LeBron can depart with a free conscience if this is the last farewell.
Cleveland On Friday night, at 11:20 p.m., long after the majority of Cavs supporters had turned off the television, LeBron James checked out of Game 4 of the NBA Finals for what may have been the final time, and Cedi Osman checked in for the first time.
With 4:03 remaining and trailing the Golden State Warriors 102-77, the Cavaliers’ moment was marred by a standing ovation and cries of “M-V-P! M-V-P!”
The season has come to an end. After 1,001 games, 27,692 points, five Finals appearances, and one of the greatest NBA titles ever, his Cavaliers career probably ended as well.
It was only a small nitpick if Cavaliers supporters had hoped for a little bit more from him in the season’s last game, which was a relatively quiet 23 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. On Friday, the Warriors almost challenged anybody save James to defeat them, and their plan of attack was flawless. James made 7 of 13 shots. The remaining players were just 23 of 74, and many of their misses came after James made a pass.
His teammates didn’t look well. He just seemed worn out. Why was clear to see. It was difficult to anticipate more from a man who navigated the Eastern Conference and his ninth consecutive Finals with arguably the poorest group of teammates since 2007.
During the postseason, no NBA player was superior.
There have never been many greater.
James left his teammates to congratulate the Warriors after the game, standing off to the side and removing the towel from his neck as he left the court and entered the locker room. (When he checked out of the game, he had already done so.) Kevin Durant won the MVP award for the second year in a row. The Warriors were motivated to sign Durant after James wrecked their record 2016 campaign.
This Finals run further cemented James’s position in history; nevertheless, with his prime years diminishing, he realizes he cannot afford many more series like this and must quit. Is there anyone who would mind watching him next season tossing George Hill or Jordan Clarkson pinpoint passes? Does anyone believe that there’s a move that the Cavaliers can execute to get closer to the Warriors?
