The Left Handed Free Throw

[moiso]

Definitely show boating- please look at me... but honestly I could picture Paul doing the same thing if the game was in the bag.

[guava_wrench]

I know there are a bunch of Lebron threads circulating the Forums today, but I wanted to focus specifically on the ridiculousness of the left handed free throw.

For those who may not have seen it; in the waning seconds of yesterdays games against the Bulls Lebron went to the line with the Cavs up 3.  Wincing away he sunk the first, then missed the 4th while shooting it lefty to take pressure off of his ailing right elbow.

Now, I've been pretty ambivalent about Lebron's spoiled bratty behavior over the years, but this one seemed like a really silly act.  If your arm is hurting that much you should come out of the game.  Let the opponent choose a player to shoot the second free throw with their good arm.

I know the game was out of reach, and maybe it made sense to miss it on purpose anyhow, but Lebron was trying to MAKE IT.  It just was a really goofy thing to do that took the focus off of the team winning the series and put it squarely on Lebron.

I'm not on the Lebron hate bandwagon completely.  I just don't get the motivation for this one.  Did he think it was heroic?

Why let them choose who will shoot when you may be the best defensive player on your team. Stay in the game. At worst, you lose one point.

Amazing that so many posts have been spent speculating on this.

[guava_wrench]

From what I gathered he tried to signal to Mike Brown to call a timeout and the Coach didn't want to use up the remaining one.

Doesn't make a difference if people want to hate.

[nickagneta]

When time was called after he missed the lefty shot, Mike Brown was visibly upset with him shooting it lefty and LeBron just brushed him aside and went and sat down like it was nothing. Gave me a pretty clear picture of two things:

1.) LeBron was trying to showboat and even show up the Bulls a little bit and

2.) Mike Brown has no control over LeBron and it is LeBron that really runs that team.(This I already pretty much knew but this was proof in the open.)

[Redz]

I know there are a bunch of Lebron threads circulating the Forums today, but I wanted to focus specifically on the ridiculousness of the left handed free throw.

For those who may not have seen it; in the waning seconds of yesterdays games against the Bulls Lebron went to the line with the Cavs up 3.  Wincing away he sunk the first, then missed the 4th while shooting it lefty to take pressure off of his ailing right elbow.

Now, I've been pretty ambivalent about Lebron's spoiled bratty behavior over the years, but this one seemed like a really silly act.  If your arm is hurting that much you should come out of the game.  Let the opponent choose a player to shoot the second free throw with their good arm.

I know the game was out of reach, and maybe it made sense to miss it on purpose anyhow, but Lebron was trying to MAKE IT.  It just was a really goofy thing to do that took the focus off of the team winning the series and put it squarely on Lebron.

I'm not on the Lebron hate bandwagon completely.  I just don't get the motivation for this one.  Did he think it was heroic?

Why let them choose who will shoot when you may be the best defensive player on your team. Stay in the game. At worst, you lose one point.

Amazing that so many posts have been spent speculating on this.

is he still their best defender with one arm rendered useless?

[cornbreadsmart]

if lebron is running things in cleveland than is HE the bad coach?

[neyvit]

When time was called after he missed the lefty shot, Mike Brown was visibly upset with him shooting it lefty and LeBron just brushed him aside and went and sat down like it was nothing. Gave me a pretty clear picture of two things:

1.) LeBron was trying to showboat and even show up the Bulls a little bit and

2.) Mike Brown has no control over LeBron and it is LeBron that really runs that team.(This I already pretty much knew but this was proof in the open.)

I'm sorry, but this is plain wrong.  Brown was not "visibly upset."  What happened is that Lebron tried to ask Brown if he can call out a timeout between free throws (while he was at the far free throw line), Brown couldn't understand what he was saying so couldn't respond.  When Lebron was walking back to the free throw, he explained to Brown what he was trying to do.

As for showboating? Maybe.  Lebron likes to play up the dramatics, so that's very possible.  But I don't think a leftie free throw that he KNEW had little chance of going in is really what I would consider "showboating."  I think he was just trying to play up his injury a bit more.

[incoherent]

Is it worse then doing push-ups at the free throw line in between tosses?  Probably....

[moiso]

When time was called after he missed the lefty shot, Mike Brown was visibly upset with him shooting it lefty and LeBron just brushed him aside and went and sat down like it was nothing. Gave me a pretty clear picture of two things:

1.) LeBron was trying to showboat and even show up the Bulls a little bit and

2.) Mike Brown has no control over LeBron and it is LeBron that really runs that team.(This I already pretty much knew but this was proof in the open.)

I'm sorry, but this is plain wrong.  Brown was not "visibly upset."  What happened is that Lebron tried to ask Brown if he can call out a timeout between free throws (while he was at the far free throw line), Brown couldn't understand what he was saying so couldn't respond.  When Lebron was walking back to the free throw, he explained to Brown what he was trying to do.

As for showboating? Maybe.  Lebron likes to play up the dramatics, so that's very possible.  But I don't think a leftie free throw that he KNEW had little chance of going in is really what I would consider "showboating."  I think he was just trying to play up his injury a bit more.

showboating is basically attention seeking.  Playing up an injury is also attention seeking.  Same thing in my opinion.  Have your first TP!