


James, a man crowned King of basketball royalty Thursday, walked over to the sideline and exchanged hugs with his teammates. As time dwindled down in the final seconds, he released all of his emotions, elated and overjoyed, jumping up and down with his teammates on the sideline. With a sense of happiness, at last, he lifted and widely threw his arms with a sweeping motion, the kind of unbridled emotion that kids expose after championship victories. The Heat had clobbered the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-106, and won the NBA title 4 games to 1 to generate a party in South Beach.

His tale was a sense of vindication and validation, capturing triumph eight years later, after deserting Cleveland and reaching new heights in his polished career. It's a claim to all-time greatness, for a man who has lived with doubt and aversion, engulfed by enemies more than loyalists. But now, since he's a champion and has fulfilled his promise in a forgiven country, we can set aside the hate and disdain and embrace him. The scene, as confetti fell from the rafters, was refreshing on the championship stage at center court, where James stood proudly and cradled his NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy. He smiled and wore an NBA championship cap, soaking in a moment of satisfaction with Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who he hugged at the team's postgame and trophy celebration. At first glance, James was so euphoric and raised his first Larry O'Brien trophy, as Miami fans wearing a sea of white stood in awe and cheered loudly.

“It means everything,” James said proudly. “When I left Cleveland I understood what my future was about. This is a dream come true for me. Went through a lot the last two years but this is definitely the way that it pays off.”

This victory represents a step toward supremacy, and with such growth in leadership qualities and experience, James can very well be the centerpiece to a dynasty. He needed only one title to cement his greatness, and exemplified it throughout the postseason by barreling his way to the rim, by unselfishly involving his teammates and by taking charge in the fourth quarter, proving to the world that he's indeed clutch, after all. This is the real reason he won his first championship ring.

"It’s about damn time,” James said during the presentation. “It’s about damn time.”

This ought to be enough for him to mitigate scrutiny and criticism, perpetuating 30-point and fourth-quarter performances on a nightly basis, where he stunned detractors each game it seemed. The long overdue triumph is now a gratifying NBA story, one we will look back on for years and realize how much we really appreciate players of greatness. The enduring LeBron drama draws attention, and he is the star of basketball, whether you like it or not.


This was for the doubters who ridiculed, said he wouldn't ever win a championship ring and called him a traitor after leaving loyal fans in Cleveland. This was for the critics who've said he tainted his legacy by sacrificing his ego and fame to win a title with two superstars. This was definitely for Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, the man who guaranteed that his lackluster Cavs would win a title before the three-time MVP. And now, after months of failures, James had ambition to show he can produce in the NBA Finals. There's no one other than James who has mastered this game with grace and class, determined to avenge an abysmal 2011 NBA Finals performance against the Dallas Mavericks. James was lost in all the commotion and negative publicity, trying his hardest to rediscover his identity. But he had to taste the agony of defeat in his first season with the Heat by having a poor Finals display.

He's trying to repair an image and forget about the struggles in the past during which it gave his critics a chance to unethically express resentment and scorn a global megastar. That's when bashers, from all over the world, turned on him and lost respect for him. That's when cynics, from all over the world, mocked and scoffed him and ignored the otherworldly talent he brought to the game. James is a gifted basketball player who has sharpened and improved his newfound game to become an undisputed leader in Miami.

"The best thing that happened to me was us losing the Finals, and me playing the way I played," James said. "It was the best thing to ever happen to me in my career. ... It humbled me. I knew what it was going to have to take, and I was going to have to change as a basketball player and I was going to have to change as a person to get what I wanted."

The disparity of this full-grown assassin, as far as we know, is his humility and leadership -- which we never saw much a year ago. No one ever anticipated growth and no one ever envisioned him reaching this point. Believing in himself all along, he legitimized his case as a great NBA stud. He had it in mind, that he would mature, embrace his role as a leader and remove distractions to focus on the prize. Aware of what was at stake, he was playing with a sense of responsibility, focus and zeal.

