LBJ's 50-year record as Cavs advance
TweetIT was convincing. It was complete. And frankly, it was inevitable. A Game 6 Eastern Conference rout by the Cavaliers in Toronto today basically germinated during Game 5 in Cleveland.
So convincing were the defending Eastern Conference champs in swatting Toronto’s audacious challenge 116-78 that every Raptor knew they could not pinch this series.
Even if they made it three straight home wins in Toronto by stopping the Cavs in Game 6, they still would have to go back to Cleveland for a Game 7.
And after being routed by 38 points in Game 5 and by 88 overall in three trips to Ohio, the Raptors finally knew that anyway they looked at it, this series was their “end of the road”.
As much as they tried to fight it, the confidence of two previous home wins was gone as LeBron James orchestrated a definitive 113-87 conclusion in Game 6 in Toronto.
The King scored 33 points, hauled down 11 boards, dished six assists, with a steal and three blocks for good measure.
Kevin Love paired 20 points with 12 rebounds, Kyrie Irving finished with 30 and JR Smith 15, along with some tenacious and relentless defence.
The Cavaliers drilled 17-of-31 3-pointers and are back into the NBA Final, awaiting the winner of the Golden State-Oklahoma City series.
No Cleveland sporting team has won a national championship since the Browns swept Baltimore 27-0 to win the NFL championship in 1964.
JUST BRING IT: LeBron James closes on his sixth straight Finals. Picture: GETTY IMAGES
James again has the Cavs poised – they need four more wins – to claim the city’s first crown in 52 years.
"I know our city deserves it, our fans deserve it," James said.
“But that gives us no sense of entitlement. We've still got to go out and get it. We've still got to go out and prove ourselves."
James has certainly done that, lining up for his sixth consecutive NBA Final and his second in succession with the Cavaliers after four straight with Miami Heat.
It puts him in rare air as only the eighth player – and first non-Boston Celtic – to play in six straight Finals, joining Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Sam Jones, KC Jones, Tommy Heinsohn, Satch Sanders and Frank Ramsey.
The Celtics’ last win in that run was in 1966, a clear 50 years since it has been achieved.
And to add some context, while the Celtics reached Finals, six teams qualified for the postseason out of 11.
James’ teams have had to beat 14 Eastern Conference opponents to reach the Finals. It is quite an achievement and worthy of the emotion he showed post-win today.
“I don’t think last year I appreciated it enough getting back to the finals,” James said.
“This year I am going to appreciate it.”
They have some time left while the Warriors and Thunder battle it out for the Western title, while Kyle Lowry, who scored 35 points and DeMar DeRozan 20 will need to find some solace in taking Toronto on the deepest playoff run in its history.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FINAL:
G1: Cleveland 115, Toronto 84
G2: Cleveland 108, Toronto 89
G3: Cleveland 84, Toronto 99
G4: Cleveland 99, Toronto 105
G5: Cleveland 116, Toronto 78
G6: Cleveland 113, Toronto 87
Cleveland wins 4-2
SEMI FINAL:
G1: Cleveland 104, Atlanta 93
G2: Cleveland 123, Atlanta 98
G3: Cleveland 121, Atlanta 108
G4: Cleveland 100, Atlanta 99
Cleveland advances 4-0
G1: Miami 102, Toronto 96 in o/t
G2: Miami 92, Toronto 96 in o/t
G3: Miami 91, Toronto 95
G4: Miami 94, Toronto 87 in o/t
G5: Miami 91, Toronto 99
G6: Miami 103, Toronto 91
G7: Miami 89, Toronto 116
Toronto advances 4-3
FIRST ROUND:
G1: Indiana 100, Toronto 90
G2: Indiana 87, Toronto 98
G3: Indiana 85, Toronto 101
G4: Indiana 100, Toronto 83
G5: Indiana 99, Toronto 102
G6: Indiana 101, Toronto 83
G7: Indiana 84, Toronto 89
Toronto advances 4-3
G1: Atlanta 102, Boston 101
G2: Atlanta 89, Boston 72
G3: Atlanta 103, Boston 111
G4: Atlanta 95, Boston 104
G5: Atlanta 110, Boston 84
G6: Atlanta 104, Boston 92
Atlanta advances 4-2
G1: Cleveland 106, Detroit 101
G2: Cleveland 107, Detroit 90
G3: Cleveland 101, Detroit 91
G4: Cleveland 100, Detroit 98
Cleveland advances, 4-0
G1: Miami 123, Charlotte 91
G2: Miami 115, Charlotte 103
G3: Miami 80, Charlotte 96
G4: Miami 85, Charlotte 89
G5: Miami 88, Charlotte 90
G6: Miami 97, Charlotte 90
G7: Miami 106, Charlotte 73
Miami advances 4-3
WESTERN CONFERENCE
FINAL:
G1: Golden State 102, Oklahoma 108
G2: Golden State 118, Oklahoma 91
G3: Golden State 105, Oklahoma 133
G4: Golden State 94, Oklahoma 118
G5: Golden State 120, Oklahoma 111
Oklahoma leads 3-2
SEMI FINALS:
G1: San Antonio 124, Oklahoma 92
G2: San Antonio 97, Oklahoma 98
G3: San Antonio 100, Oklahoma 96
G4: San Antonio 97, Oklahoma 111
G5: San Antonio 91, Oklahoma 95
G6: San Antonio 99, Oklahoma 113
Oklahoma advances 4-2
G1: Golden State 118, Portland 106
G2: Golden State 110, Portland 99
G3: Golden State 108, Portland 120
G4: Golden State 132, Portland 125 in o/t
G5: Golden State 125, Portland 121
Golden State advances 4-1
FIRST ROUND:
G1: Golden State 104, Houston 78
G2: Golden State 115, Houston 106
G3: Golden State 96, Houston 97
G4: Golden State 121, Houston 94
G5: Golden State 114, Houston 81
Golden State advances 4-1
G1: Oklahoma 108, Dallas 70
G2: Oklahoma 84, Dallas 85
G3: Oklahoma 131, Dallas 102
G4: Oklahoma 119, Dallas 108
G5: Oklahoma 118, Dallas 104
Oklahoma advances 4-1
G1: San Antonio 106, Memphis 74
G2: San Antonio 94, Memphis 68
G3: San Antonio 96, Memphis 87
G4: San Antonio 116, Memphis 95
San Antonio advances 4-0
G1: Los Angeles 115, Portland 95
G2: Los Angeles 102, Portland 81
G3: Los Angeles 88, Portland 96
G4: Los Angeles 84, Portland 98
G5: Los Angeles 98, Portland 108
G6: Los Angeles 103, Portland 106
Portland advances 4-2