**NBA Finals Game 3 Thread**
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Lebron gave that ball up for the corner three there. He HAD to score. Then Irving went hero ball... Not going to cut it.
Man I kept thinking Cleveland would put it away but GS wouldn't give in. They just keep hitting those clutch shots.
![[banana]](https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/891/1682178.gif "banana [banana]")
You can't allow Durant to step into a walk up 3 when your up 2 with 45 seconds left that was criminal. Cavs had this game wrapped but made too many mistakes in the final minutes. Korver really needed to make that wide open 3 off the LeBron pass with about a minute left. That would put them up 5.
Also Cavs blew a chance for a 2 for 1 to end the game costing them any chance really to win it the best they could done was OT after bone heading it.
As a Cleveland fan this one is tough to take.
Also Cavs blew a chance for a 2 for 1 to end the game costing them any chance really to win it the best they could done was OT after bone heading it.
As a Cleveland fan this one is tough to take.
I wonder if the Cavs will win game 4. The Warriors have A LOT of pressure to finish off the 16-0 mark and make history. We have seen great teams wilt under that pressure of going after the undefeated mark in sports before. That said, the series was over before it began and Warriors in 5 worst case for them. I could see a close Cavs win in game 4 or the Warriors blowing them out by 10-15 points.
The role players had to do something tonight. Korver was awful; Smith finally hit some shots, but where was everyone else other than Kyrie and Lebron? Bench was 23-11 in favor of the Warriors. Durant made this team almost unbeatable. I think the Spurs healthy may have taken them to six (they would have taken game one). Johnny Jones could win a championship with this bunch (He would have gone 16-1). One team is able to hit wide open shots (it's the NBA), and the other team can't. Warriors may win by 40 in game four. The Warriors have nine players that would be in Cleveland's top 5.
I love "witnessing" individual greatness. I wanted so bad for LBJ to be better than Jordan or to at least match him. But, I'm sorry, he just isn't. Too many times at the end of the most important games, he doesn't take over.
The last 2 minutes of the game last night is the epitome of why LBJ is no MJ.
The last 2 minutes of the game last night is the epitome of why LBJ is no MJ.
I don't care who you think is better, but this is a stupid take on making your case. Jordan wouldn't have beat this current Golden State team in a series either. They are literally about to sweep and win out the entire playoffs. Last night they just set the longest playoff winning streak in the history of pro sports.
I readily admit I am NOT a Lebron fan but even with how great he is, he is fortunate to have won the titles he has considering the position he plays. He's a ball dominant 3-4 tweener who has made himself into an outstanding perimeter shooter but who can't control the game defensively.
No matter what people say about "position-less" basketball, a 3 is a scorer and perimeter defender and a 4 is a rebounder, low-post scorer and secondary defender. When you're a forward like Lebron you still need all the other parts to be great also.
GS's other advantage as mentioned previously is how woefully underpaid Curry is.
GSW we're beat last night, down 6 with 2 minutes left, all LBJ had to do was score . If he was the greatest ever he would have found a way to secure that win last night.
Jordan would have scored in the last 2 minutes on that defense to secure a win, GSW have no rim protection
Lebron had 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. To some, it will never be enough no matter what. Cleveland is a player short. Nobody is talking about Kevin Love and his 9 points. The big 3 for Golden State put up 87 points combined. Lebron and Kyrie went for 77. The more talented deeper team won.
lol. Things like this make me laugh. LeBron made the right basketball play when he kicked it out for a wide open three to one of the most efficient three point shooters in NBA history. If Korver makes that and they win, are you saying the same thing? Or are you commending LeBron for make the right play? This is a make or miss league, Korver missed the shot. LeBron could've tried to force one up through three defenders, but he didn't. If he drives the lane and missed, everyone is asking, "Why didn't LeBron kick it to the corner for a wide open three?" The guy can't win either way. Did Jordan make the right play when he passed it to a wide open Kerr to hit the game winner? Yes. And so did LeBron last night.
Your screen name explains this post perfectly.
There's too much wrong with this for me to dissect it in the amount of time I have right now.
I mean dayum, I gotta be to work in an hour.
How many of those 39 came in the last 2 minutes?
How many came in the last 5 minutes?
That's the difference between MJ and LBJ. LBJ has a long history of not coming through in the clutch. You wanna be the GOAT, you have to be able to will a win when your up 6 under 2 minutes. How bout defending Durant at the 3 point line next time. How bout instead of passing,l to Korver, score yourself. Irving and Durant were better in the closing minutes than LBJ last night
What is anyone in the NBA to do? The Cavs need someone like freaking Anthony Davis, but he's locked in with the Pels for several more years and seems very loyal to that organization.
But Kevin Love affected the game in so many other ways. Good defense in the post, getting pachulia and green in foul trouble, rebounding very well. He just missed shots, he didn't suck. And his lack of scoring was made up by JR Smith.
