When Kevin Love was lost for the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were considered done. When Kyrie Irving was lost for the season, the Cavaliers were considered done. However, here the team is without their All-Star forward or All-Star point guard and have still managed to get the NBA Finals tied at 1-1 with the series shifting back to Cleveland. The Cavaliers are far from done as LeBron James continues to put the team on his back. The question becomes whether he can keep up the pace and get the Cavaliers the trophy.
Game 3 will likely be another exciting chapter in this series that has featured two close games as Game 2 went into overtime with Cleveland getting the 95-93 win. The NBA Finals have certainly not lacked for drama as James continues to be the one grabbing the headlines. Triple-doubles have been the norm for him as he got 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists on Sunday. He played 50 minutes after putting in 46 minutes in Game 1. Understandably, fatigue is a factor.
One thing the Cavaliers benefitted from on Sunday was a poor shooting performance from Stephen Curry. The league MVP missed 18 of 23 shots while ending the night with a 3-point air ball. That allowed the Cavaliers to make a solid run. James was not without his flaws either as he missed two game-winning shots while only hitting 40 percent from the field. It is hard to say that after the win momentum is in their favor, but the team certainly is not playing like the giant underdogs they are now expected to be.
The x-factor for Cleveland is and has always been James who is averaging 41.5 points, 12 rebounds and 8.5 assists during his fifth straight finals appearance. He might not have been voted MVP, but he is outplaying him while Curry made just 2 of 15 3-point shots in Game 2. Golden State is currently living and dying from the 3-point ball. If Curry and Klay Thompson struggle with outside shooting, the whole team struggles. The Warriors must do a better job of getting inside for the baskets.
Curry vowed to not repeat the shooting performance while James claimed he is motivated by secret factors. Both of these players will determine their team's success in the remaining games and whoever steps up the best will hold the trophy at the end of it all.