Over matched Miami Heat almost came back to beat the LA Lakers on a Nationally televised game on Sunday. Twice, on this road trip, the Lakers failed to win in the end, and continued to follow a trend that seemed to be set in stone. Late game, non-heroics, leading to Lakers lose.

Coaches called it "poor end of the game execution." Fans called it a lack of nerves. After Kobe Bryant , no one was willing to take the Big Shot. You know, the one a person dreams of taking, and making as a kid. Apparently, the Lakers players not named Kobe, never had that dream.

But against the Heat a new hero emerges. It's late in the game, with the pressure on, and Miami on a desperate tear to regain the lead and win. Luke Walton finds himself on the right baseline with a partial lane to the basket open. Luke's first thought, I'm sure is to find Kobe, but Kobe is covered. Luke then puts his head down like a bull and drives to the basket.

'With that shot and make, Pau Gasol in a small way, just lifted the spirits and hopes of an eager Lakers Nation'

Every Lakers Fan screamed Nooooo!! imagining a Luke charge or worse, another clown-like off-balanced missed shot. We knew we had lost another game. But Luke stopped to avoid a charge, saw a thin opening, and passed across the key to Pau Gasol. Pau with his back to the basket now, calmly set his feet, tried not to force his way into the lane against a smaller defender, and took a short hook shot.

The question was asked and debated on Lakers Nation blogs after the Detroit defeat. Kobe was doubled without the ball. A Lamar Odom option failed and Lakers fans shook their collective heads.

Who, besides Kobe, can take the big pressure shot with the game on the line? The Lakers, if they want to progress in the play-offs need another option, a "go to" guy. Most play-off games are close, especially with the competitive Wild West of the NBA.