We already know that Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James has had some issues with first-year head coach David Blatt.
We also know that Blatt almost blew Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals by attempting to call a timeout when Cleveland didn’t have one.
Deciding to take things into his own hands, James went against Blatt’s play call prior to his game-winning shot against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.
LeBron James on game-winner: "To be honest, the play that was drawn up, I scratched it."
— Jeff Zillgitt (@JeffZillgitt) May 10, 2015
To make matters even more interesting, the play originally called for James to inbound the ball. Yeah, inbound the ball.
Here are James’ full post-game comments regarding the final play.
To be honest, the play that was drawn up, I scratched it. I just told coach ‘give me the ball .’ We’re either going to go to overtime or I’m going to win it for us. It was that simple”, James Said, via Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated. “I was supposed to take the ball out. I told coach, ‘There’s no way I’m taking the ball out, unless I can shoot it over the backboard and it goes in.’ I told him, ‘Have somebody else take the ball out, give me the ball, and everybody get out of the way.”
Overruling the head coach ended up being the right decision for James, who hit a corner jumper to give the Cavaliers a much-needed Game 4 win to even up the series at two heading back to Cleveland for Game 5.
It might not sit well with Blatt, but who in the world makes the decision to have James inbound the ball in that situation?
Photo: USA Today Sports