THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Chances are, if you weren’t glued to the end of the U.S. Open on Sunday afternoon, as a sports fan, you were locked into Game 7 of the NBA Finals between Cleveland and Golden State.
And despite how ugly it was early in the series — and it was ugly — the final game was well worth the wait.
Finally.
WHEN THE Golden State Warriors jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the series, it seemed as if the Cavaliers were destined to be a footnote in the record-setting 2015-16 campaign by the boys from Oakland.
They broke the all-time single season wins record with 73, winning each game easier and easier.
Then the playoffs arrived and no matter how much Golden State should have breezed to the NBA Finals, the Warriors didn’t. Due to an injury to Stephen Curry in the first round against Houston, the Warriors lost a game to Portland in the second round, were taken to the limit in the Western Conference Finals by the Oklahoma City Thunder, then seemed to find their groove again to start the series against Cleveland.
Then, a suspension to forward Draymond Green for Game 5, followed by a knee injury to Andrew Bogut during Game 5, and the Warriors failed to show what they had all year long to even the series.
On Sunday, it wasn’t all LeBron James that brought Cleveland its first major title in 52 years, though he had a big part in the outcome.
Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving hit a clutch 3-pointer to give them the lead for good, and eventually help the team clinch was seemed as if the furthest thing possible nearly two weeks ago.
FOR THE record, I’ve never been the biggest fan of LeBron James and he didn’t do that much to sway me during the Finals.
When the officials blew the whistle, he’d jump around and complain, something that if you’re a young kid watching that game, and tried to do in your parks and rec league, you’d probably get a good talking to by your coach.
Then again, he’s paid a ridiculous amount of money to be the face of the Cavaliers, and he doesn’t care what anyone has to say about the way he handles his business.
During the regular season, Cleveland fired its coach — with the Eastern Conference’s best record at the time — and replaced him with an assistant that more well-know for being the guy that Allen Iverson stepped over during a Finals game with the Philadelphia 76ers.
James is a great player, and should be considered a hero in the Cleveland area because well, he snapped the losing streak in the city.
The Cleveland Browns with the drive against the Denver Broncos, watching as the Florida Marlins walk-off with the World Series, it’s enough to drive a fan insane. Much like they were when James opted to take his talents to South Beach and the Miami Heat after failing to reach his goals the first time in Cleveland.
The fact is, LeBron delivered, when he needed to, and it seemed as if the Cavs should have been counted out.
Love him or hate him, he did what he said he’d do when he returned to Cleveland after two championships with Miami.
Finally.
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JEPressSports.