Everyone chokes.

Let’s face it, people of the NBA fan community. Everyone chokes.

I think every playoff time there will be a player who will step up their game level at the start, but to falter in the end. After all, they were human. Not everyone’s a perfect athlete that will guarantee wining games and championships at will.

For some cases, the Dallas Mavericks had been labeled as one, especially for 2 years they were being branded as the playoff perennial chokers.  Somehow, you’re up 2-0 in the finals only to succumb at game 6. Plus, Dirk has been the MVP-calibrated player then, plus a bunch of 10+-game winning streak, a massive supporting crew, and a best record in the league then. What more can you lose? Well, Golden State Warriors proved them wrong at the first round of 2007 post-season party.

I know there are a lot of players in the past that had a bad reputation as a playoff choker. Let’s move fast forward to yesterday. I haven’t saw the entire game though I based it on the game story about Indiana Pacers breaking the Miami Heat’s 13 home-game-winning streak after defeating them 78-75. And who’s the man to blame according to the instant game experts? The MVP himself.

Well, according to the recap that I read, he missed 2 free throws that could have been put them ahead 54.3 seconds left in the game, and the score at that time was 76-75 in favor of the visitors.

Well, LeBron James ever since his days as supposedly a franchise player of the Cleveland Cavaliers had been a victim of “media hype” so that’s why every time they will lose in the playoffs or even a close fight in the regular wars, he will be widely criticized by the worldwide fan community. In yesterday’s case? No surprise.

But could you call a choker's move too if his teammate Dwayne Wade missed the lay-up in the dying seconds? Is that considered If somebody missed a potential game tying jumper? Or when he missed the second free throw that could've win the game?

But look, even Most Valuable Players and superstars and clutch players are just humans after all. Blame it on his body, condition, playing time, coaching and what-so-ever. Fatigue as a whole. Come on! You think Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett or even His Airness, Magic, Bird (and others) hadn’t suffered that at least once in their respective lives?

Well, you can always call him and them choking if that’s your opinion. Fine. But superstars are still players. Prone to mistakes though as expected, you can’t be wrong at crunch time. But, things happen and let’s face it. It's part of growing up. In case of the likes of James, It can't be done overnight.

Choking is part of a winner’s life. You can’t win them all if you hadn’t lost a game at once.

author: slick master | date: May 17, 2012 time: 10:52 a.m.

© 2012 september twenty-eight productions