I just caught the last six or so minutes of Game Two of the Orlando Magic-Cleveland Cavaliers Eastern Conference Finals, and I hope you did, too. It was NUTS. Beautiful basketball down the stretch from the Magic, who I seem to recall a certain reader supporting on his long and winding road to becoming a Nuggets fan. Anyway, Orlando Calrissian was hitting shots, and they seemed to know just how to cover LeBron: send absolutely everyone at him when he drives, and hope Mo Williams and The Big Z miss enough jumpers to keep it close. And it worked. Hedo Turkoglu hit a long three-pointer to tie the game at 93 with 48 seconds remaining. On the next possession LeBron appeared to take four steps on a drive and was actually called for it. For a second I thought it was some kind of defensive foul or something (wasn’t listening to the game sound), but no. (After the game Craig Sager asked LeBron if he had not argued the call because of fatigue, and James, to his credit, admitted he had travelled. To be fair he might have only taken three steps, but it looked like a foot was on the ground when he picked up his dribble.) Okay, again, anyway. The Magic are fouled and get the ball on the sideline with thirteen seconds left. I wasn’t super confident they’d get it done, but if they did, they’d be up 2-0 on the heretofore invincible Cavaliers! Hedo gets the ball on the right side, and drives into a crowd before launching an awkward, bending jumper that somehow falls in with a second left. Game over, Magic.
Except for a little fellow known as King James, who caught the ball behind the three point line, jumped, and fired a fadeaway three that rimmed in. And the Cavs salvage the split with a one-point win. Why isn’t anyone asking what makes his unstoppableness so unstoppable?
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That being said, that was probably the best/most clutch shot I've ever seen. I don't count the stupid Derek Fisher miracle shot aganist the Spurs because that was more luck than anything else, plus I'm almost positive they started the clock late. LeBron's three was more skill than just luck.
LeBron is turning into an amazing superstar. I've never seen an NBA superstar who has such a good relationship with his teammates. It's a stark contrast to Kobe who has speant the majority of his career "getting his". He truly makes all of his teammates better a lot like *gasp* Jordan.
LT
I don't think I would call it the most clutch shot I'd ever seen. Sean Elliott's Memorial Day Miracle comes to mind, as does Rex Chapman's crazy three. Reggie Miller hit a three to win Game Four of the '98 Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls which was pretty sweet. (You can find all of these on YouTube if you don't remember any.) And of course Jordan had some shots with Finals games on the line as well as countless others. I'm not sure why Derek Fisher's three shouldn't count just because he was lucky. And of course Timmy D had hit a huge one right before that Fisher shot. The Sports Guy called it one of the best shots ever and even made a list of others on his Twitter page.
LeBron is absolutely on fire in a way I haven't seen since maybe Jordan, though Duncan and maybe Dwyane Wade have had their moments, too.
The happiest guy in the world with that outcome has to be David Stern because his head remained intact for at least another game. Seriously, I think that guy's head will literally explode if there is a Denver-Orlando Finals.