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“King & Court Get the Crown”

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They played 82-games…pounded their way thru 4-grueling playoff series…and then went till the final (:53) seconds of the season before it was decided.

And to top all that excitement, it wasn’t offense, but defense, that led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA title over the Golden State Warriors last night.

It was a night and a series of super-human, superman-type efforts.

The Splash Brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson put on some amazing shooting shows. LeBron James took over games and was unstoppable.

There were fire and ice performances from the likes of Draymond Green and Kyrie Irving.

People got hurt, players got fined, and the fans were in a constant frenzy. A nation watched in record setting numbers too.

But it was the other end of the court that decided this Cavalier outcome. Cleveland held Golden State wihtout a basket for the final (4:39) of the game. The Warriors stifled the Cavs offense, giving up just 1-basket, the Kyrie Irving long distance jumper, before it was determined.

The two video game offenses went a combined (1-for-17) when it counted most.. Steph Curry missed his final 4-shots of the season. LeBron James failed to convert on his final four drives to the hoop.

They were all spent when it was over. James collapsing in tears on the floor from exhaustion or exhuberation. Coach Tyronne Lue sat on the bench and wept in joy. The sulleness of Curry and Klay Thompson told the story on the other bench.

But when it was over the angry Draymond Green hugged King James, and stars and backups saluted the fans too in that Oakland arena, while the fans back at Quicken Loans Arena, watching on big screens, went wild.

For Cleveland, it was the first time to get a ring. A team that missed out last year; a team that almost got there during the Miracle in Richfield era under Bill Fitch.

The Warriors dazzled us the last two years. But in the end, live by the three, you might die by the three, and they did, when the shots that were falling early, failed to get there at there at the end. You seldom lose when you hit 15-three point bombs, but they did, because the other guys were so good too.

When you see that type of talent, that type of emotional and physical committment, you marvel. You also wonder if the Lakers or Knicks will ever get back there. You wonder if Sacramaneto or Milwaukee will ever be good. Of if the woeful 76ers have any hope.

The Cavs and Warriors gave America everything they had. When it counted, the two best played the best for all seven outings.

As former Commissioner David Stern was wont to say “I love this game”, especially when it is played by the quality of talent we saw wearing Wine and Gold and Blue and Gold.

The King & his court beat the Splash Brothers.

The Cavs win. The Warriors were just (:53) short of being winners themselves. No one lost in this playoff series.

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