»RELATED: Are the Cavs done after blowing chance to win Game 1?
The Warriors, predictably, steamrolled the Cavs in overtime, ending the competitive portion of what could have been another classic series. So many questions, starting with: Why did LeBron James give up the ball? LeBron played one of his greatest games: 51 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists. And still lost. I think this setback (and the next three) will make it easy for LeBron to leave Cleveland with a clear conscience and enter free agency. Why would he want to stick around and play with knuckleheads such as Smith?
This game shouldn't have come down to J.R.'s stupidity. The review of the charging call on Kevin Durant with 36 seconds left in regulation was something I've never seen, and I've seen a lot of basketball. I mean, these refs were as logical as the cops in Superbad. LeBron might have been moving, but it looked like a charge live, and LeBron's feet were outside that half circle thing. Play on. The Cavs were up two points and should've had the ball. So much for my son's theory that the NBA is fixed, because it would've been in the NBA's best interest to extend this series to six or seven games.
Other lingering questions from Game 1: Why wasn't LeBron or Jeff Green on the lane for the Hill free throws instead of the shorter Smith? Is Draymond Green the biggest basketball whiner since Danny Ainge? Why do these teams need two days off between games 1 and 2 and games 2 and 3? Oh, yeah. TV ratings.
The college baseball season is winding down. Wright State is taking on the big boys in an NCAA regional, which the Raiders seem to do every year. I love the regionals and the double-elimination format. Meanwhile, Sinclair Community College finished its season with an amazing 49-11 record and won two games at the JUCO Division II World Series in Oklahoma. Great local ball.
Trending up: Jeff Van Gundy/Mark Jackson, Will Power, Brady Singer. I enjoy the analysis provided by Van Gundy and Jackson during the NBA playoffs. These two are not afraid to tell it like it is. Van Gundy, a former coach, regularly calls out the Cavaliers for their suspect defense. That was in full view in Game 1. The Warriors struggled early from 3-point range, but they finished 33 of 54 on 2-point shots. That's 61 percent. Lots of layups and dunks.
Trending down: Jordan Clarkson, Clayton Kershaw, Houston Rockets. Clarkson, one of the guys the Cavs picked up when they traded Isaiah Thomas, looked terrified in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. He was 2 for 9 from the field and wasn't close on three 3-point attempts. He made shaky decisions with the ball in his hands, passing on open shots and forcing others. He used to play for the Lakers so you'd think the bright lights wouldn't scare him. They did.
Knucklehead of the Week
Twitter seems to be getting everyone in trouble these days, from washed-up actresses who can’t sing to NBA executives. Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo is the latest to take a hit because of bad behavior on social media. Colangelo reportedly had some “burner” Twitter accounts on which sensitive insider information was released. Also, 76ers star Joel Embiid was criticized for his off-court behavior. Nothing illegal, but questionable ethics. All fingers are pointing at Colangelo’s wife, Barbara Bottini, as being the tweeter in question. It is reasonable to assume she would have access to insider information and well as Colangelo’s private thoughts. It’s all about image, isn’t it?
About the Author