Lebron Fails To Lift His Team: DWade-less Heat Fall To Third Place In East With Loss To Milwaukee Bucks

MIAMI, FL. Dwayne Wade was in a dapper suit as he sat out the final meeting of the season between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat.

Once again, his faithful Sidekick got the numbers but did not step up to give his team the only stat that really matters, the Win.

The Bucks physical style was just a playoff preview. Can Sidekick and the Heat take the beatdown?

The Bucks, clinging to dwindling hopes of making the playoffs, came to play, and they took an early lead and built it to a 25 - 15 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Heat, with their go-to guy on the bench, had to rely on Lebron to get them back into the game. With his jumper working, the Heat got back into the contest and managed to pull to within 1 point of the Bucks at 41 -40 before the Bucks defense held them scoreless for the final 3:55 of the first half, and the teams went into halftime with the score reading Bucks 45 - Heat 41.

News of the Bucks official elimination from making the playoffs came sometime during the second half of the game, but even when Miami managed to pull into a tie entering the 4th quarter, the Bucks were not going to let their efforts be wasted. If they could not be playoff contenders, they would be spoilers.

And that they did.

Lebron re-entered the game with the score tied 69 - 69 with just under nine minutes left in the game. In the final quarter, Lebron shot 2 for 6 (0 for 3 from 3-point range). Suffice it to say, there weren't any chants of "M-V-P! M-V-P!" in his own building.

Carlos Delfino stepped up in a huge way for Milwaukee. After checking in with 3:15 left in the game, he shot 2 for 3, 2 for 2 from 3-point range, with the second 3-pointer being the nail in the coffin with 0:24 seconds left in the game.

Lebron's answer for three was no good, and Milwaukee was able to make their clutch free-throws to go home with the spoiling victory.

Here are the highlights:


With the loss, the Miami Heat fell from 2nd place in the Eastern Conference to 3rd. At this moment, they would have to play the New York Knicks, who retook 6th place with a victory tonight, in the opening round. By all accounts, the Knicks would prefer a matchup with the Heat rather than play the defensive-minded and disciplined Boston Celtics.

The loss also means that, if Miami advances to the second round, they likely would face the Boston Celtics, a team they have not beaten in three meetings this season. As the lower seeded team, the Heat would not hold home court advantage, and a potential 7th game would be played in Boston.

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.

Carmelo Returns The Glory To MSG; Melo Joins Amare' To Return Lustre To The Knicks

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NYC, NY. The prodigal son returns, and he brings with him enough talent to make the New York Knicks a contender again.

After a nearly 3 year rebuilding project focused on the Free Agent Class of 2010 and a courtship of Lebron James that ended when he made his infamous "Decision" to take his talents to South Beach, the New York Knicks now have the Top 5 NBA player to headline the Madison Square Garden marquee.

Melo and Chauncey Billups are headed to play at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets finally completed the trade that took most of the season to work out. A package headlined by Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups will join the Knicks in return for a package of 3 Knicks starters (Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, and Danilo Gallinari), a young center (24 year old Timofey Mosgov), 3 draft picks (the Knicks 2014 First Round Pick and the Golden State Warriors 2012 and 2013 Second Round Picks), and $3 million in cash.

The Minnesota Timberwolves were also involved in the deal, taking on Eddy Curry's expiring contract and Anthony Randolph in exchange for Corey Brewer going to the Knicks. This helped Denver drop their salary this season by $25 million, saving them significantly on the luxury tax.

Although the "Summer of Lebron" was disappointing to Knicks fans, the free agent acquisition on Amare' Stoudemire was not only an incredible bright spot, it may have been the first domino that has now landed Carmelo Anthony with the Knicks.

Amare' has been a beast for the Knicks this season, and he has answered any question about his knee and about his legacy apart from Steve Nash. He has been the team leader for the surprising New York Knicks, who recently knocked off the Miami Heat, and as a result, has been prominent in the MVP conversation.

Both Carmelo Anthony and Amare' Stoudemire have expressed an interest to play together, and the two former Western All Star forwards will have the chance to play together now, with the New York Knicks.

Melo returns to his hometown, where he also played one season of college ball for Syracuse University. He ruled the mecca of basketball and lead his Syracuse Orangemen to their first National Championship in 2003. Melo will now have the chance to bring an NBA Championship to his hometown New York Knicks.

