"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.