LeBron indeed delivers the KO
THE BIGGEST shot that stopped the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the closing seconds of the last NBA Finals was scored by the phenomenal Keyrie Irving, who connected a golden three-pointer from right quartercourt.
That’s the hottest, most popular win-win frame captured by the television camera from the Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sunday (Monday in Manila). The whole world clearly saw that shot.
Correction. Yesterday, a report from Cleveland revealed that it was indeed LeBron James, not Keyrie, who delivered the killer blow that toppled Golden State for good in the all-or-nothing Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
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It was not a basket. It was a heart-stopping shot block.
Unlike the Irving key three-pointer off Stephen Curry though, not everybody was able to witness LeBron’s heroic rejection that also paved the way for the succeeding key Cleveland basket.
An Associated Press report from Cleveland said James’ all-around epic effort “will long be remembered for his chase-down block of Warriors forward Andre Iguodola in the final minutes.”
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LeBron’s phantom move, added the AP account, “seemed to erase so many bad memories in Cleveland.”
Correct. But, more than the dismal setback suffered by the Cavaliers against Golden State at home in the culminating Game 6 of last year’s NBA Finals, LeBron’s fantastic rejection of Iguodola ultimately made up for the sorry start by Cleveland in this year’s championship duel.
For the record, James was an unwilling contributor to that sordid start that left Cleveland practically struggling from the floor, as Golden State soared on trouble-free, 2-0.
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Of course, it was down but not yet out for Cleveland as it took Game 3 at home (2-1) by a whooping 30 points; before being beaten again in Game 4 as Golden State scooted up 3-1.
Everything did look hopelessly lost for the Cavaliers. No team in NBA history had ever wiggled off a dark 3-1 Finals hole to win the championship.
Now, that’s old story. The dark record had been gloriously obliterated by Cleveland and there’s only one fellow coach Tyronn Lue could turn to and thank for everything.
Lue said James had a great heart and that “great things happen to great people.”
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Before that, Lue would explain that he was particularly amazed at how James took hold of the game in the most trying moments of Game 7.
James, who had been accused of choking in past failed finishes, was a complete wonder worker.
He was serene. He was in full control of himself and the wild, wild game in the greatest knockout performance of his life.
