Close Article Return to stream X
NBA

Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James Nearly Cost His Team Game 3

+Read full article
Getty Images

Getty Images

LeBron James nearly threw the game when he quit on his teammates with less than 30 seconds to go in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday night.

With 33 seconds left in the game and the Cleveland Cavaliers trailing by a point, Iman Shumpert grabbed a DeMarre Carroll miss and quickly found James. As James stormed up the court, he was met by Jeff Teague. While trying to avoid Teague, James lost his footing, the ball and his cool in a matter of seconds. The Atlanta Hawks took control of the ball with less than 30 seconds and raced up the floor. Instead of hustling back on defense, James spent the next 10 seconds in the backcourt throwing a tantrum and demanding a foul be called. This left his teammates a man down for arguably the most important possession of the game.

Luckily for the King, Tristan Thompson and the ineptitude of the Hawks bailed him out. Thompson continued his stellar postseason with a game-saving block on Mike Scott. Not Teague, not Carroll and not Paul Millsap. Scott, a reserve who before Game 2 played in just one of the last six Hawks games, ended up with the ball in his hands. That’s where the Hawks’ ineptitude comes in.

Instead of moving the ball around and forcing the Cavaliers to actually defend five players with four, Scott bailed out the defense by attacking a well-protected basket. Had the Hawks actually tried to move the ball, they would have eventually found an open man and got a much better shot.

Was James fouled by Teague? Possibly, there was certainly contact around the legs, but it was not as egregious as James made it out to be. That’s not the point. His team was less than 30 seconds away from defeat and instead of helping them get a key defensive stop, he’s complaining about a borderline foul call. It’s Game 3 of the Conference Finals and James flat out refused to play defense.

He had no problem playing through various injuries all game — which he made sure to advertise any chance he got — but he couldn’t play through what he perceived to be a missed call.

James has not been shy in pointing out that he is the leader of this team, but he was far from that late Sunday night. What kind of leader abandons his troops? Maybe he has so much confidence in his teammates that he knew they could get a defensive stop despite being outnumbered. Let’s face it, LeBron’s ego got the best of him in that moment and it almost cost his team.

Derek McVay is a Boston Celtics beat writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @mcvay34, or add him to your network on Google.

Your Favorites
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
NBA Videos

LeBron's Sons Are Breaking Ankles and Taking Names

LeBron James' sons, LeBron Jr. (11) and Bryce (8), are absolutely destroying youth basketball right now. As evidenced by this epic video, King James has done an excellent job at ensuring his offspring follow in his footsteps of greatness.

Comment 0 Comments
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
NBA Videos

LeBron James Loses His Mind After Kyrie Irving Nails Epic Three

The Cleveland Cavaliers made mincemeat out of the Los Angeles Clippers in their own building on Sunday, defeating Doc Rivers' bunch by a score of 114-90. Along the way, Kyrie Irving nailed an incredibly difficult three with a hand in his face and ultimately fell to the hardwood. Teammate LeBron James couldn't believe it and lost his ever-loving mind afterward.

Comment 0 Comments