The Golden State Warriors had all but won the NBA Finals when they were up 3-1 in the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers and cement their place in history as one of the greatest teams in NBA history after winning a record breaking 73 wins in the regular season. They stormed back down 3-1 in the Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and it appeared the Cavs just ran into an unstoppable buzz saw. Moreover, the Warriors handled the Cavs easily in three of the first four games. In addition, two of the final three games would be in Oracle Arena in Oakland where the Warriors only lost 2 games in the regular season and 1 in the postseason. Of course, no NBA team had ever overcome a 3-1 series deficit. Against a 73 win team and the 2016 NBA MVP, Stephen Curry; no one thought the Cavs would make it a series. Forget winning it. Lebron James had something else in mind and a different history to write. Michael Jordan is my favorite athlete ever. He is the greatest basketball player of all-time and the best clutch player ever. As such, I would never admit this statement unless I absolutely had to and believed it: Lebron had the best NBA Finals performance I have ever seen. He already has the highest scoring average in NBA history when his team faces elimination. In Game 5, he had 41 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists. In Game 6, he had 41 points again to go along with 8 rebounds and 11 assists. In the deciding game 7, Lebron came up big again with a triple double (27 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists). For the series, he averaged 29.7 Points, 11.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 2.3 blocks, and 2.6 steals. He led both teams in all those categories for the series. The statistics are impossible but they do not even tell the whole story. Even in a weak Eastern Conference, it is debatable whether the Cavs would make the playoffs without Lebron. Despite how ridiculous Lebron’s statistical production was, it is even more impressive that he could elevate his supporting cast over a record breaking team. Steph Curry is the best player on the best team and the reigning back-to-back MVP of the NBA. Nevertheless, Lebron is still the best player in the world and it is not even close. Bringing a championship to the city of Cleveland, that has a 52 year professional sports championship drought, for a Cavs franchise that has never won a title was the last major achievement Lebron needed to end all questions about his legacy. He has done it. It is the signature moment in his career. I do not want to hear anyone attack his game or clutch play again. In fact, he is now 2-0 in NBA Finals Game 7s. Without a doubt, he is already a top 5 NBA player ever. The only question now is where he ends up in the top 5 after his career ends.
Games 1-6 each ended with a winning margin in double figures. Nevertheless, both teams scored 610 points each in the series going into the final game. It is only fitting that Game 7 was a close nail biter. When the Warriors’ lead hit 8 early in the third quarter, I was concerned that they would have one of their patented runs and blow the Cavs out of the water. For this reason, one of the key moments in this game was when J.R. Smith scored 8 quick points early in the third quarter after the Warriors pushed their lead to 8. It also showed that Lebron and Kyrie Irving would not literally have to win the game themselves. From that point on, the game was close the rest of the way. There will be two iconic moments that tell the story of this game going forward. The first is Lebron’s chase down block of Andre Iguodala going for a fast break layup with the score tied 89-89 with 1:50 minutes left. The Warriors did not score after it. Based on the significance of the moment, the ridiculousness of the athleticism shown, and that Lebron only sat for one minute and should be fatigued; it may be the greatest blocked shot ever. Of course, the second play will be Kyrie Irving’s game winning three point shot over Stephen Curry. Kyrie really came of age after his clunker in Game 2. He was incredible scoring the basketball, torching Curry, and giving Lebron a reliable wingman the rest of the series. In addition, that shot over Irving is the defining image that will symbolize that Lebron is the actual Most Valuable Player in the league. I would also like to give credit to a couple of role players. Tristan Thompson and Richard Jefferson played their hearts out and caused havoc on the boards. In terms of Jefferson, I have been a fan of him since his days with the Nets. I am happy to see him win a title and contribute to it. Although Kevin Love had a bad series and I wonder whether he can fit in with Lebron and Kyrie long term, he at least contributed 14 rebounds in Game 7. He would have been the easy fall guy if they lost the series. One crucial aspect of the game that will be lost in time will be the fact that the Cavs took 25 free throws compared to the 13 for the Warriors. More importantly, the Cavs hit 21 of the attempts. As we know, they have had issues in the past with hitting their free throws. In a 4 point game, the free throws were a deciding factor in the outcome.
