The stage could not have been set more perfect: a basketball prodigy, delivered to the Cavaliers to win a championship. But after seven hypefilled seasons, he stood, along with two other NBA greats, on a different stage, one filled with a new level of hype, excitement and celebration – all before NBA tipoff, and all out of Cleveland.

After seven seasons, the only titles Lebron James owned were his, like King James and Chosen One. But fear of name titles would be his only motivation to do whatever it took to win a real title, even at the risk of betraying his hometown. If he could not win in Cleveland, one name title would be branded on him forever: failure.

As it turns out, James was not the loveable player he seemed to be. As he boarded the easy train to title town, he crossed the state line of Ohio destined to join Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami, but more importantly the line of disappointment to betrayal.

That did not matter; losing was behind James now. It was smooth sailing to a championship and clear skies ahead in the eyes of Miami Heat’s “Big Three,” and they wasted no time counting championships from a stage to crowds of fans looking up to the three joyous smiles. Miami believed everything was going to be as easy as 1, 2, 3 – James, Bosh, Wade.

But fast-forward to March 9, witness the Heat’s intended smooth sail and it has been nothing but a modern day Titanic, sinking in Miami. After Sunday’s 87-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls, Miami fell to 1-9 against the NBA’s top-five teams and remain one loss away from the number of losses James had all season last year with Cleveland.

During an emotional post-game conference, the Heat made it apparent it realizes it is more of a sinking ship than a destined dynasty.

“We haven’t addressed the problem yet,” Bosh said. “We have to find the problem first.”

Fixing the problem will not be easy, though finding it is. How can you fix a lack of mental toughness? How can you coach being clutch players? You can’t. As of right now, the Heat are neither one of those two. It might have something to do with Miami being 1-16 in game-tying or game-winning shots made in the final 10 seconds this season. Might.

But it was only a regular season game; the team is still a top-seed contender in the East. The calendar says March means there is nothing to cry about, right? Wrong.

“This is painful for every single one of us going through this,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “There are a couple guys crying in the locker room right now.”

The last time I checked, James and Wade have won enough big games in their careers they should not have to hit the panic button yet. As for Bosh, someone needs to let him know there is a postseason. Crying is a little premature unless the problem is so irreparable it is bringing players to tears.

Between Wade’s childish anger and Bosh’s absolute honesty, James, who sacrificed the most to be in Miami, leaving his hometown and legacy, remained calm, as if he was in deep thought.

Maybe James is beginning to realize that it is not all about the destination, but rather the journey to win a title. The fact that athlete tears are best shed after overcoming struggles to win, and not in frustration – tears he could have shed only if he stayed in Cleveland.

Maybe he realizes that. Maybe not.

But for now, James stands on the high stage he created from his own bare hype along with his props, Bosh and Wade, both wearing shoes they created but have yet to fill. The only difference is James made himself the biggest shoes, clown-sized in comparison to his feet, and he is barely filling them. Now he fears falling off a stage of hype in the spotlight. Only problem is he is already fallen in many of our eyes, and if he listens close enough, he can already hear the world laughing at him.