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Charles Barkley blasts Cavaliers and regrets backing them for the Finals
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- Charles Barkley blasts Cavaliers and regrets backing them for the Finals
Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images
Cleveland Cavaliers came close to surrendering control of their series on Wednesday night, as a slow start boosted the Toronto Raptors ’ momentum.
Despite thais, Cleveland recovered in the fourth quarter to secure a 3-2 lead. Denis Schroeder played a decisive role in shifting the outcome late in the contest.
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However, their struggles earlier in the game had already drawn strong criticism. 11-time NBA All-Star Charles Barkley was particularly unimpressed with what he saw and was not afraid of weighing in on the matter.
Charles Barkley apologises for Cavs Finals pick during Game 5
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
Speaking on ESPN at halftime of Game 5, Barkley openly questioned his own prediction about Cleveland’s postseason run.
He said: “I just got to say, man, I just wanna apologize for picking the Cavs to get to the Finals.”
Ernie Johnson Jr. questioned that view, noting the game was only halfway complete. Barkley, though, did not soften his stance on the team’s performances.
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“No team is gonna get to the championship playing like their last three games. They’ve played two and a half bad games in a row. They don’t value the ball,” he added.
“You can’t win without consistent players. Shaq and Kenny know: when you’re on a good team, man, there’s a sense of urgency. There’s no sense of urgency with this Cavs team.”
Cavs respond but concerns over star consistency remain
Cleveland ultimately responded by completing a comeback not seen since 2018, showing resilience under pressure.
That result provided a partial answer to Barkley’s criticism, at least in terms of their ability to recover within a game.
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However, it did not fully dismiss his concerns, as their leading players struggled in the decisive moments.
James Harden managed just one point in the fourth quarter, while Donovan Mitchell failed to score. That inconsistency remains a major issue as the series continues.
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