As for the Warriors, they become just another team that had a really good season despite the record breaking 73 wins. Do not get me wrong. They would be a great team and title contender in any era [if you insert the three point line]. They have two of the best shooters ever in Steph Curry and Klay Thompson. Their three point shooting, along with all the capable three point shooters throughout their roster, give them a tangible advantage over any team. They have a couple of great versatile players in Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala who do a little of everything and play excellent defense. They remind me of a couple of mini-Scottie Pippens. Their bench also gives them amazing depth led by a 6’7” point guard with great length and athleticism. However, they do not get their place in history as one of the best teams ever without a title. While Lebron James and his Cavs won the series, the Warriors did plenty to shoot themselves in the foot. First, they went into Game 3 acting as if they won the series already (Remember Klay Thompson declaring the Warriors are better than the Showtime Lakers?), did not show up to play that game, and got blitzed in a blowout loss. Even though they won Game 4, Draymond Green should not have gotten into it with Lebron. While Draymond is obviously a much better player than Lance Stephenson, it reminds me of when Stephenson “tugged on Superman’s cape”. Lebron was unstoppable in the series after that moment. In addition, Draymond got suspended after exceeding the limit for flagrant fouls when the league upgraded his swipe at Lebron’s groin to a flagrant. I do not want to hear conspiracy theorists. What about the fouls before? With his past history, he gets no benefit of the doubt. In addition, Lebron and Kyrie were so hot in Game 5 that they had a high chance of winning that game anyway. They hit a bunch of jump shots. Draymond was not going to go out to the perimeter and double them to leave his man open for a dunk. Once the Cavs got it back to Cleveland, they were able to blitz the Warriors again for a blowout win. Nevertheless, the Warriors were certainly in it till the end of Game 7. While you want to give the Cavs credit for playing strong defense, I felt a Game 7 would be more difficult for the Warriors. Despite the home court, they had more pressure. They just could not lose the game after 73 wins and up 3 games to 1 in the Finals. When you are shooting jump shots, you need the motion to be perfect. Just a little tension can throw it off. In addition, the Warriors have a bad habit of throwing up wild shots. Of course, they make them too. Nevertheless, that habit is worsened with immense pressure. It is also more difficult to hit those shots under duress. The play that symbolizes it most is the possession after Kyrie hit the go ahead three. Steph got Love to switch on to him. He dribbled around on Love sniffing for a three and forced a difficult shot that he missed. Love was playing for the three and Steph could have dribbled past him and get a two point shot. It would have extended the game and they could have looked for a three the next possession or even a two pointer if they defend and stop the Cavs from scoring again. The loss of Andrew Bogut and compromised Andre Iguodala due to injures also played a key factor. However, no one wants to hear it. They benefited from teams losing key contributors in last year’s postseason. Lebron did not even have his second and third best players in Kyrie and Love against them in the Finals. The Warriors still had their best three players and plenty of depth to win one of the final three games, especially with two of the games at home.
Steph Curry needs to take a major hit for his performance this series. I already thought it was ridiculous to suggest he already took Lebron’s throne. He is the best player on the best team which is valid reason to vote for him as the MVP. However, Lebron is just a more complete player. In fact, I agree with the assessment that he is as close to a perfect players as there is or ever was. Curry does not even play defense. His team is able to compensate for his deficiencies because they are a sound and excellent defensive team, which allows Curry to freelance and go for steals.The Cavs, specifically Kyrie Irving, exposed Curry’s defense in the finals. Regardless, Curry is a tremendous offensive player. He is obviously one of the greatest shooters ever. I thought it was premature and a product of the 24/7 news cycle that he was already anointed the greatest shooter ever. The best shooter ever should be able to also do it in the clutch and over a period of time. He was far from clutch in this series. He was 4-15 in Game 1 and his team won in spite of him because of heroics from Shaun Livingston off the bench. In the final three games, he shot 8/21, 8/20, and 6/19. He completely disappeared in the fourth quarter of game 7 and got the game winning shot hit on him. Of course, he could still end up being the greatest shooter ever. He still has a ways to go in his career. In addition, the Warriors can still end up one of the best teams ever if they come back and win a couple more championships. The 2016 team just cannot be called one of the greatest ever. It actually becomes a negative and a cruel punch line that they won so much in the regular season and did not win the title (e.g. 2001 Seattle Mariners winning 116 regular season games, New England Patriots going 18-0 heading into the 2007 Super Bowl, etc.) However, let us wait and see what transpires instead of making definitive historical claims about them today.
As a New York Yankees fan, the 2004 ALCS is the most traumatic sports moment in my life. After Game 6 of the NBA Finals, I told a friend that this series reminds me a lot of 2004 when the Red Sox came storming back down 3-0 to win the series. In their case, they were a franchise that was trying to end an 86 year drought. In the case of the Cavs, they were trying to end a 52 year championship drought for an entire city. It is fascinating how both of the droughts were ended in miraculous fashion. In addition, I noticed the terrible reactions from the Warriors in Game 6. Steph Curry fouled out and got ejected from a game for the first time in his career when he threw and hit a fan with his mouth guard. Klay Thompson could be seen dazed and stunned on the bench. He even walked off the bench early before the end of the game out. Their frustration and panic were the same things I could feel from the Yankees players by the end of Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. In addition, they also looked tired and weary. The emotional and physical strain of chasing and obtaining 73 wins, coming back 3-1 against the Thunder, and then trying to prevent blowing a 3-1 Finals lead may have ended up being too much to handle but they were painfully close to achieving it all.
Congratulations Cleveland. You have suffered greatly as a city with your sports team. Fate has not been kind to you in the last 52 years. When Lebron left to sign with the Miami Heat, this moment must have seemed impossible. Nevertheless, you deserve your moment of glory. I hope the wait was worth it. It is time to celebrate.
About Pat Wong
Patrick is a contributor for Rookerville. He is an avid sports fan. Before joining Rookerville, he was part of a defunct New York Yankees message board, NYYankeefans, where he was its top poster and was inducted in its Hall of Fame for his contributions. Patrick is also a passionate fan of movies. He has enjoyed reading movie reviews over the years and is excited about the opportunity to review movies. Patrick is also a passionate foodie. He is Yelp Elite for three years in a row and shares his great finds in New York and his travels.