3 historic teams that make a Cavaliers NBA Finals
The Cavaliers enter Wednesday's Game 3of the NBA Finalsin a mammoth 2-0 hole to the Warriors. What makes the deficit monumental is how theyve lost (blowouts) and who theyve lost to (a 73-win squad looking to repeat as champs). Adaunting task isnt an insurmountable task, however.Three times before in NBA history has a team gone down 0-2 in the Finals, then come back to win the title. The 1969 Celtics, 1977 Trail Blazers, and 2006 Heat each had their own arduous comeback in besting a supremely formidable foe.Now, none of those teams was facing the winningest regular-season team in NBA history or the reigning NBA MVP, but that is no reason
Cameron Wake Jersey for the Cavaliers to give up.MORE: Lets take a look back and see if Cleveland can find any glimmer of hope from their experiences.1969: Celtics vs. LakersThis Finals matchup had all the narratives:Bill Ru sell vs. Wilt Chamberlain;Jerry West and Elgin Baylor going for another title against Boston;Celtics player-coachRu sell in hisfinal season, etc. Bostons 11thNBA title did not come easy.The Lakers' addition of Chamberlain the previous offseasonmade them the favorites to win the NBA title. And sure enough, Los Angeles took a 2-0 series lead thanks to the heroics of West. In Game 1, the Logo unleashed 53 points against Boston to eke out a 120-118 victory. In Game 2, West again came up clutch with 41 points. Aided by Baylors 32 points, the Lakers overcame John Havliceks 43-point performance to oust Boston 118-112.MORE: Heading to the Boston Garden for Game 3, the series took a turn in the Celtics' favor. Racking up a 17-point lead at halftime of Game 3, Boston looked to be on easy street. Nonethele s, the Lakers stormed back to tie the game as the fourth quarter began. In the end, though, another great game from Havlicek (34 points) and a stellar performance from guard Larry Siegfried (28 points) delivered the 111-105 win for Boston.Game 4 proved to a brutalist impre sion of basketball as Boston won 89-88. The sluggish Lakers were led once more by the brilliant Jerry West (40 points), but Wilt and Baylor combined for 13. Meanwhile Boston got 73 of
Tajae Sharpe Jersey their 89 points from Havlicek, Siegfried, Bailey Howell, and Sam Jones. On the games final play, the venerably clutch Jones to sed up an off-balance runner that rolled its way into the basket, gave Boston the win and tied the series at 2-2.Joness shot prevented Boston from going down 1-3 in the series, which was a godsend because the Lakers, behind Wests 39 points and ninea sists, blitzed the Celtics 117-104 to win Game 5 back in Los Angeles. Returning home, the Celtics won Game 6 99-90.Thus came . Boston escaped with a 108-106 win despite a furious fourth quarter rally from the Lakers,a titanictriple-double from West (42 points, 13 rebounds, and 12 a sists) and ample support from Chamberlain (18 points, 27 rebounds) and Baylor (20 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 a sists). For Boston, Bill Ru sell finished his final NBA game with only sixpoints but as always contributed with defense, boards (21 rebounds) and deft pa sing (6 a sists). Leading the way for the Celtics in this title-clincher were Havlicek and Sam Jones combining for 50 points on 21-for-35 shooting.Even in defeat, West was named Finals MVP for averaging 37.9 points, 7.4 a sists, and 4.7 rebounds in the series.1977: Trail
Rashaan Evans Jersey Blazers vs. 76ersThis cla sic series was the first NBA Finals after the ABA-NBA merger and showed off the best of both leagues. The Blazers were led by Bill Walton and former ABA star Maurice Lucas. On the Philly side were former ABA MVPs Julius Erving and George McGinnis along with fleet guard Doug Collins.The match up was a cla sic thanks to Walton and Erving pulling off two of the greatest individual Finals series performances ever. Walton averaged 18.5 points, 19 rebounds, 5.2 a sists and 3.7 blocks a game. Dr. J put up 30.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.0 a sistsand 2.7 steals a game while shooting 54 percentfrom the field.Indeed, after two games, it looked like Ervingwas on his way to his third profe sional title in four seasons (having wonthe 1974 and 1976 ABA titles with the New York Nets). However, an infamous dustup in Game 2 hinted at trouble for Philly. Despite winning Game 2 by a score of 107-89, afight involving Lucas and Sixers centerDarryl Dawkins seemingly changed the tenor of the series.MORE: The next game saw Portland thrash Philadelphiaby a final score of 129-107. Dawkins was nowhere to be found, finishing with 9 rebounds and 6 points on 2-7 shooting. Meanwhile, Lucas pounded Philly for 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 a sists. Walton was no le s amazing dropping 20 points, 18 rebounds, and 9 a sists.Game 4 turned out even
Harold Landry Jersey worse for the 76ers,as the Blazers won 130-98, including a41-21third quarter. In the pivotal Game 5 back home in Pennsylvania, the 76ers neverthele s failed to stem the series tide. Despite 37 points from Dr. J, the Sixers lost 110-104. The Blazers again used a big third quarter (40-25) to bury Philadelphia.Now up 3-2 in the series, the Blazers returned to Oregon looking to clinch the title. A big second quarter (40-28 advantage) seemed to put them on the cusp of yet another pummeling. Unsung series hero Bob Gro s notched a remarkable 24 points on 12-16 shooting for Portland, but the Sixers nonethele s climbed back into the game with Erving ultimately tallying 40 points, 8 a sists and 6 rebounds. Aiding the Sixers cause was McGinnis breaking out of his series-long slump with 28 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 steals.In the final 1:50 of the contest, Philly was down 108-101. Dr. J summarily hit a jumper and nailed two free throws. After a Maurice Lucas free throw, McGinnis hit a short jumper, and Philly was still in the mix at109-107 with 18 seconds left. McGinnis then came up big again tying up Gro s for a jump ball and winning the resulting tap. On the games final po se sion, though, Erving and McGinniseach mi sed open shots to tie the game, giving Portland its only
Earl Campbell Jersey NBA title.Oh, and Bill Walton in that Game 6? 20 points, 23 rebounds, 8 blocks, and 7 a sists.2006: Heat vs. MavericksIn a series best known for Dwyane Wades parade to the free-throw line, it should be remembered that Miamis comeback also rested on a nasty defensive effort courtesy of Alonzo Mourning, Udonis Haslem and James Posey.It should also be noted that minus one no-show performance, Dallas was in every game of this series and could have captured the title. In Games 1 and 2, the Mavericks smothered the Heat in two blowout embarra sing lo ses. The first game ended 90-80 in Dallass favor, while Game 2 was even more lopsided with a 99-85 final score.In Game 3, the Mavericks continued their obliteration of Miami and led by 13 points withsix minutes left in the game. Then came a flash of Wade brilliance. His ince sant drives and fine-tuned mid-range jumper led Miamis com