??? #WhateverItTakes pic.twitter.com/AkHxJknJDY
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 26, 2018
1. The new block and shot
The Cavaliers appeared to be in trouble after a jumper from Domantas Sabonis tied the game up at 95 with 33 seconds remaining.
As the Cavs came down to the other end, James lost the ball out of bounds giving the Pacers ample time to try and manufacture a game-winning play. Oladipo appeared to have the Cavs and their star right where he wanted them, as he beat James down the middle for what would be two easy points against most players.
James is, of course, not most players, and was able to pin the ball against the backboard to prevent the bucket.
Oladipo beats LeBron off the dribble but LeBron recovers for the block. pic.twitter.com/GXYgCPItUi
— RealGM (@RealGM) April 26, 2018
“I just try to make plays like that all the time,” James said. “He made a heck of a move– got me leaning right and he went left. I just tried to use my recovery speed and get back up there and make a play for the ball.”
After the game, Oladipo said he thought the play should have been a goaltending call, but the referees did not see it that way. From there, the Cavs called a timeout with three seconds remaining.
Green inbounded the ball from the right baseline, and James took two dribbles to his left to put up a game-winner from the top of the key that was reminiscent of his one from 2009 in the playoffs against the Orlando Magic.
“I just trusted what I’ve always worked on,” James said. “As a kid, you always have those 3, 2, 1 moments, and being able to have one of those moments, that’s what it kind of felt like. It felt like I was a kid all over again, just playing basketball at my house.”
James ended the game with 44 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
LeBron on the last two possessions. Says when he made that shot he felt like a little kid again. pic.twitter.com/0kardgYJAD
— Ashley Bastock (@AshleyBastock42) April 26, 2018
Recent Comments