Cleveland Cavaliers: Top 5 NBA Playoff moments from Big 3 era

1. (2016) The 3-1 comeback

There isn’t much left to be said about this iconic comeback. The city has spent the last four years reflecting on the 2016 NBA Finals but we will take time yet again to look back at what the Cleveland Cavaliers accomplished.

The build-up to the 2016 NBA Finals was immense. Even after their victory in 2015, few people believed in the Golden State Warriors as many pointed to injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving as the sole reason for their championship.

It’s clear the Warriors were listening to all of the doubt as they sprang to a historic start. They began the season 24-0 and would eventually go on to win an NBA record 73 games. They were led by Stephen Curry who captured the league’s first-ever unanimous MVP award.

All season long we heard the argument. Had Curry taken the crown from LeBron James? Was James becoming ‘irrelevant’? Only a showdown in the NBA Finals could decide this one way or another.

The first two games of this series weren’t even competitive. Even with Irving and Love back in the lineup, the Warriors dominated the Cavs and took a convincing 2-0 lead. The Cavaliers defended their home court in Game 3 before squandering a half time lead and falling down 3-1.

We all know what happened next. James and Irving combined for an unprecedented 82 points in Game 5. Irving became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to score 40+ points on above 70 percent shooting in the NBA Finals while James posted an incredible 41 points, 16 rebounds and 12 assists.

Back in Cleveland for Game 6, James refused to let the Warriors gain momentum. He scored or assisted on 19 straight points in the fourth quarter to propel the Cavaliers into a decisive Game 7.

With the title on the line, each member of the Big 3 rose to the occasion. James blocked Iguodala, Irving hit the shot and Love stopped Curry with the game on the line. Together, the Cavaliers completed the greatest comeback in NBA history and brought a much-needed title to the city of Cleveland.