Michael Jordan made a free throw with his eyes closed. Michael Jordan allegedly had a temerature of five thousand degrees and was on his death bed when he rose up to beat the Utah Jazz in an NFA Finals game. Lebron hears the folklore. He wants some of his own. So in Game 5 of Round 1 against the Bulls after securing a rebound and two shots, with only one needed to ice the game, Lebron had such things on his mind.
After hitting the first free throw to go up 96-92 with only 7.9 seconds left, Lebron decided to show off and shoot the second free throw left handed. When he bricked it all of the sudden, his right elbow was hurt. He had shown no signs of it to that point but he walked back to the bench holding his arm. And when he came out for the last meaningless defensive series, he acted like it was broke.
It was truly sad to watch him reach for his dreams of MJdom and then fake an injury when it did not happen. LBJ already had an MRI that showed no damage. So James can give up the dog and pony show already.
It was apropo that his little faking bout came against Derek Rose's Bulls. A couple years ago after Mario Chalmers busted a three in his face at the end of regulation in the NCAA Championship Game, Derek Rose could only think of faking an ankle injury. You can watch the video below. But back to LBJ. It is sad, because he is the best player on the planet. He does not need shenanigans to make people believe that.
Sad. Even Charles Barkley (and Kenny Smith) were critical of LBJ's pretend injury. Barkley noticed how James shot the first free throw without a problem and then all of the sudden shot lefty. He refuted the injury claim. "I don't understand that. What did it come off in the two seconds in between free throws," Barkley mused.
Sad. Even Charles Barkley (and Kenny Smith) were critical of LBJ's pretend injury. Barkley noticed how James shot the first free throw without a problem and then all of the sudden shot lefty. He refuted the injury claim. "I don't understand that. What did it come off in the two seconds in between free throws," Barkley mused.