There’s only one question left to ask this edition of the Cleveland Cavaliers:
How do you want to be remembered?
They could go down in history as the team that began the season 15-0, had two other win streaks of 12 or more games in a row, and then flamed out in the second round of the playoffs.
Or they could be the team that overcomes a daunting 3-1 deficit and goes on to do even more in May and June.
There’ll be opposition doing their part to try to foil the Cavs’ legacies, too, but that’s really what it comes down to.
Cleveland is clearly hurting. Darius Garland isn’t 100 percent. Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter probably aren’t, either. Donovan Mitchell hurt his left ankle at some point during Sunday night’s Game 4, too.
But it’s officially win-or-go-home time.
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The Cavs have the most famous comeback from 3-1 down in NBA history, when LeBron James led the rally past the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.
LeBron isn’t walking through that door, but maybe he should serve as a bit of inspiration.
These Cavs are the superior team on paper, unlike those Cavs of 2016 who were playing the 73-win Warriors.
It hasn’t played out that way yet, but that’s sports for you. The script doesn’t always go according to plan.
The Cavaliers clearly are capable of getting hot. You don’t have winning streaks like the ones they put together without that ability.
But there’s no time to wait. Everything will have to be firing on all cylinders.
Offense, defense, and all the little things that make those work – they have to be on point three games in a row.
It’s a Herculean task, especially given how well the Pacers are playing.
But it’s the only way to gain a legacy greater than one of just a fun regular season team that flopped in the postseason.
This team will leave it all on the floor. They’re as competitive as any team in the league. They get after it, night in and night out, in a way that has endeared them to the city of Cleveland.
They’ll still have a full city of believers right up through the final buzzer of the season, whenever that may come.
This is a special group, probably the best Cavs team ever that hasn’t had LeBron on it. That’s a large caveat, sure, but it also explains what makes this group tick.
Mitchell has taken a step back in on-court responsibility and maybe had his best season because of it. That’s allowed Garland and Mobley to elevate. Jarrett Allen is the jolliest, 7-foot dominator you’ve ever seen. Ty Jerome revived his career as a stud sixth man. Max Strus and Sam Merrill are deadeye 3-point shooters. Hunter does it all after coming over at the trade deadline.
The Cavs are deep and balanced, and they play for one another and for their city.
They’ll be remembered fondly in the long-term even if the season ends this week.
But if they push on, if they make it back from this? They’ll never be forgotten.
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