Lebron James tries to be Michael Jordan but fakes like Derek Rose

Michael Jordan made a free throw with his eyes closed. Michael Jordan allegedly had a temerature of five thousand degrees and was on his death bed when he rose up to beat the Utah Jazz in an NFA Finals game. Lebron hears the folklore. He wants some of his own. So in Game 5 of Round 1 against the Bulls after securing a rebound and two shots, with only one needed to ice the game, Lebron had such things on his mind.

After hitting the first free throw to go up 96-92 with only 7.9 seconds left, Lebron decided to show off and shoot the second free throw left handed. When he bricked it all of the sudden, his right elbow was hurt. He had shown no signs of it to that point but he walked back to the bench holding his arm. And when he came out for the last meaningless defensive series, he acted like it was broke.

It was truly sad to watch him reach for his dreams of MJdom and then fake an injury when it did not happen. LBJ already had an MRI that showed no damage. So James can give up the dog and pony show already.

It was apropo that his little faking bout came against Derek Rose's Bulls. A couple years ago after Mario Chalmers busted a three in his face at the end of regulation in the NCAA Championship Game, Derek Rose could only think of faking an ankle injury. You can watch the video below. But back to LBJ. It is sad, because he is the best player on the planet. He does not need shenanigans to make people believe that.

Sad. Even Charles Barkley (and Kenny Smith) were critical of LBJ's pretend injury. Barkley noticed how James shot the first free throw without a problem and then all of the sudden shot lefty. He refuted the injury claim. "I don't understand that. What did it come off in the two seconds in between free throws," Barkley mused.

Joakim Noah has no love for Cleveland

Before Game 2 of their round 1 match-up with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Joakim Noah talked trash about Cleveland during an interview for TNT. Following the Bulls loss in Game 2, he was still unapologetic.

Top five 2009 NHL Playoffs story lines so far

1. New Jersey Devils blow Game 7 at home.

With a minute and 22 seconds left in Game 7 of their first round series, the New Jersey Devils led the Carolina Panthers 3-2 at home. But then every sports fans worst nightmare of choking away a Game 7 occured.

Martin Brodeur, possibly the greatest goalie in hockey history gave up two goals and the Panthers went on to win the series.



2. Ovechkin vs. Crosby.

Various sports marketers are desperate to turn the Alexander Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby rivalry into hockey's version of Magic vs. Bird. Finally the two met in a second round playoff match-up that went seven games, with Crosby coming up on top.

The seven game series was a nice way to officially begin hockey's most riveting rivalry. But the Penguins vs. Capitals still pales to Celtics vs. Lakers.

3. The 24-7 Daddies take a quick exit.

Last year, the Montreal Canadiens continued their run as the most dominating team of a Boston franchise, even surpassing the New York Yankees dominance of the Boston Red Sox. This year the Bruins took a measure of revenge, by sweeping the Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs. The series win puts the series victories tally at 24 and eight for the Bruins. Thus Bruins fans can no longer call the Canadiens their '24-7 Party Daddies.' But they do know who their daddies are.

4. Charles Barkley calls Alexander Ovechkin the best athlete in sports (click here).

5. Game Sevens qued up for the last three Stanley Cup Winners.

The defending champion Detroit Red Wings will host the Anaheim Ducks in Game 7 of the 2009 Western Conference Semifinals. The Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007.

Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers, who won the Stanley Cup in 2006, hope to become the Boston Bruins surrogate daddies and beat them in a game 7 at Boston after they were unable to close out the Bruins at home. Could we see a repeat of another late minute game 7 comeback from the Panthers?

Picture: Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals