Time For the Heat to MAN UP

After yesterday's 87-86 loss to the surging Chicago Bulls, a few undisclosed players on the Miami Heat reacted in a way that has even their loyal fans saying, "Man up!". In his post-game presser Heat head coach (for now) Eric Spolstra described the atmosphere in his team's locker room. "This is painful for every single one of us to go through this, there are couple of guys crying in the locker room right now, it is not a matter of want," Spoelstra said.

Really? I mean really Miami? You got guys shedding tears over a regular season loss? So the Heat is now a 12 and under AAU team? Granted the Heat are currently on a 4-game losing streak and have missed 13 consecutive shots with a chance to tie or lead a game in the final 10 seconds of regulation or overtime (LeBron James has missed four during this current losing streak alone). The team is slumping but is that enough to cry about? Honestly the Heat looked worse when they opened the season at 10-8. They are a virtual lock for the 3-seed in the East and can easily capture the 2-seed (currently 1 game behind the Bulls). So why all the crying?

Trust me, I'll be the first to admit that competition brings out emotion. As an athlete there were several occasions which I cried. I shed a few tears after a tough loss but those were championship games. I also balled like a baby when a hamstring injury ended my baseball playing days. We've seen even the great Micheal Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal cry, but only after winning a championship. The only player I can recall crying over a regular season loss is Terrell "That's My Teammate" Owens.

Now the question circling American Airlines arena is this: Who was actually crying? The answer will forever remain a mystery but we can narrow down the suspects easily. First, eliminate all non-starters from the list. Yesterday the bench contributed 6 points, 8 rebounds and 0 assists. The bench has been a non-factor most of the season so why would any of them cry now? So that leaves the five starters. Hmm...OK now we're getting someplace. We can now eliminate Erick Dampier. Why? Because he's Erick Dampier! When was the last time he's shown any emotion? Yesterday's line for Dampier: 0-4-0, and only one of those boards was on offense. That leaves us with James, D-Wade, Chris "What Is My Role on this Team" Bosh and Mario Chalmers.

Now according to Spolstra's statement, a "couple" players we're crying. So most likely one of their Big 3 was crying. It doesn't matter who it was, all I want is for this team to man up and make the run to the playoffs as entertaining on the court as we all expected it to be. The NBA is supposed to be where amazing happens...amaze me Miami!! I mean that's what this team what put together for, right?

Who's Clutch? It Ain't the "King"

Let the debating end now! LeBron James is not a better player than Kobe Bryant…PERIOD!

While both have phenomenal playing skills and can post great numbers in any given game, the Black Mamba makes the King look like a prince in one key area that is arguably the most important: closing out a game.

Over the last two weeks we sat and watched as game after game the Heat had an opportunity late in the game to either nail the coffin on their opponent or make a courageous comeback. In every instance, the ball was in LeBron's hands with less than 10 seconds on the clock. The result was identical in each game - CLANG! - a brick thrown up by James.

Yeah I know you LBJ worshippers think I'm picking on him. Well maybe a little, but I'm also stating facts. LeBron has had many opportunities to prove that he is a clutch performer. The last (and only) time he actually came through was in game 2 of the 2009 Eastern Conference semis against Orlando. Game 2? A game 2 winning shot is only memorable if that shot is a momentum shifter. We all know the Magic went on the run through LeBron and the Cavs.

On the other hand, Kobe Bryant has a killer instinct that we all once thought LeBron had as well. In a close game we have seen Kobe drive the dagger straight through the hearts of his opponents. I want to see that characteristic in LeBron…I really do! It makes arguing with LeBron loyalist more challenging is their guy is really all they believe he is. Kobe has proven to be the guy you want with the ball in his hands at the end of a game.  LeBron has only proven he can shed a tear with his teammates. More on that in my next blog. Crying? Really Miami?