Cleveland Cavaliers: Are the 2017 NBA Finals over after two games?

The Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves in the hole 0-2 after falling to the Warriors in Game 2. Are the 2017 NBA Finals over, or does Cleveland have a miraculous comeback in them.

Being the defending NBA champions has been a fun run. We’ve all got the t-shirts, the hats, the LeBron posters. The championship flag with the Cavaliers’ logo and Larry O’Brien trophy hangs proudly in my garage.

I so badly want to add another one.

But with Cleveland down 0-2, it’s just about an impossible fete LeBron James and company have to overcome.

Yes, this is the same LeBron who overcame a 3-1 deficit just a season ago.

But what are the odds that the Cavs will beat the Warriors four times in the next five games? Even if the Warriors win another game, only four teams in NBA HISTORY have overcome a 3-1 hole. Isn’t it asking a lot to do something that’s just been done just four times in 60-some odd years in back-to-back seasons?

The Cavs face a myriad of problems that I’m not sure they have the remedy four.

1. Cleveland can’t win a shootout. The Cavs defense allowed 113 points in Game 1, and then 132 in Game 2.

Defense isn’t there.

2. Never thought it would be the case during the Finals, but Kyrie Irving is the weak link of the Big

Irving still wowed us with his incredible ability to finish around the rim, but man, he was bad in Game 2, shooting 8-of-23 for 19 points. He did add seven assists, but it wasn’t an efficient evening for Kyrie.

He’s 18-of-45 from the floor, shooting 40 percent–well below his 47.3 career field-goal percentage mark.

3. LeBron James is LeBron James, but he can’t do it all. A superhuman effort was expected of James for the Cavs to have any shot in this series, but even when James puts on the cape, it’s not enough. James’ Game 2 triple-double tied him with Magic Johnson for the most, all-time, in NBA playoff history.

James scored 29 points going 12 of 18 from the floor. He dropped 14 dimes and collected 11 rebounds. He turned the ball over just four times, compared to his dismal Game 1 outing, when he turned the ball over eight times.

4. My Clevelandness will never let me admit Kevin Durant is better than LeBron. James will carry the “Best Player in the World” title around as long as he decides to velcro up his Nikes.

But Durant is the difference in this series. It’s why the Cavs have showed no signs of being able to come close to stopping Golden State. KD went for 33 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks in Game 2 and is averaging 35.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists throughout the first two games of the Finals.

5. The Cavs did a better of job of limiting their turnovers, and that saw the team get away from running their beloved strong-side pick-and-roll. LeBron was handling the rock and making the Warriors react.

The problem? The shooters failed The King. Cleveland shot 3 of 20 on 3s in the first half and 8 for 29 total. Kevin Love attempted the most 3’s, going 2-of-7 from beyond the arc. Kyle Korver looks hesitant and desperate to find his shot. J.R. Smith turned in another dud.

The Cavs were supposed to be a shot because of 1: LeBron; and 2: the shooters surrounding him.

6. The Cavs won the turnover battle, forcing Golden State to give up the ball 20 times, resulting in 23 points.

Securing more possessions was vital, but it wasn’t enough, as the Cavs still lost by 19.

Speaking of getting those extra possessions, Tristan Thompson isn’t helping. If TT, who averaged 9.6 rebounds per game in the regular season had to play against Zaza Pachulia every night, he’d be out of the league and staring exclusively on Keeping up with the Kardashians.

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Pachulia has a lot to do with TT nabbing a lowly 4.0 rebounds per game. Yeesh.

7. The supporting cast is something I’ve already written about, but when trying to think of how the Cavs can adjust and seriously threaten the Warriors, I just don’t see the help on the roster.

Chances are, Richard Jefferson runs your favorite SnapChat account. But when he replaces James when LeBron needs his much needed rest, yikes. Drop-off central.

And Derron Williams…this was supposed to be a good addition. It isn’t. He looks old and slow and he works his way into the paint and jacks up some sort of layup-floater that usually clanks off the rim.

Iman Shumpert couldn’t hit water standing on Rocky River’s Bradstreet Pier, but that doesn’t stop him from shooting. At least he doesn’t look intimidated by the moment, like Smith does.

8. I thought this would go seven games. The shooters surrounding LeBron made me think the Cavs would wrap it up in six. But now it’s obvious how many miles ahead this Warriors team is ahead of Cleveland.

Next: Time to call on Derrick Williams?

Golden State lost last season, and made an adjustment, adding Durant. The Cavs will have to do something similar this offseason, because let’s face it. Another rematch is probably 12 months away.

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