Let’s stop dragging LeBron James for passing the ball in the clutch

The morning after the Cavaliers’ debilitating 118-113 loss to the Warriors in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, LeBron James took to the podium to double down on his decision to pass to an open Kyle Korver on a critical possession down the stretch.

“[If I was doing] the play over again, I would come off a three-screen situation, [Draymond Green] would switch on me with five fouls,” he said, according to 95.7 The Game. “I would get him leaning. I would drive left. I would see [Kevin Durant] step up, I would see [Stephen Curry] drop off Kevin, and I would see Kyle Korver in the corner [and pass to] one of the greatest three-point shooters in this league’s history, and give him an opportunity in the short corner.”

That’s just about exactly how it played out.

With just under a minute left in the fourth quarter and the Cavaliers up by two, LeBron gave the ball to Korver, who had a look at a corner three that could have iced one of most important games in Cleveland sports history.

He missed, and the world has been upside down for Cleveland ever since.

Kevin Durant grabbed the resulting rebound, dribbled up court, and knocked down a pull-up three over LeBron’s arm. That shot may have clinched the series in a Game 3 the Cavs needed to salvage the remnants of their championship aspirations.

Now, some believe James should not have passed the ball on that fateful possession, that, instead, he should have put his head down and found a way to get the bucket himself.

James has made his living off making the right decision. LeBron likes to say he leaves it all on the floor and lives with the results, win or lose. That was evident in Game 3, when Cleveland lost by five despite outscoring the Warriors by seven in the 46 minutes James was on the floor.

Sometimes, making the right decision isn’t the popular one. In James’ case, it never is.

The Cavaliers traded for Korver at the deadline for this very reason. Korver is a historically efficient three-point shooter who added another perimeter threat around LeBron. From that spot specifically, there’s no one better in the NBA.

Korver’s shot 63.4 percent from the left corner since he arrived in Cleveland at the trade deadline. No other player to attempt at least one per game from the left pocket last season shot better than 50 percent.

Korver’s presence made it possible for the Cavs to trot out one of the best three-point shooting lineups in the NBA. LeBron made the right play hitting his teammate for the short corner three.

We can split hairs (which I’m going to) and say James made the pass one dribble too late, allowing Stephen Curry to fight over a screen and contest Korver’s triple. But the idea that LeBron shouldn’t have passed the ball is foolish. He’s made the same play time and time again throughout his career and has won three championships as a result.

The public loves to laud LeBron for being such a deft passer and decision maker when it benefits them, then crucify The King for staying true to himself down the stretch. Not every player can or should be Kobe Bryant. Just ask Kyrie Irving. Not every player can or should be Michael Jordan. Just ask Kobe.

LeBron has never veered from the plan to fit someone else’s storyline. Why would he do it then?

It would have been a terrible shot, one people would have blasted for the next decade.

James had three seconds left on the clock and was not driving directly to the rim. His best bet at that moment would have been shooting a fadeaway with Durant’s 7-foot wingspan draped all over him. That pass to Korver looks a lot better now, doesn’t it?

The converse doesn’t work either. You can’t blame Korver for shooting that three, either. Here’s why:

Under the same circumstances, you would shoot it, too

The reality is the Cavaliers was outmatched. They didn’t lose this game down the stretch (though not scoring in the final 3:10 doesn’t help). Cleveland lost Game 3 in the two minutes LeBron was on the bench.

It’s time we stop dragging LeBron for making the right decision.

Sure, Korver’s been relatively cold from three in the playoffs. After Game 3, his perimeter shooting fell to a measly 38.5 percent — still a terrific clip for most in the league, if not by his own standards.

But this is a player the Cavs acquired for this specific reason. Like James repeats, you leave it all out on the floor, and you live with the results. He could have made the pass a fraction of a second earlier, but LeBron created a good look for a player who specializes in making shots from that part of the floor.

LeBron’s the one who has to live with the consequences. He put the work in to become one of the greatest players in NBA history, win or lose. James has proven that he’d make that play 10 times out of 10.

Usually it works. Sometimes, it doesn’t.