NBA playoffs schedule and results: LeBron beats Bulls at buzzer, Clippers dominate Rockets

On Monday, Blatt was asked why he’d want the best player in the world passing the ball instead of shooting it. “He’s our biggest and best passer,” he said, according to Bleacher Report’s Ethan Skolnick.

Blatt’s right about James being the team’s best passer. The assist numbers show this, and so do the eyes. That James is so tall makes him even more of a weapon in these types of situations. If you could choose any player to inbound the ball at the end of a game, chances are you’d choose LeBron.

The Cavaliers took Game 4 against the Bulls because LeBron James hit a game-winning jumper at the buzzer. He did so after hijacking the play call, overruling David Blatt’s request that he throw the inbound pass to take the shot himself. Though the Cavs won, plenty of people are focusing on LeBron and Blatt after the relationship between the two looked strained at times this season.

So that’s what LeBron’s getting asked about the day after a huge win. Here’s how he’s answering:

That’s Cavaliers head coach David Blatt almost ruining the LeBron James game-winning buzzer beater by attempting to call a timeout when he didn’t have one.

Calling a timeout when you don’t have any left will result in a technical foul according to Rule No. 12, Part A, Section I on Excessive Fouls and Penalties.

SB Nation presents: The big plays and questions in the NBA playoffs

I like that the caption to this is “Dwight Howard threatening me” and not “Dwight Howard responding pretty calmly to me badgering him during a blowout loss.”

Anyway, I guess this fan didn’t run out on the court and challenge Howard. We would have heard about that.

It was a bad final minute for Blatt -- he also tried to call for a timeout, not realizing the Cavs didn’t have any left.

A March report by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst indicated that LeBron often called plays for the Cavs and Blatt often mimicked James to give the impression that he was making play calls from the sideline, so James’ admission should add some fuel to the fire that he’s really running the show. On the plus side, this should quiet people who insist James is uncomfortable taking late shots in pressure situations.

In one tweet Cuban said he’s seen the second-by-second ratings for games in which intentional fouling is employed, and the incessant hacking doesn’t affect viewership at all. Cool. That fact, while reassuring for Cuban and his buddies in the NBA Governors Club, does nothing to make the strategy any less horribly boring. Like, the fact that an element of the game isn’t actively driving away customers isn’t really a very strong endorsement.

In another tweet, Cuban said:

The Cavaliers should have had an easier win in Game 4, but nearly threw it away after James committed a crucial turnover with his team up two and less than 20 seconds remaining. Rose was able to easily get to the basket for a layup to the tie the game, 84-84, with little time left. Then David Blatt tried to call a timeout when his team didn’t have one.

The referees didn’t see Blatt’s near-gaffe, however, and that set up James’ chance right before the buzzer. Instead of letting a crucial game slip through his fingers, LeBron stepped up at the final moment to even things up.

Blake Griffin has been going hard all night against the Rockets. This is one of Griffin’s gentler moments from Game 4.

Dwight Howard REALLY did not want to get Mozgov’d, so he shoved Blake Griffin down instead of getting dunked on. The referees somehow called this a common foul, perhaps because Griffin also wrapped his arms around Howard’s neck. Either way, Howard avoided getting put on a poster, and that’s a real victory.

Then again, that’s also what the Clippers wanted. Per TNT’s Tracy Wolfson, Chris Paul was trying to convince the officials to call a common foul so Howard could stay in the game. How’s that for hating hard?

We are simply just not worthy DeAndre Jordan. This is insane.

What’s even crazier?

It’s not quite as blatant as Carlos Boozer’s nut punch, but it’s still pretty good.

It appears that even a $50,000 fine can’t stop Matt Barnes from dropping cuss words. At least, we’re pretty sure that he’s calling Dwight Howard something unsavory here:

On second thought, he could be saying “spinach.”

YO, ODELL, WE SEEE YOUUUU.

This is Derrick Rose’s son. This is his face. This is amazing.

And not only did little Rose mean mug reporters to oblivion, he might look even more like his father than we realize:

The Cleveland Cavaliers already lost Kevin Love to injury and are playing a hobbled Kyrie Irving. Now, they’ll have to push forward with LeBron James also hurt after he turned his left ankle on a fast break. He will stay in the game, but it’s unclear how effective he’ll be.

James was going hard on a fast break and stepped on Derrick Rose’s foot while trying to make a move. He stayed on the ground for several minutes before walking gingerly to the bench under his own power.

This miss by Joakim Noah almost looked like a pass, and Taj Gibson threw it down.

Pretty good.

Pretty nifty.

★★★

Kanye was in the house at the United Center today to get the crowd pumped up, and he definitely did.

How can the Cavs come back from this? Oh, and the rap superstar wasn’t done. During the first media timeout he came back out and performed “All Day” for everyone in attendance. Going to a basketball game and getting a Kanye show too is a pretty sweet deal.

Thibodeau did not announce who would start in Gasol’s place. Gasol, who averaged 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds in the regular season, struggled in Game 2 against the Cavs before being limited in Game 3. He’s averaging just 12.7 points and six rebounds per game in the series.

The Bulls have never beaten a LeBron James-led team in the playoffs. Gasol will be missed as they look to take control of the series before heading back to Cleveland for Game 5.

Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers, 8:30 p.m. (TNT)

Houston will need to tighten up its defense, especially in transition, to have a shot of tying the series. The Rockets were one of the best defensive teams in the league during the regular season but have allowed Los Angeles to score over 110 points per 100 possessions, a ridiculously high mark. They don’t have an answer for Griffin and with Paul healthy, their point guards could get exposed. Unless they can find a way to improve as a team on that end and quickly, this series could be shorter than many expected.

Place: Staples Center

For the Cavaliers, getting an early lead would simplify things, just like it did in the only game they’ve won so far this series. With Chicago still riding the high of Rose’s miracle shot, that might be easier said than done, so gear up for another close one.

Place: United Center, Chicago