Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at 10:45 am  |  71 responses

LeBron James Says He ‘Needs to Concentrate More’ on Free Throws


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Something decidedly strange was happening at the start of this NBA season: it was a little too quiet in Miami.

The Heat were steam-rolling opponents, LeBron James appeared to be cruising towards another regular season MVP award, and the general public’s hatred of the South Beachers seemed to have become somewhat muted.

A couple of close overtime losses on the West Coast have altered the narrative. And, of course, LeBron James is at the center of it all.

James was bizarrely unassertive in the Heat’s loss to the Golden State Warriors two nights ago, and clanked crucial free throws late last night in Clipper-Land, as Miami lost their third game of the year. LeBron went 9/17 from the line, and missed four big ones late in the game.

The tired debate around James’ ability to come through in the clutch has been revived, and armchair sports psychologists are going to have a field day with this, but according to LBJ, he just needs a little more focus at the line.

From ESPN:

Whatever [Erik] Spoelstra said to the players when they joined him in the locker room, there were smiles and laughter as the team collectively shrugged it off. “We gave ourselves a chance to win and we can be satisfied — you don’t like to lose — but we’re not going to hang our heads about this one,” James said, his eyes bright and his tone upbeat at his locker. “I need to concentrate a little bit more out there and knock [the free throws] down.”

The night before, in Oakland, James and his teammates were downtrodden after losing to the Warriors. There was barely a sound to be heard in that locker room. After this game, James was shouting rap lyrics and Wade was sharing private giggles with teammates as he iced his still sore foot. “You never want to lose, but no team ever goes undefeated,” Wade said. “We just move on from the frustration we have. We haven’t missed this many free throws as a team probably ever … you know it will average out.”

James actually played very well. Aside from his near triple-double (23 points, 13 boards, 7 assists), he was aggressive in the fourth quarter and overtime. Just couldn’t knock in his free throws.

As for the Miami Heat’s public approach to the mini losing streak, it’s probably a good idea to try and laugh it off. There will be plenty of time for doom and gloom in the postseason.

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  • Cheema

    I liked how lebron played last night. He was aggressive going to the rim instead of settling for those long jumpers or not shooting at all. He just had a off night from the freethrow line. it happens. I hope Lebron continues to play like he did yesterday in the 4rth quarter. BE AGRESSIVE!

    And about how wade should have the ball. Well he did have the ball against Warriors but shot 1-8 from the field in 4rth quarter. and scored no points in overtime. he was also 1-7 yesterday in 4rth quarter and overtime!

  • MLK4Life

    @nbk
    Wade took over in the Finals and pulled Shaq along with him. That’s why the Heat won in 2006. Let’s not discredit the amazing performance Wade had in that series especially as the Heat won four straight after goign down 2-0. He played like the best player in the world in that series. If LeBron has gotten to the point where he is unable to even attempt to do anything at the end of a game, the statistics don’t matter. There’s no hesitation on Dwyane’s part. There is with LeBron. What sticks out to people is the fact that Wade’s performances in the Finals are far better than LeBron’s. They’ve both been twice. We know what happened LeBron’s first time against the Spurs and we saw what happened against Dallas. LeBron has to fix that. October to May doesn’t matter. He has to do it in June in order to get rid of that criticism.

  • http://www.adultism.com justlenny

    i worship LeBron but he needs to get his sh!t together in the 4th quarter/OT

  • http://www.alllooksame.com Tarzan Cooper

    Wayno sees what’s really important. And datkid owes me rolaties, pay what you owe nucca!

  • http://slam kinglira23

    i’m a big big lebron fan but he needs to get is sh*t together in the 4th quater/OT realtalk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Wade is why the Heat won no more than Shaq is. I realize Wade was better in the finals. But you have to win all the series before it too get there. And Shaq was the reason they were in a position like they were. The amount of attention Shaq was demanding and production he was giving in those two years in Miami are so underrated just because of (1) 4 game stretch by Dwyane Wade. Which is cool and all, but Wade repeatedly getting all the credit for that last title is absurd. And would everyone stop talking about the finals like it’s some other type of sport then the rest of the playoffs? LeBron struggled twice in the finals. Kobe has missed the playoffs during his prime. Tragic Magic Johnson got swept out of the finals TWICE. Everyone struggles at some point, whether it be the finals, or regular season. There has only been 1 all-time great who never had trouble winning. And his name is Bill Russell.

  • lisa

    We’re not talking about 4th qtrs.. In clutch situations as of NOW, LeBron disappears. Wade won a ring because he stepped up under pressure, not solely because of Pat Riley and a motivated Shaq LOL. Even with that people doubted them… Oh yeah you forgot about UD’s free throw line jumper in transition. Wade put on a show and it was quite refreshing to see. LeBron is better than Wade. In crunch time Wade should have the ball. He will be confident, focused, and not afraid to fail in the big moment. Which are all excuses people give LeBron, when he doesn’t show up and play like the best player in the world.

