Cleveland Cavaliers haven't ditched bizarre "curse" yet

CLEVELAND, May 28 (UPI) -- A dance consisting of stirring a pot, has ironically stirred the pot of its rapping originator and could curse the Cleveland Cavaliers.

After sweeping the Atlanta Hawks with a 118-88 victory Tuesday in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, several Cavaliers players were shown in a video dancing in a hot tub. The dance looked very similar to that of Rapper Lil B, a.k.a. The Based God.

It didn't take long for Lil B to fire back a reaction, calling for recognition of his 'cooking dance,' and threatening his infamous curse.

"Sending a warning to lebron James Kyrie jr smith and iman shumpert yall stealing swag Lil B cooking dance what yall doing #warned - Lil B," Lil B tweeted.

Iman Shumpert responded less than two hours later, hoping to avoid negative vibes.

"Preciate the swag killa...I cooks I chef all love," Shumpert tweeted.

Lil B appeared to have accepted the response, but told TMZ Hollywood Sports that the Cavaliers still need to be proactive.

"LeBron James, he has a big problem and J.R. Smith and the Cavs are in big big trouble," Lil B told TMZ Hollywood Sports. "Stop stealing Lil B's swag. I definitely send major respect to Iman Shumpert for being truthful and brave enough to tell where he got this swag and sports celebration from...I'm really trying to prevent the curse from happening to LeBron James."

"They need to talk to Lil B before the playoffs are over," Lil B told TMZ Hollywood Sports. "If they don't, LeBron James you have problems!"

This isn't the first time Lil B's infamous curse has targeted NBA players. Lil B put the hex on Houston Rockets star James Harden before the Rockets were demolished in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals by the Golden State Warriors. Harden had used Lil B's dance to celebrate, without giving the rapper due credit.

Lil B gave Harden until Game 3 to oblige, when he didn't, Harden shot 3 for 16 Tuesday in the Rockets 115-80, 35 point loss to the Warriors.

"I'm just tired of people stealing things from Lil B," Lil B told CBS Sports. "With me being an unsigned, independent artist, I'm doing everything by myself. No management, no label or whatever, it is all me. A lot of people from all walks of life like to take things from Lil B, for example there are these people out there making Lil B clothes which I haven't endorsed."

"With Harden, I just wanted to see where his head and his heart is at. Is he paying attention? Does he know the originator of the cooking celebration? You know, I just want to make sure that he pays homage to the artist that created the original work."

Lil B, a diehard Warriors fan, also curse Kevin Durant in 2011, when Durant dissed his music.

"KEVIN DURANT WILL NEVER WIN THE TITLE AFTER HE SAID "LIL B" IS A WACK RAPPER, "THE BASEDGODS CURSE" #THEBASEDGODSCURSE ON DURANT - Lil B," Lil B tweeted.

Durant later told ESPN's Royce Young that he didn't know who Lil B was and that he "needs attention" and "needs some help."

"I've seen a lot of people stealing from what I do," Lil B told the Mercury News. "Some people show love and say thank you and tell me how I was an inspired for them. So Harden's just getting the rough end."

The Hawks tweeted in hopes to avoid the curse: "Dear @LILBTHEBASEDGOD: We're not like the others. Please show mercy and spare us #THEBASEDGODSCURSE.

The Rockets reached a similar sitting-at-home fate with a loss Wednesday, to be eliminated from the playoffs.

The Warriors host the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at 9 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at the Oracle Arena.