The NBA Finals ended with a sweep for the Golden State Warriors. SPOX and DAZN followed up on star journalist Stephen A. Smith (ESPN), who took the Cleveland Cavaliers to court and did not spare any criticism of LeBron James.
SPOX/DAZN: Stephen A., the Warriors have won their second championship in a row. Didn’t that seem a little easy to you this time in the finals?
Stephen A. Smith: Game 4 was of course very disappointing, but the first three games it was a fight. Game 2 looked very easy too, but that was mainly due to Steph Curry’s explosion. Cleveland tried everything, but it wasn’t enough. In game one, we all know what happened. In game 3 the Cavs fought, but LeBron didn’t have his best game. In game 4 they gave away completely, it was awful and embarrassing of the Cavs. That was unworthy of a champion and a little later we hear about the broken hand of LeBron. I don’t deny that this is true, but I don’t want to hear such excuses right after the game.
You also have to look at the many defensive mistakes, I mean the many backdoor cuts, fastbreak casuals, completely open threesomes. There were way too many defensive dropouts. The coach can be questioned, the players’ stake or LeBron can be questioned, Game 3 was not aggressive enough and gave up a bit too early in Game 4. It was a disappointing performance. One champion was on the field and behaved like one, while the other team almost refused to stand up. This was one of the most embarrassing finals I have ever seen and I saw teams lose with 40 points. Even these teams were not as lacking as they were today.
SPOX/DAZN: Do you have an explanation?
Smith: You lost Game 3 and knew that the finals were almost over. They had probably already booked their vacation. They probably didn’t want to go back to the Oracle Arena and see how the Warriors would celebrate the title in their hall.
SPOX/DAZN: Are you saying that the Cavs lost on purpose?
Smith: No, that’s not what I mean, but they let themselves down. They must have said to each other that they gave everything in the first three games, but it wasn’t enough. It may be easier to understand when you look back at the past year when Kyrie Irving was still playing for the Cavs. The Cavs had a chance. He scored 38 points in game 3 and 40 in the next game, but this time there was no one who could help LeBron. Combined with LeBron not being at 100 percent.
He played a lot of passes with his left hand, so it’s easy to tell that he was injured. The Warriors were the better team, were altruistic, played well together, hit their threesomes and ran their sets better. They looked like a basketball team, while on the other side there was only a collection of individualists on the field. One half wanted to play, the other couldn’t. It’s as simple as that.
SPOX/DAZN: You last said this would never have happened with Michael Jordan…
Smith: Definitely not. He probably would have shot someone at half-time. He would have strangled, beaten, or done something else. He wouldn’t have hit the tactical board, he would have hit the players. That’s how I know Michael Jordan. I’m not going to start an MJ vs. LeBron discussion here, though, because I continue to believe that this is simply not a comparison. If you reach the finals at 3-5, you don’t need to compete with someone at 6-0.
Jordan is not 8-0 only because he took a time-out in the meantime and took a two-year break. I have no problem with that, because I know what a killer and competitor Michael was and the doggedness with which he played. There were no other players under him who gave up prematurely. He would have prevented it, that’s what he stood for. He would have hurt someone before – during the game.
SPOX/DAZN: So what happens to these Cleveland Cavaliers?
Smith: LeBron will go, I’m sure.
SPOX/DAZN: And what about the Cavs?
Smith: Nobody will be interested in her any more. Without LeBron James, they’re a lottery team, we all know that. This also speaks for the quality of LeBron James as a player that he led this team into the finals. The only thing that bothers me is the performance of Game 4, not his season or his entire career. We have to salute him for his talent in leading this team to the finals, for being the best player at the moment and for his generation. But he is also responsible for Kyrie wanting this squad to be put together or for the contracts of some players. LeBron has to take the fall for that, too.
Of course LeBron didn’t ask Kyrie to leave, owner Dan Gilbert did, although Irving still had two years contract. But it makes a difference whether you want to hold a player with all your might or say that you understand when you hand him in. It’s like a girl. Either they say,’Please don’t leave me’ or’I don’t want you to leave me, but I won’t stop you either.’ That’s why LeBron has to take responsibility for Irving’s trade. It’s sad to see LeBron in the finals in this situation, but there’s no denying that he also played his part.
SPOX/DAZN: Let’s talk about the final MVP. Kevin Durant got the trophy again and again not Stephen Curry. Do you understand the decision?
Smith: I think so. After his 43-point performance, he also added a triple double in game 4. He was also good out of the field in game 2 with 26 points at 10/14, only in game 1 he was clearly dominated by LeBron. But after that he was sensational and deserved it. I wouldn’t have minded curry either. Both had three outstanding games, Curry was only in game 3 with 1/10 from a distance not good. Durant tried to support Curry all the time in Game 4 to win the MVP award, but that didn’t work.