Sports Eye

By June 26, 2016Opinion, Sports Eye

First times

Jess Garcia

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

FANS of title-hungry Cleveland Cavaliers finally overpowered arch-foe and defending champions Golden State Warriors in the winner-take-all match last June 20 (PHL time)! Without a doubt, their heartbreaking 93-89 score stunned the Oracle Arena’s partisan crowd.

Perhaps not known to many is the fact that The Finals produced a lot of ‘Firsts”.

It was the first time for Cleveland to win the elusive NBA title! First time for a team to win after trailing 1-3, to tie the match (3-3), and eventually win! First time for a defending champion to lose the title despite an insurmountable lead, 3-1. First time for The Finals to be played happened on Father’s Day (June 19). First time that after both teams won the first six games by a rout score, 104-89 (Warriors), 110-77 (Warriors), 120-90 (Cavs), 108-97 (Warriors), 112-97 (Cavs), 115-101 (Cavs), the scores of the seventh game did not reach the century mark! First time for the wily point-guard Kyrie Irving to wear an NBA champion ring.

As most have it, the first six games of The Finals were not really thrilling and exciting because of the lopsided wins of both teams. Last year was better when the two battled and the California-based Warriors claimed the tiara with an easy 4-2 conquest in the series. Some sports pundits pointed to the absence of injured Cavs forward Kevin Love and Irving for the Cavs early defeat. Now that the two returned, they sparkled and helped the Cavs grab the coveted diadem.

But honestly, it was really the tandem of Lebron James and Irving that principally made the difference in their four victories especially in the fifth game. After that match James quickly quipped, “I think there might be a change this year.” He was absolutely right. I guess James sensed that after the fifth tiff, and despite trailing by one game (2-3), the Warriors were undoubtedly beatable after all. And he made it happen. Lebron will not be fondly called “King James” by the scribes and his fans if he doesn’t know how to dictate the tempo and predict the final outcome. The seventh encounter was well orchestrated to be a perfect ending for Cavs.

And here was also Irving who grabbed the limelight by converting the key three-point fade-away shot off Stephen Curry with 53 ticks left. ”That’s the turning point,” said my cousin Alexander A. Aquino. I agreed.
Some observers said the absence of Warriors center Australian 7’ tall Andrew Bogut was also the vital factor that led to the Warriors debacle. Well, it could be true but not plausible enough. We also observed that substitute centers Festus Ezeli and Anderson Varejao were not so effective against the raging James and driving Erving. The 2016 champion ring was James‘ third after two from Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.

And now the question is: Do you think James and company will be able to retain their title next year? Only God can tell.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. For I raise My hand to heaven, and say, “As I live forever.” DEUTERONOMY 32: 39-40

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