CLEVELAND -- Tyronn Lue was elevated to head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers at the exact midway point of the regular season, and he found a way to not only maintain their standings in both the Central Division and Eastern Conference through April, but also, led the team through the playoffs to the Eastern Conference Championship.
And now, Lue and the Cavaliers sit on the precipice of history with Game 7 of the NBA Finals tonight at Oracle Arena in Oakland against the reigning league champion Golden State Warriors, but with his methodical approach, he has maintained a sense of calm heading into the biggest game in franchise history.
“I don't feel pressure,” Lue said Saturday. “If you're prepared and you're organized and you're ready for the moment, which I've been preparing for, then you're fine, so I don't feel the pressure of Game 7.
By not feeling pressure through the first six games of the NBA Finals, Lue made the decisions necessary to win twice and extend the series to a game after the Cavaliers fell behind the Warriors, 3-1, following a Game 4 loss in Cleveland.
However, when the situation called for it, Lue substituted seldom-used point guard Mo Williams and fellow guard Dahntay Jones into the game during the second quarter. During their time on the court, Williams converted both of his shots and corralled a rebound and Jones scored five points with a carom. Williams completed a three-point play in the 115-101 Game 6 win over the Warriors.
“Mo's been in big situations before,” Lue said. “He's been an All-Star. He's played in the Eastern Conference Finals. We just talked about it amongst myself and my coaching staff just about giving Mo a chance. He came out. And he's been preparing. He's been working hard for the moment, and he came in and gave us a great lift.
“With Dahntay, just a veteran guy that we brought in. He's played in over 60 Playoff games before he got here. Just someone that when you get in foul trouble or someone goes down, he can step in and play a big part.
“With Shumpert having three fouls, with K. Love having three fouls and Richard Jefferson picking up his third foul, Dahntay is a guy we can go to that we know is going to be physical. He's a great defender, and he brings a lot of toughness to your team.”
And should Lue make similar substitutions with positive results in tonight’s Game 7 matchup at Oracle Arena, the Cavaliers could not only win their first-ever NBA Championship, but also, the city of Cleveland’s first major sports title since 1964.
“We're all in it together,” Lue said. “We're just trying to win a championship. They've been supportive the last two years. They've really been behind us, and it would just be a great thing to bring a championship home to the city of Cleveland.
“This is what we're playing for. Just my short time being in Cleveland, just understanding and getting the history of being in Cleveland these last two years means a lot. They're really into their sports. They're really into their teams. This will be very important and very big for the city of Cleveland and for the state of Ohio to bring this home.
“I know it's going to be going crazy in Cleveland, so hopefully we can stay the course and bring them a championship home.”
