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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Bryan Kalbrosky

ESPN’s Mike Greenberg foolishly suggested the Lakers should rest LeBron and starters for Game 5

During a segment on ESPN’s Get Up on Tuesday morning, Mike Greenberg shared a shocking opinion about the Lakers and the Warriors.

Greenberg, who was also roasted for suggesting that Miami’s weather was to blame for New York’s losses during the Eastern Conference semifinals, had a hot take after the Lakers defeated the Warriors on Monday.

According to Greenberg, the Lakers should consider resting their starters for Game 5 against the Warriors so that they have a better shot to win Game 6. He said that it would be like giving a pitcher an extra day of rest between his starts during the MLB postseason.

Greenberg explained:

“Here is my suggestion. LeBron needs to just slip a nice comfy robe over that pair of slippers and get set to watch Game 5 from the comfort of his mansion … He shouldn’t even go to San Francisco … The Lakers  have no chance of winning Game 5 of this series. The Warriors are going to be playing for their dynasty at home with the crowd. They’re going to win. Don’t waste any of LeBron and AD’s energy on this game … Don’t try and win five games in a best-of-seven when you don’t need to. You only need to win one more game. I’m being somewhat facetious when I say don’t even bring them. But I guess what I am saying is that I would be very judicious about how much I would use LeBron and AD in Game 5 understanding my best chance to close out this series is at home in Game 6.”

It is absolutely absurd to suggest that LeBron shouldn’t even travel with the team to San Francisco. But he kept going.

Greenberg continued:

“It’s like in baseball where you save your pitcher for the one game you need to win. You don’t have to win five games in a best-of-seven. You only have to win four … They’re not winning Game 5 … The Warriors [have] the hearts of a champion going home with their backs to the wall. The Warriors are winning Game 5 no matter what happens.”

What an awful take!

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