Too many chances

By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- They can’t say they didn’t have the opportunities. The Cavaliers had multiple chances at the end of the game to take the lead and failed to do so. But it was a first half decision that truly cost them the game.
Late in the first half Cleveland had a 38-30 advantage, and appeared to be in control of the game. LeBron James picked up his third personal foul, and Mike Brown quickly yanked him from the game. Bad move. You have to live and die by your star player- which means trusting him to stay on the floor in any situation. The team cannot afford to lose him for four minutes; it just can’t happen. Who is going to score the points? That move enabled the Spurs to end the half on a 10-0 run and go into the locker room with all of the momentum.
Then, in the closing seconds of the game, the Cavs had another opportunity to tie the game. But guess who took the shot? Anderson Varajeo. Think about that for a minute. The season is on the line and a guy that averages less than seven points a game in the postseason is taking the shot? I completely understand why he did it. He wanted to be the hero- the guy everybody will be talking about for days to come. But now he will be talked about for a reason he failed to think about. Just make the simple play and pass the ball back out to LeBron. It was clear late in the game that James was the only one who wanted the ball anyway.
On a more positive note, Cleveland should be commended for an outstanding effort. The Cavs shot the ball horribly, 3-19 from the 3-point line, and the Spurs couldn’t miss from downtown (10-19). I mean how many times did Brent Barry and Bruce Bowen just find an opening and knock down a killer three? But the Cavs kept coming back. Sasha Pavlavic hit two big 3’s late, and the team battled on the defensive end. But in the end, it was not meant to be.
Everybody will be talking about LeBron James getting fouled at the end of the game: and yes it clearly was a foul, but it was not called. That foul did not really affect James’ shot, so it becomes a non-issue. Should it have been called- absolutely. But it was not; leaving the entire town of Cleveland wondering “what if”.