The Sad Reality of LeBron's Block

Unfortunately this will be the image we remember from what was an otherwise mediocre game from LeBron. (Credits: Getty Images)

LeBron was mired in a 5-for-15 game Sunday night as his teammates were shredding the Spurs defense left and right. Mario Chalmers and Mike Miller were draining threes like no one was in the gym and the Heat were dominating a sputtering Spurs squad. With the Heat up 19 and only a little bit more than eight minutes remaining, Tiago Splitter drove the lane looking to put someone on the poster. Unfortunately for him, LeBron James was the man humanoid he was trying to put into the history books. Of course, as expected, LeBron stuffed Splitter, erupting a raucous response from the Miami faithful fans. The World's Greatest Player stood there for a moment, soaking in what was a play that will be apart of every NBA Finals montage ever.

After gloating unnecessarily up 19 for about five seconds LeBron joined his teammates down the court, took the ball, cut to the hoop and found a wide open Ray Allen in the corner. Swish. 22-point lead. Next possession Tony Parker found the wrong man in Mike Miller, who fed LeBron on the fast break for a thunderous two-hand dunk. Timeout. Game over.

All that will be remember from Sunday night's game will be that sequence, that block. LeBron's "greatness" swirled up in a 5-0 run that brought his team's lead up from 19 to 24. Not a two-point lead into a seven-point lead. Not a seven-point lead into a 12-point lead. He helped turned a blowout into a rout and yet people will hoot and holler about how he "shut the door" on the Spurs. Don't look now folks, but this LeBron we're watching has an aire of pre-2012 LeBron. Ringless, immature LeBron seems like the dominant voice on his shoulder right now. If that's the case then that's bad news for the Heat.

7-for-17, 17 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks, three steals, two turnovers. That's LeBron stat line for last night. For the series he's 14-33, averaging 17.5 points, 13 rebounds, 8.5 assists, 1.5 blocks, 1.5 steals and two turnovers. Is anyone impressed by these stats? Is anyone jumping out of their seats proclaiming LeBron "the Greatest of All-time?" If you are, you've lost sight of what this "new" LeBron is supposed to bring us. He's supposed to dominate the game from start to finish. He's supposed to control tempo, flex his muscles both offensively and defensively. The flaws in his game aren't supposed to be superseded by athleticism anymore; there aren't supposed to be flaws. But folks, this is the old LeBron we're seeing in these Finals. A guy playing with ultimate mediocrity, while his teammates are excelling right in front of his eyes. As LeBron watches his teammates pretty much win the game for him, he strikes at the very last possible moment, with the game basically out of hand. He makes that freak athletic play, or sets of plays, that makes our jaw-drop to floor. He makes that play that makes us forget about the dud of the game he was having and he leaves with a youtube clip, GIF or image that we stare at for hours in wonderment. Right now, LeBron isn't play with substance. His passivity obvious. His nervousness clear. This folks, is not the "Greatest Player Ever." Not even close.

I'm not falling for this "LeBron affects the game in other way than on the stat sheet" jargon. I'm not weak-hearted. I don't want greatness to hit me in the face with his team up 19, I want greatness to hit me in the face for 48 straight minutes and leave me exhausted at the end. I have not been exhausted for one minute of this series. LeBron has only piqued my interest for the pure fact he hasn't piqued my interest at all.

LeBron has plenty of opportunities still to plead his case toward the "Greatest Player of All-Time," but if he continues to play like this there will be no such title granted to him; the Spurs will surely win this seres. And 1-3 in the NBA Finals doesn't scream greatness. Not. One. Bit.