NBA: Warrior godfather.

Chapter 150: Why Didn't James Pass the Ball Earlier?



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A butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rainforest can trigger a storm in distant Texas—this is the "butterfly effect." The Warriors' victory over the Cavaliers was like a small butterfly flapping its delicate wings, creating widespread repercussions after the game.

In the offseason trade market, the Warriors and Cavaliers are the two most eye-catching teams.

The Cavaliers had exhausted all the chips in their hands, pushed their future onto the gambling table, and gave everything they had for a championship.

The Warriors, on the other hand, had almost completely emptied their roster, trading all their capable veterans and core perimeter players for a large number of draft picks. The team was now full of rookies and had entered a complete rebuilding phase.

And the chips they gave up went to the other side.

Before this game, everyone thought the Cavaliers would win, expecting a night of drama featuring "The King Reigns Supreme" and "Monta Ellis Gets Revenge on His Former Team."

Hardly anyone was optimistic about the Warriors. Although their record had exceeded expectations, the Cavaliers' 9-1 start showcased absolute dominance.

But the final result was that the rebuilding team defeated the defending champions, and the rookie defeated the superstar.

This was just a regular season game, but it wasn't just a regular season game.

The external view of both teams changed significantly because of this game. This shift was first reflected in the post-game interviews.

As the losing team, the Cavaliers were the first to face the media, with Mike Brown and LeBron James answering questions.

Reporters directed their microphones toward James:

"LeBron, you scored 41 points in this game but still lost. What do you think was the reason?"

James, having regained his composure, responded calmly:

"The Warriors are a very strong team. We did our best, but they were better, that's all."

"Aside from you, the next highest scorer for the Cavaliers was Mo Williams with 15 points. Are your teammates holding you back?" another reporter asked.

James' expression soured:

"Of course not. They also gave their best effort."

"Then what was the reason for the Cavaliers' loss?"

"...We just weren't lucky."

"But the Warriors are just a rebuilding team, and the Cavaliers are aiming for a championship. You scored 41 points, yet the Cavaliers still lost. Does this mean that the Cavaliers' previous 9-1 record was overrated?" another reporter asked sharply.

James' face grew darker. After a moment of thought, he replied:

"I don't think so. While the Warriors are rookies, they are third in the Western Conference standings. They are definitely not a weak team. Curry is a powerful player. He scored 34 points today. I think he's already a star. Losing to such a strong opponent is normal for the Cavaliers."

Suppressing his discomfort, he complimented his opponent, who had just beaten him. If he didn't want to admit weakness, he had no choice but to acknowledge his opponent's strength.

But James knew that if he hadn't been affected by Liam Gonzalez's pregame comments and had seamlessly combined personal offense with team coordination, the Warriors wouldn't have had a chance.

Monta Ellis, the Cavaliers' second-highest scorer with an average of 22 points per game, managed only 14 points in this game and had few opportunities to shine against his former team.

James had shackled half of his own offensive power, negating the Cavaliers' advantage of having more scoring options. When his teammates finally needed to step up, it was already too late.

Meanwhile, the Warriors had fully utilized their run-and-gun style, exploiting the Cavaliers' defensive weaknesses and playing more as a team, ultimately winning the game.

Just as James reflected on everything, a reporter asked another question:

"LeBron, you chose to pass the ball twice in the final moments. Can this be seen as avoiding responsibility?"

James' face turned grim:

"I was facing a double-team at that moment, and it was clearly a better opportunity to pass to an open teammate. I simply made the most correct judgment."

"But you rarely passed the ball in the first 46 minutes. Why start passing in the final moments?"

James' expression turned stormy:

"I've made myself clear. I simply made the best decision. That's how I play! If there are no further questions, I'm leaving."

With that, he nodded slightly to the reporters and left. Mike Brown quickly followed, his demeanor making it seem like James was the head coach and just another player on the Cavaliers.

The reporters exchanged puzzled looks.

Many had questioned James' decision to pass in the final moments, but his overly defensive reaction this time was surprising.

The reporters didn't know that James was irked by Liam Gonzalez's pregame remarks, but they understood that his reaction would draw attention, and that was enough for them.

After the Cavaliers' interviews, it was the Warriors' turn. Liam Gonzalez and Curry stepped into the spotlight.

The reporters first asked Curry a few questions before shifting their focus to Liam.

Everyone knew Curry was a likable figure off the court. But for fiery comments and headlines, Liam was the man to watch.

Liam's pregame remarks had already caused a stir. With the Warriors winning the game, the reporters eagerly awaited his postgame take.

"Coach Liam, congratulations to the Warriors on tonight's victory. Do you have anything to say about it?"

"I'm thrilled to have defeated the league's top player. It fully demonstrates our strength. I believe no one will doubt that the Warriors' record is no fluke," Liam said with a smile.

"Are you saying the Warriors will make the playoffs as the third seed in the Western Conference?" the reporter asked eagerly.

"No, the Warriors' goal is simply to make the playoffs. I'm not concerned about seeding," Liam replied calmly.

"Curry scored 34 points tonight and was already fourth in the scoring rankings before this game. What do you think about his performance?"

"He's a true star. I believe the voters should break their bias and select him for the All-NBA Team and All-Star Game. He deserves these honors," Liam confidently endorsed Curry.

"Who do you think is to blame for the Cavaliers' loss tonight—James for passing in the final moments or Monta Ellis for missing critical three-pointers?" a reporter asked pointedly.

Liam thought for a moment and responded with a perplexed expression:

"I don't understand why James didn't pass the ball earlier. Although I traded Monta to the Cavaliers, I still think he's a very capable player. He's had a strong season. James controlled the ball for most of the game and shifted the blame to his teammates in the final moments. I don't think that's a reasonable approach. He should take responsibility as a leader."

