If you missed the game, I feel sorry for the confusion you might have over who is leading this series.
Because I have a perspective/opinion/2 cents worth that might not be worth even that, I'll share my penny after I share what's being said.
Delly is his nickname because Matthew Dellavedova gets to being a tongue twister at times. We know him partially as a result of the injury to Kyrie Irving which pressed him into action early in the playoffs, and we know him also due to his scrappy effort in the face of the NBA MVP, Steph Curry.
The SquareBiz is that LeBron critics will have to credit him when he is done, because they will make every excuse in the world while embroiled in King hatred, including giving credit to the legendary defense of Delly on a player who even LeBron described as unguardable. How do we argue with the King?
I use that King label mostly to annoy those who just can't accept that it appears to be true. Since I am pissing folks off, let's go a step over the line and compare LeBron's level of contempt to Christ who had critics unwilling to accept what their eyes had clearly revealed. Miracles do happen, and LeBron is working on a miracle by forcing this group of scrap heap players to believe in the impossible.
What better a perspective than to see this as the unraveling of an impossible dream. If you believe in the impossible- Triple Crown Winner's, Thrilla in Manila's- then you live expecting it to be an occasional part of the viewing experience. I will admit my guilt to this prisoner of the moment perspective, but I didn't watch American Pharaoh because it was unlikely that he could win. I expect Serena to do what no one has ever done before and I expect it to be dramatic. I didn't realize #20 would be so drama filled, but it makes sense in hindsight.
Steph could be writing a story that reveals the depth of challenge that he's already overcome, but it feels a little bit smoother than I remember the NBA title challenge being. It feels like we've taken to the underdog this time, but it also feels like we've done it because, in a democracy, we have unresolved hatred for any king.
DOUBT??!!
Cleveland had one thing working against them coming into the series. While they know they can play, no one, even LeBron, thought they could win without Kyrie Irving. When he went down, the doubt froze Cleveland into a 2 point OT in game one. They could have licked their wounds and limped back to Cleveland without a win, however, the beauty of professional sports is the tape, because the tape don't lie.
On tape, Golden State has raced back twice to FORCE overtime, not the other way around. Going into this series, most of the Cavs didn't believe they could be winning in Oakland with minutes to play, and the proof is in the pudding, or in the softness that allowed 2 OT's in games they controlled until the end.
Heading home with the proof on tape, and a game stolen, the Cavs might be more in danger of being too confident now that all of the doubt has shifted to the Warriors.
Four fresh quarters of basketball have a way of providing hope, although it seems the Warriors thrive on desperation, choosing to bring their best each time LeBron or the clock tries to darken the room.
From the perspective of some, Steph Curry is the only player struggling. The Square Biz is, no one will shoot a great percentage in this series overall, even if they find moments of getting hot. Check the list- Bogut, Green, J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson- LeBron. While a couple cats can get hot at moments, and they have, the percentages say that no one is scorching, especially when the game is on the line, or these teams wouldn't be the best two defensive teams left standing that we expected.
My coach hat says that defense doesn't end until a steal or a REBOUND happens. The Cavs are forcing the most turnovers, and they are usually winning the boards. In fact, Timofey Mosgov deserves a chance to rebound and hit free throws to close out each game instead of riding him and shutting him down because of the Warriors small line-up. Last I checked, Mosgov is more reliable from the line (in the clutch) than LeBron.
Now that they have removed the doubt from being normal peasants and not the King of basketball, this will elevate a few Cav players to legends themselves, especially if the Cavs can achieve this impossible goal.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, every player they are facing now will play and score absent the doubt of never winning at this level. In other words, they now face a whole new team. Good luck with that.
Postscript:
Jemelle Hill of ESPN's His and Hers says the media (who mostly picked Steph to win ironically) are now giving Steph a pass- the kind of pass other stars have never been given (ie., LeBron James and James Harden) since he has performed poorly thus far.
Is she right?
I believe that either we've been too nice, or too tough on other players......or some shade of grey in the middle. Does that cliche still have the same meaning after that movie? Never mind.
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