The Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat had a game for the ages on Friday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. LeBron James and Jimmy Butler went shot for shot down the stretch of the fourth quarter with two all-time performance, the former finishing with 40 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists on 15-of-21 shooting and the latter notching his second triple-double of the Finals with 35 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
Despite the brilliant performances from the two superstars, the talking point after the game was about a shot from neither of them that didn’t go in. With the game, and a title, on the line late, the Lakers trailed 109-108 with 16 seconds left. James used a ball screen and drove into the lane, attracted nearly every Miami defender and kicked out to Danny Green for an open three.
Green, who has struggled from three in the series, missed the open look. Markieff Morris would corral the rebound but would throw the ball out of bounds on a pass attempt to Anthony Davis and the Heat eventually escaped with a 111-108 win.
There were many takes about that possession from the Lakers. Some insisted James should have shot the ball with the game on the line. Others criticized Green for missing the shot or Morris for turning the ball over late.
LaMelo Ball was one of those that had a reaction to the final play but his was different than most others.
one more swing corner to kcp 🤧
— Melo (@MELOD1P) October 10, 2020
Ball is referencing Green’s final shot and the option he should have made instead of shooting. A freeze-frame of the moment Green receives the Ball shows that a pass to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was possible.
With both Andre Iguodala and Tyler Herro closing on Green, Caldwell-Pope would have been open if Green made the pass. In the playoffs this season, Green is shooting 2-of-9 from three at the top of the key while Caldwell-Pope is shooting 13-of-29 from the left corner.
However, in the moment, it’s unreasonable to expect Green, who has made a career on shooting three-pointers, to pass up an open look like the one he got. Ultimately, it’s a make or miss league and the Lakers missed the biggest shot of the night.
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