Superstar forward LeBron James has guided the Cleveland Cavaliers back to the NBA Finals, leading them to an Eastern Conference Finals-clinching 113-87 rout of the Toronto Raptors in Game 6.
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James told reporters after the game that he didn’t fully appreciate last year’s trip to the NBA Finals in his return to Cleveland due to injuries that knocked out Kevin Love and Irving in the postseason. Cleveland lost to Golden State in six games last season.
It’s been a 52-year drought for the city of Cleveland in sports terms – the Browns Superbowl win in 1964 was the last major national success.
James will be turning out in an incredible sixth straight NBA Finals, having made it to the season finale four times with the Miami Heat.
Let’s say this again: LeBron James just booked his 6th Finals appearance.
The42 is on Snapchat! The Warriors know it’s going to take something special to produce a different result at the arena known as Loud City. LeBron expended so much energy in that first quarter to get us off to that great start and then Kyrie and Kevin brought us home. King James left nothing to chance in the pivotal Game 6, going for 33 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. We’ve still got a ways to go but we’re climbing that ladder. Kyrie Irving had 30 points and J.R. Smith added 15 as the Cavs advanced to their second straight finals.
Being the freight train that he is, he took on the extra load easily, scoring 21 of his 33 points in the first half.
Kyrie Irving had 30 points and J.R. Smith added 15 for the Cavaliers, who will face the victor of the Golden State-Oklahoma City series beginning Thursday.
“The crowd has been very supportive to us”, said Biyombo, who stayed on the court to show his appreciation. He will be the eighth player in National Basketball Association history to appear in six consecutive finals and the first who didn’t play for the Boston Celtics. They could go 12 players deep on any given night and still pull out a win.
Lowry completed an 18-point third quarter when he converted three free throws in the final second and Cleveland led 86-74 entering the fourth quarter.
“He (James) is a proven victor and he’s shown that throughout his career”, Lue said.
“We needed LeBron to set the tone for us early, and I thought he did that”, Lue said. They registered their highest regular season win total in franchise history with 56 games, won their first Playoffs series since 2001 and made it to their first-ever franchise appearance at the Conference Finals stage.
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In each of the past six seasons, LeBron has had to vanquish 14 Eastern Conference foes to make his way to the Finals. “We’re learning. We’re not where they are right now”. With most of the roster experiencing the Conference Finals for the first time, it was an incredible season of learning that will surely help the team continue it’s climb.
