Puskas: No NBA conspiracy to be found

June 16, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

Random observations on the NBA Finals:

GIVE IT A REST

There was no conspiracy to “let the Cavaliers back in it” by suspending Draymond Green for Game 5.

Green was suspended because of his recent history of kicks and punches to the groins of opposing players. And the last one happened to involve one of the NBA’s highest-profile groins.

The suspension was just and deserved.

LOVE GAME

LeBron James and Kyrie Irving had barely finished their tag-team torching of the Warriors for 82 points in Game 5 when some Cavs fans started torching Kevin Love for disappearing.

Just stop.

When two of your guys combine for 82 points in a game, there aren’t going to be a lot of numbers left for anyone else. There is but one basketball and a limited amount of possessions.

James and Irving had 33 of the Cavaliers’ 44 field goals. Richard Jefferson and J.R. Smith combined for seven of the other 11.

With James and Irving playing so well, the best thing their teammates could do was pick their spots and get out of the way.

There will be opportunities for Love and others in Game 6 because the Warriors will do their best to slow James and Irving. The Cavs are likely to need more balance tonight.

THE HEEL AND THE SHOES

I’m not sure I get all the criticism of Stephen Curry’s new Under Armour shoes.

They’ve been ridiculed as “dad shoes” and “middle-aged white guy shoes.”

Well, I’m a bit of an authority in both areas and I say, “So what?”

We like what we like. My feet are up as I type this and they’re sporting a pair of New Balance shoes. Yes, I know. Another example of middle-aged, dad shoes.

Trust me, I could not possibly care less what anyone thinks about how uncool my shoes are — or how unhip I am for wearing them.

Even when I was part of the age demographic that shoe companies are chasing, I wasn’t often influenced by them. Never owned a pair of Air Jordans and I can’t recall paying more than $75 for shoes.

I like the Curry shoes far more than I like the Curry shtick.

A MAN’S LEAGUE

Jefferson said it best when he advised Klay Thompson to “shut up.”

Thompson was barely finished whining about a “dirty” pick set by Timofey Mozgov when he started kvetching about James taking issue with trash talk from Green at the end of Game 4.

“It’s a man’s league,” Thompson lectured.

The Warriors might be the most tone-deaf, hypocritical collection of athletes to come along in years.

UNDER PRESSURE

Sure, if there is a Game 7, it will be in Oakland. But the Warriors would prefer to end it tonight. The pressure in the series has already switched sides and if the Cavs tie it up tonight, anything can happen in a winner-take-all finale.

It’s up to the Cavaliers to do what they haven’t been able to do thus far — play two great games in a row.

Then worry about making it three straight.

Write Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas at epuskas@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @EdPuskas_Vindy.