Remembering when Kyrie Irving and LeBron James got the Cavs back in it
Whenever I’m perusing the good old internet, or my Twitter feed, I often come across sports fans who just love slandering former Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving. Don’t get me wrong, some of the choices he’s made in his career after forcing his way out of Cleveland, have been questionable.
Before this NBA season he, Kevin Durant, and James Harden were supposed to lead the Brooklyn Nets to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2003. Nonetheless, Kyrie Irving voluntarily sat out much of the season as he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which meant he could not play Nets home games, for the vast majority of those. Unsurprisingly, the Nets were swept in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the Boston Celtics. After their Game 3 loss in the series, Irving had this to say, via Josue Pavon of Heavy.com.
"“In terms of our spirit, I think, being in what we call the trenches, or being in a series like this, we’re just trying to gel, and usually you’re gelling around the right time,” Irving said. “The team in the other locker room is gelling at the right time. They’ve been gelling since Christmas. So, for us, we’re just in a new experience as a group, and we just got to respect that. Bring everything we can to this next game and just do one possession at a time.”"
Even though I don’t agree with a lot of the things Irving has done in recent years, no one in the city of Cleveland should hold ill-will towards the former Rookie of the Year. He was a major reason the Cavs came back from a 3-1 series deficit, to give the city its first major sports championship in 52 years. Ironically enough, today is a very important date in Cavalier history, too.
After falling behind 3-1, the Cavaliers played a pivotal Game 5 in the Bay Area. Most NBA fans should remember this game because it was the first time teammates scored 40+ points in a NBA Finals game. With the Golden State Warriors and Boston headed for their own version of a pivotal Game 5, let’s take a look back at that special night in Cleveland sports history, as relayed on Monday by Ball Is Life.
A little background
The 2016 series started with two dominant Golden State wins. Games 1 and 2 were won by an average of 24 points per game. The Warriors were led by Shaun Livingston in Game 1, who had 20 points. In Game 2, even though it may seem impossible because of how bad he’s been in the 2022 NBA Finals, Draymond Green led the Warriors to a 33-point win over the Cavs. Green had 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. In Game 3, Irving and LeBron James combined to score 62 points, and the Cavaliers punched back to make the series 2-1 in favor of the Warriors. With a lot of hope going into Game 4 in Cleveland, the Warriors quickly shut down the party, beating the Cavs 108-97. Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 38 points.
However, the most important moment of the series took place in the waning minutes of the Cavs loss in Game 4. Draymond Green fell to the floor and James stepped over him. Feeling disrespected, Green then swung his arm at LeBron James’ groin. After the game, James was handed a technical foul. But, the altercation did not go well for Green who was assessed a Flagrant 1 after Game 4. With that being his fourth of the 2016 playoffs, he was then suspended for Game 5 in Oakland.
Facing an impossible 3-1 deficit to a team many believed was one of the best in NBA history, the Cavaliers needed to get a lot of help from their superstars. Well, saying they got that help from James and Irving is a massive understatement.