NBA Finals: What If LeBron Hits the Game-Winner in Game One?

What if?

It’s a question that has been stuck in my mind ever since the Cleveland Cavaliers were beaten by the Golden State Warriors in Game One of the NBA Finals, 108-100 in Oakland. I’m sure it has been stuck in the heads of millions of other Cleveland fans and I’m certain it’ll be a question asked not only for the reminder of these finals but for years to come.

Just what would have happened if LeBron James’ step-back 21 footer at the end of regulation went it? Or what if Iman Shumpert’s baseline jumper hit, just seconds after LeBron’s miss?

(Author disclaimer: I am not blaming the loss on either of the missed shots at the buzzer. I’m just exploring the concept of how different conversations would be about Game One if one of the two, mainly LeBron’s, shots fell.)

Before we dive into what we could be talking about, let’s take a look at the reality that the Cavaliers are now dealing with.

Cleveland finds themselves down 1-0 to the best team in the NBA with Game Two now a must-win for the Cavs. Playing at Oracle Arena, the Warriors hold the best home court advantage in the league, as they have only lost three games at home throughout the entire regular season and playoffs. Like this wasn’t enough bad news for the Cavaliers, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is now done the finals and more, per a cavs.com press release:

"Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving left last night’s NBA Finals game one in the overtime period with a left knee injury. He received an MRI today at Stanford Sports Medicine Clinic, which revealed a fractured left knee cap. He will have surgery to repair the knee in the coming days at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland by Cavaliers head team physician Dr. Richard Parker. His recovery time is projected to be three to four months and his status will be updated as appropriate."

This is the rough reality that the Cavs now find themselves in. Down two-thirds of their Big 3 and, as ESPN’s Dave McMenamin points out, Cleveland is a shell of what they were on opening night:

Cleveland has been playing with a next-man up mentality all season long and that is going to be vehemently tested for the reminder of the finals. J.R. Smith will need to shoot better then 3 from 13, Matthew Dellavedova will need to be better then a plus/minus of -13 and James Jones will need to provide some floor spacing. Maybe Coach David Blatt will even call upon someone like Mike Miller or Shawn Marion? Who knows? What is known though, is the Cavs must move the ball better then they did in Game One and they must…I repeat, must, win on Sunday Night.

But back to that magic question…what if?

What if, one of the two shots in this video went through the hoop?

Lets break down what would be the reality for Cleveland if they did win Game One off a miraculous game winner.

First off and most importantly, Irving wouldn’t be injured right now. Yes, he would most likely be sore but every NBA player is sore or banged up in some shape at this point of the season. But if Game One doesn’t go to overtime, we would be praising probably the best defensive game of his career and how much courage and guts he had to play with a bum knee and put up 23 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks, one of which was the block on a lay-up attempt from MVP Stephen Curry to allow Cleveland the chance to win the game at the buzzer. Just imagine how much better it would be if the Cavs were up 1-0 with Kyrie playing like the Kyrie we all love. It’s painful to think about, I know, but the fact of the matter is that it could have very easily been reality.

And how about all the ridiculous criticism that Blatt is coping from playing Kyrie 44 minutes in Game One?

None of that would be a topic of discussion. Blatt did the right thing by playing Irving for as long as he could- it was a close game in the NBA Finals and Irving was playing great, why wouldn’t you keep him in? Hell, Blatt would probably be being praised by the national media for having faith in Kyrie sticking to Curry in the final minutes. Then again, it’s the national media, so probably not but you get my point.

If LeBron hits the game-winner, we are probably talking about one of the great finals performances, instead of focusing on nonsense like this:

LeBron had his finals career high 44 points, with 8 rebounds and 6 assists but seemingly no one is talking about that. Everyone is focusing on the one miss at the end of regulation but just imagine, imagine, the pandemonium if he hits that game-winner. It would have finished off an excellent performance and we would be talking about how this shot impacts LeBron’s legacy for the better and not for worst.

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I know this article is dwelling on the past and what may have happened. I know that the Cavs can’t have the same mindset and they must look forward to Game Two, no matter how big of underdogs they are.

But maybe, just maybe, at the end of this series ‘The Game One Missed Shot in Golden State’ will find its place among ‘The Drive’, ‘The Fumble’ and the rest of Cleveland’s sporting disasters.

Or, what if, it doesn’t?

Next: NBA Finals Odds Without Kyrie