Basketball On The Internet.

SO a day after LeBron James hits the game-winner for the Cleveland Cavaliers over Chicago, the conversation today is about him disrespecting his coach?

How ludicrous.

How ridiculous.

How sadly very American media.

Not to mention fodder for the haters.

The guy is the best player in the world but subject of such relentless scrutiny he must just want to scream at times.

Sure, I despise his flopping because I've never seen a bona fide great have to so regularly resort to something so cheap. But he is still the best all-around player in the world today.

When he doesn't take the last shot, he's criticised. When he does and misses, he's criticised. When he wants to take the last shot, insists on it, takes it, makes it and wins the game ... he's criticised.

That's got to get old. But a superstar player telling his coach he wants the ball for the last play is nothing new.

Scottie Pippen even pouted when then Bulls coach Phil Jackson decided to go to Toni Kukoc for a final play during Chicago's "MJ-playing-baseball days".

And the great Larry Bird was lauded - LAUDED - when he told Boston Celtics coach K.C. Jones, who was busily drawing up a last-shot play against Seattle, to simply give him the ball. 

Check it out at the link below - it's famous because Larry Legend was such a freak. http://bit.ly/1E3nUuP

It's OK for LB but it's not OK for LBJ?

Just stupid. It's why the superstars get the big bucks - to take those shots.

As fans, we should just savour and enjoy seeing them, experiencing them. Having seen so many greats come - and go - their time at the pinnacle is short.

Enjoy LeBron for as long as he lasts. Like Bill, Wilt, Oscar, Kareem, Magic, Bird, MJ and Kobe, he'll soon be the guy we're comparing Kevin Durant's career to. Before the next star comes along.

And no-one was as pleased to see that shot go down than Cavs coach David Blatt.

STEPH Curry reminded everyone today that his star is on the rise, the NBA's reigning MVP playing his first MVP-type game since he was presented the award before Game 2 of the Western Conference semi final with Memphis.

The Grizzlies promptly stole that game at Oracle Arena, then made it 2-1 in Memphis before Curry, Andrew Bogut and Company came out and forced their will in a 101-84 rout.

Curry had 33 points, 21 by halftime and the Warriors' double-digit lead was never reduced to a single figure after the interval.

Bogey had four points, nine boards, four assists, three blocks and a playoff career-best three steals as he set a defensive tone for GSW.

The Warriors led by as many as 26 points and again looked the best of the West, if not the league.

Game 5 is at Oakland and, similarly, Atlanta heads home now tied 2-2 with Washington in their Eastern Conference semi after beating the Wizards 106-101 today.

Jeff Teague led the Hawks' assault with 26 points and eight assists, feeding on the advice of teammates and friends alike to be more aggressive.

Game 3 match-winner Paul Pierce had a three to tie it with the Wizards trailing 101-104 but the Basketball Gods were smiling on Atlanta today.

With John Wall out, it is tough now to see Washington recapturing the edge in this series.