The NBA Finals comes down to 2 Game 7s. That hasn’t happened in 39 years

        

In 1979, the three-point line was still a season away from being introduced, the league had only merged with the ABA three years prior, and the Seattle Supersonics were still a dominant franchise. In fact, Seattle beat the Phoenix Suns in a Western Conference Finals Game 7, while the Washington Bullets knocked off the San Antonio Spurs in the East.

Almost four decades have passed, and so much has changed, but here we are yet again.

Is anyone picking against James, indisputably the best player of his generation, in a win-or-go-home game against a team missing two huge stars? It would be hard, but Boston has home court advantage, where they are 11-0 this postseason.

James’ elimination game statistics are something else, though. He averages 34.1 points per game, more than any other player who has played at least five such games. In his last seven elimination games, he either has scored 40-plus points or recorded a triple-double. Those are absurd statistics.

Still, James could score 80 points and it won’t be enough if he doesn’t get a minimal amount of help. His Cleveland teammates have been much, much worse on the road, and Kevin Love has already been ruled out with a concussion, a tragic absence for both the Cavaliers and for Love himself.

Boston has proved everybody wrong this entire postseason. James is the best player ever — suck it, Jordan stans — and it still might not be enough.