LeBron James, underdog? I asked the question

LeBron James said he would “never be an underdog” but he was acting like one at the time.

May 14, 2015. 26 days ago. The Cleveland Cavaliers had just eliminated and dismantled the Chicago Bulls 94-73 in Game 6 on the road. Matthew Dellavedova had shut down Derrick Rose in the second half. Tristan Thompson pulled down 17 rebounds. Both were at the podium side-by-side their leader LeBron James, who had struggled shooting 7-23, finishing with only 15 points.

Despite injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, the Cavs advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals with a very winnable series against the Atlanta Hawks up next.

I was covering the game and waiting for my turn to ask the best player in the game a question. I wasn’t really sure what I was going to ask until James detailed how unlikely it was that his team was winning, given everything the Cavs were facing while answering a question from Rachel Nichols.

“It’s been a little tougher with the injuries we have had, the hill that we have to climb,” James said. “We are playing basketball with one of our best players not even playing, Kevin Love. And we are playing with another one of our players playing in one foot. (Kyrie Irving) We have no room for error. I got 4 guys on this team that have never played in the postseason.”

Then it was my turn. Those comments reeked of someone who thought he was an underdog, yet everyone knows that the best player in the game does not view himself that way. A two-time champion believes he can do it with Dellavedova, Thompson, and a misfit like J.R. Smith – as ridiculous as that may be.

So I asked what fair expectations were going forward: “Are you an underdog?”

LeBron and his Cavs are now three wins away from an NBA championship. They have home court advantage after winning Game Two at the Oracle Arena on the road.

The underdog question continues to live. It ran again today with highlights on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

The bandwagon is picking up more steam, plenty are now picking the Cavs to win it despite their obvious shortcomings: slim bench, lack of scoring, plus the talent of the Golden State Warriors.

The Cavs are a very good defensive team, good enough to still win Game Two when they shot 25 percent in the second half. Timofey Mozgov and Thompson are causing massive problems in the paint for the Warriors. Andrew Bogut has been his usual self, worthless offensively with 6 total points, but also defensively while Marreese Speights is missing breakaway dunks.

Then there is the Stephen Curry – Dellavedova matchup. Curry shot 5-of-23, 2-of-15 from behind the arc. Dellavedova gave both Derrick Rose and Jeff Teague problems as well. Everyone looks at white, bearded Delly and thinks he can’t guard. Turns out the basketball stereotype ain’t correct here. The Dellavedova problem could continue for Curry and the Warriors.

So, the NBA finals are up for grabs. Anything can happen. LeBron is now using the “underdog” as motivation saying things like, “our guys love the fact that we are counted out.” If the Cavs go on to win the championship, it will be by far the greatest accomplishment of LeBron’s career, because he will have done it as an underdog.

Even if he won’t admit it.

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