Cleveland’s 120-90 romp over Golden State did more than just get the Wine and Gold back in the series.  That statement win kept the Cavaliers’ franchise from being completely leveled.

Here is what likely would have happened if the Cavs dropped game 3:

First, the obvious:

1.  The NBA Finals would have been over.  No NBA team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.

2.  The Cavs would have likely been swept.  Ten NBA Finals started 3-0. Only twice has a team avoided a sweep:  the 1951 New York Knicks (lost 4-3) and the 1996 Seattle Supersonics (lost 4-2).  And considering how badly the Warriors have owned Cleveland since game 4 last year, it’s very likely Golden State would have finished it off.

Second, the collateral damage:

3. The Cavalier haters would have drowned out all these loud cicadas:  90% of ESPN NBA airtime would have focused on the collapse of the Cavs, as opposed to the magnificence of the Warriors.  And Twitter, Facebook, and other social media venues would have had thousands piling on the Wine and Gold.

4.  Many Cavalier fans would be showing their fangs.  Everyone loves to hop on the playoff bandwagon when times are good.  But that same bandwagon has plenty of elbow room once the losing tide drifts in.  Especially in Cleveland.  How were your Cavs’ conversations between games 2 and 3?  Negative Ned or Debbie Downer were surely a part of that chat room.

5.  Kyrie and Kevin would be taking on some serious friendly fire.  See #4 above

6.  King James would be facing the guillotine.  When things go bad, the king better have his head on a swivel.  Ask Louis XVI how the French Revolution turned out.  LBJ receives a tidal wave of praise when things go good.  But in bad times, he hasn’t just taken on arrows of criticism.  More like a firing squad of machine guns.

7.  LeBron likely would be looking for a new home.  LeBron wants rings.  And he isn’t getting any younger.  If the current upgraded Cavs’ squad suffered an embarrassing 4-0 sweep, could LBJ see any hope in overtaking Golden State in future years?  Salary cap issues limit Cleveland’s ability to evolve in future years.  Would James want to waste his final peak years in a hopeless situation? Take LeBron out and the Cavs would likely fall back to a borderline lottery team.

THE GOOD NEWS:

Game 3’s win not only got the Cavs back in the series; it broke the Warriors’ dominant spell over Cleveland, and also showed LeBron and company that they are a championship-caliber team.  They didn’t use smoke and mirrors, or grind it out, to get a win.  They dominated the defending champs.  Even if the series doesn’t pan out, Game 3 showed LeBron that he has a foundation of talent around him to contend for titles in future years.

But since we are all dressed up in our finals gear, what do you say that we just win it right now!

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