For "The Land"

LeBron raises his third Bill Russell Finals MVP trophy in the air after winning Game 7 in Oracle Arena vs Warriors.

By: Lamar "L.A" Smith

Everything changed in nine days. Nine days is the amount of days between Game 4 and Game 7 of the NBA Finals. A team once staring in the face of disappointment instead had a date with basketball immortality.

The Cleveland Cavaliers went through the first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs (8-0) without any adversity. The Conference Finals saw the Cavs drop two consecutive games after winning the first two games of the series, although the Raptors were never a danger to Cleveland's title hopes. Cleveland's focus was pointed to the West.

A historic 73-win team who came back from a (3-1) deficit versus the Oklahoma City Thunder in this year's Western Conference Finals were the real foes of the Cavs. A depleted Cavaliers team fought hard but, loss to the Warriors in six games. This year the Cavs had a chance at revenge.

The team leaves Golden State down (2-0) and everyone believes the Cavaliers could lose in a sweep or could be lucky to win a game versus the Golden State Warriors. Cleveland loses Game 4 and now has to go back to Oracle Arena facing a (3-1) deficit after getting blown out twice. A season on the line and one player's legacy on the line.

Cleveland responded and won Game 5 in Oracle Arena. Some will argue LeBron James subtly lobbied for a Draymond Green flagrant foul in his Game 4 post game comments. Despite Green's suspension the Warriors still had two games to hoist up the team's second consecutive title including a Game 7 in Oakland.

The team looked to be headed towards another disappointing championship run. ESPN debuted a documentary about the Cleveland sports drought titled "Believeland" on May 14th talking about the 52 year championship drought by Cleveland professional sports teams.

"The Fumble", "The Drive", "The Shot" everything bad about Cleveland can be described in a two-word tag starting with the word the apparently. Cleveland has endured a ridiculous amount of agony. "The Drought" would end eventually but, the team which would end "The Drought" was the real question.

Cleveland Browns no thank you, the team has not made the playoffs in over a decade when the team's last reliable quarterback was University of Kentucky product Tim Couch. Cleveland Indians haven't won the Central Division since 2007 and the last time the team went to the World Series in 1997 the Indians became known for "The Inning" and Jose Mesa could not close a possible Game 7 victory. The Indians aided in helping the Marlins obtain the team's first World Series title in the franchise's only fifth year of existence.

Cleveland Cavaliers were stuck as the team with the only real chance of winning a title. This dubious distinction came along thirteen years ago when the Cavs selected a kid from Akron, Ohio approximately 39 miles from the city of Cleveland with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

"The Chosen One" and "King James" were the names given to the prodigal son of Northeast Ohio. Fast forward thirteen years later including "The Decision" and "The Return" LeBron James promised the city a title and he delivered.

James brought the Larry O'Brien trophy home the only way he knew how and he did this through sheer will and force. The same dominance he plays with on the basketball court.

The Cavs became only the fourth team in NBA history to comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the Finals. Also the team became the first team to comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals and he accomplished both of these unbelievable tasks with arguably the best three-game stretch of his life.

However, who would be foolish to expect anything else, James only happens to be the all-time leader in points per game in elimination games in the playoffs. He puts up a tremendous fight during elimination situations so one would be wise to knock him out as soon as possible. Golden State didn't knock him out and the Warriors paid for it.

Golden State had a tough task since James has a fighter's chin. He exploded for an efficient 41 points and near triple-double in a Game 5 win. The last game in Cleveland of 2016 he stops a Golden State comeback single-handedly putting up another 41 points including scoring 18 straight points for Cleveland between the end of the third until about the middle of the fourth quarter.

Game 7 on the road against one of the greatest home teams in NBA history and the greatest regular season team in NBA history. Only three teams out of 18 have won Game 7 of the NBA Finals on the road. Adjust the statistic to four out of 19 teams have won Game 7 on the road because this is how LeBron won the first title in franchise history for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kyrie Irving may have hit the go-ahead shot to bring the title to Cleveland but, the Cavs would not be in that position late without "The Block". Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala are on a two on one fast break vs. J.R. Smith. LeBron chases down and blocks Iguodala's potential go-ahead layup with 1:50 left on a the clock when both teams struggled to score.

