The Optimist Heading Into Game 5
With Big Mo on the Wine & Gold's side, Cavs.com's Sunshine Analyst checks in from The Bay ...
by The Optimist
6/12/17 | Cavs.com
Que pasa, Cavallieros!
I’m an Optimist. I’m back in California. Let’s get busy, yes?
Can you feel it, Cleveland?
Can you feel it?
That’s big mo.
No, not Big Mo, the long-time and current driver of the War Rig – (which, by the way, broke several land-speed records hauling arse across the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah on our return trip; simian man-child, Joe Vitanza, bouncing around with the gear and luggage down below, laughing: “Oh what a day! What a lovely day!!”)
No, I’m talking about big momentum – shifting back the Wine & Gold’s way after thumping the Dubs on Friday night at The Q. It’s a well-established fact that TheBron is completely superhuman at this point of the postseason, but now Kyrie Irving has gone atomic, as well – and there’s no putting that genie back in the bottle.
Are the Cavaliers still down, 3-1, in the series?
Yes.
But I can tell you that in just the short time that we’ve been back here that these folks in the Bay Area are shaking in they boots.
They’re trying to project confidence – and I get that. But they know that the King and Co. smell blood. And that the bear hath been poked.
The Cavaliers rolled through the Eastern Conference with a watered-down Swish, but J.R.’s starting to look like himself again – combining for 10 triples in back-to-back double-figure outings. Tristian Thompson grabbed 11 boards through the first three games and snagged 10 on Friday night. Richard Jefferson flummoxed K.D. Deron Williams got off the schneid.
At the same time, Draymond Green came within a hair’s breadth of taking das boot and Zaza Pachulia was flirting with disaster his own self, stooping to below-the-belt tactics against the Shump.
Combine this with the fact that Coach Tyronn Lue said during Sunday’s pre-practice media session that his squad was being “too nice” to the Warriors in Game 4 and methinks you’re going to see a group bent on great vengeance and furious anger when they roll into Oracle Arena on Monday night.
What do all these pics have in common? Y'uns just have to read to find out ...
Photo by The Optimist
Check it:
At this same time last year, you readers and I huddled up in this very column and I told you that winning the World Championship would be even better after being down in a 3-1 hole because it’ll be like winning THREE CHAMPIONSHIPS!!
Well, this year’s taking of the Whole Enchilada will, by all mathematical logic, be even better – with the Wine & Gold needing to win four straight title games to repeat as Champs.
That all starts with one game at a time – this evening’s matchup in Oakland.
Before we get there, I’m afraid we’ve got our usual educational housecleaning to take care of – [strict orders from the PR boy-wonder, Jeff Schaefer] – and a heart-wrenching exercise that will likely leave you Cavalier fans full of P&V for Game 5.
I can tell y’uns that this was a bad, bad Day in History.
I need you guys pumped for the ballgame and trust me, I’ve combed June 12 with a fine-toothed comb. And the best thing that happened on this Date was the Battle of Ballynahinch during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. And that was no picnic.
Today’s Birthdays are nothing to write home about either, even considering that they include our nation’s 41st President, George H. W. Bush, as well as Anne Frank, Marv Albert, Chick Corea, Jim Nabors – who had a lovely singing voice – and former Cavalier and all-around nice guy, Antawn Jamison.
I checked and no celebrities died of a great white shark attack, so today’s guest on Dead on the This Day and (maybe) Still Dead is the one and only Henry Hill.
On this day in 2012 – one day after his 69th birthday – Henry Hill, the legendary New York mobster-turned-informant finally went and got that great shinebox in the sky.
Did someone from Paul Cicero’s or Billy Batts’ gang ice him? Did his wife shoot him in the face after a nap? Was he found riddled with bullets in a pink Cadillac like Johnny Roast Beef or hung in a freezer on a meat-hook like Frankie Carbone?
No, no and no.
Henry Hill died of a heart attack in Los Angeles with his girlfriend by his side.
And I say: good for Hendry.
I’d love to move past the Grim Reaper – with tonight’s Game 5 just hours from tip-off. But I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t ask the group to pause and honor the passing of the baddest Batman that’s ever been, Adam West, who passed away (also) in Los Angeles earlier this weekend at the age of 88.
Adam West was a mint Batman. He didn’t spend hours brooding over his folks in the Bat-Cave or jet off to the Far East to practice martial arts and find his chi. Hell, he didn’t even work out!
No, Adam West’s Batman was too busy fighting Jokers and Riddlers and Eggheads – not to mention getting down with multiple Catwomen.
With all that sweet 60s action, who the cuss had time to fight Superman?!
So to cap this weekend of mourning, I’d like to ask you to closeth thy cakeholes and to removeth thy hats and/or hairpieces in order to pause for this well-earned Moment of Silence™ …
Thank you.
What the Caped Crusader ever did to Golden State to deserve this fate, I’m sure I don’t know. But somebody’s gotta pay for Batman’s untimely demise, old chums. And I’m gonna pin it on the Warriors, just like the Rogues did with Cyrus back at the New York Gang Summit in Van Cortland Park.
"We got a second lease on life when the Cavaliers crushed Golden State on Friday night. Now the real work begins. Are you ready to make history once again?"
The Optimist
Before I book outta here, I have two closing messages today.
One is for tonight’s opponent, the said Warriors and their fans. The other is for you guys back in Cleveland and Cavalier fans worldwide.
To the Warriors – I’m thinking you’d better knock the Wine & Gold out tonight. If you do, I say mazel tov on a wonderful season and on your second title in three years.
But if you don’t, and you allow TheBron and Kyrie and K-Love and Tristian to fight another day – and this series comes back to Quicken Loans Arena for Game 6 – that means you got Trouble with a capital “T” which rhymes with “C “and that stands for Cavs.
And that brings me to you Cavalier fans out there.
Those loins better be locked and loaded.
We got a second lease on life when the Cavaliers crushed Golden State on Friday night. Now the real work begins. Are you ready to make history once again?
If so, it’s time to …
Keep the faith, Cleveland
Your pal,
The Optimist