Stress test: High-wire Cavaliers still alive in NBA Finals

Golden State led the best-of-seven series 3-0. When I say most, I mean just that.

They couldn’t do it in this same situation past year.

Unusual things have been known to happen in still the early days of the 21st century, not the least of which was the Cavaliers becoming the first team in history to climb out of that 3-1 hole in the championship round against the record-setting, poetry-inspiring, prohibitive favorite Warriors.

It’s a bitter memory for the Warriors, who seek redemption. James admitted as much afterward, telling reporters that the Cavs had heard Green, specifically, was looking forward to partying in their hoops house.

“I don’t like it”. The Warriors have too much history at Oracle.

“I didn’t stress anything besides just live in the moment”, he said. He might want to zip it before and during Game 5 and, while maybe not improving on his 16 points and 14 rebounds, find a way to do better than 6-for-16 from the floor, along with the constant foul trouble and tightrope of technical fouls he’s been walking. “So try to do whatever it takes to win”. “He’s just been built for that moment”. “That’s a part of basketball”, Durant said.

“A little trash talk”, Pachulia said. He just didn’t get it going.

And in 1951, the New York Knicks put the ultimate scare into the Rochester Royals, matching the Royals’ three consecutive victories to start the series with three of their own for an up-for-grabs Game 7.

The Cavs attempted 45 3’s, only one more than in Game 3 when they connected on 12 of them.

So in the crucial Game 5 this year, the Cavs have to play most of the Warriors from last year – plus Green and Durant. Early in the third quarter, he was caught napping on the baseline as Tristan Thompson battled two Warriors under the hoop.

“It’s The Finals. Guys are going to talk”, he said.

“It’s an fantastic opportunity that we have and we have to take advantage of it going back home”, Green said.

“I don’t like it”, James said. There have been times throughout my career where I just played teams that were in the midst of something that can last for a long time. And this is the NBA Finals.

“It’s The Finals and everyone is heated”.

The goal for the Warriors now, of course, is to throw the Cavs out of their Oracle Arena building on Monday while they celebrate a second championship in three seasons. “All the energy is going to something positive, I would hope”.

Prior to Friday night, the Cavaliers had made 18 three-pointers thrice – against the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics and the Warriors – and lost all three games.

We all know about the controversy in the wake of Curry’s “celebration” after Kevin Durant’s game-winning 3-pointer late in Game 3.

Richard Jefferson said the Curry celebration didn’t bother the Cavs, either. “Obviously we haven’t felt this feeling walking off the court with a loss in a while, but we have done a good job of bouncing back and being resilient all year and obviously learning from all different experiences we have been through”. I want to see how it feels to win at home. Their fans have not witnessed a championship ceremony at home, and one can only imagine the scene – lasting well into the night – if they win Monday evening’s Game 5 of the Finals.

“We have to be physical at the point of attack”.

“Tonight we had 27 assists, and that’s very key”, James said.

During Game 5 of the Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference Finals series against the Boston Celtics, James eclipsed Jordan for the league’s postseason scoring mark.

Though he submitted a strong stat line on the night, Green did let his emotions get the best of him, as he was assessed one of seven technical fouls handed out on the night and at one point looked like he would be ejected before officials determined that a technical foul should have been assessed to coach Steve Kerr rather than Green. “We’re in a great spot and now we have to capitalize”. This was their launching-pad moment from a year ago.

“We have to come back home”, he said.

“And you give us a day in between and we were ready to come out”.