Lebron Choke-King In Playoffs Again: Sixers Break Through With Win in Game 4 On Williams' Three and Lebron's Lebrick

PHILADELPHIA, PA. Trailing by six points with only 1:35 left from being eliminated from the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Sixers were a confident bunch. They were certain that they would be on a plane going back to Miami for another game.

The feisty Philadelphia 76ers fought back to take Game 4 with great defense and huge shots from Turner, Holiday, and Williams.

Their belief has them packing their bags for Miami and preparing for another game with the Miami Superfriends.

The Sixers' comeback was built on a 10-0 run to end the game. Evan Turner, the poised and talented rookie, scored on a runner to cut the lead to four. A long Jrue Holiday three with 0:46 left cut Miami's lead to one, and on the very next trip, Lou Williams confidently rose up at the top of the key, shot over Dwayne Wade, and hit on another huge clutch three for the Sixers to put the home team ahead by two.

With an opportunity to tie or win the game with 8.1 seconds left, the Miami Heat put the ball in the hands of the Choke-King, Lebron James. He took a few dribbles towards his defender, Andre Iguodala, drove to his right, and put up a contested runner that was blocked by Elton Brand.

Lebron "Choke-King" James adds to his legacy of playoff failure with another blocked runner in the closing seconds in Game 4 against the Sixers.

Off the deflection, Turner ended up with the ball and was fouled. The rookie sank his two free throws to seal the win for the Sixers, and he finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds off the bench for Coach Doug Collins.

This continues a Miami Heat trend of struggling to close competitive games, despite having three All-Star options.

Lebron "Choke-King" James has a long history of coming up short as a closer and has been criticized for his lack of killer instinct and closing ability. Having been called upon to take the final shot in several games for the Heat this season, Lebron has not converted a single play to tie or win the game for his team.

Most objective analysts of the game have suggested that Dwayne Wade should be the one with the ball in his hands in the final seconds, and it would be crazy to think that no one in the Miami Heat organization realizes that DWade is the superior closer to Lebron.

Why is Lebron still taking the last shot then? One must guess that Lebron, with his history of being coddled and spoiled by those around him and the sensitivity to public criticism that we have seen since his move to Miami, is demanding to be given the ball in order to disprove those who have labelled him "LeBrick", "Dwayne Wade's Sidekick", and "Choke-King".

However, with every LeBrick that he throws up in the final seconds, he proves the point that he needs Dwayne Wade, he can't get it done in the clutch, and history will recall him as a sidekick, if he is remembered at all.

To be remembered, you have to win Championships. And you have to be the best player on your Championship team...

With the rise of the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose, who is a bonafide closer and NBA MVP leader of a young Championship-caliber team, and other talented young challengers who hunger to be great, Lebron may never sniff the NBA Finals during the prime of his career.

It may just be Lebron's Karma.

Here are highlights of the MIAMI HEAT vs. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS NBA PLAYOFF FIRST ROUND GAME 4:


Look for the Heat to have a tough time closing out the confident and well-coached Sixers on Wednesday night. If the Sixers can steal pivotal Game 5 in Miami, look for the series to possibly go 7 games.

Dwayne Wade's Sidekick Fails to Close Out Amare, Carmelo, and the Knicks To Lose By 5

MIAMI, FL. Another potential Eastern Conference playoff test, and another fail for DWade, Lebron, and the newly christened, Bosh Spice.

The "STAT" is incredible (pun intended!): The Miami Heat's record is just 1 win and 7 losses against the top 6 teams in the league, and they have not yet faced the NBA leading San Antonio Spurs. Heat fans and staff that believe that this will magically change in the brighter lights of the playoffs is fooling themselves.

Melo put up 29 and 9 vs. Lebron, and defended him to seal the game.

The Knicks are not in the top 6 NBA teams by record. However, the new look New York Knicks, who got a superstar facelift with the addition of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, may be in the same league now. Without having many chances to practice together since coming together, they got to test their mettle against the presumptive most-talented team in the league in the Miami Heat, and the results helped to justify the midseason blockbuster trade.

Carmelo Anthony had 29 points and 9 rebounds and took on the challenge of guarding Lebron James on the two final chances for the Miami Heat. Dwayne Wade's Sidekick was unable to make a play either time.

Billups lived up to the name, "Mr. Big Shot", as he hit the huge 3 point shot that gave the Knicks the lead in the 4th Quarter after the Knicks trailed by as much as 15 points.

Amare' was solid. Though below his usual production, his 16 points, 10 boards, 3 assists, and 1 block do not adequately reflect the intangibles of leadership and toughness that has been his mark on the 2010-2011 New York Knicks team that has been built around him.

It was Amare' Stoudemire that announced that no one is afraid of the Miami Heat; and then his Knick team beat them in their last meeting, at Madison Square Garden. It should be Lebron and Miami that should be afraid of the Knicks:


There may be different players now, but the results were the same.

Despite falling behind by 15 points, the Knicks' resilience, Billups' big 3 pointer, great clutch free-throw shooting, and the futility of the Lebron-lead Heat offense sealed the 5 point win by the Knicks at Miami.

The Key play of the game was a drive by Dwayne Wade's Sidekick with 12.7 seconds. Carmelo stayed in front of his man, and Amare' Stoudemire came over from the weak side to swat Lebron's shot. Despite his whining and pleas for a foul, the refs stood by their correct call. WITNESS THIS:


Free-throws by Williams increased the lead to 3 points, and Lebron and the Heat would have another chance.

Sidekick got the ball at the top of the key and attempted a 3 pointer to tie, but for the second time in three games, his prayer was not even close. With another failed final shot attempt, I think that Lebron has earned his name "LeBrick".

The week only gets tougher for the Miami Heat: on Thursday, they face division foe, Orlando. And on Friday, they finally play the NBA-leading San Antonio Spurs.