There is no such thing as "house money" for Lebron/Cavs

[KirbyPls]

Yes, they have exceeded expectations, and no one thought they would be here. That being said, being up 2-1 against this green Warrior's squad with home court for right now may be as close to the ring as Cleveland gets, and the Cavs absolutely need to step on GSW's throat.

Yes, a fully healthy Cavs aquad, assuming love resigns next year could win the title, but...

Lebron will be a year older (with more minutes) coming off 5 straight Finals trips;
Other contenders are coming up;
Love and Kyrie still don't have much Finals experience;
Love/Kyrie may be injury prone, so health cannot be assumed; and
No NBA title is ever easy or a forgone conclusion.

Cavs (and Lebron especially) need to take advantage of this game, this moment, because it may never come around again. For Lebron individually, he will never have a better chance to secure his legacy as a top-5 all-timer by splitting the next four games. Tonight is crucial for the Cavs..............

..... and, as unlikely as it may sound, I think they win tonight and take the series in 6.

[ISHGoat]

Well said, if we stick by the notion that whoever wins this game has a 80-90% chance of winning the series, this is probably the most important game that LBJ will play in his entire career

[Kingwillball]

Yes, they have exceeded expectations, and no one thought they would be here. That being said, being up 2-1 against this green Warrior's squad with home court for right now may be as close to the ring as Cleveland gets, and the Cavs absolutely need to step on GSW's throat.

Yes, a fully healthy Cavs aquad, assuming love resigns next year could win the title, but...

Lebron will be a year older (with more minutes) coming off 5 straight Finals trips;
Other contenders are coming up;
Love and Kyrie still don't have much Finals experience;
Love/Kyrie may be injury prone, so health cannot be assumed; and
No NBA title is ever easy or a forgone conclusion.

Cavs (and Lebron especially) need to take advantage of this game, this moment, because it may never come around again. For Lebron individually, he will never have a better chance to secure his legacy as a top-5 all-timer by splitting the next four games. Tonight is crucial for the Cavs..............

..... and, as unlikely as it may sound, I think they win tonight and take the series in 6.

I agree and this moment would make it all that much sweeter and more meaningful but I think the cavs could be going to first of many finals if they keep everyone and they are healthy. Lebron may not be able to carry this load again but adding healthy Irving and love to mix that is another 40 ppg and a lot less burden for lebron.

[Kingwillball]

Well said, if we stick by the notion that whoever wins this game has a 80-90% chance of winning the series, this is probably the most important game that LBJ will play in his entire career

I'd say they win tonight there is a 80% chance they win it they lose drops down to like 40% .. This is game they can break the Warriors spirit if they win.. Cavs should be playing tonight like its gm 7.

[Derka]

No one thought the Celtics would be here. THAT would be a team playing with house money.

Cleveland has been one of the best teams in the East all season after that shaky start; this is right where they should be.

[KirbyPls]

I agree and this moment would make it all that much sweeter and more meaningful but I think the cavs could be going to first of many finals if they keep everyone and they are healthy. Lebron may not be able to carry this load again but adding healthy Irving and love to mix that is another 40 ppg and a lot less burden for lebron.

That scenario is best-case and certainly plausible, but the Association's history is littered with similar rosy story lines undone by unlikely, unforeseeable events and factors; most recently, OKC.

Lebron can claim the crown jewel of an already incredible career by winning this particular series this way, and he can, and I believe will, do it, but I think they have to get this game.

[KirbyPls]

No one thought the Celtics would be here. THAT would be a team playing with house money.

Cleveland has been one of the best teams in the East all season after that shaky start; this is right where they should be.

Up 2-1 against a statistically GOAT team without their 2nd and 4rd best players? I agree with your overall point, but that assumed as least Kyrie or Love being healthy, and neither are even available.

[Derka]

Up 2-1 against a statistically GOAT team without their 2nd and 4rd best players? I agree with your overall point, but that assumed as least Kyrie or Love being healthy, and neither are even available.

Can't really refute the statistical/injury points because you're absolutely right. But one point I remember making before this series started: approximately zero Golden State Warriors have Finals experience prior to this run.

Lebron, Miller, Jones, Perk and even Brendan Haywood...they've all been here before and won. Even if some of those names are barely contributing or not contributing at all on the floor, they are exactly the kind of presence the Tristan Thompson's and Matthew Dellavadova's of that lineup are benefiting from, and it shows in how they're stepping up.

To me, that counts a lot more than statistics when it comes to the Finals.