"The Cavaliers are one of three major sports teams in Cleveland. They continue to strive for their first NBA championship, joining the Indians and Browns in a championship-hungry city."
To come from behind in the 2010 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, the team and its fans need to have positive mindsets. Cleveland must truly be 'Believeland'. The Cavaliers were viewed as the favorites entering this series for a reason, and they can still turn this series around by winning two games in a row.
Here are some examples of clutch Cleveland play in my lifetime:
1. 1992 NBA Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semifinals: The Cavaliers trailed the Boston Celtics 2-1 going into Game 4. The original Big 3 of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, along with rising star forward Reggie Lewis, led a Celtics team balanced with veterans and young players. In the pivotal Game 4, the Cavaliers won the game in overtime, 114-112. Forward Larry Nance led the way with 32 points. The Cavs went on to take Games 5 and 7 and won the series 4-3. This was Cleveland's first victory over Boston in the playoffs.
2. 1995 MLB Playoffs, American League Championship Series: The Cleveland Indians trailed the Seattle Mariners in this series 1-0 and then 2-1. After achieving 48 come-from-behind wins, including 27 wins in their final at-bat, during the regular season, they were poised to come back in this series. In Game 4, the Indians put together a 7-0 shutout victory. This was the first of three straight victories. In Game 6, the Indians pitted veteran starter Dennis Martinez against Mariners' ace pitcher Randy Johnson. They won this game 4-0, in large part to a three-run 8th inning, which saw star outfielder Kenny Lofton scoring from second base on a passed ball. Veteran starter Orel Hershiser, former MVP of the 1988 National League Championship Series and World Series, as well as 1988 Cy Young Award winner and Gold Glove winner, was named MVP of the ALCS.
3. 1997 MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series & Championship Series: The Indians entered Game 4 down to the New York Yankees 2-1 in the series. With only 4 outs remaining before potential elimination from the playoffs, All-Star MVP catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. hit a game-tying home run off new Yankees closer (and soon-to-be Hall of Fame candidate) Mariano Rivera. Cleveland went on to win Games 4 and 5 to advance to the ALCS. In the ALCS, the team again trailed 1-0, this time to the Baltimore Orioles. With only 4 outs remaining before a potential 2-0 series deficit, outfielder Marquis Grissom hit a three-run home run to give the team the lead and, eventually, the win. Grissom followed this by scoring the game-winning run in Game 3. He scored on a botched squeeze play bunt attempt miss by shortstop Omar Vizquel that turned into a passed ball. Ultimately, Cleveland advanced to the 1997 World Series with an extra inning home run by infielder Tony Fernandez and a Jose Mesa strikeout of Roberto Alomar in Game 6.
4. 2002 NFL Season: The Cleveland Browns found themselves under .500 multiple times during the season, starting with an opening game debacle versus the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the team kept finding ways to win. Entering Week 14, the Browns were still in the playoff race with a record of 6-6. With their backs to the wall, they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars on a Hail Mary pass from quarterback Tim Couch to wide receiver Quincy Morgan and an extra point kicked by Phil Dawson. After a tough home loss versus the Indianapolis Colts, the team rebounded in dramatic fashion as Couch led a drive at the end of a road game versus the Baltimore Ravens to win by a score of 14-13. Then, in the last game of the regular season, running back William Green ran for a decisive touchdown, while linebacker Dwayne Rudd redeemed himself for the Week 1 debacle loss as he and the rest of the defense stopped the Falcons' offense at the goal line to close out the game. At 9-7, the Browns advanced to the playoffs for the first time in the expansion Browns era.
5. 2007 NBA Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals: The Cavaliers entered the playoffs winning the #2 seed on the last day of the season. They swept the Washington Wizards 4-0, then defeated the New Jersey Nets 4-2 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. The team dropped the first two games versus the Detroit Pistons by identical scores of 79-76, resulting in a 2-0 series deficit. Yet, the Cavaliers would go on to win the next 4 games to clinch their first Eastern Conference Championship. After Cleveland took Game 4 to even the series, Pistons forward/center Rasheed Wallace was seen throwing his jersey off a hallway wall, only to hit one of his coaches. Then, in Game 5, LeBron James put together one of the boldest performances in NBA Playoffs history as he scored 48 points, including the Cavs' last 25 points and the game-winning basket. Game 6 was clinched as Daniel Gibson scored 31 points while Rasheed Wallace fouled out and was ejected for complaining about the last foul called on him.
'Believeland', it is possible. We can come back. We can win Game 6. We can force a Game 7. We can win this series. We can go on our merry way towards winning the 2010 NBA Championship. One game at a time. One quarter at a time. Let's do this. Go Cavs!!!!!
