Brendan Bowers - Cleveland Is King: The Cleveland Cavaliers Historic 2016 Championship Season

Contents

Foreword by Mark Price

The fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers have always been all in. When I first joined the Cavs in 1986, the togetherness of the Northeast Ohio community stood out immediately. The love and support Cleveland fans have for their team is both genuine and realand it still is to this day. I was blessed to feel that love firsthand as a player, and it fueled everything my teammates and I accomplished out on the floor. Thirty years later, Im still blessed to be part of the Cleveland Cavaliers community. Only this timein support of this years teamI was all in myself, rooting right alongside the great fans of Northeast Ohio during this magical run.

Being a Cleveland Cavalier was an awesome experience. The fans used to rock the Richfield Coliseum so loudly that we never thought wed ever lose a home game. In the playoffs, that excitement from inside the arena could be felt all over the city. It was a special time, and a special place, in a special community. It brought back great memories for me to see that same electric spirit come alive in Cleveland all over again this seasonespecially now that Im coaching the Charlotte 49ers and no longer forced to face the Cavs as an opposing NBA coach.

The big man duo of Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson, meanwhile, were instrumental in carrying the Cavs frontcourt throughout the playoffs and the Finals. Love piled up double-doubles early in the playoffs and showed off his ever-evolving and impressively versatile offensive game. Thompson made his presence known most notably in the Finals, playing big minutes, dominating the glass, and protecting the rim with ferocity. Hes a guy who never gets the credit he deserves. He does the dirty work that championships require every night.

Beyond the statistical accomplishments, LeBrons greatest achievement this seasonin my opinion, at leastwas the way that he led his teammates. He challenged them when they needed to be challenged early on in the season, but he also supported them all the way. By the time the playoffs began, it was evident how close this team had truly become. They shared the ball brilliantly. They defended as a unit. Everyone knew their role and everyone executed. That camaraderie and togetherness was instilled and fostered by LeBron, and it elevated the performance of their team at just the right moment.

LeBron James and his teammates not only made Cavs history with their championship but delivered the first title to Cleveland in 52 years.

As a point guard, I was also proud of the way that Kyrie Irving played throughout the postseason. He managed his role as a floor general and potent scorer perfectly, and played with great balance. Ive always thought he was underrated as far as being compared to the top point guards in the league, and I think he proved that throughout this run. He found his niche with his teammates, played with a lot of confidence, and was truly terrific on nightly basis.

Kevin Love, meanwhile, really showed how far the Cavaliers might have gone last season if he hadnt been injured. He was a double-double machine who is uniquely able to spread the floor effectively with his outside shot. Ive also always been impressed with Kevins versatility as a big man. He excelled on the interior early on in his career in Minnesota, and then excelled again as more of a stretch-four in Cleveland. The Cavaliers really relied on not only his points and rebounds, but also the driving lanes he creates with his shot. Throughout this run, he delivered in all areas at an All-Star caliber level.

In addition to the Big Threealong with an excellent job of game-planning, strategy and coaching by Tyronn Lue and his staffthis Cavaliers team was able excel on the games biggest stage because their role players showed up in a major way. Tristan Thompson is a guy who never gets the credit he deserves. He does the dirty work that championships require every night, and remained a constant threat on the offensive glass throughout. J.R. Smith hit big shots. Matthew Dellavedova provided a spark on both ends of the floor. Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, all the guys, they played with the team-first attitude and winning spirit of true professionals.

Tyronn Lue was overcome with emotion after the Cavs clinched the title, culminating an amazing journey for the rookie head coach and former journeyman backup point guard.

It was beautiful to watch all of the pieces and players come together for a team who worked so hard to make that a reality this season. They are a team this city deserves and Ill never forget the memories they provided. As a former player, I was proud to watch this group represent not only the city, but also Austin Carr, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and all the great Cavaliers who came before them in the way that they did. But if Im most excited about any one thing, its that Cleveland has finally become what Ive always known it to bethe home of champions.

Mark Price

June, 2016

Mark Price spent nine seasons with the Cavaliers, where he was a four-time All-Star, one-time All-NBA First Team, and had his number 25 retired. He is currently the head coach of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers mens basketball team.

NBA Finals: Game 1

Warriors 104 Cavaliers 89

June 2, 2016 | Oakland, California

Dazed and Confused

The Cavs Contain Curry and Thompson But Still Lose by 15

The Cleveland Cavaliers arrived on the NBA Finals stage determined to not let the All-Star backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson beat them. During Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland accomplished that goal.

The Splash Brothers combined to score a season-low 20 points, finishing 8 of 27 from the floor. Unfortunately for the Cavs, however, they were simply destroyed by every other professional baller in the Bay who entered the game. The Warriors bench outscored the Cavaliers reserves 45-10, while starters Harrison Barnes (13 points) and Andrew Bogut (10 points) also eclipsed their season scoring averages. This effort defensively, coupled with Cleveland missing 28 shots in the paint and appearing thoroughly confused on offense, helped the Warriors cruise to a 1-0 series advantage with the 104-89 win in Oakland.

On a night where Clevelands Big 3 of LeBron James (23 points), Kyrie Irving (26 points) and Kevin Love (17 points) combined to outscore Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green 66-36, Golden States supporting cast proved its championship mettle.

Longtime veterans Shaun Livingston and Leandro Barbosa exploded off the bench to stun the Cavaliers with 31 points on a nearly perfect 13-of-15 shooting performance. Livingston, specificallyone of seven Warriors in double figures for the gameused his 6-7 height advantage at the point guard position to elevate over his smaller defenders while feasting on mid-range jumpers to total a game-high 20 points.