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Let’s Grade The Media’s Hot Takes on the End of Game 1

By Ben Gibson

Apr 15, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (24) defends Indiana Pacers forward CJ Miles (0) on the final play in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (24) defends Indiana Pacers forward CJ Miles (0) on the final play in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indiana Pacers came up short in Game 1 after C.J. Miles missed a potential game-winner. But some members of the media focused on Paul George’s post-game comments.

The Indiana Pacers pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to the brink in Game 1, coming up just short in the final possession after a double-teamed Paul George passed the ball to C.J. Miles, who took the final shot.

Despite getting a good look, the shot didn’t fall for Miles and the Pacers, giving the Cavaliers a 1-0 series lead.

As you could see, Paul George wanted the ball back. C.J. Miles is more than a capable shooter, but George wanted a second look in the final seconds.

Miles can make that shot more often that not. However, Paul George summoned his inner Keyshawn Johnson after the game, saying C.J. Miles should have given him the damn ball. There is nothing wrong with the best player on the team wanting to take the last shot. If he is a leader, that’s expected.

Then on Sunday, he made peace with C.J. Miles taking the shot.

My guess is PG did that to avoid any chance that Miles might take his comments the wrong way. Miles also took responsibility for not making the shot, something that he didn’t have to do. I can’t imagine Miles taking PG’s comments too negatively, but they could be taken that way as well.

However, neither player was in the wrong.

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Both C.J. Miles and Paul George are right here, though. C.J. correctly diagnosed the play and got off his shot. It just didn’t go in. Paul wanted a shot to win the game as well. It isn’t a bad thing when more than one player is ready and capable of taking a clutch shot.

However, there is a vast market to be tapped into in the form of hot takes and with so many watching the game, you knew they would be ready. Joe Johnson and the Utah Jazz gifted them with a game-winning shot so they could make false equivalencies, one of the hot take artists’ best weapons.

Let’s take a look at some of them, grading them on a scale of 1 to 5. The more wrong the take is, the hotter the rating.

F-. Skip Bayless ignores the fact there was time for Miles to make a pass, which seems pretty important in this case. There were still four or five seconds left on the clock. Of course, he pretty much says the opposite of logic in hopes someone will watch his show, Undisputed. If Paul George goes two on one here, well all know he’d throw out the selfish card. Plus PG didn’t blame C.J. as much as saying he should take the shot there. It is a fine line, but those are two different things.<p>They only thing PREDICTABLE here is Bayless’ contrarianism.<br /><br /><strong>Hot Take Rating:</strong> ?????</p>. @RealSkipBayless. Fox Sports. SKIP BAYLESS

CHRIS BROUSSARD. D. Broussard is somewhat right in a vacuum here, but to treat Utah’s final possession the same as Indiana’s doesn’t seem fair. The Jazz’s final play wasn’t the same, as it didn’t come out of a time out, nor did Hayward have any real effect on the play. Joe wanted to go “hero ball” from the get go, and Hayward never had a chance to make an impact. Nothing wrong with Hayward or Johnson on this play, but it is a poor way to try to criticize PG and praise both of Utah’s players in this case.<br /><br /><strong>Hot Take Rating:</strong> ????. @Chris_Broussard. Fox Sports

The Indianapolis Star’s own Gregg Doyel had an opinion on this, but it wasn’t on Twitter so it is more than 140 characters. You’ll actually have to go read it. Go, now. Then come back and finish reading this post.

This really wasn’t even a hot take. Doyel went over the scenario, and as we said, mentioned that both guys were in the right — Miles to take the shot and George to want the ball back. As he put it, “It as all happening fast, so terribly fast, the clock saying different things to different guys. It was telling George he had time to pass it and get it back, but it was telling Miles he didn’t have time for anything but a shot.” All of this is fair, and if anything, he goes a little easy on PG here. He doesn’t get flames here, but a solid and refreshing bit of water to cool down other’s hot takes.<br /><br /><strong>Hot Take Rating:</strong> ?????. @GreggDoyelStar. Indianapolis Star. GREGG DOYEL. A

There were plenty of people bringing up Paul George’s lack of come-from-behind game-winners, but that also ignores the fact PG was particularly great this season in the closing minutes of games. He’ll eventually hit one of those shots in the final seconds when his team is trailing, but for what it is worth, very few guys truly excel in those situations.

Of course, all of this is just another reminder of how easy for the Chris and Skips of the world to look at the results and then make a judgment. If C.J. makes it, would they still be mad at PG for yelling for the ball back? If Joe Johnson’s shot doesn’t go in, do they then blame Johnson for taking the shot over Hayward?

Next: 8p9s Roundtable: Can the Pacers upset the Cavaliers?

In these cases, I go with Stan Van Gundy’s words: Write the story while the ball is still in the air. In this case, it wasn’t a bad shot by C.J. There was nothing wrong with Paul George saying he should have the ball there, but for some more incendiary members of the media, it is easy to wait until the results are seen to make their judgments.

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