I‘m not good at many things. I never had the hand-eye coordination, athleticism, or toughness to thrive at sports, and lacked the attention span, threshold for boredom, and determination to become proficient at any hobby that could be construed as a “talent.” Had I ever participated in a talent show, it would have just been me criticizing all the other performers — think a younger, less funny Statler and Waldorf. It’s not lost on me that being a critic is essentially deep devotion to a lack of appreciable talent.

But I have done a lot of research in my lifetime, a result of academic and professional pursuits that I was promised would be more exciting. My existence is laden with footnotes. In my more editorial posts, I strive to have a body of support for my opinions even when they verge on the preposterous. Think of it as “evidence-based bitching.” And though I wouldn’t consider it a talent, I don’t totally suck at it; unlike trying to outrun a cornerback to acrobatically catch a football.

But research often feels like a chore. Depending on the topic, the access to information, and the resources at my disposal, the research in question can feel more or less like work — it’s often fun work, but work nonetheless.



(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Think of it as “evidence-based bitching.”

The tedium characteristic of most of my research was not present in compiling this post. In fact, the “research” (if you could call it that) was downright delightful. When researching the best plays of the Cleveland Cavaliers season, I was thrilled to rediscover moments I only faintly remembered, re-experience instant nostalgia , and give a second coat to the recently finished Wine and Gold paint job on the figurative shed where I store my memories. (It’s next to the wood chipper, where I store — well, deposit — most of my Browns-related memories.) Every Google search, YouTube trail, and WFNY archives voyage revealed something pleasant.

So unlike reading about Nixon or tabulating playoff experience over the last three decades or reliving all my own failed relationships, researching this post was an unmitigated joy. Throughout this post, I’ll rudely interject to add a little snark or attempt to articulate the significance of a moment. But mostly (hopefully), this post will serve as a reminder of what a fun and exhilarating season 2014-15 was for the Cavs — even when they weren’t playing great. I’m sure I forgot a few worthwhile plays, so feel free to tell me what I got wrong in the comments and on Twitter, though — as always — all decisions are final and unappealable.

15. Irving Blocks Stephen Curry to Preserve Game 1 for Overtime

If only the Cavs could have won this game in overtime. Even though it was in a losing effort, and thus its meaning largely vitiated, this come-from-behind block was probably the best defensive play of Irving’s career, and proved that the Love-less Cavs were up to the challenge of the Golden State Warriors. Ironically, the Cavs would have been better off had the overtime never occurred.

14. Irving Splits a Spurs Double-Team for a Mesmerizing Finish

This play felt like watching a squirrel dart through six lanes of traffic only to dart out the other side when you had your eyes closed. For a brief moment, you actually lose Irving behind the towering Tiago Splitter. More on this game later.

13. Tristan Thompson’s Putback Dunk in OT of the Second Game of the Season

Tristan Thompson doesn’t always provide the most exciting plays by virtue of his playing style — because unfortunately the skill-level of NBA players renders many of his dunks “garden-variety” — absent the occasional rim-rocking tip-slam. This play helped seal the Cavs first win of the season after losing to the New York Knicks at home in the opener, and was Thompson’s announcement to the world that “I may not start, but you’ll be seeing me a lot in fourth quarters this year.”

12. LeBron James Annihilates Mike Muscala in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals

James says, Don’t challenge me at the rim. Bold. In all caps. The Hawks listen, caving in the last two games of the series.

11. Kyrie Irving Crosses Over Jakarr Sampson

Kyrie Irving doesn’t care that Sampson was born in Cleveland and went to high school at LeBron James’ own St. Vincent-St. Mary. Nothing will stop Irving from making people look silly. He’s mean that way. It’s hard to pick and choose the best of the Kyrie crossovers, but I reluctantly elevated this one over all the others, because I’m brave enough to make these difficult and important choices. We’ve all seen players have their ankles broken by a cross-over, but Sampson actually doesn’t even know where Kyrie Irving is for a brief moment. That’s some wizard-grade clowning right there.

The Cavs have so much dynamic offensive talent that they have three players with amazing individual weapons worthy of their own YouTube compilations: James dunks, Love outlet passes, and Irving crossovers. Sometimes, the internet is a wonderful place.

10. James’ No-Look Overhead Backward Pass to Mozgov in Game 4 of the Finals

It was difficult to pick this one over James’ steal and behind-the-back pass to Mozgov against the Pistons, but the crispness of the overhead backward pass, the seeming omnipotence of James, the strong dunk by Mozgov, and the timing in the Finals all vaulted this one into the top 10.

9. James Finishes Kevin Love’s Outlet Pass with a Two-Handed Double-Clutch Dunk

There were a lot of Love outlet passes to choose from (see compilation from above), but this was the most spectacular. James, whose in-game dunks are primarily unimaginative but wrathful, finishes the pass with a beautiful two-handed reverse flourish.

8. Mozgov Posterizes Paul Millsap

Timofey Mozgov is so synonymous with Blake Griffin’s throw-dunk from 2010 over him that Jonathan Abrams’ profile on Mozgov from this year was named “Poster Child.” But Mozgov’s time in Cleveland has been about him striking back and taking the respect he deserves. With Irving hobbled and Love out, Mozgov’s toughness was the most underrated factor keeping the Cavs afloat in the playoffs — as evidenced by this refusal to be denied over Paul Millsap. Mozgov loses the ball briefly, then regains it for the finish.