It's typical, just as it always was, to be petrified of the nucleus and talent future Hall of Famer Pat Riley assembled in South Beach. The notion of a dynasty is realistic and the Heat can win multiple titles with these pieces. When the three came together in the summer of 2010, James promised a dynasty and, so far, the Heat are on pace to win seven championships?

"Two years ago, putting this team together, obviously we all expected it to be a little easier than it was," Wade said. "But we had to go through what we had to go through last year. We needed to. As much as it hurt, we had to go through that pain and suffering."

But he knows he wasn't alone and, without a sturdy supporting cast, he probably wouldn't have been partying inside the Heat's locker room. There is no way he worked alone to gain success. If he were generous, he'd take Mike Miller to celebrity parties or invite him to be a guest on late night TV appearances. And perhaps more than that, Miller was the real MVP and shot it from long-range to contribute off the bench, unfit and hobbling with an ailing back. And still, he netted seven three-point shots as Miami had an NBA Finals-record 14 threes. For James, he registered a triple-double, averaging 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. His teammates, Wade and Bosh, were feeling it as well. By the end, Bosh had 24 and Wade finished with 20.

It was a well-balanced performance from the three Kings.

However, the man of them all was James. From battling through severe leg cramps to dealing with the pressure of having to win, James proved worthy after all over his nine seasons spent in the league.

"It was definitely a journey," James said. "Everything that went along with me being a high school prodigy, when I was 16 and on the cover of Sports Illustrated, to being drafted and having to be the face of the franchise -- everything that came with it -- I had to deal with [it] and I had to learn through it. ... I'm happy now that eight years later, nine years after I was drafted, that I can finally say that I'm a champion. And I did it the right way. I didn't shortcut anything."

And, sure enough, James can sit back and relish the moment.

Westbrook Responds to Detractors, But Can't Work Alone

The subject comes up again because Russell Westbrook is under a barrage of criticism for Oklahoma City's failures. All week, he's been the center of attack, verbal attacks, that is, for his decision-making and shot-selection. Had it not been for him this postseason, the Thunder would not be playing in the 2012 NBA Finals -- to be exact.

Unfair as it is to put heavy burdens on Westbrook entirely, he's played more than 40 minutes at point guard and has not backed down, despite harsh criticism of late. He is unfazed by the fault finding, refusing to surrender, unwilling to withdraw from contention. The trouble is, while Westbrook is focused on winning, he is working alone, putting in much effort to try and lead Oklahoma City to another victory to make it a series. If there's no supporting cast to assist Westbrook, forget it.

No shot.


No use blaming Westbrook. After a 104-98 Game 4 loss on Tuesday night to drop 3-1 in the series, he lowered his head, in the end of a 43-point performance for which he was weary and distraught. Sadly enough, it was a waste and may have also decided the Thunder's fate, on the edge of elimination as the Heat are one win away from an NBA championship. If you base it on history, no team has ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit as Oklahoma City is seeking to pull out the improbable.

The loss happened on a night that Westbrook had an electric game, making 22 of 32 shots by attacking the rim and knocking down jump shots, which was even more disappointing after giving it his best effort. It's impossible to grasp an assumption for a historic comeback for a team, trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, who has never been in such a heavy predicament and, without a resolute supporting cast -- with or without the 23-year-old point guard -- the Thunder simply have no chance.

In fairness, folks, Westbrook can use some assistance from the likes of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Thabo Sefolosha. Where has the three-time NBA scoring champ been? Where has the reigning sixth man been? Where has the Swiss superstar been?

The struggles continue to stifle Harden, and he's partly responsible for the Thunder's fourth-quarter failures in Game 4, not nearly shooting the ball effectively, not nearly as physical or assertive but suddenly absent. Things could turn around -- but in the meantime -- he doesn't exist, he seems lost, not exactly sure of himself. If the season ends Thursday, pointing the fingers at Westbrook would be morally wrong and irresponsible, based on what he's mastered in these finals to outdo Durant and Harden. Yet for all of Westbrook's marksmanship and toughness, he's taking the blame for losses and he's not even the problem but the solution if his teammates come out with as much poise and fire.

