LeBron James admits he let Miami Heat down in last year’s NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks
On the eve of the first game of the NBA Finals between Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James has admitted that he didn’t pay at a level expected out of him in last year’s NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.
“I didn’t play well,” he said during Monday’s media day…. “I think I said that 100 times this year. I didn’t play well. I didn’t make enough game-changing plays that I know I’m capable of making, and I felt like I let my teammates
down. I don’t know. I don’t know if that’s something I haven’t said before. Just didn’t make enough plays.”
After crossing the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls hurdles in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and finals respectively, LeBron lost his ways against the Mavs deep in the series last year. Up against a strong front court, he completely
slowed down on the offense and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh just didn’t have enough firepower tackle Dirk Nowitzki and the desperate group of Maverick veterans.
LeBron however was humbled at getting another shot at the title and vowed to make a bigger impact this time around;
“I’m happy and I’m humbled that I can actually be back in this position less than 12 months later, to do a better job of making more plays, more game-changing plays out on the floor on a bigger stage.”
The Heat will take on the Thunder in Game1 on Tuesday night. Oklahoma City have made it to the finals for the first time, and have beaten the likes of Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs in doing so.
These teams had 10 of the last 13 championships combined and the way Kevin Durant, James Harden and Serge Ibaka are playing; Miami will have their work cut out.
However Miami, especially LeBron, have also been on fire off late. After going 3-2 down in the East Finals against the Celtics, LeBron unleashed one of the best performances ever seen in the history of playoffs to force a Game
7. He then posted his 5th above 30 points - 10 rebounds performance in the series decider to lead Miami into the finals.
Miami have also been boosted by the timely recovery of Chris Bosh, who missed nearly three weeks of playoffs action due to a lower abdominal strain. The only worry for them are the slow starts Wade has been having, and if he can
sort himself out in the Finals, Miami hold a great chance of taking down the Thunder.
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