7. Irving’s Casual Half-Court Heave with the Shot Clock Expiring

Remember that Thursday you showed up for sophomore English class only to find out your essay test on The Great Gatsby was that day, not on Friday like you had thought? And then you BS-ed the whole thing because you hadn’t studied (some ramblings about the perceptions of class mobility in America blah blah something about repressed homosexuality) and got the highest grade in the class, anyway? Well, this Kyrie Irving shot is the basketball equivalent.

6. Kevin Love’s Fadeaway to Ice the Game and Stop the Losing Streak in Charlotte

Sometimes a key non-loss is as big as a key win. The Cavs entered Charlotte without LeBron James and on a three-game losing streak, playing their worst basketball of the season. Even though they were up three points with 28 seconds left, it felt like the game was slipping away — the Cavs had blown an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter. Kyrie Irving was having one of his worst games of the season (8-of-27 shooting). Then, Love hit this dagger fadeaway with Marvin Williams all up in his business to close the game.

Love often has to sit in the backseat while James drives and Irving rides shotgun. But it’s moments like this that likely encouraged Love to stick around. Check out that footwork! Had the Cavs lost the game, they would have taken a 10-game losing streak into Los Angeles on January 14, instead of the six-game losing streak they did. Thankfully, Love was able to help slow the bleeding.

5. James’ (and Blatt’s?) In-bounds Pass to Tristan Thompson to Begin the After Bowling Win Streak

https://youtu.be/59_fm7aYjuw?t=7m55s

This was one of the secretly meaningful plays of the year for the Cavs. On the verge of unraveling, the Cavs had gone on their invigorating bowling trip the day before, and ended their six-game losing streak against the Lakers that night. The next night, they were fending off a comeback from a legitimate basketball team, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Inbounding the ball with 47 seconds left and clinging to a four-point lead, Tristan Thompson fakes a down screen on Austin Rivers. He slips it, letting Rivers chase Kyrie Irving after Blake Griffin has abandoned Thompson to defend Irving. James discharges a bullet of a pass to Thompson, who finishes with an and-one. After the play (as Mike Tirico points out in the clip), James points a knowing finger at Blatt while showing the first burst of positive emotion we have seen from James in weeks. The Cavs wouldn’t lose again for three weeks after this play, as fortune started to swing in their favor.

4. The “Delly-palooza” Impossible Bank Shot in Game 3 of the Finals

Remember when the Cavs were winning the NBA Finals 2-1 after a Game 3 victory? Remember when Cleveland (and to a smaller extent THE WORLD) became consumed by Dellypalooza, before we remembered he’s suited to be a third-string point guard? It was such a wishful, naive, hopeful time. It was also just over six weeks ago. Watch the circus bank shot that launched Delly-palooza and probably inspired the conception of a dozen or so Australian babies. Hopefully we can run it back next year, with news that Dellavedova will return to the Cavaliers coming on Monday. Long live Delly-palooza!

3. Kyrie’s Game Winner for 55 Points Against the Trail Blazers

With LeBron James sitting out with a wrist injury, the Cavs needed a special performance to beat a tough Western Conference foe. It didn’t look like they were going to have one early, as Kyrie Irving started the game 0-for-7 from the field. Then, Kyrie Irving went absolutely bananas — making 10 three-pointers before the last minute of the game. With the game tied in the closing seconds, Kyrie icily sized up Batum and drilled a three-pointer that won the game and cemented his 55-pointer as one of the best individual games by a Cleveland Cavalier. Will wrote about the moment of Irving’s approach in wonderful detail, and it’s a great read or reread.

2. Kyrie Irving’s Three to Force Overtime Against the Spurs

I promised more from this game, and now I deliver. It’s hard to believe this isn’t the top play of the Cavs season, but alas it is not. Even though there were many great playoff games that will rank above this one in Cleveland sports canon (due to the stakes), this was the most exciting game of the season. Why? Because it’s the Spurs: they have a knack for bringing out the best in teams (see, e.g., the 2013 Heat and 2015 Clippers), they play beautiful basketball, and they rarely give games away.

The best thing about the game was that Irving surmounted great games from Tony Parker (31 points), Kawhi Leonard (24 points), and Danny Green (24 points) to win it for the Cavs. Every time the Cavs gained ground, either Leonard or Parker would respond in kind with an equally impossible shot. It just seemed inconceivable that the Cavs would overcome the deficit. And yet they did, with Irving scoring 57 points on an effective field goal percentage of 73.4 percent.

It’s probably the best individual performance against a Greg Popovich-coached team, and is the highest point total by a Cavalier player ever. Relive the game with Will’s Behind the Box Score or Kyrie’s highlights from the entire game. As for the shot itself: it made a great game an instant classic and provoked one of the most delirious Kevin Harlan calls you’ll ever hear.

1. James’ Game 4 Winner Against the Chicago Bulls

The winner was a no-brainer. Down 2-1 against the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the playoffs after a shocking buzzer beater from Derrick Rose in Game 3, the Cavs needed a miracle. And they got one, as LeBron James sank a walk-off jump shot that saved the Cavs season and maybe changed the trajectory of the franchise. The shot deflated the Bulls, who never recovered and lost the remaining two games of the series.

It may not be just retribution for Michael Jordan’s Shot over Craig Ehlo in 1989, but it’s close. Because of James’ shot, the Cavs flipped fortune on a series that looked hopeless only 30 minutes prior. They would eventually become a few breaks (particularly one involving a knee cap) away from winning the NBA Finals. Maybe because of it, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, and LeBron James will be back making more memorable plays for the Cavs next season.

EDIT: A previous version of this post misidentified TNT announcer Kevin Harlan as Marv Albert.