New York Knicks get:	Carmelo Anthony (SF) Chauncey Billups (PG) Anthony Carter (PG) Sheldon Williams (PF) Renaldo Balkman (PF) Corey Brewer (SG)
Denver Nuggets get:	Raymond Felton (PG) Wilson Chandler (SF) Danilo Gallinari (F) Timofey Mosgov (C) Knicks 2014 First Round Pick Warriors 2012 and 2013 Second Round Picks $3 million CASH
Minnesota Timberwolves get:	Eddy Curry expiring contract Anthony Randolph (PF)

Sometimes it's the guy you don't get that makes your team better. The then Seattle Supersonics missed on Greg Oden and ended up with a guy by the name of Kevin Durant.

The Knicks did not get Lebron James, but in Carmelo Anthony, they have the perfect outside scorer to complement Amare' Stoudmire inside. And we have yet to see Lebron come through with a clutch score in the closing seconds.

When it comes to clutch players, in Amare' and Melo, the Knicks now have two. Can a New York Big 3 be coming soon?

Knicks Beat Heat at Madison Square Garden as Stoudemire and Gallinari Close, and Dwayne Wade and Sidekick Can't

NEW YORK CITY, NY.  Sidekick clanked shot after shot, and DWade cooled off in the 4th quarter as the New York Knicks pulled away and beat the Miami Heat tonight in front of a raukus crowd of pumped up Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden in NYC.

Amare Stoudemire dunks on Joel Anthony and Sidekick, who just bends over and takes it.

It was a great game for the Knicks, who not only overcame a difficult loss to Miami in their previous meeting at Madison Square Garden and the continued speculation of trading for Carmelo Anthony, but also a hot shooting Dwayne Wade who powered the Miami Heat through the first three quarters on a scorching 14 of 15 shooting from the field.

The New York Knicks' MVP candidate, Amare Stoudemire, kept the Knicks close in spite of Wade's hot shooting, and Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields, and Raymond Felton stepped up for the Knicks in the fourth quarter to secure the win for the hometown team.

New York was finally able to contain Wade (0 for 7 in the fourth quarter), and Sidekick, as he did in last year's playoffs against the Boston Celtics, joined the "Quitness Protection Program", missing shot after shot in the final quarter when his team needed him. Sidekick finished with 24 points, but only shot 7 for 24 for the game.

This was a huge win for the Knicks, not only to beat an Eastern Conference rival, but the victory clearly shows the potential of a team that could potentially add Carmelo Anthony this summer in free agency, without losing any significant parts.

The invitation to join a team that can already beat, arguably, the most talented team in the NBA, the Miami Heat, could prove too much to resist for Melo, a native New Yorker who won a National Championship at Syracuse University.

The only thing standing in the way of New York's return to the elite of the basketball world? A poor "decision" like Lebron's.

Clippers and Blake Griffin Celebrate His Rookie of the Month Award By Ending The Miami Heat's Road Winning Streak

LOS ANGELES, CA.  Staples Center was sold out, and the stars were out for L. A. versus Miami; however it was not the Lakers that played like a champion and held home court against the Heat. It was the Clippers.

Blake Griffin celebrated winning ROTM by ending the Heat's road winning streak at 13 games.

Before the contest, Blake Griffin received Rookie of the Month honors for the month of December. Then he and his Los Angeles Clippers exploded against the vaunted Miami Heat defense, putting up 44 points in the first quarter, and the Clippers cruised to an L. A. victory that people had expected to come three weeks ago on Christmas Day.

Griffin put up 24 points and 14 rebounds against the Heat frontline for his 30th double double of the season, and Baron Davis (20 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists) and Eric Gordon (26 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists) provided a balanced backcourt attack in the complete team victory. Dwayne Wade lead the Heat with 31 points.

The Clippers victory was a clinic on how to beat a team like the Miami Heat. It all starts with mindset. The Clippers, from the passionate Baron Davis, to the fearless Eric Gordon, to the stoic Blake Griffin, were fired up, and it was clear that the home team was into the game and were not in the least intimidated by the Heat. Their confidence fueled a first quarter 44 point uppercut to the Heat, and every attempt to comeback was met by a great effort play, including a big block on Lebron that sent him out of bounds and awkwardly onto his ankle. Unlike many teams, the Los Angeles Clippers did not allow the Heat to physically exert their will, and that was ultimately the key to victory.

Lebron, learn the meaning of Karma and God before you hurt yourself.

