Preview/Live Thread: The Finals, Game 7 (#AnythingCanHappen)
2016-06-19“When you give a team life, give a team confidence, anything can happen in a Game 7.” – Paul Pierce
Way back when the 2015-16 NBA season started… all of 235 days ago, did you imagine it would end up here? Sure, it may not have been all that difficult to predict a rematch between the Cavs and the Warriors, given that they were each the odds-on favorites to capture their respective conferences… but could you have fathomed the historic significance of this one remaining Finals contest? Even as recently as a week ago… were you one of the stalwarts who believed in your heart that the Cavaliers could somehow, someway climb out of the 3-1 hole they had dug to force this seventh and deciding game?
No matter the victor, it will be an ending for the ages. One that will be long remembered in the annals of the sport. If Golden State holds serve at home in Oracle Arena (where they went 39-2 during the season, and are 11-2 in the playoffs), they will finish off arguably the greatest season in League history, cementing their place amongst the all-time elite teams. But, if Cleveland can parlay the momentum they’ve built behind their runaway locomotive of a leader, and rip glory from the jaws of what seemed like certain defeat a week ago, they will be the ones to carve their names into basketball lore. After all, in case you maybe hadn’t heard… no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals. In fact, only two other teams had ever even forced a Game 7, and none in the last 50 years (the Knicks in 1951 and the Lakers in 1966), since before the ABA/NBA merger.
As Tom indicated in his brilliant piece yesterday… nobody really knows anything about how this will all play out. The patterns that have emerged (or haven’t as the case may be), the storylines, the history, the statistical information… none of it really matters in a Game 7. Everyone will leave everything they have on the court… from the MVPs to the X Factors… from the wiliest vet to the least used role player… to a man they will exhaust themselves in these final 48 minutes to capture a crown. There’s no next game that would require a monitoring of minutes played for guys like LeBron. There’s no next game for which guys like Draymond could be suspended. Win or lose, this is it. For one team, it’s a summer of jubilance… for the other a summer of second-guessing and might-have-beens.
So, which stars will shine brightest? Which MVP will prevail? Will the Splash Brothers break loose and throw cold water on the Cavs’ dreams of a victory parade? Or will LeBron and Kyrie continue to break down the once unbreakable Warrior D to dash the chances of a repeat? Which injury issue will loom larger… Iggy’s ailing back, or Kyrie’s banged up foot? Which missing man on offense will find his shot first, Harrison Barnes or Kevin Love? Who can push the right buttons at the right time… Steve Kerr or Ty Lue? How much of a factor will the refs be… and will Ayesha Curry break Twitter? These questions and so many more will all soon be a part of the amazing history of this game, this series and this season for the record books.
Beyond the game, there’s the question of what this will mean to the history of these two franchises, and their respective fanbases and cities.
If the Warriors find a way to finish things off on their home floor, they would effectively answer any doubters of their greatness. Their legacy would be ensured, and even those that debated the validity of their championship last year through the veil of significant injuries suffered by their opponents in literally every round of the playoffs, would have to tip their collective caps to this team. With 73 wins and a second straight championship, they would have to be considered a dynasty, and the odds-on favorites to do it again next year.
If the Cavaliers pull off the upset that many thought not just improbable, but downright impossible… the rest of the world should be put on notice for the audible roar that will be heard from downtown Cleveland. You know the numbers, so I won’t dwell on them here… but half a century of sports disappointment, bitterness and woe would evaporate in one glorious instant. LeBron James would fulfill his promise he and Lee Jenkins crafted so thoughtfully in the summer of 2014… finally bringing home a championship to Cleveland. The victory parade would not only be epic… it might require multiple days to complete.
I’m posting this early to get the conversation going, so there may still be changes to the lineups on each side. There may be multiple updates as we get closer to game time (8 pm EST), so look out for them. I’m also going to break from my habitual prediction of the winner and final score… not because I’m superstitious, but because, like so many others, I literally have no idea what’s going to happen. In the end, win or lose, I love this team and have been proud to cover it with our team at C:tB.
I will leave you with this… These teams have also had a history of playing on national holidays. Neither Christmas Day nor Martin Luther King Day worked out all that well for the Cavs. But today just happens to be Father’s Day. On a personal note… this is my first Father’s Day without my dad. He was the one who indoctrinated me into Cleveland sports, something I alternately loved and cursed him for over the years since my youth. Even though it’s been 20 years since I lived in Northeastern Ohio, not a day goes by that I don’t think about Cleveland. My dad was alive for the last Indians championship in 1948, and the last Browns title in 1964. He sadly never got to see a Cavalier championship… something I know he desperately wanted. He loved watching LeBron. He loved this team. I hope they win it for all the fathers who would love nothing more than to share a championship with their children. But, if they fall short… I will be comforted by remembering something my own father always said to me after tough losses…
“Son, it only hurts because you care. And, it’s good to care about Cleveland.”
Thanks dad. And thank you to all the fathers on this historic Father’s Day.
GO CAVS!
Maybe at halftime Lue will realize Green is hitting the 3 tonight…
Wow. I can’t even. This game is insane. INSANE!