To come from behind in the 2010 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals, the team and its fans need to have positive mindsets. Cleveland must truly be 'Believeland'. The Cavaliers were viewed as the favorites entering this series for a reason, and they can still turn this series around by winning two games in a row.
Here are some examples of clutch Cleveland play in my lifetime:
1. 1992 NBA Playoffs, Eastern Conference Semifinals: The Cavaliers trailed the Boston Celtics 2-1 going into Game 4. The original Big 3 of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, along with rising star forward Reggie Lewis, led a Celtics team balanced with veterans and young players. In the pivotal Game 4, the Cavaliers won the game in overtime, 114-112. Forward Larry Nance led the way with 32 points. The Cavs went on to take Games 5 and 7 and won the series 4-3. This was Cleveland's first victory over Boston in the playoffs.
2. 1995 MLB Playoffs, American League Championship Series: The Cleveland Indians trailed the Seattle Mariners in this series 1-0 and then 2-1. After achieving 48 come-from-behind wins, including 27 wins in their final at-bat, during the regular season, they were poised to come back in this series. In Game 4, the Indians put together a 7-0 shutout victory. This was the first of three straight victories. In Game 6, the Indians pitted veteran starter Dennis Martinez against Mariners' ace pitcher Randy Johnson. They won this game 4-0, in large part to a three-run 8th inning, which saw star outfielder Kenny Lofton scoring from second base on a passed ball. Veteran starter Orel Hershiser, former MVP of the 1988 National League Championship Series and World Series, as well as 1988 Cy Young Award winner and Gold Glove winner, was named MVP of the ALCS.
3. 1997 MLB Playoffs, American League Division Series & Championship Series: The Indians entered Game 4 down to the New York Yankees 2-1 in the series. With only 4 outs remaining before potential elimination from the playoffs, All-Star MVP catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. hit a game-tying home run off new Yankees closer (and soon-to-be Hall of Fame candidate) Mariano Rivera. Cleveland went on to win Games 4 and 5 to advance to the ALCS. In the ALCS, the team again trailed 1-0, this time to the Baltimore Orioles. With only 4 outs remaining before a potential 2-0 series deficit, outfielder Marquis Grissom hit a three-run home run to give the team the lead and, eventually, the win. Grissom followed this by scoring the game-winning run in Game 3. He scored on a botched squeeze play bunt attempt miss by shortstop Omar Vizquel that turned into a passed ball. Ultimately, Cleveland advanced to the 1997 World Series with an extra inning home run by infielder Tony Fernandez and a Jose Mesa strikeout of Roberto Alomar in Game 6.
4. 2002 NFL Season: The Cleveland Browns found themselves under .500 multiple times during the season, starting with an opening game debacle versus the Kansas City Chiefs. However, the team kept finding ways to win. Entering Week 14, the Browns were still in the playoff race with a record of 6-6. With their backs to the wall, they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars on a Hail Mary pass from quarterback Tim Couch to wide receiver Quincy Morgan and an extra point kicked by Phil Dawson. After a tough home loss versus the Indianapolis Colts, the team rebounded in dramatic fashion as Couch led a drive at the end of a road game versus the Baltimore Ravens to win by a score of 14-13. Then, in the last game of the regular season, running back William Green ran for a decisive touchdown, while linebacker Dwayne Rudd redeemed himself for the Week 1 debacle loss as he and the rest of the defense stopped the Falcons' offense at the goal line to close out the game. At 9-7, the Browns advanced to the playoffs for the first time in the expansion Browns era.
5. 2007 NBA Playoffs, Eastern Conference Finals: The Cavaliers entered the playoffs winning the #2 seed on the last day of the season. They swept the Washington Wizards 4-0, then defeated the New Jersey Nets 4-2 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. The team dropped the first two games versus the Detroit Pistons by identical scores of 79-76, resulting in a 2-0 series deficit. Yet, the Cavaliers would go on to win the next 4 games to clinch their first Eastern Conference Championship. After Cleveland took Game 4 to even the series, Pistons forward/center Rasheed Wallace was seen throwing his jersey off a hallway wall, only to hit one of his coaches. Then, in Game 5, LeBron James put together one of the boldest performances in NBA Playoffs history as he scored 48 points, including the Cavs' last 25 points and the game-winning basket. Game 6 was clinched as Daniel Gibson scored 31 points while Rasheed Wallace fouled out and was ejected for complaining about the last foul called on him.
'Believeland', it is possible. We can come back. We can win Game 6. We can force a Game 7. We can win this series. We can go on our merry way towards winning the 2010 NBA Championship. One game at a time. One quarter at a time. Let's do this. Go Cavs!!!!!