If he takes and misses too many shots, it's not easily discovered with lousiness from his teammates, leaving him with the bulk of the work as the pressure is greater than ever. If the Thunder, however, were to amazingly stun the world in one of the finest NBA Finals comebacks ever, Westbrook should rightly so be named Finals MVP. And there's no question in my mind that he wouldn't, thanks to his sheer dominance -- almost roughing up the Heat single-handedly with a crafty shooting performance.

Scott Brooks, Thunder head coach, knows he can count on Westbrook, but can't bank on his other players, to string together a convincing victory. It's unlikely to happen, unless Oklahoma City has a miracle up their sleeves to turn a series around and make things much more interesting. And now, it seems far-fetched without Durant, perhaps discomfited by foul troubles and missed shots, to see the Thunder keep hopes alive. Oklahoma City simply cannot persist in pomp of skillfulness if everyone is not contributing to what was supposed to be a hybrid offense, loaded with the most talent.

The Thunder, however, are anything but the deepest and instead are nonexistent, disappearing and shrinking on the national stage, a moment when the stakes are high, a moment when superstars align to play some of their best basketball. It's only Westbrook with a hot shooting touch, no one else, not even his counterpart Durant, who had 28 points and never takes shots as bad as Westbrook. There was, of course, the absence of Harden in Game 4, finishing with a miserable eight points on 2-of-10 shooting to raise much concern about his inability to score and snap out of dreadful drought.

The breakdown mentally incensed and frustrated the hell out of Westbrook, which was evident from his brief answers during postgame interviews when he wasn't in a good mood to have a conversation with the media. Then, of course, Durant is frustrated with the officiating that keeps favoring the Heat and limiting his time on the court, leaving Brooks with no choice but to bench the superstar. In the ultimate surge, Westbrook not only silenced his critics with a noteworthy game, but almost manhandled and stole a decisive Game 4 in a hostile territory to even it 2-2.


It turns out, at least so far, that averaging a playoff-high 43 points is not good enough, dropping two straight games against the Heat. And he ended up blundering when he fouled Mario Chalmers needlessly with 13.8 seconds left, while the Thunder were down three and the shot clock close to expiring. Other than that, Westbrook was ideal and played fiercely, whether he was attacking the rim or burying midrange jump shots to keep Oklahoma City within striking distance. No matter what, he always draws criticism and couldn't care less, not immune to the negativity.

At the end of the day, he's still playing with an aggressive style, a stubborn-minded player not altering his style of play for anyone, not even himself. It's not easy changing one's personality, and certainly not easy to transform a normally out-of-control Westbrook. It's in his nature, as a mercurial player, to run loosely and wildly, without very little control and maturity, developing into a full-grown brute on the hardwood. What he provides for OKC is toughness and confidence, something Durant and Harden can't even bring to the game on a nightly basis, struggling to get into a rhythm. The night he punched the James and the Heat his team couldn't win.

It was an individual effort not a team effort and, because everyone disappeared except Westbrook, he draws criticism off the court. He's basically criticized because he's great, not because he fouled a 79 percent shooter who was having his best game. It figured he would be picked apart for a bad foul that resulted in an eventual loss, even after giving it his best try, even after dropping in 17 points in the fourth, knocking down seven of his nine shots from the floor and all three free throws.

That wasn't enough to get it done.

For Harden, the struggles and dashing hopes came often in the fourth and went scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting in the quarter. Despite that he's one of the league's brightest and most endearing stars, Durant wasn't flawless as well and had six points and two turnovers in the last quarter.

