CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Cavaliers fans have a complicated relationship with LeBron James and Game 5s. Here they all go again.
This one, like the last few, is vital with the series with the Chicago Bulls tied at 2-2. This one, like those before it, could have long-lasting consequences. If it holds to form, it’s going to be highly emotional.
In 2007, James went to Detroit as the underdog with a relatively ragtag group of teammates, who were just trying to mount an upset attempt against the highly favored Pistons. That hot June night in Detroit, James had the first truly transcendent game of his career when he scored 29 of the team’s last 30 points to drag the Cavs to a stunning double-overtime win.
It ended in Game 6 and the Cavs were in the Finals. It was truly the game where James crossed over from being a player of potential to reality and it actually did usher in what has turned into the LeBron era, at least in the Eastern Conference. In delirium with unexpected success, James instantly became the most successful player in the history of the franchise because of that night at age 22.
Even at Nike, which had invested $100 million in James four years before, there became an in-house terminology regarding James’ position in their marketing. “After Game 5” might as well have been the title of an internal memo on James.
Whether it was the fans or business partners, that performance changed everything.
In 2010, James came to play in his 34th career playoff game at Quicken Loans Arena with the series against the supposedly too old Boston Celtics tied at 2-2. It was assumed the favored Cavs not only would win the pivotal game but that there would be scores more James home playoff games. Though it was a legitimate possibly, it was hard to fathom that would be James’ last home game in Cleveland, the last playoff game in fact, for five years.
The Celtics blasted the Cavs by 32 points that night and James was a stunning non-factor. Just days off winning his second MVP award he was just 3-of-14 shooting and had just 15 points. In a game where his leadership was expected and his teammates around him helped produce 61 wins during the regular season, James was nearly invisible.
It ended in Game 6 in Boston and the Cavs were in shambles. Owner Dan Gilbert later claimed James quit on his team in the series. There was such a lack of understanding and comprehension about how James could play so poorly and without energy and engagement that it was fertile for outlandish rumors to be started. To this day, what happened that night is still very much a mystery in Cleveland. For years now, there’s been the lingering question of “what happened in Game 5?”
If Game 5 in 2007 was unexpected joy, Game 5 in 2010 was unexpected misery. Which leaves Game 5 in 2015 to step in line and it’s really hard to have any idea what to expect this time.
“In this case it doesn’t matter,” James said. “Whatever it takes to get a win.”
James is having a tough series. With the sudden loss of Kevin Love and multiple injuries to Kyrie Irving, the pressure on James has increased. The Bulls, especially primary defender Jimmy Butler, are smothering James and giving him very little space to operate. It is contributing to James having his worst shooting series since the 2007 Finals as he’s shooting just 38 percent in the first four games. He’s also dealing with a mildly sprained left ankle that he suffered late in Game 4 and while he’ll be playing, it’s unclear how strong he’ll be for Game 5.
“I’m not OK with my shooting percentage. Jimmy is a great defender and he’s done a great job,” James said. “But offense doesn’t define my game. If I’m not scoring I can still affect the game. It may define a lot of guys in our league who only care about scoring but not me.”
Large segments of James’ career and certainly a few whole seasons were defined by how Game 5s played out.
“Every year there are different challenges,” James said. “We feel good about our chances.”