The crushing loss for Miami came just a day after Lebron took a cheap shot on the Cleveland Cavaliers organization via twitter, saying "Crazy. Karma is a b****.. Gets you every time. Its not good to wish bad on anybody. God sees everything!"; it certainly does seem that God sees everything and that includes your hypocracy, Lebron. The Miami loss ends their road winning streak at 13 games, 3 games short of the NBA record, and even more notable, Lebron sustained a sprained ankle in the loss. It is likely that Lebron will miss Miami's next game, at Denver, tomorrow night. A loss at Denver would be the Heat's 11th loss on the season, meaning that they will have to wait till next year to chase the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' record 72 win season. Speaking of Karma...

Lebron likes to take shots at weaker opponents, but where was his twitter response, not to mention his balls, when Paul Pierce took a jab at him? Can't really say much when you have already lost twice to Boston with your "Heatles".

And even then, when it comes time to take responsibility for his statements, he claims that it was not even him. He doesn't know who it was, but it wasn't him. He can't be responsible for his own tweet, so how can he be the man to lead a championship team? The answer is that he can't, and that is why he joined DWade. Sidekick had to join a real alpha dog who could take over when it is "Jordan-time" because he can't handle it.

No, YOU'RE NOT JORDAN, Lebron. And you never will be. At the end of the day, Lebron is only a bully who will take shots at weaker opponents, and then not even take responsibility for the statements. As villains go, Reggie Miller took on the big boys (Jordan, The Knicks, Spike Lee, etc.)

Lebron, you're not Reggie Miller, either.

Eric Gordon, Baron Davis, and Blake Griffin could have been teamed with Lebron this season.

The Clippers were one of the teams vying for Lebron James' services as a free agent last summer during the "Summer of Lebron", however they were the long-shot. With Eric Gordon, Baron Davis, and Blake Griffin leading the Clippers to victory, Lebron was left looking pretty stupid last night.

Blake Griffin has been an absolute beast in this, his rookie season, and he looks to be a strong favorite for Rookie of the Year as he puts up double-double after double-double. He has quickly become a very popular player with his great athleticism and above the rim game, and one can easily see him, along with Eric Gordon, leading a renaissance of the Clippers with the young talent that the team has been accumulating over the years. Can Griffin be the Anti-Lebron that the NBA needs to regain respectability?

The Garden's Silent Prayer: Knicks Not Built To Beat Dwayne Wade's Sidekick Just Yet

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK.  The "Mecca of Basketball" hosted the much anticipated match-up of the resurgent New York Knicks vs. the Miami Heat and Lebron James Dwayne Wade's Sidekick.
 

The Knicks needed more to complement Amare Stoudemire's 24 points, 14 rebounds

The Madison Square Garden crowd was ready and seething early in the game, exuding an energy at Dwayne Wade's Sidekick comparable only to that seen when Lebron faced his former club, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After 2 years of pursuit and a summer of free-agent seduction, the New York Knicks' front office was ultimately unsuccessful in landing the big fish of the "Summer of Lebron". After season ticket holders were promised the world, disappointment was inevitable.

"The Mecca" cheered loudly and jeered the visiting Heat even louder throughout the game's first half, and their emotions fueled the Knicks to a 57 - 57 tie at halftime.

However, it was a 33 to 17 Miami Heat third quarter advantage that gave the Heat enough of a cushion to cruise.

Lebron has been known to play well at the Garden, which helped to fuel speculation of Lebron playing all of his home games at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks. Instead, Dwayne Wade's Sidekick tallied his first triple-double at the Garden in a visitor's uniform.

Despite another great effort from Amare' Stoudemire, who has been an aboslute MVP for the Knicks this season and had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the game, the Knicks are still lacking two important building blocks necessary to beat the Heat: another reliable scorer and a defensive big man rebounder. Despite the frontcourt softness of the Miami Heat, the Knicks could not take advantage.

After the game was out of reach for the home team, the Madison Square Garden crowd fell into silence. A post-game interview with Chris Bosh indicated that he and the Heat believed that they were able to silence the Garden with their play.

The truth is that the silence was a collective silent prayer for Carmelo Anthony to come to the Big Apple.

Easylink for this page:  http://tinyurl.com/MSGprayer

Lebron's Legacy and New Last Name: Dwayne Wade's Sidekick

After the anti-climactic conclusion to the "Summer of Lebron", it is clear that at age 26 and a half (and at an emotuional age of 15), Lebron has considered his legacy in basketball and in the world about as much as he considered the consequences of announcing his "Decision" in an hour long special on ESPN.

In case you were cowering under a rock until the events of the "Summer of Lebron" would blow over (like Jeff Van Gundy, who then emerged, disoriented, and proclaimed that the Miami Heat would win more games than the 72 - 10 Chicago Bulls team), you would know that, despite compelling presentations from several NBA teams, including one that would have put Lebron literally playing in Michael Jordan's shoes and along side MVP candidate, Derrick Rose, Lebron made the cowardly "Decision" to join Dwayne Wade on HIS Miami Heat team.