James started out 88 ft from the Warriors basket which is nearly the full length of an NBA court and ran the first 60 ft of that distance in 2.67 seconds according to ESPN's Sports Science by John Brenkus. The true wild card is teammate J.R. Smith. Smith's ability to stop the ball slowed Curry and Iguodala down enough for LeBron to make up the extra ground to block the shot. Despite Iguodala hanging in the air before releasing his layup LeBron still had to jump 35 inches to cleanly block the shot.

"The Block" changed the game and put Cleveland in position to win. James also became just the third player in NBA history to have a triple-double in Game 7 of the NBA Finals and now has seven triple-doubles in the Finals behind Magic Johnson's eight.

A historic and improbable run by none other than the prodigal son ended over a half of century of disappointment for sports in Northeast Ohio.

Nine days from the brink of disaster now a new chapter in this book can be written: "The Title". The star none other than "The Chosen One", "The King" and the prodigal son of Northeast Ohio finally brought championship gold to "The Land".

Splash Bros go crazy in "The Land"

Klay Thompson (left) and Stephen Curry (right) combined for 11 three-pointers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

By: Lamar "L.A" Smith

One win left to go. One win and the Bay Area will be having another championship parade. One win and history will be complete.

Three years ago Mark Jackson former coach of the Golden State Warriors called Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson "the greatest shooting backcourt of all-time". Many analysts thought the praise was premature. Every year Curry and Thompson make Jackson's statement harder to deny.

Before Game 4 in Quicken Loans Arena the Splash Bros struggled mightily. The two players known to toss up shots which seemed to find the bottom of the net with uncanny regularity were on a uncharacteristic cold streak. Game 4 came and everything went back to normal. Curry put up 38 points and Thompson put up 25 points to combine for 63 points.

The Warriors backcourt showed up and so did the team's defense as well. Golden State held the Cavaliers to 97 points including a stretch where the Cavs went almost seven minutes without making a shot. Warriors also held the Cavs to 24 percent shooting from three-point range too. Cleveland made 12 out of 25 threes in Game 3 though, only made 6 out of 25 threes in Game 4.

The Splash Bros combined for 11 made three-pointers to help lead the Warriors to a NBA Finals record for threes made by a team with 17. Golden State also became the first team in NBA Finals history to make more threes (17) than twos (16).

Curry and Thompson were given a lot of flack for the duo's lackluster performances through the first three games of the Finals.

All questions about the duo's play was answered during Game 4 in Cleveland. Every time Cleveland went on a run the Splash Bros seemed to have an answer. The All-Star backcourt made plays on offense and defense and for other players.

Cleveland unraveled down the stretch. The team's best offensive players in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving took 33 out of the Cavs 38 shots in the second half. The isolation heavy basketball destroyed Cleveland down the stretch.

Golden State's defense though not as potent still finished top five in the league in points per possession allowed. Therefore, one-on-one heavy offenses will not beat the Warriors. Ball movement and player movement is a must to score on the Warriors consistently.

Tonight is Game 5 at "Roarcle" Arena in Oakland and the real story is how will the Warriors play without the team's emotional leader Draymond Green.

The most logical option by the Warriors is to place sixth man and last year's Finals MVP Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup. Iguodala does not have some of Green's size and weight but is a capable defender and just as strong of a facilitator.

NBA officials did not act with transparency during this matter and gave every NBA conspiracy theorist in the world reason to believe Green's suspension was a travesty. Green gave Steven Adams a Chuck Norris judo front kick to the groin which looked intentional and was never suspended. The call was upgraded to a Flagrant 2.

Green's squabble with LeBron was blown entirely out of proportion. People perceive Green as being "dirty" due to his antics in the Warriors series vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. Green did commit some questionable actions vs the Thunder but, you cannot reprimand him for previous actions. James and Green's altercation did not warrant a Flagrant foul at all.

James blew the altercation out of proportion in his press conference after Game 4 referring to feeling disrespected and rubbed the wrong way by Green's comments. NBA officials admitted everything including post game interviews went into Green's suspension.

This is not "The Land" anymore. The Cavaliers are coming into the Warriors house. Green will be missed but the energy in the arena will be at an all-time high. Green will be missed but the energy coming from being at home should help fill some of the void.

