Al Saracevic:
Legacies are at stake in Game 4.
CLEVELAND — There’s a heavy vibe at these NBA Finals. The superstars on hand. The historic rivalry. The legacies on the line.
Just look down the list of participants, and you can feel the weight . ...
There’s Steve Kerr, looking to shake off two years of physical suffering and cement his status as one of the all-time great coaches.
There’s Stephen Curry, hoping to shed last year’s subpar performance in the Finals, when he was hampered by injury. A second title would go a long way.
Then you have Kevin Durant, the superstar mercenary who is trying to silence his many critics and justify his move to the Golden State.
Draymond Green? He’s trying to make up for his disastrous actions last June. His Game 5 suspension opened the door for Cleveland’s comeback and eventual title. He blames himself and wants redemption.
From a team perspective, the Warriors stand poised on the edge of history, hoping to finish a perfect postseason, at 16-0. The Cavs face a mountain that has not been climbed by an NBA team, overcoming a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.
Then there’s the most famous player in the world. One could argue that the man with the most on the table is LeBron James, Cleveland’s King, the man who will be remembered as the best of his generation. If Golden State completes its title quest, James will have lost three of the past four NBA Finals, and five of his eight overall. That’s an ugly stain on an otherwise gilded resume.
It’s an awesome feat simply to get to the Finals, year after year, with different teammates and different levels of talent. But his overall Finals record will haunt LeBron’s legacy. Michael Jordan didn’t lose five NBA Finals. Neither did Kobe Bryant. Nor Magic Johnson. Or any of the other players in the “best ever” conversation. (Bill Russell’s 11-1 mark stands alone.)
Yet, it’s hard to fault James for his failings. Until Durant emerged in this year’s Finals, challenging James for supremacy, Cleveland’s favorite son had been the best player on the court. The problem has been the subpar sidekicks and superior opposition.
From his first Finals, against the Tim Duncan-dynasty Spurs, to this latest disappointment, facing a peaking Warriors dynasty, it has been an uphill battle for James.
“Well, I think it’s just part of my calling to just go against teams in the midst of a dynasty,” said James, in an honest exchange during Thursday’s media sessions. “This has been the best team in our league the last three years. They won a championship . ...
“So like I said, there have been times throughout my career where I just played teams that were just in the midst of something that can last for a long time. And obviously, this team is built to be able to do that with the talent that they have.”
Which brings up the larger question: What are James’ plans? He signed a three-year, $100 million contract in August. But does he really want to keep butting heads with this Golden State juggernaut? He has been in the league 14 years, and there are a lot of miles on his 32-year-old body. Could he walk away?
“I don’t know. I don’t know,” he said, clearly struggling for the right words. “I feel good. I actually feel better. I don’t feel good right now, but I feel pretty good where my game is right now.
“But I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it, how long I want to stay around. I definitely want to compete. I want to compete for championships every year.”
He’ll have at least one more chance to do that Friday. No team down 3-0 has come back to win a playoff series, let alone the NBA title. But no team has ever quit trying, either. James and his Cavs are still the defending champs, and they won’t go down easily.
Anyone watching James’ level of play this postseason can see that. His Game 3 performance — 39 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists in 45 minutes — was just the latest in a string of superhuman efforts.
He’ll try to match that intensity in Game 4, but you can see that his body is hurting.
“There’s no tomorrow, so we just have to play,” Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue said. If James “needs a break, he’ll let me know. We’ll get him out, get him right back in. But right now, our season’s on the line, and we just have to play.”
“Well, I think it’s just part of my calling to just go against teams in the midst of a dynasty. (Golden State) has been the best team in our league the last three years. They won a championship.” LeBron James, Cleveland forward