Here we go again with the MJ myth that he always shot the game winner, always made the game winner, was the most clutch player towards the end of playoff games. Do you research at all? Or do you just spew nonsense?
In the playoffs LeBron has taken 10 potential go-ahead shots in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime. He's connected on six of them (60%). Jordan was 5-of-11 in such situations during his career (45%).
In the playoffs, both LeBron and MJ have both hit 3 buzzer beaters to win a game. LeBron isn't done playing. LeBron has also made four go-ahead shots in the "final seconds" of playoffs games, per ESPN Stats & Info . Over the past 15 years, no one has hit more.
And I am sure you also think Kobe was more clutch and more of a "killer". LeBron is 8-of-18 (44%) on potential game-tying or go-ahead shots taken in the final 24 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime during postseason games, per ESPN. Bryant has hit 7-of-28 (25%).
And I get it, the MJ people will never be dissuaded, the LeBron people will never be dissuaded, the Magic people will never be dissuaded etc. etc.. It is what it is. But it has become now that the MJ mystique and legend are bigger than the actual player.
Youre missing the point, its not about hitting a last second shot, even though Jordan is the guy you want doing that
http://uproxx.com/dimemag/nba-most-clutch/5/
Its about controlling the game and willing your team to a victory. Not sure its something that can even be measured, but there is definitely an eye test, where people can see greatness when the game is on the line.
LeBron is great but he is no Jordan, Ive seen exactly what happened last night happen several times before to LeBron. In the closing minutes, not just the last seconds, LeBron does not come through as regularly as Jordan did
Statistically, Jordan is not the guy you want doing that. But keep pushing that agenda. You just gave me an article of one man's opinion, while I provided stats and facts that backed up my argument. Not to mention the "writer" of the article is a Chicago native. What do you think he would say?
You didn't really respond to his statement. You basically have your own definition of clutch (everyone does). That's one of the problem.
Anyways. Why are you talking about making shot when Lebron' most clutch moment last year is the blocked shot.
Also the point yesterday is who controls the pace at tight game when team can't seem to finish GSW.
Wow folks, GS is REALLY REALLY good. Cavs just don't have enough weapons to compete offensively and can't keep GS in check on the defensive end.
Like to think the Cavs wouldn't get swept in their own building, but wouldn't surprise me one bit at this point. GS smells blood in the water. They feel like they gave away a title last year.
Like to think the Cavs wouldn't get swept in their own building, but wouldn't surprise me one bit at this point. GS smells blood in the water. They feel like they gave away a title last year.
LeBron was +7 in the 46 minutes he was on the floor. The Cavs lost by 5. So in 120 seconds without LeBron the Cavs lost by 12. That's astounding. To say anything critical of LeBron's game/legacy last night is ridiculous. He made a bad play when Iggy stripped in the corner on what was a horrible play call by the Cavs. Other than that, he played incredible.
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I'm an eternal Jordan guy, but Lebron has to be a top 5 all-time player and the difference is marginal. They were 2 different types and if you subbed Jordan for Lebron, I really don't know if Cleveland would be faring any better. The Bulls never faced a team like Golden State to win their 6 titles. In fact (I admittedly had to look this up) they beat 5 different teams in those 6 years. It was always Chicago and all the rest.
Now, how would the Warriors be faring against the entire '96 Bills team? Well that would be interesting to see.
Now, how would the Warriors be faring against the entire '96 Bills team? Well that would be interesting to see.
Some of you all must think Robert Horry is the greatest of all time because of the amount of stock you put into being "clutch"...
Lebron did kind of fold up the last couple minutes. That's not very debatable. I've seen Lebron fold up like that plenty of times. That's not to say he isn't a too 5 player al time. I think he def is. He's a phenomenal talent and fun to watch. I think Jordan was def the more dependable player and better. Put Jordan on the cavs and they win last night imo. However they still wouldn't win this series. Gs is a good team and it will take a different pair from clevelands current team to beat them.
Exactly, you nailed it
Lebron is definitely top 5, but no way he is better than Jordan cause if Jordan was on the Cavs last night up 6 with 2 minutes left, Cavs win. Period.
Lebron is amazing, he just isnt Jordan. Thats no insult, just the way it is.
If you coached the Cavs last night and you had the option to play Jordon or Lebron the last 2 minutes of that game, every single one of you would have picked Jordon.
What was the +/- of Lebron last night in the last 2 minutes when the game was on the line
I think it was -9 , Jordan was to viscous and to relentless to have let that happen
I'll admit that I don't really follow or watch the NBA until the playoffs, but compared to GSW, Cleveland needs more than LBJ & Irving. GSW had at least 3 guys that could really hurt you.
Maybe if LBJ had talent surrounding him like the early 90's Bulls he would look a little more like Jordan.
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