The reporters burst into laughter, sensing the boldness of Liam's comments and the potential fallout. It was a clear shot at James and a direct dig at the Cavaliers.

...

The next day, James sat in his Washington hotel room, reading major media coverage of last night's game.

Washington Post:

"Warriors Defeat the Cavaliers: Curry Posts a 34+11 Double-Double, James Scores 41 in Vain. Cavaliers' Defensive Flaws Could Haunt Them in the Playoffs."

James nodded, thinking the analysis made sense.

Sports Illustrated:

"'The King Falls to the Number Two Pick': James Passes in the Clutch, Blowing a Good Game. Coach Liam Critiques James' Ball-Dominance and Blames His Leadership."

James' expression darkened.

USA Today:

"Championship Contenders Exposed: Cavaliers' Defense Fails as James Passes in the Final Moments. Coach Liam Says James Lacks Leadership Qualities and Accountability."

Furious, James slammed the newspaper onto the table, his face livid.

The bluntness of Liam's remarks felt like a direct attack. As a superstar, James wasn't accustomed to being criticized so openly, especially not by someone from within the league.

James leaned back into the couch, scowling. After a moment, he smirked and picked up his phone to make a few calls.

At the same time, the Warriors rushed overnight to Boston to face the Celtics in back-to-back games.

That night, the cheers from Celtics fans at the TD North Shore Garden Arena were particularly loud.

Liam González looked at the scoreboard on the large screen overhead with a calm expression from the sidelines. There were only two minutes left in the game, but the Warriors trailed the Celtics with a score of 77–96.

This game was consistent with Liam's expectations. The Warriors had been dominated by the Celtics throughout the game. Under Rondo's playmaking, the Big Three coordinated seamlessly and held the upper hand on both offense and defense.

Garnett played a key role, using his mobility to its fullest extent. His large-scale help defense effectively disrupted the Warriors' drives and shooting, significantly stifling their offensive firepower.

And this was the second consecutive game for the Warriors. The entire team was in poor condition. Curry had been nearly exhausted the previous night and hadn't recovered today. He only scored 15 points in the game, while no other player managed to score more than 20.

Under such circumstances, it would have been surprising if the Celtics hadn't won.

After the game, Liam didn't get upset. Instead, he announced that the Warriors would have a day off when they returned to Oakland.

However, the next day, many stars commented on the game in the media.

LeBron James:"Did the Warriors lose badly to the Celtics? I don't know why. Maybe it's because Coach Liam lacks coaching experience..."

Dwyane Wade:

"I think this reflects the Warriors' true strength. It was just a fluke that they managed to beat the Cavaliers."

Charles Barkley:

"I just saw Coach Liam fail to make any adjustments. Clearly, he needs more games to gain experience."

Carmelo Anthony:

"This game showed me that Colombians aren't qualified to evaluate LeBron. It's that simple."

Liam sat in his office, calmly reading the overwhelming criticism in the media, completely unfazed.

Silas knocked on the door and entered with a training plan in hand. He glanced at the pile of newspapers on the desk and said reassuringly,

"Liam, don't worry. It's normal to receive some criticism after a loss... but you'll still be here in the future. Just try not to criticize other stars too directly, especially superstars like LeBron."

Liam smiled and replied,

"I wasn't counting on any of these players coming to the Warriors. Let them talk. It won't affect the team."

These stars had one thing in common—they were on good terms with LeBron. If they were willing to speak up, it must have been because LeBron reached out to them.

Silas said,

"But this will negatively impact your reputation in the league..."

"Do I need that?" Liam interrupted.

Silas was stunned. Yes, Liam wasn't just the head coach; he was also the boss. Since when did he need approval from others?

"But why make an enemy out of LeBron?" Silas asked, still somewhat puzzled.

Liam chuckled and said,

"Of course, it's for our draft picks. As long as I can slightly affect the Cavaliers' championship chances, I'll take it. If LeBron hesitates even for a second during a critical game because of my comments, it'll be worth it. And don't forget, Monta Ellis isn't exactly a team player. He might not be happy with LeBron monopolizing the ball. Let me point that out for him."

Silas suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly as he looked at Liam with a hint of admiration.

He saw traces of legendary coaches in Liam—Phil Jackson, Popovich, Nelson... These iconic figures were masters of using words to stir opponents' emotions, thereby affecting their on-court performance.

Liam's words were simple yet effective.

Many issues remain dormant if left unspoken, but once pointed out, they become real problems.

LeBron might be able to appease Monta Ellis now, but would they clash over ball control in the future?

No one could say for sure. Ellis might remain loyal to LeBron, or he might grow ambitious.

In any case, Liam's comments had planted a seed. At the very least, when Monta Ellis faced his former team, he might recall how LeBron controlled all the ball-handling in that game. If the Cavaliers lost, Ellis would undoubtedly harbor some resentment.

Even though Liam believed the Cavaliers were unlikely to win the championship, he didn't mind adding fuel to the fire and placing more obstacles in LeBron's path to the crown.

The Warriors' draft picks would only hold value if LeBron left the Cavaliers.

Meanwhile, in far-off Indiana, LeBron, who had just arrived from Washington, was feeling quite satisfied reading the media reports.

But then he began to worry about Monta Ellis.

In the past two days, Ellis had been heavily criticized by Cleveland's local media for his consecutive missed three-pointers in crucial moments, leaving him in a foul mood.

LeBron knew Ellis was taking the blame for his own mistakes, but he couldn't admit it publicly. All he could do was console him privately, and Ellis's mindset had barely recovered.

But LeBron knew a rift had formed between them.

And no one knew how much this would impact the Cavaliers.

End of this chapter

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