How LeBron James and the Cavs can take confidence from 2016 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals

IT’S stating the bleeding obvious that the Cleveland Cavaliers simply must win Game 3 of the NBA Finals — not just for their title hopes, but for the King’s legacy.

Can LeBron James dominate the Warriors at home? Picture: Getty Images/AFP

CALL it a legacy, call it what you will, but it’s stating the bleeding obvious that LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers must win Game 3 at home to be any hope of holding onto the NBA title.

And a loss might just be the dagger in the heart of the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan-NBA greatest-of-all-time debate.

CG43: ‘WE’RE GOING TO LEAVE NBA PLAYERS OUT OF THE BOOMERS’

FRUIT LOOP: CHRIS ANSTEY ON METTA WORLD PEACE’S MONSTER TRUCK

NICK KYRGIOS: ‘I’M DEFINITELY IN LEBRON’S CORNER’

James and the Cavs know they can come back from 3-1 down in the NBA Finals.

They did it against (not quite) the same Golden State Warriors team almost 12 months ago to the day.

But history decrees a 3-0 hole is insurmountable, especially given the Warriors now possess the most complete scorer in the game in Kevin Durant — and he’s on a mission.

No NBA team has ever come back from three-love in the playoffs, let alone the finals.

As bizarre as it sounds, though, the Cavs can take some stock from that series a year ago.

They were absolutely pummelled in both games one and two in Oakland in 2016 and the beginning of this series has produced almost a carbon copy.

Can LeBron James dominate the Warriors at home? Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Those humbling losses in 2016 forced a rallying cry back in Cleveland and the Cavs scorched the Warriors by 30 in front of a rabid home crowd.

James took a while to get going in 2016, but this year churned out a triple-double in Game 2 and was within a whisker in Game 1.

But, for all the King’s talents and the support of both Kevin Love (27 in Game 2) and Kyrie Irving (24 in Game 1), the result of the game may just hinge on the ability of shooting guard JR Smith and big man Tristan Thompson to grow another leg at home.

Smith has been woeful.

He drained a three-pointer to open the scoring in Game 1 and has not made a bucket since. He was almost as bad through two games last season, but went off for 20 in Game 3.

The Cavs have seen far too much of this from Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant so far in the series. Picture: Getty Images

He needs to get buckets and big man Tristan Thompson needs to rediscover his ability to rebound.

After ripping down almost 10 boards a game throughout the season, Thompson has managed just eight through the first two games of the finals. He terrorised the Warriors on the board in 2016 and was a key factor in the Cavs remarkable comeback.

Thompson hopes the home crowd can spur them on.

“Our crowd’s amazing, our crowd’s the best crowd in the league so we know how much energy they’re going to have how excited they are,” Thompson said.

“They haven’t seen us in a while, we know the roof is going to come off the Quicken Loans Arena.”

Love is also hopeful that the home court advantage will help them turn the series around.

“We have to take care of home court.

“(Game 3 is) going to be obviously very telling in this series.

“A huge game for both teams and we feel like homecourt, we play great here or we go home and that’s, at the end of the day what we need to do.”

A win in Cleveland for the Warriors would extend their remarkable unbeaten playoff run to 15-0, leaving them with one more win to become the first team in NBA history to win the title with a perfect record and would surely thrust them to the top of the greatest team of all time debate.

As far as The King goes, this might be the most important game of his career.

And yes, we know he already has three rings.

Will a return to Cleveland help JR Smith snap out of his funk? Picture: Getty Images/AFP

UNTHINKABLE: THE MICHAEL JORDAN TRADES THAT ALMOST HAPPENED

PICK UP LINE: ‘WHO WANTS TO SEX MUTOMBO?’

NO DEAL: HOW CHARLES BARKLEY ALMOST BECAME A LAKER

But a loss would mean almost certain defeat in the finals, which would reduce his record in title encounters to three wins and five losses.

Jordan went to the finals six times, won every one of them and was the finals MVP in each.

For those who count rings — and the ability to win them when the chips are down — as the holy measure of NBA greatness, it would be a satisfying meal for those in MJ’s corner to dine on.

“And then they said LeBron is the GOAT”. Picture: AP

Originally published as How LeBron James and the Cavs can take confidence from 2016 in Game 3 of the NBA Finals