Poor Westbrook was all alone. As a point guard who doesn't traditionally play like one, choosing to hold on to the ball for extended periods of time, Westbrook is not known for his playmaking, not known for creating scoring opportunities but known for shooting far too much and not dishing the ball to his teammates. From the start, he came out on fire, hitting his first four shots in a 13-3 run and continued to scorch throughout the game. By nature, however, he's big-name shooter and can score at will. It's too bad he had no team that rallied behind him. With Westbrook, it was more of a wrestling match down the stretch, for the most part, and it was a point guard duel as Chalmers had 12 of his 25 points for the Heat in the fourth period. Speaking of scorers in these Finals, LeBron James had 26 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

That was enough, certainly.

LeBron, who could hardly stand late in the fourth, who limped and grimaced in pain after suffering a left leg cramp, had a supporting cast to count on.

You can almost feel sorry for Westbrook.

Playing Like King and Not a Prince, LeBron Takes Charge

A year after a disappointing loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, a year after he blew his chances of winning a championship, LeBron James, Miami's superstar, is back on the biggest stage and is ready to redeem himself. The only way he wins back fans, which he lost when he permanently damaged his credibility and reputation in the fallout from a one-hour television show to announce his free-agency destination, is by finally holding the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the first time.

The only way he escapes from lingering nightmares of an agonizing loss a year ago, as much of the nation celebrated the Heat's demise, is by leaving America in silence. And so far, James has done just that. He put on another stellar performance in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and delivered 29 points and 14 rebounds, as Miami propelled to a 91-85 win to take a 2-1 lead Sunday night. The Heat -- and James especially -- are playing like hungry barbarians on a mission. A boisterous James, two wins away from his first championship ring, was clutch and had no fourth-quarter failures, accelerating his way to the rim, wrestling for rebounds and drawing fouls to be awarded free throws.

They can hate, ridicule and taunt LeBron all they want. They can disrespect and make a fool of him all they want. It doesn't matter to him, and frankly, he couldn't care less about his critics, concerned with winning a championship to add to a resume of premature greatness, judging one's preference. James is not as soft as he was when he had a mere 18 fourth-quarter points in the Heat's finals loss to the Mavericks a season ago. Since then, he's grown up and has proven that he can lead Miami in the fourth-quarter, without having meltdowns in the final minutes and instead finish on game-changing plays. If the Heat goes on to win it all, there's no question James should and will be named Finals MVP -- a catalyst for Miami's return -- with another crack to finally be winners and not back-to-back losers, after falling victim to championship failures.

"Last year, I didn't make enough game-changing plays, and that's what I kind of pride myself on," LeBron said. "I didn't do that last year in the Finals.

Exactly.

He was a totally different animal.

"Just trying to make plays," James said. "I told you guys, last year I didn't make enough game-changing plays, and that's what I kind of pride myself on. I didn't do that last year in the finals. I'm just trying to make game-changing plays, and whatever it takes for our team to win, just trying to step up in key moments and be there for my teammates."

More specifically, a more mature and self-assured LeBron has taken charge of the Heat and lives up to the challenge. James is actually validating his place in Finals history and, with a championship victory this time around, he can --rightfully so -- reclaim greatness for the first time since coming straight out of high school, known as King James. This season alone, he's not flustered or passive, he's not screwing around. This season alone, he's so compelling to witness, realizing he's playing with unfulfilled expectations and knows winning can put a tired saga to rest, even if he can't escape the litany of criticism.


If James keeps driving to the lane, keeps getting to the line and keeps knocking down free throws, he won't ever dodge the harsh criticism or adversity, simply because he's a much-scrutinized villain. As the most polarizing figure, even if he can lead the Heat to a championship, the world isn't suddenly going to forgive James for his megalomaniacal PR stunt, which infuriated Cleveland homers after an abrupt departure. Even now, he's not the most likable person but deserves praise for his All-Star performances, night in and night out, when he's trying to succeed and feel obvious vindication that evokes ferocity and toughness. James wasn't happy with what happened a year ago, and still has a bitter taste in his mouth, seeking to avenge a disheartening loss that left the Heat players in tears. It would be a travesty to lose for the second straight season in the finals.

