Factory Of Sadness
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2015 NBA Finals: Factory Of Sadness Catches Up With Cleveland Cavaliers

By Nick Dudukovich

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June 14, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James speaks to media following the 104-91 loss against the Golden State Warriors in game five of the NBA Finals. at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t been eliminated from the 2015 NBA Finals…but the end of Game 5 left me feeling sad and depressed. For the first time this series, there’s a feeling that the Cavs have no shot.

As the Warriors built a double-digit lead late in the fourth quarter, it was evident the Cavs lacked the firepower to close the gap and pull ahead. My heart and stomach were re-visited by the same pains that still haunt my memory from Game 7 of the 1997 World Series when Jose Mesa blew the save, and Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS, when Joel Skinner stopped Kenny Lofton at third base.

Cleveland had its chances in those contests, but the moment passed those teams by. The same could be said for this Cavs team, which will go down as the most beloved basketball squad in the city’s history.

“If only’s” continuously ran through my mind as the clock expired Sunday night. If only Kelly Olynk doesn’t go WWE on Kevin Love‘s shoulder. If only Kyrie Irving hadn’t gotten hurt. If only Cleveland and been able to steal Game 1. But when you start playing that game, you begin to realize the creation of this thought process begins because the Cavs are simply the lesser team in the series.

You’ll hear it until the series is over: LeBron James is the best player on the planet. Truer words can’t be spoken. We can repeat this to ourselves over and over again until we’re Wine & Gold in the face–but it doesn’t make a difference. Game 5 saw James play a game for the AGES with 40 points, 11 assists, 14 rebounds–and Cleveland still lost by Game by 13.  J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert did their part and hit some shots. Tristan Thompson had a double-double. James’ effort kept the Cavs around long enough, but the team’s depleted roster makes it impossible to climb over the hump.

It’s really a miracle the Cavs won two games this series.

It’s not over yet, and there is still fight left in this team, but at the Factory of Sadness, disappointment–not championship t-shirts–is ready to be mass produced.

• A quick story…when Cleveland had the 2-1 edge in this series, I really began to believe the city was going to win its first major championship since 1964. And then I recalled a story I heard when I ran into David Justice this summer.

The former Tribe All-Star told me how he was standing in the outfield during Game 7 of the World Series in Miami with one out in the bottom of the ninth, thinking, “I’m about to win another World Series.”

The Cavs hasn’t gotten that close, but it sure felt like they were on their way.

Other interesting Cavs posts from around the interweb…

• Australian Matthew Dellavedova captivated this city early on in the Finals, but as the New York Times shows, he’s not the first Aussie to charm Cleveland.

• Are courtside cameras really  problem? Probably, and I’d be all for getting rid of them. But you can’t convince me that the NBA wouldn’t try turn that extra space into expensive baseline seats. It’s all about the all mighty dollar and you know there are stakeholders who would try and cash in.

On the corner of Euclid and Ontario…

Everybody celebrate by buying some Lindor chocolates today, because Francisco Lindor is an Indian and he already has his first career hit–and it’s one he won’t forget.

• Grading on the Curve published a post that explains why Lindor must succeed for Cleveland.

• An interesting question in our mailbag from the weekend. Would the Indians, as they’re currently constructed, be attractive to potential buyers?

In Browns town

• Former FoS editor Jared Mueller has moved on to great things at the Orange and Brown report, and his column about Russell Wilson and the Cleveland Browns made my imagination run wild.

• The Browns will make Justin Gilbert compete for playing time. Nothing will be given to the former No. 1 pick.

Around campus…

• There was this…

• Maybe D’Angelo Russell has moved up on the Lakers draft board, maybe not. Really, Russell canceling his workout with the 76ers means one thing. He doesn’t want to play in the train wreck that is 76er basketball.

Trending up: Giovanny Urshela. The rookie third baseman didn’t waste any time making an impact after being called up to man third base. He’s known for his defense, but he already owns a big-league home run.

Trending down: Lonnie Chisenhall. Think of all the trade offers the Indians probably got when Chis was a top prospect. Now the future looks bleak for the former first-round pick. He’s lost at the plate and he’s trying to recapture the magic of the first half of last season.

Sign of the Apocalypse: I don’t remember his name, but some caller on talk radio wanted to know why the Cavs haven’t turned to Anderson Varejao! Really?!?!

Next: NBA Finals: Remaining Dates & Times

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