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Bing Crosby, Jr. @bingcrosbyjr

Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, Not 4 but 4:40 = "The Redemption" for the Cleveland Cavaliers


The historic 2016 NBA Finals came down to the final 4:39 in game 7 where destiny took over. Many people from #DubNation would agree with Draymond Green's assessment that the series ultimately came down to not closing the Cavaliers out in Game 5. Golden State had momentum and history on their side, but in the end the Cavaliers and the City of Cleveland would not be denied. The city of Cleveland won its first professional sports title since December 1964. The Cavaliers became the first team in NBA Finals history to win the championship after being down 3 games to 1 in a best of seven series.

This historic championship game 7 would decide either back to back championships for the Golden State Warriors with their record 73 wins in the regular season or the crowning of a new champion from Cleveland, and it came down to the last 5 minutes of the game. The Cavaliers and NBA Finals MVP Lebron James decided that they wanted it more than Golden State who seemed to "settle" in the words of 2 time back to back NBA MVP Stephen Curry. The Warriors who seemed to be able to score at will all season ironically didn't score any baskets in the last 4:39 in the biggest game and biggest stage of the season with the Larry O'Brien trophy on the line. It seemed as the Warriors with momentum, crowd and history on their side seemed to wither as they got banged up in this physical series as the series got longer and more intense.

The proof that the physical toll hit the Warriors with the game on the line was the 9 missed jumpers in the last 4:39 of the game. Their legs seemed to wear down and their offense all season was a live by the 3 point shot and die by the 3 point shot. Their lack of a dependable scoring presence in the lane was exposed as they had to go with the ingredients that got them to this stage - their shooting. Instead the versatility of Kyrie Irving who made the biggest shot in the history of the Cleveland Cavaliers would silence the raucous crowd inside of Oracle Arena.

The seconds running after that historic shot by Kyrie seemed like minutes, seemed like months, years and decades with time running out on a 52 year title drought for the City of Cleveland.

The Cavaliers made shots down the stretch and the Warriors who made big shots all season didn't. Another weakness that was exposed outside of their reliability on the 3 point offense was the Warriors defense which has been questionable at times during the season especially in clutch situations. The Cavaliers shut down the infamous curse on Cleveland sports after 52 years and the Cavaliers look ahead to the 2016-2017 season as they could possibly do the unthinkable and repeat as NBA Champions.


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