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Cleveland Cavaliers: Watch LeBron James full court in 8 seconds

By Nick Dudukovich

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after hitting the game winning shot to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-103 in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 05: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after hitting the game winning shot to beat the Toronto Raptors 105-103 in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on May 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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LeBron James’ latest shot has the Toronto Raptors on the brink of elimination from the NBA Playoffs as the Cleveland Cavaliers have a 3-0 lead.

After struggling through a seven-game series against the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers are one game away from sending the No. 1 seeded Toronto Raptors home for the summer.

Here’s four passes to catch following LeBron James‘ wowzer of a game.

1. Smart Lue

Ty Lue takes a lot of criticism here, so give the Cavs’ coach credit when it’s due. The decision to take the ball full court with just over eight seconds remaining in the contest was an excellent decision.

With Toronto pressing, there was enough chaos for James to move down the court in plenty of time, and who stops LeBron James at a full head of steam from bulldozing down the hardwood. No one. That’s who.

Raptors coach Dwyane Casey said the plan was to trap James.

Did he really think that would work? .

LeBron had the space to maneuver and of course, the shot was incredible.

James now has two game-winners, and has taken the heart of the Raptors while sending the No. 1 seed to the brink of elimination.

James scored 38 points while adding six rebounds and seven assists in victory.

2. Love played like an All-Star

Kevin Love had another great game. He didn’t score 30 points, but he didn’t need to. He just needed to be a factor, and he succeeded, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.

Love disappeared the fourth quarter though, and took zero shots in the final stanza.

The Raptors overcame a 15-point deficit and tied the game with seven seconds remaining.

Love’s performance was All-Star worthy, but he can’t go shot-less in the fourth quarter as the Cavs’ second-best player.

3. Seen that before

Former Cavs’ GM Wayne Embry attended Game 3, and he was asked if James’ shot reminded him of anything. Embry, was Cleveland’s top basketball executive when Michael Jordan hit “The Shot.”

"“Yes,” said Embry. “It’s the same thing. It’s greatness. Greatness. Very few people can do that,” he said via the Toronto Star."

The Raptors are reminiscent of those Cavs’ team who couldn’t get past Jordan in the playoffs. They were a really, really good team, just like the Raptors, who ran into a superstar destined for bigger things.

4. Where did you go?

Kyle Lowry deserves credit for brining Toronto back into this game. Lowry was excellent. Unfortunately, he was at the top of his game while DeMar DeRozan was at his worst.

DeRozan was 3-of-12 from the field. Casey lost confidence in his star, and tied him to the bench for the entire fourth quarter.

Next: Cavs mock draft: Version 1.0

With DeRozan being a non-factor, it’s amazing the game was as close as it was during the final minutes.

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