Can LeBron James Rewrite Cleveland’s Sad, Sad Sports History?

After starting the playoffs with an 8-2 record – two five-game wipeouts of Houston and Portland despite Curry missing six games and the majority of two more – the Warriors have gone 7-6 against Oklahoma City and Cleveland combined.

Similarly, the 2-on-5 we saw from the Cavaliers allowed Cleveland to win Games 5 and 6. The Warriors enter Game 7 clinging to their glory, trying not to chase the league’s greatest regular season with its most stunning Finals collapse. Cleveland won 115-101.

So James avoided joining that discussion Saturday and also avoided any talk about how this game will affect his legacy.

“No”, he said, straight-faced.

And the Cavaliers 46-year history has come with more problems than championships.

Nah, he can’t have that on his mind in a moment of this magnitude. No fan base deserves this more.

Last night in Cleveland Lebron James, for the second time in these National Basketball Association finals, scored 41 points to lead the Cavs to a 115-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors in game six, making a winner-take-all game seven back in Oakland necessary. And after the Cavs were down 3-1 in this series, James lifted the team to big wins in Oakland and then Cleveland to force Game 7.

“Everybody counted us out – and that’s when we strive the most”, Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. Iguodala is planning to play Game 7.

“It’s pretty cool”, James said. “That has been one of my goals”. And, I don’t think it is rigged. The Warriors’ 24-game win streak to start the season set the sports world on fire last fall, as did their quest for a record 73 wins in March and April. With spot-on passing to 3-point precision and driving, rim-rattling dunks, he made a transformation in a matter of days during these finals to put Cleveland on the cusp of a title at long last. I want to see the city of Cleveland get a championship. “I try not to get star-struck with watching”, said Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith.

“To lead the finals in every statistical category, it’s wonderful”. Nobody could have done that.

Don’t get me wrong.

Now, James reiterated, what happens next is not all under his control.

Every game has been decided by double digits in this series that is heading back to Oakland, California, for the ultimate showdown. The fact that this one will be on the road is irrelevant to James.

Could James strike for 41 points again?

In two elimination games, James has 82 points, 24 rebounds, 18 assists, seven 3-pointers, six blocks and just three turnovers, despite handling the ball on almost every possession.

So far, the Warriors haven’t had an answer for James and his talented supporting cast. We can’t be on our heels and them be the aggressor. Whatever LeBron says to Steph after the play, he does it with a look of utter dismissal – it was just that easy. LeBron’s retort comes with neither smile nor despondency, just a steely glare down at Curry, emphasis on down. It’s just not a team that wants to go home with an “L” like a year ago, and we’ve been fighting pretty hard. That’s “it hurts, but I’m going to play through it and hopefully it will not royally ruin my team’s chances like my knee injury past year did”.