A media firestorm erupted Thursday night and Friday after Miami’s 110-95 loss to the San Anotonio Spurs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. But the score isn’t what set everyone off, it was the fact that LeBron James had to carried off the court due to ‘cramping’ midway through the fourth with the Heat trailing 94-92.
Consequentially the Spurs closed out the game on a 31-9 run taking a 1-0 series lead.
So of course afterward we begin to hear the heat (no pun) directed toward’s LeBron implying the guy can’t take the pressure of a high-stress situation like Game 1. Hell, Gatorade even got their shots in which were actually pretty damn funny:
https://twitter.com/Gatorade/statuses/474768170268758016
https://twitter.com/Gatorade/statuses/474761388125323264
With a game this hot, we're right at home. #WinFromWithin #NBAFinals
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 6, 2014
Can we really question LeBron’s toughness though? Yes the AC wasn’t working inside the AT&T center which had to be absolute hell on a June night in San Antonio. We’re also going to immediately hear, “well Jordan played through the flu” which is the case but why can’t we take LeBron’s injury simply for what it is, really bad cramps? First I think LeBron at the point is the last player that has to prove himself on the basketball court, especially in the playoffs. This isn’t the end of this time with Cleveland when he couldn’t deliver the Championship or even his first year in Miami.
Lets also not forget that despite leaving early LeBron still played 33 total minutes which was the second most on his team behind Chris Bosh who played 34. James also led all scorers with 25 points. So where’s the blame for Wade and Bosh?