It was a painful NBA Finals – both figuratively and literally – for LeBron and the Cavs. Dodgy officiating, a killer mental mistake and a punched white board punctuated Game 1, and the Wine and Gold never recovered for the remainder of the series. The guys discuss the late-game proceedings in Game 1, LeBron’s busted hand, the burden on the Cavs’ front office navigating the draft and free agency in light of LeBron’s potential departure this summer, the Warriors’ weird dynamic with Kevin Durant, and how long Golden State can keep its nucleus together.
Let’s be honest: The Cavs are facing some of the longest odds in NBA Finals history when they tip off against Golden State for the fourth straight season. But is all hope lost? David Zavac, contributor for The Athletic, is back on The Nail to dive into what the Cavs can try to do to make this a competitive series. The guys also touch on the absence of Andre Iguodala and most likely Kevin Love for Game 1, how some of Cleveland’s new faces can fit into this four-year rivalry and the difference for the Cavs between playing as the team to beat in the East playoffs vs. having nothing to lose in the Finals.
Two nights removed from the end of the Finals, the guys give a spirited send-off to the Cavs’ run as the reigning NBA champions. Topics covered include: the Cavs’ historic offensive performance in Game 4 even with the series likely out of reach, chaotic moments defining the last two games, Golden State needing Kevin Durant more to beat the Cavs than Durant needed Golden State to win a title, and an appreciation for the Cavs’ core over the past three years as we head into a summer of uncertainty.
With the Cavs on the verge of being swept in The Finals by Golden State, the guys begin to look ahead to an uncertain, unsettling future for the team in the wake of what has been an abrupt and demoralizing series.
After nearly a full year of anticipation, it's time. With Cavs-Warriors III beginning Thursday night, the guys discuss what has become arguably the best rivalry in sports, who has the most at stake in this year's Finals, and how the Larry O'Brien Trophy will be won.
Winding down a week for the ages, the guys take a victory lap after the Cavs won the NBA championship on Sunday night and the city of Cleveland threw the parade of the century on Wednesday afternoon. Relive the best moments from Game 7, the ensuing celebrations all over Cleveland and the arrival of a new era in the City of Champions. Life is good in The Land.
On the eve of the biggest game in Cavaliers franchise history, Bill Bender, who has been covering the NBA Finals for The Sporting News, joins the show to talk Game 7. Left for dead after two blowout losses to start the series and again after falling behind 3-1, the Cavs have found new life. The guys dig into what turned the tide, LeBron’s transcendent performance, what each team needs to do in Game 7, and which role players could make the difference in determining the team that will walk out of Oracle Arena with the Larry O’Brien trophy on Sunday night.
After two games in the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers are officially a collection of mad men, down 2-0 to the Warriors. The guys welcome Tom’s dad, Tom Sr., to try to sort out what has gone horribly wrong and what, if anything, can be done to salvage the series. … Plus, the guys pay homage to Muhammad Ali, and Tom Sr. shares a story of meeting The Greatest in Chicago.
An NBA Finals rematch of the century deserves an all-out preview podcast to match. With another epic showdown between the Cavs and Warriors set to tip off on Thursday night, the guys welcome Mark Meszoros and Mark Koestner aboard for a wide-ranging Finals roundtable discussion. It’s a whole new world for the Cavs since the last time these teams met in January. How will the Cavs cover for the defensive deficiencies of Kevin Love, and to a lesser degree, Kyrie Irving? What difference will Coach Ty Lue and sharpshooting power forward Channing Frye make? Will LeBron continue to start games as a facilitator or will he look to take over from the jump? And finally, will the dastardly Draymond Green’s antics finally draw a suspension from the league? (Hint: Probably not.)
