In the illustrious history of Dan Gilbert’s writing, you can add an instantly regrettable tweet to an instantly regrettable letter.
The Cavaliers owner tweeted and then deleted a picture during halftime of Wednesday’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals, his way of airing of his grievances about the officiating in a game that the Warriors would win, 110-102, to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
In the tweet, Gilbert had circled the foul-shot disparity; Cleveland had not taken a single free throw, while Golden State was 12-for-13.
He didn’t bother captioning the message, but made his complaints known nonetheless.
The differential likely had more to do with a more pass-oriented LeBron James in the first half, which changed in the second. And by the end of the matchup, the margin had narrowed — the Warriors finishing 17-of-19 from the line, the Cavaliers 13-of-17.
The pressure is piling up on both Gilbert and the organization he owns, moving, with each loss, another potential step closer to life without James.
After LeBron left Cleveland the first time, Gilbert wrote a petty and vindictive open letter bashing James, stating the Cavaliers would win a title before James’ Heat. He was wrong.