Cleveland Cavaliers

The Hometown Hero Brings

home the Trophy to
Cleveland
June 19, 2016

By Drew Scadden

(Knowlton)

The Road to the Finals

For 52 years the city of Cleveland hasnt won a major sports championship.
The Browns, the Indians and the Cavaliers hadnt won since the Browns beat the
Colts in 1964, over half a century ago.

Cleveland desperately needed to win and the hometown hero, Lebron James
who was born in Ohio, led the Cavaliers as the MVP of the Finals and brought home
the trophy to Cleveland.
 When Lebron went to Miami all 41 home games for the Heat were sold out.
He, along with Bosh and Wade, went to the Finals every year for the four years that
Lebron was there and won two titles.

Everyone in Cleveland was furious. The owner reduced the price of a

Cleveland fathead from $50 to $17.41. The number 1741 is significant because it is
the year Benedict Arnold, the biggest traitor in American history, was born (Taking
Control).

Cleveland had been let down many times before, so they were angry. There
were many people in the streets burning his jersey.

Before Lebron was the hometown hero, he was absolutely hated by everyone
in Cleveland. In a letter from the Cavaliers owner, Dan Gilbert, to the city of
Cleveland, he said, Our former hero deserted us this evening. He also said, You
simply dont deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal (Cleveland Cavaliers
Basketball).

After the 2013-2014, season Lebron announced he was going back to

Cleveland.
 (Knowlton)

In an interview when Lebron announced he was coming home he said I was a

kid from Northeast Ohio. Its where I walked. Its where I ran. Its where I cried. Its where I bled.
It holds a special place in my heart (Jenkins).

After he announced that he was returning, there was a huge crowd of people waiting for
him as he walked into University of Akron Stadium. The bitterness that was within the hearts of
thousands of Cleveland fans had now vanished and they cheered him on as he gave a speech.

In that speech he said, "I thought about it and I said 'Hell no, I'm (going to) do what
makes my city and my state happy.' I love you, I'm back (Keneally).

The first year he returned he led the Cavs to the Finals but lost to the Warriors.

The next season went even better. The Cavaliers were the number one seed
in the Western Conference and swept the Pistons in only four games(Best of
Phantom Kyrie).
 Then the Cavaliers went on to play the #4 Hawks and swept them in four
games thanks to Kevin Loves eight threes in Game Four to win 100-99.

The Cavs then went on to play the Raptors in the Western Conference Final.
This series wasnt four and out as the other games had been. The Cavaliers won the
first two games at home, but then lost two in a row at Toronto. The series was then
tied at 2-2, but Cleveland kept their composure and blew out the Raptors in Game
five by 38 points. It was a huge statement and the the Cavs played the Raptors in
Game six and advanced to the Championship.

It was the sixth appearance for Lebron James and the second in a row for
Cleveland. The Cavaliers faced the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors
in the Finals.

The Finals

(Best of Phantom Kyrie)

The NBA finals was a familiar place for Lebron James; he had been there six
times before. He knew what it took to win, but didnt have the right mentality for the
first game of the NBA Finals.
 The Warriors best players, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson had an average
night, but the Warriors bench was the main reason the Warriors took a 1-0 lead in
the Finals.

In Game Two Cleveland had another horrible performance with the Big
Three having bad games. Lebron had seven turnovers, Kevin Love left the game
with a head injury and Kyrie went 5-14 shooting.

By the time Game Three came, the Cavs were desperate for a win. Lebron
even said This is a must win game. (Price) They played like their lives depended
on it and blew out the Warriors by 30 points led by Lebron with a double-double.

Game Four was a close game but the Warriors eventually won. Things looked
bleak for the Cavs as they were down 3-1 in the Finals and no team in history had
ever come back from a 3-1 deficit. Tyron Lue, the Cavaliers head coach said, If you
dont think we can win, dont get on the plane (Bielik).

Game Five was dominated by Lebron and Kyrie each dropping 41 points to
keep the hope alive.

Game Six was dominated by Lebron James with a double-double and another
41 point performance.

Game Seven was a huge game, tickets went for up to $50,000. The game was
back and forth until Kyrie hit the three of his life to win the Finals and Cleveland
went wild.

Lebron said For us to be able to end this drought, our fans deserve it. They
deserve it(Bielik). Draymond Green also said, Youve got to give them a lot of
credit. They were down, 3-1. They continued to battle(Bielik).
 Over 400,000 people showed up to the party in the streets of Cleveland
which is over half of the population. It had been so long since Cleveland won a
championship, that the last time they did 4% of the population lived there.

Cleveland finally won and the 52 year drought is over. They overcame a 3-1
deficit and they became the 2016 champions.