[Basketball News]

Larry Bird doesn't understand all the criticism being directed at LeBron James for his decision to pass, rather than shoot, in the closing seconds of Cleveland's Game 1 loss to Detroit. In Bird's eyes, James made the right decision.

Bird Backs LeBron's Decision

[simple simon]

do you think it matters to LeBron what this Hall of Famer thinks ?

i mean i hope it does, just not sure if it does

[ThePundit]

If Bird truly believes waht he's saying, he's wrong. You don't give up a lay up to try a 30% shot.

[simple simon]

well it worked for Jordan plenty of times to win championship games, passing to Kerr and Paxson

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

If Bird truly believes waht he's saying, he's wrong. You don't give up a lay up to try a 30% shot.

I think you either trust Lebron's instincts or you don't...he has shown nothing in the past that would indicate that he is not willing to take the clutch shot...It's instincts and I trust him...if he thought his team had a better shot at winning by passing...then who am I to arm chair it another way...he was in the play, and I trust him...

[bballinyao06]

Yeah, I don't think it would matter if Bird backed his decision or not. Lebron is the one that was playing in the game and he was going for the win and possibly the easiest basket so he thought that passing the ball to his wide-open teammate for the three would help them win the game. Unfortunately, it didn't work out the way he planned and the Cavs lost Game 1.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

I think you either trust Lebron's instincts or you don't...he has shown nothing in the past that would indicate that he is not willing to take the clutch shot...It's instincts and I trust him...if he thought his team had a better shot at winning by passing...then who am I to arm chair it another way...he was in the play, and I trust him...

Yup, Yup. He was the one on the floor and if he felt that it wasn't a good shot for him, then he did the right thing by passing.

[ThePundit]

1. Simon: Jordan only passed it when he was double or triple teamed. Lebron had beaten his man and had a pretty clear path to the hoop. No way Jordan would have passed it out, there.

2. Gotham: What do you mean, I either trust his insticts or I don't? He can't make a mistake? Remember, right now, be would only be a senior in college. And has great as he is, he is far from infallible.

I still respctfully disagree with all of you. You don't pass up a 90% shot for a 30% shot, period.