LeBron James' incredible buzzer beater three to put away the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the Cavs-Pacers playoff series might have broken the internet last night, but that was not the only big play King James made down the stretch.
On the prior possession, James pinned Victor Oladipo's potential go-ahead layup against the glass. On the floor, the play was ruled a clean block, but many fans believed it was a missed goaltending call. The NBA's Last Two Minute Report has echoed those sentiments by acknowledging they missed the call on LeBron.
The official report released today ruled that James should have been whistled for defensive goaltending because the ball made contact with the backboard before he was able to initiate his patented chasedown block. Of course, during the actual game the play was not even reviewed. Instead, the Cavaliers would call timeout, inbound the ball to LeBron on the other end, and the next thing we know LeBron is standing on the scorer's table roaring at the crowd in celebration like a scene out of Gladiator.
Oladipo voiced his own concerns with the missed call during his post game press conference saying, "It was a goaltend. It's hard to even speak on it. It just sucks, honestly." Even LeBron himself seemed to know he got away with one. He joked around with press after the game saying, "I definitely thought it was a goaltend."
It's also worth noting that the controversial play on the baseline seconds prior that gave the Pacers the ball in the first place when an out of bounds call was made against LeBron was also ruled as a missed called in the Last Two Minute Report. As many thought, the ball was actually out on Thaddeus Young.
Unfortunately, missed calls have almost become commonplace in today's NBA. Earlier this season, the tension between players and referees even looked like it had reached its boiling point with disputes occurring on a nightly basis involving some of the NBA's most elite players.
Since the Last Two Minute Report doesn't change the official outcome, all that can really be done is hope the refs straighten up for Game 6 and appreciating LeBron capping off a monster 44 point performance with an iconic buzzer beater.
The Cavs will look to put away the Pacers when both teams take the floor in Indiana for Game 6 on Friday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