What's more, he's not broken and not shrinking in the biggest moments. It wasn't so long ago that he was vilified for disappearing too often in the fourth-quarter of games, collapsing on the brightest stage in one of his miserable shooting performances. That's when he was afraid to barrel to the rim, draw fouls and knock down free throws. That's when he wasn't nearly as aggressive and serious to ultimately earn a championship engraved in his name. What was understandable from James' body language and expressions on his face, the ultimate stare of hunger and confidence, was that he was showing the world what he was capable of accomplishing to make a run for a championship.

James, who scored 30 and 32 points in the first two games, his two best finals performances, is considered the league's top small forward and is a three-time Most Valuable Player. When he's on the attack, the Heat normally wins and takes control of the series. It also proved that once again James is what's making the Heat win. With his talent, he's a valuable piece, and without him, Miami wouldn't even come close to raising the prize when it's all said and done. This, though, tells us something about James. It tells us that he's not an awful player, but a good player with a shoddy attitude. And it's a possibility, given his egomaniacal psyche -- whether it's seen from the overbearing commercial ads or either the actions he brings onto the court -- James' personality dwarfs his promise to be great and stand out among the premier NBA studs. In essence, he wasn't only burning from the outside in Game 3 but stayed and danced in the paint, bullying, shoving and pushing around Oklahoma City by driving strongly to the rim for a remarkable finish.

It has become his forte and strength to slash to the basket effectively, even work the glass brilliantly. Eight of his 11 shots came at the rim. He made 13 of his 23 shots in the paint, shaping into a dimensional superstar after honing the basic fundamentals, wearing down and confusing Thunder players with his versatility and explosiveness. Miami's offense transcended with James on the floor, so Erik Spoelstra stayed with him and Wade. That being said, the Heat finished with a 15-3 run late in the third quarter, and amazingly only led by two points at the end of the third quarter. But maybe James saw an advantage when Scott Brooks benched Kevin Durant with four fouls.

Just about everything from James Harden's miserable shooting to Russell Westbrook's over aggressive playing style was something James and the Heat had in their favor. It's Westbrook who is becoming a lightning rod often the center of criticism -- and frequently -- he is out of control and doesn't know the tenor of self-control with his emotions getting the best of him. With the great news that LeBron's maturation is the difference from last year's finals -- not nearly as immature or childish as a year ago when he called a reporter "retarded" and when he poked fun at Dirk Nowitzki's illness -- he's not Bron Bron but Wise LeBron after growing up, and can teach Westbrook a lesson by schooling him.

The building was pulsating with primal screams from a raucous crowd sitting in the stands and looking on amazed of James' mental ability to be unstoppable off the pick and roll, serve as an efficient facilitator and pose an aggressor defensively. After hitting a three-pointer late in the third to put the Heat on top 69-67, James had a shooting clinic. The fourth began with James scoring five straight Miami points to finish with eight points in the final 12 minutes alone. The Heat had nine turnovers in the fourth quarter, and shot 38 percent from the field, most of the scoring coming from James. He dribbled with his left hand down the left and knifed through the absent-minded Thunder defense.

As it happened, he jumped and spun around, moving the ball to his right hand and then flipped it over his shoulder, off the backboard and down the net for a layup. In three games of the fourth quarter, James has averaged 22.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists while earning 14.1 free throws and making 84.6 percent. What became clear -- unbelievably -- was that James had turned clutch this time, unlike in 2011 after having a 2-1 lead before blowing it. That was when James stumbled in Game 4, shooting 3 for 11 and finishing with eight points.

A year ago, he averaged 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.8 assists in the series. But today's, he is averaging 30.3, 10.3 and 4.0, and it is enough to illustrate how far James has come in just one season, a growing player and undisputed leader, hungrier, more savvy and ambitious with another, and maybe, a last opportunity to master success.