Everyone on the Warriors roster will be focused tonight after Green one of the team's three All-Stars was wrongfully suspended in the eyes of many. A win tonight would be dedicated to Green. Golden State has a "next man up" team philosophy so, one should not be surprised by the performance of any of the role players.

An angry Warriors team should be feared. The Cavs will be desperate facing elimination but Green's suspension only adds motivation for the seemly inevitable coronation of the Baby-faced Assassin, his Splash Brother and the rest of a riled up Warriors squad.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Splash Bros need to find their STROKE

By: Lamar "L.A" Smith

The Finals is the most inopportune time for one to struggle.

Steph Curry and Klay Thompson better known as the Splash Bros have not had to face this harsh reality yet. Two guys who were the driving forces of Golden State's comeback from a (3-1) deficit versus the Oklahoma City Thunder have simply not shown up in the Finals.

Through three games of the Finals the duo has averaged a combined 28 ppg which is drastically down from the 52.2 combined ppg the two averaged during the regular season.

Some of the credit goes to a feisty Cavaliers squad who refused to lose at home. The Cavs were physical and played with a great amount of energy.

Cleveland's defense has stymied the Splash Bros unlike any other defense over the last two years. Both Curry and Thompson have yet to score 20 points in the Finals. The duo's poor play can be contributed to both the defensive focus from the Cavs and missed shots by Curry and Thompson.

Both Splash Bros have taken poor shots and have been overly aggressive sometimes instead of playing in the flow of the game. The biggest difference being Game 3 where Curry played an overall lackadaisical game excluding a four minute scoring barrage at the end of the third quarter.

Thompson was still engaged in the game although he did not play well. Curry did not resemble a two-time reigning MVP at all.

Draymond Green who played awful as well seemed to be the only one disgusted with his team's performance. However, as the team's vocal leader one would not be wise to expect anything else.

The Splash Bros have been trash. The duo was  unloading too much garbage for the rest of the Warriors to clean up.

Games 1 and 2 the rest of the team was able to make up for the duo's struggling play. The difference in Game 3 was everyone played awful. Curry and Thompson no longer had a safety net to rely on. 

Game 4 is a big game for both teams. A Warriors win means the duo can close the series out on Monday and can celebrate another title by the Bay. Cavaliers win and this is a series.

Curry and Thompson have to rain the barrage of threes the NBA public has seen the two make all year for the Warriors to win. The stage cannot get any brighter and the stage could not be any bigger.

The Splash Bros need to make a "splash" in Cleveland or Monday night in Golden State will be real interesting.

"Hot in Cleveland"

LeBron James kneels down on the ground in Game 2 of the Cavs 110-77 loss to Warriors in the NBA Finals.

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith

LeBron James versus the world has been the recurring storyline throughout King James' career. The same guy who was called "The Chosen One" before he logged a single NBA minute is the same one facing the most tumultuous task of his career. But, this is what James unknowingly signed up for when he entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft.

The most polarizing sports icon in the twenty-first century. Michael Jordan to most fans across the globe is the "God" of all things basketball therefore James was supposed to be "Jesus".

James probably has just as many fans as critics. He is 2-4 in the NBA Finals. He's not considered a closer because he routinely looks to make the right basketball play instead of taking the last shot in close games. Everyone criticized him for infamously "taking his talents to South Beach".

Criticism is well-deserved but the praise can be scarce at time. James should be appreciated despite several of his faults for the continued excellence he's brought to the game of basketball,

Through an age 31 season there is not another player in NBA history who has played as many minutes in the regular season and postseason as James. He's played almost more minutes in the regular season alone than Magic Johnson did during his postseason and regular season career at the end of his age 31 season. James has played 46,643 minutes in his career (through Game 2 of the Finals) which is a lot for one man let alone a man who has the responsibilities James has each and every night on the basketball court.

James will go down as one of the greatest players of all-time when he's done dribbling a basketball but this Finals could alter his legacy forever. James himself cannot expect anything else.

Who would expect anything else when you become the first player in 50 years to go to six straight NBA Finals?

The Golden State Warriors are standing in between LeBron and his third Finals ring. Now down 2-0 versus the greatest regular season team in NBA history the heat could not be any hotter in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers were embarrassed in Oracle Arena losing by a NBA Finals record combined 48 points through two games in the Finals.

