Cleveland Cavaliers: Road to the Finals

The Cleveland Cavaliers might have been the defending champs heading into the postseason, but they sure as heck weren’t playing like it. Poor offensive possessions and subpar free throw percentage kept the game close, and the Indiana Pacers had a shot to win the game in the final possession. But after forcing Paul George to pass out of a double team, Cleveland watched as C.J. Miles missed a 14-foot jumper as the buzzer sounded. The Cavaliers survived, but were looking more vulnerable than ever before after their 109-108 win.

Another games, another double-digit fourth-quarter lead nearly blown by the Cavs. Cleveland looked more focused, but the Indiana Pacers slowly chipped away at a 16-point deficit in the final frame down to four points with 19 seconds to go. But behind 37 points from Kyrie Irving, Cleveland was able to hang on to win, 117-111.

Down 25 points heading into the third quarter, it looked like the Cavaliers were finally going to fall against the Pacers. But Indiana learned if you’re going to take a shot at the King, you better not miss. LeBron James led the comeback for the Cavs, notching a 41-point triple-double to overtake the Pacers, 119-114. It is the largest second half comeback in NBA playoff history.

Keeping with the drama of the series, the Cavaliers blew a 13-point lead and were down to the Pacers 102-100 with 1:31 left in the game. But once again, LeBron James came to the rescue with a go-ahead three-pointer with just over a minute left and helped seal the sweep with a 106-102 point victory. It would be James’ NBA-record 21st straight first round victory.

After a long layoff, many wondered whether rust would set in for the Cavs when they faced the Toronto Raptors. It did not. LeBron James poured in 35 points and Kyrie Irving added 24 as the Cavs kept their playoff winning streak alive with a 116-105 Game 1 victory. James even took time from dominating the Raptors to pick up a beer from a fan. It was that kind of night.

It was another easy night of work for the Kid from Akron. LeBron James scored an easy looking 39 points, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for second place on the all-time playoff scoring list, and the Cavaliers trounced the Raptors, 125-103.

Last year, the Cavaliers had their win streak end in Toronto. This year, LeBron James crowned himself the King of the North. DeMar DeRozan outdueled James 37-35, but the Cleveland All-Star got the Game 3 win against the Kyle Lowry-less Raptors, 115-94. It was the Cavs seventh straight win of the playoffs.

The usual suspects came to play in the Cleveland Cavaliers 109-102 sweep-clinching Game 4 victory. However, Cleveland’s three-point specialist got his due. Kyle Korver scored 18 points, going 4 for 6 from three-point range.

LeBron James had a LeBron James game with a 38-9-7 line, but Kevin Love showed his playoff mettle by playing the perfect sidekick. Love kicked in 32 points and 13 rebounds to help the Cavs secure Game 1, 117-104.

When LeBron James was excluded from the NBA MVP finalists, the Boston Celtics knew what was coming, and they still couldn’t do anything to stop it. James and Cavs built a 41-point halftime lead, and never looked back as they would utterly destroy the Boston Celtics, 130-86.

Without their biggest star Isaiah Thomas, everyone outside the city limits of Boston all but penciled in the Cavaliers sweep. However, the Celtics employed a more team-oriented approach that Cleveland had trouble containing. With the score tied 108-108, Boston guard Avery Bradley hit a game-winning three-pointer to hand the Cavs their first loss of the postseason.

Well, that didn’t last long. Despite LeBron James being hampered by foul trouble, Kyrie Irving donned the Superman cape, scoring 42 points in Clevelands 112-99 win. The Cavs shot a combined 71 percent from the field in the second half, all but assuring a NBA Finals rematch with the Golden State Warriors.

LeBron James has an uphill battle in many people’s opinions to surpass Michael Jordan as the G.O.A.T., but he added to that resume in Game 5. James scored 35 points, passing Michael Jordan for the most career playoff points ever. The Cavs would win the game, 135-102, setting up the first back-to-back-to-back NBA Finals matchup ever.