Maybe it's James' moment to endure to the end.

Before Westbrook Ceases Criticism, Adjusting Style of Play Is Key

He trotted off the court without having a grin on his face, showing no emotion at practice Saturday. By watching closely, you'd realize that Russell Westbrook is unfazed by criticism, when his postgame wardrobe has been just as hideous as his dismal game. That's because he's normally hogging the ball, and then afterwards, walks into the press conference room wearing his outlandish, geek-chic outfits.


Sooner or later, he should discern that he's one of the struggling players in the NBA Finals, but he's stubborn and has no intention of altering his game, not immune to the harsh criticism he has heard over the last few days. It's obvious that none of this bothers him, as much as it irritates, say, someone who devotes and spends too much time and money on pro teams. But seriously, he's partly the reason the Oklahoma City Thunder are losing, with the blame falling quickly and unfairly on him, growing into a more polarizing figure in these finals, after starting 1-for-7 shooting with only one assist as the Thunder trailed 18-2 to open Game 2.

It was another slow start, another night that he was nowhere to be found -- making his teammates look in the Lost and Found for their second-scoring option. He was Waldo, not Westbrook. Where was he? He had Scott Brooks, his coach, searching for him for much of the night.

Turns out Westbrook is ignoring criticism. That became clear when he said he's not changing his style of play, even after Magic Johnson said at halftime of Game 2 of the NBA Finals that Westbrook was "the worst point guard in the championship finals I've ever seen," even after critics lambasted him following a formidable night. Under a barrage of criticism for his decision-making and terrible shooting, especially when he failed to distributed the ball to Kevin Durant for more touches and potential scoring opportunities, Westbrook is not changing into a traditional point guard anytime soon. He's going to do it his way, or no way.

"I'm not making no adjustments, regardless of what anybody says," Westbrook said before the Thunder's practice. "I'm going to play my game regardless of what happens."

What I wanted to see from Westbrook was an aggressive, self-controlled scorer who performed brilliantly in the postseason to suddenly burgeon into a perennial star. Even if he has the numbers, a bevy of mind-blowing numbers that stand out, Westbrook's numbers are presentable but are very misleading. He has not shown up to play his best game, with his emotions getting the best of him. Either he's too assertive or lacks toughness, shooting when he wants selfishly, missing a flock of ill-advised shots and then escaping the criticism by shrugging off the magnitude of improvement in the threshold of his first NBA Finals appearance.


His penchant for taking way too many shots, and not leaning heavily on the league's scoring champ, is denting the Thunder's chances of winning an NBA championship. It would have been nice, for a team surrounded by a lethal scorer, to see him share the wealth -- yes, you heard correctly -- to see Westbrook share the wealth with Durant. One can argue that he's a solid point guard with playmaking intangibles, despite his sketchiness and unstable maturation, haunting him deep down inside. All the blame lies on Westbrook -- and yes -- unfairly. But it happens when people demand much from a player at his position, and a guard who allegedly takes away too many shots from Durant -- maybe an exaggerated statement commonly rehashed.

Either way, it seems, he's not much of a distributor and should dish the ball to Durant, a much more efficient scorer, a skilled and versatile player. This season alone, and in his first real test, Westbrook is evolving after making his transition to the point and still is getting a feel for the position, where he may never become a pass-first, unselfish guard -- at least not during his young career. No matter what, the Thunder need him and want him to be a scorer and a prudent decision-maker.

The problem is, he's too defiant, too selfish and too careless. Another problem is, and this may be the real issue, that he's overconfident and too emotional as Brooks insist he makes better judgment passing the ball and getting his teammates involved, particularly Durant. Often times, he diminishes from his mistakes, he fades out of the spotlight for his volatile attitude and much of it has cost him and the Thunder. There's been talk he won't ever match the ability of Chris Paul or Derrick Rose, well, at least not anytime soon.

