As good as LeBron James was, he wasn't good enough
OAKLAND — LeBron James put up 44 points, more than he ever has in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
It still wasn't enough.
James, even with the boost from Kyrie Irving's return, could not put the finishing touch on the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
And if James can't do it, nobody can.
No, it may not be completely fair to expect James to always provide the answer, but it's fair enough.
When you're the best player on the planet, this is when your team needs you the most.
James is the one who is in his fifth consecutive title, the one who essentially put his team on his back to give Cleveland some serious hope for delivering the first championship for the city — in any major sport — since 1964.
Yet for all of his brilliance — including the discovery of a three-point option — James will rue the moments that might have made the difference for the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 108-100 overtime setback.
At the end of regulation, James maneuvered for separation to get an open look for a three.
Clang.
At the end of the third quarter, leading by two, James killed off the clock to leave a few ticks, then fumbled the ball away. It led to Andre Iguodala racing down the court for a game-tying dunk.
Turns out, these were such bad omens for the Cavaliers, whose season of adversity now includes 30% odds of a team winning an NBA crown after losing Game 1 and another setback for Irving, who hobbled out of the arena in overtime.
And in overtime, the Cavaliers — and James — looked to be flush out of gas.
They were so close, but couldn't finish — even with James in their midst.