2016 NBA Finals: Comeback Win Would Be LeBron James’ Crowning Achievement
Sealing a historic comeback on the NBA’s greatest stage would cement LeBron James’ legacy as one of the greatest ever.
Oh, how the tables have turned.
A little over a week ago, we were wondering if the Cleveland Cavaliers could even win a game in the 2016 NBA Finals following two consecutive drubbings at the hands of the heavily favored Golden State Warriors.
The Cavs had multiple shortcomings in those initial contests, including lackluster play from their star and leader, LeBron James. The Warriors faithful and NBA fans at large were all but ready to bring the brooms out.
Since then, the Cavaliers have responded by winning three out of the last four games by a combined margin of 59 points, while holding a team that averaged 114.9 points a night during the regular season to just 99.0 per game.
While improved team shooting numbers (51.1 percent through the last four games compared to 36.8 percent in the first two) and Finals MVP-worthy play from Kyrie Irving (32.0 PPG on 51.5 percent shooting) have certainly helped right the ship, the driving factor behind the Cavaliers’ resurgence has been the awakening of a familiarly otherworldly King James.
LeBron has been an absolute juggernaut in the last four contests, dominating the Warriors to the tune of 34.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 2.8 blocks and 2.5 steals a night over the last four games.
What’s even more remarkable is that James has completely rectified the lackluster perimeter shooting that has plagued him all season, as his field goal percentage of 54.7 and his incredibly improved three-point percentage of 42.5 indicate.
Without a doubt, the King has put together yet another remarkable Finals performance — but a win in Game 7 could be the most pivotal moment of James’ illustrious career.
James and company have the opportunity to do something no other team has done in the history of the NBA by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the Finals.
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A win would also help him fulfill his career-long mission to bring the city of Cleveland and his home state of Ohio its first professional sports championship in over 50 years — a feat with a historic significance that few others could ever match.
Also, by defeating the greatest regular season team in league history, LeBron could play the ultimate David by delivering the fatal blow to the revolutionary, world-beating Warriors, etching his legend in stone as one of the greatest individual players to ever grace the court.
LeBron has had several triumphs in his career, but none have carried this much significance. This Game 7 presents him the opportunity to be the savior he’s been portrayed as for his entire career; to bring glory back to a city that’s long been devoid of it and to complete one of the ultimate upsets in sports history.
More hoops habit: 2016 NBA Finals: Game 6 Recap And Highlights
For the player long known as the King, a win in Game 7 would be his ultimate coronation into the ranks of the all-time greats.