But maybe, since he's someone who can attract us with his fashion, Westbrook can convince the fashion police, by sporting his shirts that are louder than the thunderous Oklahoma City crowd. For Game 3 on Sunday night, he will need his best game to erase a horrendous night in shooting, only making 2-of-10 shots to begin Thursday's game. The criticism is fueled from his inability to know when to shoot and when not to shoot, while also he can sometimes be overly relentless.

But, as we know by now, he's not changing it for anyone, unwilling to sacrifice and alter his attack, whether he's lacking trust in his teammates or just wanting to be the superhero. In all, Westbrook compiled monster numbers on the scoreboard, and has taken more shots than anyone in this series, unable to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. The blame stems from him taking over the game when he's teamed up with Durant and James Harden, the sixth-man of the year.

And so, Westbrook's style of play is compatible with another system, where he may actually fit in and work brilliantly for another team, but not for the Thunder, a team loaded with plenty of offensive weapons. The other night, he had 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 100-96 Thunder loss in Game 2, where he attempted 26 shots.

And he doesn't think there's room for improvement...

“I’m not making no adjustments,” Westbrook said, when asked about being a better point guard. “There’s always room for improvement, always room to get better. But the style of play that I play with, that’s not changing.”

He could be unselfish and not so obstinate, and take fewer shots.

Wade Has to Be Winner for Heat, Otherwise No Chance

The arrogance, the childish acrimony during postgame news conferences is common, as always. If Dwyane Wade is all about winning, he's absolutely not a winner. Alas, such a pouty brat, and somewhat egocentric, Wade can't focus on the task ahead, failing to lead the Miami Heat as he is listed as Heat's go-to-guy, a behemoth player if only he comes to play for a championship without telling the world that he's a winner.

“I’m a winner, so I’m just going to do whatever I can to help my team,” Wade said after the game. “Just doing whatever it takes to win the ball game, not necessarily sitting up here worrying about scoring 30 points.”

No one cares until it finally happens, no one cares until the Heat actually win the NBA Finals, but losing 105-94 to the Thunder in Game 1, with Miami crumbling in the second half, doesn't make life much better. Instead, it makes life much harder, and Wade is mainly the problem. He's not being a leader, he's being a follower to LeBron James. He's not being a nasty ballplayer, he's being an squawker, a pompous know-it-all and folded on the national stage Tuesday night.

The pressure is on for Game 2 Thursday night, particularly for Wade to erase a misleading performance in a game that the role players stepped up early. Never mind Wade scoring 19 points, finishing with eight assists and four rebounds in the opener of the Finals. If he and his team were hoping to win more than the next man, it would be nice for him to step to the force and take initiative in trying to be an emotional leader with the game on the line. His current state is undiscovered. He's in absolute distress, and has been battling knee soreness, according to reports.

But an injury is never a convenient excuse for someone who admittedly said he's all about winning. Like anything else in life, Wade needs to rediscover himself before it's too late. This, to me, is what raises fear, the fact Wade is either consistent or inconsistent, as no one ever knows what to expect from a player with very little pedigree because of his lack of mobility and explosiveness from an ailing knee. He didn't have his best game. Toward the end of the game he was taking huge gasps of air. Toward the end of the game he walked off the court helpless and impotent.

The catchy fad of players wearing geeky glasses is what's in, and after the game, Wade walked to the podium wearing his purple shirt and slacks with thick glasses. Not once in the game was he in control, too often watching his sidekick, James, since deferring the leadership role to him. This means he's too busy standing around, putting more pressure on James to deliver in the final minutes, when the ball should really be in Wade's hands in the fourth quarter.

“That’s the hardest part about playing with another guy with that capability; it’s just trying to figure out when to defer and when not to defer,” Wade said. “I’ve played with Shaq before. I’ve played with a dominant player, and I knew when to defer and when not to defer. It’s kind of a read-all game a little bit, and I think with me and LeBron, we continue to talk about it and discuss what we feel is the opportunities for that.”

