When Lebron James went to Miami back in 2010, there were questions of who would be Batman and who would be Robin. After all, it was Dwyane Wade’s team. He had already won a championship in South Beach. But Lebron was the most talented basketball player in the world. That first year, the dilemma plagued them. The hesitation by Lebron cost him a championship ring.
The alpha role is no longer a dilemma for Lebron. He came back to Cleveland knowing he was Batman, looking for a Robin. Everyone thought it would be either Kyrie or Love. Literally no one thought it would end up being Matthew Dellavedova.
And because he is such an unsung hero, ESPN had to rile up a stat about how the MVP was scoreless against Delly.
When he really wasn’t…
https://vine.co/v/eM9xFbtgjxZ
Yeah we all know ESPN likes to create their own stories and push its agenda, but this one is ridiculous. It aired on their own network for god’s sake.
Nonetheless, the job Dellavedova did was commendable. It was a combination of very good defense and a lucky off night from Curry. But after losing Irving, the Cavs needed a break of their own.
In truth, it was a rough shooting night for everyone. It was ugly. It was gritty. It was exciting. It was everything you want an NBA Finals game to be.
The sloppiness of the game can be defined by one single play. Marreese Speights blew the easiest look of the game (a breakaway dunk) and then proceeded to run over Delly, and a referee, to end the third quarter.
https://vine.co/v/eM9lqLUQgBp
Those two points would ultimately determine the game.
With the Cavaliers up by 11 with just over three minutes left in regulation, it looked like the Cavs’ game to lose. And thanks to J.R. Smith’s ill-advised fouls, they almost did. His futility, that Knicks fans are so familiar with, allowed the Warriors to come back and force overtime. It was the first time in NBA Finals history that the first two games of the series went to OT.
In overtime, Delly was again the hero. This time on the offensive end. Down by 1 with less than 20 seconds to play, Lebron drove and kicked to James Jones. He missed, but Dellavedova was there to get to the offensive rebound, getting fouled in the process. With 10.1 seconds remaining, he nailed both to put the Cavs up for good.
That’s a classic situation you practice as a kid, down one, you need to make both free throws. I felt like I’ve been in that situation a million times before.
– Matthew Dellavedova
Dellavedova saved the day. But he was only in position to do so because of Lebron James.
James’ contributions have become so frequent and consistent that we take them for granted. His performance was nothing short of amazing. Lebron had a staggering 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists, proving that he can in fact do it all. That was good for the second most points scored en route to a Finals triple-double – trailing only the NBA logo himself, Jerry West.
All of that in spite of the worst non-calls I’ve ever seen for a superstar. Especially one of Lebron’s caliber.
This was the hackiest hack of all-time. No call.
https://vine.co/v/eMVr7ztUWQE
Draymond slaps Lebron’s hand on a tip. No call.
https://vine.co/v/eMV6bMrJpUi
Despite the lack of calls and his own inefficiency (39 points on 35 shots) Lebron got the job done. This is what his team needs him to be. Without James shooting 25+ shots a night, the Cavaliers do not have enough offense to win.
The Cavs were counted out after losing Kyrie in a brutal overtime loss in Game 1. This was the greatest bounce back win I’ve ever seen. The Cavs could have lost by 20, and no one would have batted an eye. But they came back and fought. They turned it into the type of game they could win.
It’s the grit squad right now. If you expect us to play sexy, cute basketball, that’s not us right now. Everything is tough, and it has to be that for rest of series.
– Lebron James
You heard it straight from the King’s mouth. The Cavs are going to have to continue to play smash mouth basketball if they want to win a championship. If they pull it off, James’ legacy will be within striking range of the basketball Messiah, Michael Jordan. I know one thing for sure. I wouldn’t want to stand in this man’s way.
https://vine.co/v/eMVdzVpiPb5