A bold offer to a man who lacks enough "bolds"; Lebron can't fill MJ's shoes.

When Lebron could have plugged into a perfect win-now situation with a complete and talented team, with the franchise that Michael Jordan exploded, in the stadium that Michael Jordan built, in the city that Michael Jordan made into a basketball town and that had been starving for a basketball hero, Lebron could have built a legacy in Chicago that would have written itself. Lebron brand would have elevated itself to a worldwide brand, strengthened by its organic association with the iconic Jordan.

And although it would have been difficult to see at the time, it is clear now that the New York proposal was also a powerful one, with Amare Stoudemire's continued MVP-like efforts for the New York Knicks this season. Amare has New York squarely in the playoff picture and is making the case as a legitimate destination for next year's most coveted free agent, Carmelo Anthony.

And, of course, the Cleveland Cavaliers, though hampered by salary cap restrictions, would have found a way to make the necessary upgrades to stay the class of the NBA, if Lebron had stayed. And if he had won even one NBA title with the Cavs, the city of Cleveland would have rejoiced with the pent up energy of all the years of frustration that came before. Lebron's legacy would have been Cleveland's Greatest Champion.

Lebron should just change his name to "Lebron James Dwayne Wade's Sidekick"

However, whether it had been planned since the 2008 Olympics or even earlier, Lebron chose to join Dwayne Wade, a player who has already gotten it done in the NBA Finals and already has his own NBA Championship and NBA Finals MVP legacy. No matter how many championships they hope to win together, DWade will always have one more; one that he won after being the underdog and trailing the favored Dallas Mavericks two games to none in the series. Wade was the one man wrecking crew carrying his Miami Heat to victory in the series in Jordanesque fashion. And that is why, by joining DWade's Miami Heat, Lebron's legacy can only be one thing:  Dwayne Wade's Sidekick.

At best this would mean being "Scottie Pippen" to Wade's Jordan, but Lebron will still have to win multiple championships in Wade's shadow to even be considered as great as Pippen really was. Wade and his sidekick have yet to show that they can play together with the same kind of chemistry that Jordan and Pippen had in winning 6 NBA Championships.

In this day and age of NBA Superstar branding, it is amazing that Lebron's PR people would have allowed Lebron to make such a collosal PR mistake, as they have continued to allow him to do since "The Decision" show. Whether Lebron can change his legacy is mostly a question of whether he is willing to change the PR team that got him here, for this much is clear; Lebron has decided not to be responsible for his legacy, just as he has decided not to be responsible for the failures of his teams in past and future playoffs.

Miami Heat Fall For Loss Number Two To Chris Paul and the Undefeated New Orleans Hornets

New Orleans, LA. Lebron may not have been able to do it alone in his seven years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but on this night, it was Chris Paul who played the role of a lonely David versus the Goliath of the Big Three of Miami.

Chris Paul finished the game with a modest 13 points, but made his teammates better to the tune of 19 assists.

CP3 keeps his Hornets undefeated against DWade, Lebron, and the Miami Heat.

Following a summer that was notable for an infamous Decision to go to South Beach, Chris Paul was very public about his discontent with the state of the New Orleans Hornets, fueling rumors of a potential "Big Three" scenario that might have landed himself, along with another disgruntled superstar, Carmelo Anthony, on the New York Knicks.

Following a fifth straight victory to start the season by New Orleans (a Hornets franchise-best record to start a season), trade talks have been silenced. The New Orleans Hornets front office has consistently gone on record saying that Chris Paul would not be traded; the franchise even traded talented back-up point guard Darren Collison, who played excellent during the significant minutes he played in Paul's absence, as a clear statement of commitment to Paul.

It seems that their clear commitment, along with other off-season moves, has paid off for the undefeated New Orleans Hornets.

On the other hand, Lebron's summer has been one of a lack of a clear commitment (other than to himself and his so-called advisory team), culminating in the self-aggrandizing and self-promoting, 1-hour Decision special on ESPN. We all know the subsequent backlash that has resulted from Lebron's decision to be Dwayne Wade's Miami Heat sidekick, along with Chris Bosh.

After much speculation and talk of breaking the 72 win record of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls team, the Miami Heat lost their season opener to the Boston Celtics, and they now fall to a record of 4-2 after this loss to the New Orleans Hornets. This would put them on pace to win 66 to 69 games this season.