It’s been a running joke all season that the Cleveland Cavaliers are basically just LeBron James and whatever eleven random bodies GM Koby Altman was able to dig up. Still, I don’t think anybody expected the first game of the NBA Finals to underline that joke so thoroughly.
If you’ve somehow missed the recaps, here’s what happened: LeBron almost single-handedly lead the Cavs to a tie with the Golden State Warriors as the fourth quarter came to a close. With the score tied and less than five seconds on the clock, JR Smith of the Cavs grabbed a rebound and then just sat on the ball, not even attempting a shot and letting the clock run out. (Everybody assumed Smith thought the Cavs still had the lead, but today he said he thought somebody else on the team would be calling for a timeout.) LeBron was obviously furious, and the TV cameras captured an image for the ages immediately after clock hit zero. The Warriors basically crushed the Cavs in overtime, winning the first game of a series that they’re widely expected to win. LeBron basically carried his team to victory, only for a teammate’s Chris Webber-esque mistake to bring it all crashing down.
As ESPN’s Bill Barnwell tweeted:
I don’t think anything is a better example of LeBron James having to carry a bunch of terrible teammates than LeBron having to literally point J.R. Smith to the basket with the ball and three seconds left in a tie game
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) June 1, 2018
This isn’t Paste Sports, though. Basketball might be one of our favorite sports, but we’re gathered here today to talk about jokes, and specifically the memes and tweets that are still flourishing today in the game’s aftermath. LeBron’s look of exasperation is timeless and universal; it’s an image guaranteed to enter the annals of unforgettable sports moments, like Ali crowing over Liston’s sprawled out body, or Bobby Orr floating parallel to the ice after his Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970. We can all relate to his look of absolute frustration, of a trust that’s been utterly denied, and perhaps fundamentally misplaced all along. Here’s LeBron, the greatest player of his generation, and perhaps of all time, as openly pissed with his coworkers as any of us have ever been. And the result is a legendary meme.
damn LeBron is even coming for Jordan’s meme legacy
— Brandy Jensen (@BrandyLJensen) June 1, 2018
Watch out, MJ.
Here are the best of the many memes and jokes floating around on Twitter today. You don’t even need to understand basketball to get these. (Yes, JR, we’re talking about you.)
— Michael Swander (@MichaelSwander) June 1, 2018
LeBron to JR Smith: “TAKE THE BALL AND PUT IT IN THE HOOP” pic.twitter.com/bVCA5g3epp
— Jordan Lange (@jordanlange25) June 1, 2018
When you leave all the doors open but your dog poops in the house anyway pic.twitter.com/LY8u7CqQzJ
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) June 1, 2018
This must be what parenting is like pic.twitter.com/SHcbsKca7o
— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) June 1, 2018
The thing that’s haunting me about the JR brainfart is that I really believe all Cavs players have rewired themselves to just give the ball to LeBron whenever there’s a chance to do so. JR overrode the prime directive.
— David Roth (@david_j_roth) June 1, 2018
LeBron on his phone… pic.twitter.com/5jiquRxg3v
— 9GAG (@9GAG) June 1, 2018
Lebron gonna be assigning Jr Smith some homework for tonight. pic.twitter.com/OrPq0epK7z
— DylanBibs (@DylanBibs) June 1, 2018
Hey non-sports folks. I got you covered.
Lebron was a super farmed ADC tonight, but his mid, top, and jungle were all feeding. In the end, his team started Baron without him, with no wards, and got wiped. pic.twitter.com/VYXJCSzD8w
— Jesse (@FairlightEx) June 1, 2018
JR Smith: I was tryna find Kyrie
LeBron: KYRIE IN BOSTON pic.twitter.com/X09ZTZV8si— Champagne Pope (@Champagnep0pe) June 1, 2018
“WHO SHOT JR?” will be answered within the next two hours, with LeBron James holding the smoking gun.
— Draymondegreen (@keisertroll) June 1, 2018
JR Smith when Lebron corners him in the locker room post game. pic.twitter.com/dz76wyV5Pr
— shane (@shanephackett) June 1, 2018
i feel like the only acceptable version of the lebron meme is pic.twitter.com/EMJY2wY8Al
— Jon Eiseman (@Jon_Eiseman) June 1, 2018
— Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) June 1, 2018
Weird but true: when Oppenheimer witnessed the first successful test of the atom bomb he muttered: “they could drop this directly on LeBron James every time he’s driving to the hole and the refs would still only call a foul 50% of the time.”
— Dan Wilbur (@DanWilbur) June 1, 2018
Instant replay of JR Smith and LeBron in the closing seconds of regulation. pic.twitter.com/8qYCv7mBQf
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) June 1, 2018