By handing over the ball to Wade in the fourth, he has a better chance, unlike James, to make a clutch shot and give the Heat the victory they are now looking for to capture an opportunity to even the series 1-1 against Oklahoma City. Time after time, he's not making it happen, he's not helping the Heat's cause, nor has he been playing like he wants a second ring. Time after time, he's not making it easier on LeBron, who is competing for his first ring.

That is, after all, why he left Cleveland, right?

Because of the three-time MVP as a sidekick to Wade, James is actually minimizing and taking away from Wade's confidence and ability to perform at the highest level. Far from merely facing mortals, Wade had dealt with adversity after a dismal playoff game and responded by having a superb performance -- such was when he scored 45 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and distributed 5 assists to force Game 7 against Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals. This is a different Heat team when Wade is not on his game.

He seemed lost and flustered, unsure of himself and relied on his teammates a tad too much. It's tough to think -- no matter what Wade wants us to believe -- that he's not panicking heavily, thrust now in a position to find a way back into this series. If anything, he couldn't care less whether the Heat win or lose, laughing as he strolled into the conference room for postgame interviews, where he was an object of interrogation.


In response, he said he will stay aggressive, and will prepare by looking at film and making adjustments to have an answer for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Earlier in his career, he was the most ferocious player in Miami, but when LeBron came to his neighborhood and arrived on his doorstep in South Beach, Wade's consistency and urgency shrunk. It was almost like looking at a sequel to Honey I Shrunk the Kids, the latest version that could have been called Honey I Shrunk Miami, a cinematic script that would have made Will Smith sing Farewell to Miami.

That's how bad it's been. That's how bad Wade has been. It's been the story of the playoffs. He's been on a roller coaster ride, from poor play to daunted losses followed by eye-popping games that made you blink in amazement. As for Wade, you never know which personality will show up, sometimes unable to find his zone for game-changing moments. He's either broken or he's superior. In this case, Wade wasn't superior, but broken missing 11 of 15 shots in the first three quarters and 12 of 19 shots overall.

The last thing on Wade's mind, after last year's loss to Dallas, is back-to-back misfortunes, which will come back to haunt the Heat if they lose again. This time around, while Miami was privileged to return to the finals for another crack at the championship, Wade should be determined to win it all and redeem himself of failures from a year ago. The forefront of the NBA Finals happens to be the overexposed duel between Durant and James, but the focus should be turned to Wade, another star player who is not balanced and not competent to take over like Durant and Westbrook, who made the Heat seem older.

Miami can only hope for the best solution. It's only one game, surely, but the Heat need a lot of work to beat a team more skilled, deeper and quicker with fresher bodies. Even if the Finals revolve around James' championship pursuit, it's up to Wade. It's his team, not James'. The star of this team is Wade. It's Wade's County. It’s Dwyane's World in South Beach. But that has never occurred to anyone. The focus is on James, interestingly so, after making a case when he scored 30 points in the opener that went to waste.

But he won't win this alone and he can't have success without Wade accumulating monster points to be an equalizer offensively for a bona fide tandem, if not trio, hinging on whether Chris Bosh finally plays with toughness for maybe the finest moment of his career. In many ways, too, Brooks is outcoaching Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, who is afraid to make adjustments because he refuses to change the balance and tactics. He likes to play small, but it is detrimental to his team, a disadvantage for the Heat.

Off to a fast start, the Heat bludgeoned their transition game to extend a large lead early, grabbing steals and hustling for loose balls to push it the other way. They feasted on a vast array of shots, taking a 10-2 lead by spreading the floor, getting out in transition on break outs following missed shots and turnovers as it resulted in dunks and fast break points. For the second quarter highlight reel, James stole the ball from a broken pass by Durant and slammed it.

If only Wade delivered the goods.

From his actions, following the loss, Wade is arrogantly pleased to be in the position he and his team is currently in, and looks to be prepared and more assertive.

We've seen this episode before.