After the game, J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, LeBron James and Shumpert were talking in the corridor outside the locker room. Where they gathered was adjacent to the designated area where family and friends wait for the players.
All players, home or away, typically walk past the visiting team's locker room to get to their loved ones. Leonard, all alone, was headed that way. Seeing the Cavaliers quartet in his way, he lowered his head and marched forward.
This portion of the walkthrough felt like it went in slow motion.
James, who was standing on Leonard's right, shot a glare at the seven-footer. Leonard never made eye contact. The last player he had to pass before making it to the family zone was Shumpert, who was on his left looking directly at him.
You could feel the tension in that hallway. Leonard never stopped moving, nor looked up. It wasn't the time to be exchanging pleasantries. He made it through without provoking another altercation.
That was the extent of the Cavaliers' hostility.