James has looked passive at times though partially due to the fact he's been trying to keep his teammates as involved as possible in the game.

The biggest problem Cleveland has heading into Game 3 is the fact the Cavs do not have any answers defensively for the Warriors. Golden State just proposes too many matchup problems across the board.

The Cavs are at a constant disadvantage because 2/3 of the team's "Big 3" are defensive liabilities. Therefore, Cleveland's starting lineup is playing three on five most of the game on defense. Cleveland has looked brilliant throughout the playoffs due to the fact the Cavs played inferior competition throughout the Eastern Conference.

The last team to comeback from a 2-0 deficit was the 2006 Miami Heat led by Dwyane Wade who won two titles in Miami with James. Wade put Miami on his back and put up one of the most memorable Finals performances in Finals history by averaging 34.7 ppg and making every big shot possible down the stretch versus the Dallas Mavericks.

James challenge looks quite daunting in comparison. Cleveland loss by a record margin through two games and the Splash Bros did not have big games. The duo simply cooled off in the wave pool. James would have to be better than he was last year in the Finals to salvage a series which many thought would go the distance. Kevin Love is playing like the awkward adolescent kid he portrays in State Farm commercials and Kyrie Irving seems to be auditioning for a hoop mixtape.

Love and Irving have to show up. Cavs fans may be "All In" but the team's fans seem to be the only ones. Everyone has to play better or J.R Smith and Tristan Thompson will not be urging the "Big 3" to finish a press conference so the team can celebrate a win. The two will be bragging about who caught the bigger fish on the team fishing trip this summer.

Curry and Thompson are going to Cleveland with plans of only going back to the Bay for a championship parade. The Warriors do not have Game 5 in this team's vocabulary. James better galvanize his troops for Game 3 quick because as he's found out on multiple occasions a finger cannot beat a fist.

"Strength in Numbers"

Shaun Livingston (left) and Steph Curry (right) NBA Finals Game 1 post game interview

By: Lamar "L.A." Smith 

The Warriors are so lethal because of the team's depth. Golden State has worn t-shirts with the message "Strength in Numbers" on them for the last two years during the playoffs. The team's slogan did not resonate any louder than after the team's 104-89 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Golden State's bench outscored Cleveland's bench 45-10. Led by Peoria, Illinois native Shaun Patrick Livingston.

Most casual fans may not be aware of who Livingston is or know about his game but, his journey does not parallel to any other NBA veteran. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft coming out of Peoria Central High School turning down a chance to play at Duke.

Expectations came and Livingston was not the player some expected. Things did not get any easier when in 2007 Livingston destroyed his knee in a game versus the Charlotte Bobcats.

Many people would have never thought Livingston the guy who tore up every crucial ligament in his knee, the guy who had to learn how to walk again would make a difference on a championship team. He's the same guy who is currently playing for his tenth NBA team and the guy who many thought would never step foot on a basketball court again.

Livingston scored a playoff career-high 20 points on 8/10 shooting from the field including 10 points in the fourth quarter. During the fourth Livingston could not be guarded, taking advantage of every switch and mismatch versus the Cavs draining a barrage of mid-range jumpers.

Livingston led the way but everyone chipped in to lift up the struggling Splash Bros who combined for 20 points. Six teammates outside of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson scored in double figures: Livingston, LeAndro Barbosa, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green, Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes.

Barbosa dazzled fans showing he's still the "Brazilian Blur" who won the Sixth Man of the Year in 2007. Barnes got out of an offensive slump and Iguodala's versatility on both sides of the ball showed why he was last year's Finals MVP.

Curry and Thompson are not the only reason the Warriors are a force not to be trifled with, the Warriors are the best regular season team in NBA history because the team plays nine to ten guys every night.

Curry gets hurt. Livingston fills in as the starter and the Warriors don't miss a beat losing only two playoff games without the two-time reigning MVP.

Curry's backcourt mate is currently the leading scorer in the playoffs out of the remaining teams far as points per game (ppg). Thompson also is currently fifth in the NBA in ppg in the 2016 Playoffs.

Golden State's bench proposes serious matchup problems to Cleveland. 

Livingston is a 6'7 guard who loves to post up smaller guards and during switches in the pick roll has the athleticism to beat most bigger defenders off the dribble. He also is a strong mid-range shooter and has the length to get his shot off over most shooters. 

