In the 2015 NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers were under-manned and even a bit beleaguered.
Kyrie Irving, the team’s ascendent star guard, suffered a knee injury in Game 1 and was out for the series, and they were already without star big man Kevin Love, who sustained a dislocated shoulder earlier in the playoffs.
Any hopes the Cavs had of defeating the 67-win Golden State Warriors in the championship series rested on LeBron James.