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Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 Things To Be Thankful For In 2015

By Jamyson Frierson

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; General view of Quicken Loans Arena prior to game six of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; General view of Quicken Loans Arena prior to game six of the NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) handles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) handles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the third quarter in game five of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors (Lost Series 4-2)

Some of you might disagree with this being a choice since the Golden State Warriors won the series, but there is a reason I have it ranked here. The Cleveland Cavaliers had not been to an NBA Finals since 2007 against the San Antonio Spurs. I absolutely hate using the term “moral victory” for anything that pertains to a loss, but last season’s Finals proved to be a moral victory for the Cavaliers.

The team was missing Kyrie Iriving and Kevin Love throughout the whole series and they were still able to push a fully healthy Warriors team to six games.

Players like Matthew Dellavedova, Tristan Thompson and even James Jones were the biggest contributors next to LeBron James on a team that was being held together by paste and tape. Dellavedova was playing so hard that he had to stay overnight in the hospital for dehydration.

They scratched and clawed their way to their two victories in the series, but once Stephen Curry remembered that he wasn’t being guarded by Gary Payton and coach Steve Kerr went with a smaller lineup, it was over.

A rookie NBA coach in David Blatt trying to figure out adjustments with a battered and exhausted team was just asking too much. Some fans even suggested going deeper into the Cavaliers bench and using Joe Harris and Shawn Marion, but I doubt that would have made any difference.

Either way, the Cavaliers overcame adversity and still gave the city of Cleveland and its fans hope. It was definitely fun for most fans to have meaningful basketball back after not experiencing it since 2010.

Now the goal for the Cavaliers is to maintain good health, get back to the Finals and give Cleveland their first championship since 1964.

Next: 4. Kyrie

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