Written by Andy | 08 March 2011

Bridget Samuels/FlickrWith the score tied and the clock ticking down, LeBron James came up big for his club against the Bulls, scoring a clutch lay-up with 8:22 left in the 1st quarter to secure a 6-4 lead for the Miami Heat.

"When we need a big bucket early in games, we can always count on LeBron," said Heat coach Eric Spoelstra. "From the time he put us up 6-4, we held the lead until Chicago tied it early in the fourth, and eventually won by a point after LeBron missed a wild shot after driving out of control down the lane. But I give [LeBron] all the credit for giving us momentum with that big-time lay-up halfway through the first quarter."

Heat teammates have become accustomed to LeBron putting the Heat in front, or even extending the lead when the game is on the line in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and even the first part of the 4th quarter.

"Sometimes, right around halftime, he'll hit a long jumper or run the floor on a fast break and finish with a thunderous crowd-pleasing dunk," said small forward James Jones. "It's a testament to his mental toughness that he doesn't give in to the pressure when we're up eight or ten points and there's only half of the game left."

"The great thing about Lebron is that he wants the ball in those situations," added guard Mario Chalmers. "He wants to put on a show when we're already way ahead."

LeBron agreed that he is at his best when the Heat have a double-digit lead, particularly early in games before he starts to get tired.

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