We all know LeBron James is the leader of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they wouldn’t have taken down Boston in Game 7 without the heroics of Jeff Green.
LeBron James may have baked the cake, but in Game 7, Jeff Green put the icing on top. Both combined to help the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Boston Celtics 87-79.
James ended the game with 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists. James led the team in all three statistical categories. Green, on the hand, ended the game with 19 huge points on 7-for-14 shooting and 8 rebounds.
Cavaliers not named James or Green finished the game with 11 made baskets combined. If Cleveland hopes to beat Golden State or Houston, they’ll need much more from their role players than 11 buckets.
For Green, this was his sixth game in double figures this postseason and his first playing over 40 minutes. He’s done all this while almost being left out of the rotation at the beginning of the postseason.
However, as Doris Burke reminded us postgame, Jeff Green being in the NBA is a miracle in and of itself. Green, in this “The Players’ Tribune” piece, relived how he took pride in his fitness, in his athleticism, in his work. Then, it was taken from him over half a decade ago.
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Now, he’s got it all back.
He overcame the odds. From heart surgery to the NBA Finals, Jeff Green will have an imperative role on the NBA biggest stage.
Cleveland saved his life, and now, it’s given him a new type of life. A life which offers him invaluable moments, moments he’s strived his entire life for. And, if it wasn’t enough, arguably the best player to ever play the game is his teammate working alongside him.
After not wanting to look himself in the mirror post-surgery, I’d say Green’s done pretty well for himself.
However, in the next few days, Green will be challenged even more, and this time, there’s a good chance he doesn’t come out on top.
Green, who’s one of Cleveland’s most athletic players, possesses a type of strength-speed-athleticism combo that will gift him the opportunity to guard the NBA’s most dynamic scorer, Kevin Durant. Even if Houston beats Golden State in Game 7, then Green might be put on the MVP-hopeful James Harden.
Either way, Green will be ready for the second most challenging thing in his life in the next week.
On top of being asked to do more offensively to help the King out, Green will get that daunting task. At the same time, his intangibles should transition him permanently into the starting unit.
In both meetings with Golden State, Green has scored six or fewer points and has yet to shoot at least 40% from the field. That’ll have to change. However, in one of Cleveland’s two matchups against Houston, Green went off for 27 points and 11 field goals by himself.
Green has been consistently inconsistent, and on the world’s biggest stage, I’d expect him ready to play. He’s eager to prove to the King and the whole world that all the excruciating hours in the gym has paid off.
James needs this for his legacy. Green needs this for himself. And, Cleveland might need a miracle to get it done.
Now, we just have to wait until Thursday to see the start of something special.
Next: Cleveland Cavaliers: Top 30 all-time greatest players
#WhateverItTakes, right?