A Dream on Hold: Have the Cavs Already lost these Finals?

How Game 2 Might Have already spelled the beginning of the end for LeBron and the Cavs

When LeBron reacted to Kyrie Irving’s knee injury at the end of game one, by dropping 39 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and dropping 11 assists, we saw a great player assert his will on a situation that seemed to be impossible to overcome. By tormenting the Warriors all night long, LeBron did what most in the media as well as myself had written off as nothing more than a pipe dream.

He stole home court advantage. And yet, using thievery to describe his accomplishment seems both lacking and overly apt. He did what James Harden did in Games One and Two in the Western Conference Finals, but at several orders of magnitude greater than the Bearded one. The Cavs led for most of the game because of LeBron’s dominance, and on the surface, were only a few moments from having both an imposing 2–0 series lead with two wins at Oracle Arena, as well as retaining the services of the previously mentioned Mr. Irving.

The narrative has up to this point rightly been about the four time MVP who has appeared to be on a mission. He has seemed to transform the Cavs from a finesse oriented offensively minded team into a gritty, methodical team that is fueled by its shortcomings, a group that is strengthened by its naysayers.

There have been a lot of what ifs so far in this series. If LeBron makes the jumper at the end of regulation, Kyrie remains healthy, and consequently Cleveland, with hindsight to “guide” us, could have easily won. LeBron has dominated, averaging over 40 points, over 10 rebounds, and over 8 assists in the first two games.

Put simply, LeBron has put the Cavs on his back, and everyone is taking notice. Here we see exhibit A

However, I think that the people who jump to conclusions are missing the bigger picture of this NBA Finals. My first point is that, the what-if game is dangerous, because I could come up with all types of ludicrous scenarios that don’t exist in reality. The bottom line here is that LeBron missed, and Kyrie got hurt. We cannot possibly come up with what ifs.

Reality matters because despite the Cavs’ injuries, in the first two games the fact is the Golden State Warriors have been far below expectations on the offensive end, while LeBron has elevated his team on both ends. Draymond Green, while being his usual defensive force, has been shooting an atrocious 30% from the field, and has missed all four of his three point attempts.

The Warriors so far have kept these games close by defending at their usually high standards, but have been hamstrung by inconsistent play offensively.

Apart from the wide open layup above, Steph Curry was ice-cold, a foreign condition for the league MVP to ever find himself in. He was 5–23 from the field, 2–15 from 3 point range, and struggled against Matthew Dellavedova, missing all eight of his shots, and committing 6 turnovers when guarded by the undrafted Aussie guard.

That is the real story for me. Golden State playing so far below their offensive capabilities yet keeping both games close. Steph Curry has proven in this postseason that limits are superfluous, and that resiliency extends to the rest of his teammates.

With LeBron, I worry that he might have pushed himself too hard, too early. With the preseason Big Three now a Big One, I think that if he wants to bring home that elusive NBA Title to his home state, he will have to go for a five-game knockout.

However, I think that the roar that we saw after game two from the King was not a motivating roar, but a exhaling roar. I will be curious to see how long that exhalation will last, and if Steph Curry can take advantage of a depleted Cavs roster on short rest.

I think that this series is as perilous for LeBron as last years’ was. It seems as uncertain and as potentially great. However, the wrinkle this year is that I could just as easily see the Cavs pull a San Antonio as I could the Warriors.

In my Finals Preview last week, I thought that this series could be one for the ages. Now, almost anything is possible and I couldn’t be more excited.