Whether you avidly follow sports, possess any type of social media or may have just flipped on the television in the past couple of weeks, you most likely have come across someone mentioning the NBA playoffs. As a fan whose favorite team underperformed their way to one of the most disappointing seasons I’ve witnessed, the 2016 championship matchup is something that experts might call a worse-case scenario for Chicago. If only missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004 wasn’t bad enough, loyal fans now see a man vilified in their city fighting back against a team eager to dismantle one of the city’s most celebrated records. That’s right, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are currently the only thing standing between the Golden State Warriors and (on-paper) becoming the most successful team in NBA history. With this in mind, this article will offer some tips to help the Chicago fans decide who to cheer for.
DISCLAIMER: I say “most successful” because it is in this humble writer’s opinion that the Warriors are not better than the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls, but that is not the point of this article, so that argument shall not be addressed. Also, this is extremely biased towards the Bulls. It is a guide written by a Chicago sports fan, for other Chicago sports fans (so there’s that).
LeBron James. Cleveland sees him as a hometown hero who has come home to make terms. Chicago sees him as an incessant nuisance in the playoffs whose tremendous skill and questionable theatrics has kept the “good guys” from advancing four separate times. How then, can there be reasons to root for this man? Well, I can give you several reasons, I can actually give you 72 (not really, but here’s a couple).
1. The Record
Like Scottie Pippen’s shirt, “It don’t mean a thing, without the ring.” 73 wins is an incredible feat don’t get me wrong, but players from the championship Bulls roster and from Golden State themselves have said, “It won’t matter if they don’t win.” Fans agree. In my eyes and the eyes of many, the “Best-Record” award that the Warriors are pursuing so intently will turn into “Best-Record without Winning a Championship” award, if they fall short in the finals. The latter not having nearly the same appeal as the former. At this point in the playoffs, the hopes for a team other than Cleveland to stand up against this juggernaut offense died when the Oklahoma City Thunder collapsed in Games 5, 6 and 7 of the Western Conference Finals, so here we are, contemplating whether or not to root for a rival team.
2. The MVP
As many might know, Steph Curry is the first unanimously voted Most Valuable Player award winner in the NBA’s history. Basketball fans, let that sink in. This man, albeit shoots the three like none other, is the first person who has been “no-questions” voted as the MVP? How did that happen? This isn’t even just a Chicago fan questioning it, but how does LeBron James not contest enough in sports analysts’ eyes? Look at the finals for example. The big story is that the Splash Bros. have not really shown up in their usual fashion, but it is the Warrior’s role players that are stepping up. Now look at the Cavaliers. James is his usual work-horse self and seems to be the only player that his team can consistently rely on to get it done on both sides of the ball. In fact, to quote a survey done by Sports Center, going into Game 3, 64% of people would rather have LeBron James than Steph Curry on their team. Whether you believe polls like that is your prerogative, but it makes you wonder whether or not Steph Curry deserved the uncontested win.
After hopefully reading through the reasons on why to cheer for the Cavaliers, you might start to see them as the good guys in this championship fight. However, know that it is only one side of the story, and there are reasons for continuing to root against King James and whatever team he may take his talents to. The Chicago fans who have stuck with this article are probably going to recognize parts of these reasons/argument from conversations that may have popped up during past playoff experiences.
1. Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James
I hope that I wouldn’t have to say it by now, but Michael Jordan is better than LeBron James. The game is so different (softer) nowadays so comparisons mean little, but the argument remains persistent. This is James’ fifth consecutive finals appearance with two championships under his belt already. No fan of the Chicago Bulls wants to see any player, let alone this man come any closer to touching his greatness and no fan of the NBA wants more ammo for ignorant LeBron fans to misuse in arguments everywhere. Also, if this man wins another championship, that is only ensuring the production of a Space Jam 2, and that simply cannot happen. The only player that should be allowed to play ball with the Looney Tunes and save the NBA’s talent is a man with at least five championships, not just appearances (cue Kobe Bryant…maybe).
2. The Pursuit of Greatness (and Steve Kerr)
Whether or not you wanted to see the Chicago Bulls 1995-1996 regular season, “Best-Record” get broken, it happened. Even if Golden State loses, they will still hold that title (though, not the most important one). At some point, you should respect their aspirations and accomplishments. Think about what they are doing. Steph Curry and Co. reached one of the highest points in their sport and are now thrusted into discussions that compare them to legends of the game, many of whom, the Warriors were watching on T.V. as youth. That alone is admirable. Chasing, breaking and setting records is tough in any sport, but even more challenging is breaking the record of one of the most famous athletes in history. Plus, it is pretty cool to see an integral member of the Chicago Bulls 95-96 success lead the way for his players (congrats, Steve Kerr!!).
So now it is time for you to decide who you want to win the NBA Championship. Do not rush this decision, for the consequences may be dire. I leave you with this final piece of advice: Whether the Cavaliers or Warriors win, be careful my fellow Bulls fans, as we may no longer have the protection and power in sports arguments as we once did. Be Careful.