I’m going to lose it if they give up one more wide wide WIDE open Bray three…
Did you post that before or after he was wide open to hit his fifth?
Can’t believe Draymond is 4 of 4
Their role players/green were not going to miss open threes three straight games in a row. Trouble.
I don’t care how cold a player is. You can’t play defense like you’re expecting an all star to miss.
the Cavs offense SUCK… I’m not enjoying this game so far, so frustrating…especially since its Green killing us
I have made up my mind. I am not trading Kyrie.
The game is tied and the Cavs are like 1-9 from three.
And Bray is 5-5… just bizarre…
if Cavs ever cover Draymond then they have this game…leaving him wide open every time
Why must we be punished by these idiotic Kobe commercials?
I feel like the Cavs are hoping Dray goes cold in the second half. If they cling to him it creates too many playmaking issues. God this is really a game of will…
Kyrie guarding Iggy. Iggy must be hurting.
WOW! Uncle Drew!
https://vine.co/v/5BB5VdllZ0Q
Please defend Bray…
KYRIE!!!!!!!
https://vine.co/v/5BB5jxlxbLA
Why is Shump still in the game?
Really can’t stand Draymond Green.
LEBRON ON HIS WAY TO TRPILE/DOUBLE—–IN THE 1ST HALF !!!
Curry is such a punk…
https://vine.co/v/5BB5mYgQM5M
We need to hit 3s t keep the defense honest
Cavs capitalize on Livingston turnover
https://vine.co/v/5BBe6FzJYtF
Imagine if we actually played defense on the perimeter and made them shoot contested 3’s ? ohhh imagine
Urgggggggg. Admire our fight in the face of 3s.
Fantastic outlet off the steal by Kevin for the LeBron layup.
Freaking hate Green making all those threes. They are so tough to defend and we are making it easy for them.Can’t have so many breakdowns.
Yeah, those Green threes hurt.
Gotta get some separation. If Delly isn’t hurt Lue has some real answering to do
Cavs have to have to have to close out on green and live with the drive. He’s Clearly hitting tonight.
Exactly or close harder but his getting rythm shots and he will continue to hit those like he did in game 2.
Ok donkey has the shot going, make him drive please.
Cavs need to defend the 3, cause if they don’t..it will be a long night
Closeouts have been trash. I feel like the Warriors are just playing a smarter game.
nothing new there…no ball movement for Cavs as usual
cavs perimeter defense not very good…really need to crowd the perimeter here….dumb foul by JR completely unnecessary
Time to go scoring outburst Kyrie.
I wonder how many top of the key 3s we will give Draymond tonight.
To hell with these Bray threes….it’s just found money to them…
Cavs are exerting so much energy to get these points.
Ugh. Um so nervous..
Cavs not playing well enough to win yet….there is still time…
Curry foul…..#RIGGED
http://images.memes.com/meme/944094
?quality=90&w=650&h=342
And then Shump gives it back at the other end
Alright Shump. Make me eat my words.
Never mind
SHUMPMAN SHUMPMAN SHUMPMAN!!!!
Shump of all people with the first made 3 and a possible and-1!
LMAO….Shump makes the first three AND ONE
https://vine.co/v/5BBOTh563Fw
SHUUUUUUUUUMP
Jesus the three point shooting …
the defense is horrible, so frustrating…Cavs need to come better
Gotta make one of these open threes…
Curry missed Livingston coming open under the hoop on that inbounds.
Where is Irving?
Gotta make that, Kev…
basically only KLOVE brought the energy so far..
What is the logic behind some of lue’s rotations?
I don’t know what Delly and Frye did Lue’s insistence on playing Shumpert and Mo Williams is STUNNING. GET THEM OUT OF THE GAME.
The Cavs need to pick up the energy on offense. LeBron needs to attack. Is like they are just trying to keep the score close when they are the home team.
The Cavs need to wake up.
lebron intent on driving but he hast o finish not sure if fouls will be called and i think he needs to attempt a mid ranger to keep warriors D honest
Dahntay > Shump?
Playing Mo and Shump at the same time is playing with a garbage fire.
This lineup by lie was horrid.
cavs can’t hit an outside shot or really a layup consistently…fortunate to be down 2 but they really need to hit outside shots
Time to sit down Mo and Shump
Mo takes 3 shots in 3 mins. Cannot believe he is playing now.
No energy on da glass
Get Mo out of there. wTF!!!!!
Get shump too..no energy ..6 open 3’s for the Dubs..can’t be giving them open shots at home… Its like we cant get any good looks….just horrible
James needs to be more aggressive!
I’m not loving the Mo/Shump backcourt…
Said everyone, everywhere…
Yeah, I shoulda hit that with a #understatement
Getting real sick of Green. And Shump. Get some better quality players in there please.
Dood
Great steal by LBJ! Glad Mo finally scored…
Mo’s only good shot selection of the night so far.
https://vine.co/v/5BBhzpQx7nO
Mo williams is terrible
why is Mo in the game ?
Mo and Shump on the floor at the same time….seriously?
Beautiful, timely drive and layup by Lebron.
https://vine.co/v/5BBbqYBFWpA
Where is Cols? He’s not all in!