Click & Roll: LeBron's buzzer-beater and the mayhem of the NBA playoffs
Welcome to Paste BN Sports' NBA Click & Roll newsletter.
This is where we bring you exclusive content from Paste BN's NBA reporters Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt, including updates on all their exploits on the NBA beat. Plus, we catch you up on the *biggest* moments, quotes and news from the week.
QUICK DISH: THINGS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
The signature moment of this year's playoffs — LeBron James' buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Cavaliers Game 5 — was preceded by two blown calls that could've completely altered the game.
The Pacers (correctly) claimed James' block on Victor Oladipo was goaltending, but it's all a moot point because James buried the three.
... Which led to a fantastic compilation of Cleveland fans losing their minds.
The series, which has turned testy, moves to Game 6 on Friday night in Indiana. It's possible Cavs coach Ty Lue takes another shot at a Pacers fan. Or perhaps we'll get to see version 3.0 of the Cavs' matching suits.
It's no secret James hasn't gotten the support he needs. But Jeff profiled Kyle Korver, the fascinating three-point-shooting legend who may have saved the Cavaliers season.
Any restaurant in Cleveland would've cleared their chef's table for LeBron after his game-winner. Not so in Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn't even get some tacos from a local joint after he led the Bucks to a win.
The Greek Freak can eat all the tacos he wants this offseason if the Bucks can't go on the road and win in Boston in Game 7.
What happens when a fan enters an NBA superstar into his fantasy basketball league? Well, the superstar better pay up. Shoutout Jimmy Butler.
The internet is still undefeated. There's no better online trend than NBA photos turned into Renaissance art.
This doesn't necessarily constitute art, but there's a good chance Jazz forward Joe Ingles doubles as Toby from The Office.
Mitt Romney — yes, Mitt Romney — taunted Russell Westbrook in Game 4. Little did he know Westbrook was going to come back the next game and save the Thunder's season.
Did Kevin Durant tell us something about Westbrook in another social media gaffe?
Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill was released from prison on Tuesday, just hours before Game 5 between the Sixers and Heat. He took a helicopter from the facility to a heliport and then rode with Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin to the team's arena and paid a quick visit to the Sixers locker room. Wearing a Joel Embiid jersey, he even rang the replica Liberty Bell before tipoff. Inside that eventful evening.
The Sixers went on to win the game, advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Dwyane Wade offered high praise for the 76ers afterwards, saying Embiid and Ben Simmons are "the future of the NBA."
Wade wouldn't focus on his own future or his potential retirement following the loss, but if this is it for the future first-ballot Hall of Famer, what an incredible ride it's been.
A reporter who covers the Warriors was allegedly caught on video taking a security guard's jacket following a practice in San Antonio last week.
LeBron and his responsibility to sports journalism
LeBron said he wasn't caught off guard by Allie LaForce's postgame question regarding the death of Gregg Popovich's wife, Erin Popovich. He defended LaForce after learning she was being criticized on social media, and he felt it was important to clarify the situation.
As Jeff wrote afterwards, LeBron understands the complex dynamics of the modern media landscape. He knows the mission of print media, online media, TV media and social media and the role they each play in how he disseminates his message.
Bigger than basketball
The New Orleans Pelicans made NBA playoff history with their first-round sweep of the Trail Blazers. But the most compelling part of their story involves Jrue Holiday, the breakout star of the playoffs.
Holiday opened up to Sam about how terrifying it was when his wife, Lauren, had a benign brain tumor while pregnant with the couple's daughter. Holiday admitted that his play is a reflection of how much joy his daughter brings him.
Check back next week for everything in the Association as the playoffs roll on.