“Arguably the GOAT”: Trail Blazers Star Wishes LeBron James Would Have Taken the Final Shot of Game 5

Published 10/10/2020, 1:53 AM EDT

The Los Angeles Lakers were one shot away from winning Game 5 of the NBA Finals. As LeBron James charged into the paint, he was triple-teamed and was forced to pass the ball. He found Danny Green who had acres of space but he missed what could have been the championship shot.

Blazers star CJ McCollum tweeted about this final play and defended Green, who is currently being massacred on social media.

People miss shots all the time man . Don’t do that . You talking about a guy who has hit big shots in finals with fans. On multiple occasions https://t.co/BwQ0D9JAfa
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) October 10, 2020

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Despite being guarded by three players, many expected LeBron to take the shot. But once again, McCollum said LeBron made the right play. But he added that, once the ball went to Danny Green, he knew the series would go to a Game 6. So he means that had it been any other player, it would have been the perfect play.

Good look, good shot. Folks won’t Bron to shoot over 3 people bc he arguably the 🐐 . He made the right play. Did I want him to shoot over 3 folks. Yes lol. But He good enough to score over a couple guys but wired to make smart plays and that’s a high% uncontested shot by a cham https://t.co/hletKjZ8nh
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) October 10, 2020

Did LeBron James make the wrong decision?

Finally, McCollum said he would have taken the shot in that situation.

I ain’t Bron lmao. But I’m always going out shooting 🤣. The right play in my mind is the fade away , especially when I got 40. There’s a reason why all players aren’t paid equally lol. Some people get paid to make those plays and live with them. Others hoping they dnt have to https://t.co/nsH829TI4D
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) October 10, 2020

McCollum’s teammate Damian Lillard also said he would it was the right play, but he would have taken the final shot if it were him.

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No… he made the right play… but I woulda shot on both they ass 🤷🏽‍♂️😂😂😂 https://t.co/DlXw0UWShq
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) October 10, 2020

After playing 42 minutes, LeBron was exhausted. He still made 4/7 shots in the final quarter, as he single-handedly kept them alive. But in that last play, he probably felt he wouldn’t be able to make the shot over three players. So it was the right decision to pass it to someone who is a reputed shooter.

The what-ifs are endless. What if he tried to force a shot and win free throws? What if he passed it to KCP in the other corner? Or, what if he just took a jump shot instead of driving in? This will certainly bother LeBron, but it could also fuel him to come back stronger next game.

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All eyes on the King.

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Written by:

Aaron Mathew is a sports analyst at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Mass Media from Xavier’s College, Aaron has been a part of EssentiallySports since May 2020 where he covers both NBA and NCAA basketball news, and has also covered NBA 2K. In the past, Aaron has worked at the Sports Desk of Mumbai Mirror.

“Arguably the GOAT”: Trail Blazers Star Wishes LeBron James Would Have Taken the Final Shot of Game 5

Did LeBron James make the wrong decision?

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