Iguodala is a 6'6 athletic wing who guards positions 1 through 3 on the perimeter, handles the ball, facilitates and can create his own shot.

Barbosa still is a quick guard who can blow past you and shoots the three well. Mauresse Speights better known as "Mo Buckets" is a 6'11 big who can score in bunches with three-point range. One would be wise not to forget Festus Ezeli or Bogut.

Both are strong bigs who can pass the ball and defend the paint well.

The Warriors may be known as the sweet shooting team down by the Bay but this team was constructed with the "next man up" mindset. Several players on one team who all have high basketball IQs, who can pass, cut and shoot the ball well from three-point range, inside the paint or both areas.

Bay Area natives and fans across the globe are treated to the exhibition game style entertainment the Warriors have brought to the basketball world over the last couple of years. 

This series is far from over. Game 2 is Sunday and should the Cavaliers win this series could very well go the seven games many people have expected. 

Everyone may not be fully aware of the "others" on the Warriors squad but basketball is a team sport. Though the Splash Bros are the faces of Golden State basketball the duo are champions because of the strength of the team.

All of the doubters can look to Game 1 of this year's Finals should any validation be needed to show their is "strength in numbers".

The Fairytale Continues...

Steph Curry holds up seven fingers after the Warriors win Game 6 in Oklahoma City before winning Game 7 at home.

The Warriors have been motivated all season to quiet naysayers. Last year the team's championship was considered fraudulent. ESPN analyst Skip Bayless even called it 'the most fortuitous Finals run by an eventual champion.' All of the starting point guards were hurt in each of the four series the Warriors played in including a completely injury ridden Cavaliers squad led by four-time MVP LeBron James. All of the negativity just would become the fuel to the fire of the champs.

The longest unbeaten streak in NBA history, the most road victories in NBA history, the best regular season record, the Coach of the Year, the first unanimous MVP and a long list of other notable accomplishments.

Everything changed for Golden State once the playoffs start. First two-time reigning MVP Steph Curry sprained his ankle during the first game of the team's first round series then he sprains his MCL in Game 3 and would be out of action for the next two weeks.

Golden State would not miss a step without the team's reigning MVP. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green played at another level which allowed Curry to rest and not risk re-injuring his MCL.

The MVP would return in the Western Conference Semifinals versus the Portland Trailblazers. He came off the bench in a pivotal Game 4 in Portland versus a Trailblazers squad who most analyst believed would not make the playoffs after losing four of the team's five starters to free agency last year. Curry struggled to find his shot but was forced to play heavy minutes in his return due to an uncharacteristic ejection by Shaun Livingston. Curry scored 13 points through three quarters looked fatigue and could not find his shot.

Curry didn't make a three-point shot until the waning minutes of the fourth quarter. The game went to overtime and Curry erupted. He scored 17 points including making five three-pointers which would be the most points in an overtime period in NBA history.

Curry and the rest of Golden State won Game 4 and dispatched of the Blazers in five games.

Golden State would face the team's biggest challenge in the playoffs in two years in Oklahoma City led by arguably two of the top five players in the world in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

For the first time all year, the Warriors looked human. The team was staring at a (3-1) deficit versus a team who was coming off a decisive second round win over the second best regular season team in the league this year in the San Antonio Spurs.

People started to count out the Warriors. On the verge of being ridiculed for not getting to the Finals after winning the most regular season games in history. The Splash Bros would not be denied. The two would combine to score 187 points between the two in the final three games of the series to get past the Thunder and get to the NBA Finals.

All of this would not be possible without Thompson's historic Game 6 performance where he set the NBA record for made threes in a postseason game with 11. His 41 points helped the Warriors steal a game in Chesapeake Arena. A building where the team loss by a combined 52 in two previous trips to Oklahoma City in the series.

Thompson kept the game close with his silky smooth shooting until his Splash Bro could join the party. The team now faces a Cleveland Cavaliers squad in a rematch of last year's Finals.

Game 1 went to Golden State not because the Splash Bros rained threes on the Cavs. Golden State won because everyone not named Thompson or Curry seemed to score.

The story just keeps getting better and the next chapter should be just as intriguing as the rest of the story has been thus far.