  • lisa

    Now my comment comes up… Oh well it was supposed to be up a lot earlier…If Wade is no more than what Shaq meant to the Heat in the playoffs, then why did you mention it? Bill Russell doesn’t count the C’s had no one to challenge them, they made it look easy for a whole decade. That’s not fair you went from LeBron to Kobe to Majic to Bill… Some timeline huh? Just messing with you :)

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    The point is, you don’t abandon ship because you have had a rough stretch of 15 games. What were you saying against Boston and Chicago when Wade was giving the Heat nothing? How would LeBron have choked in the finals if he didn’t carry them there? you answer that question lately? THe idea of giving the ball to a worse player at the end of games in the beginning of the season, because he seems unafraid, is like saying, you don’t think LeBron will ever learn to be calm and confident in clutch situations. You always assume he will fail. Which, again, looking back at his career, is a quick way to look silly. People said the same sh*t about LeBron not being able to get past Detroit…… People said the same stupid sh*t about Jordan. Every star player fails. ANd they even said similar stupid sh*t about Kobe, “He can’t win without Shaq” – There is a pattern, star players struggle for a few years, or something changes and the “doubters” come out of the woodwork, then a couple years later all those doubters are either completely silent, or on the other side of the fence. If LeBron continues to struggle in late game situations all the way until it starts to actually matter (the playoffs) then yes, I would be inclined to let me season rely on the player who is better in those situations. But as of now, 11 games into the regular season, the only thing you’ll do by making late game situations Dwyane Wade’s sole responsibility is prematurely panic and compromise your team (the Heats) chances at improving.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I am saying Wade was no more valuable to that Heat team than Shaq. Or Pat Riley. NOt that he was insignificant. Or that they won solely because of the other two. Read my words, don’t fill in the blanks with your imagination.

  • lisa

    I didn’t say you said either one was more important.. But what was the purpose of saying it took XYZ to win, when basketball fans with knowledge should know that. I was just stating that Wade had proven before that he had what it took. I was the first to say Wade disappeared.. Not on here though. I was also the one who noticed Bosh stepped up a couple times as well. I never said that I wanted LeBron to fail, I wouldn’t wish that on anybody… But it’s been 8 seasons now I’m tired of waiting. This is also coming from a big Kobe fan, who is not in a state of denial and knows that his time is running out.. So can you stop saying “Just wait till later on in the season”… We are trying to enjoy the last couple of years in his illustrious career. I also love KD as well.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I’m stating what it took to get too that point becuase its the same f*cking sport. If a player can do something in the 1st round, he sure can do it in the finals. Just have to learn how. Normally that takes a failure or two. Like i’ve repeatedly said throughout this conversation. And you have been waiting 8 seasons for what? LeBron has been on a realistic championship team for exactly 1 year, and nobody intelligent who I have talked to, genuinely thought Miami would win the title on their first try together. So what exactly have you been waiting for? He’s already been better in every conceivable way outside of the finals then every other player except Kobe over the course of his career. Which includes the clutch. And Dwyane Wade.

  • lisa

    Please stop cursing, it’s rude… I know I’m such a girl. You had to go with Wade huh? To be honest I’m waiting for him to prove why he is “KING”. Seriously he is amazing but a King has bling.. This has nothing to do with Kobe or Mj. It is quite frustrating for someone to be named King and they only have 2 MVPs the same amount as Nash. Everytime there is an excuse for everything. I thought they could have won the championship, only after they made it to the finals. I expected more from him… And Wade.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I apologize. That was rude, you are right. — Regarding the nickname, I didn’t give that too him, and I sure don’t agree with it. But he has earned his reputation as the best player in the league, he just needs to learn how to perform with the whole world putting pressure on him. This season is by far the most important to his legacy. (imo) he should be given this year to go through the ups and downs before we as fans, declare anything about him. At this age, Michael Jordan was on his way too winning his 1st championship, and his criticism was that he could never win as the league leader in scoring.

  • MLK4Life

    @nbk You must not have watched. That’s the only way one could say that Shaq was just as valuable as DWade was. There’s a reason why Wade was Finals MVP. By the time the Finals were over, DWade was widely regarded as the best player in the league. Shaq was on the downturn. LeBron has been on 2 championship teams, not 1. His last season in Cleveland, everyone predicted it was finally time for LeBron to get to the Finals. We watched Game 3 against the Celtics in the 2nd round when they blew them out, Bron played great and figured that team would get to the Finals. Then LeBron decides to disappear in Game 5 and they got eliminated. One more disappearance in the Playoffs and it will be disastrous for him and his career.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    smh. Read what I say. But no Wade has never been considered the best player in the league. Ever.

  • Matt Park

    Lebron’s free throw stroke is actually looking a LOT better than last year… He started the season sort of stepping past the FT line as he shot and that seemed to give him confidence in his stroke. He seems to have stopped so maybe his confidence dropped?

  • robb

    ^^^never

  • robb

    that was for nbk

  • Mburb321

    @MLK4LIFE So wade had a great finals performance and became widely known as the best player in the league??? Kinda like how Dirk is considered the best player in the league now huh?? I always though kobe passed the torch to lebron, didnt know wade ever had it…

  • Justin G.

    Bill Russell also won a lot of titles because every other player on his team was a Hall of Famer

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