Cavaliers swindled in Game 1 overtime loss!

The Cleveland Cavaliers couldn't have asked for much more than they received from themselves in game one at the usually raucous Oracle Arena in Oakland.
Cleveland gained even more than usual from LeBron James with 51 points, eight assists and eight rebounds and Kevin Love added 21 and with under forty seconds to go, the Cavaliers held a two-point lead and possession of the basketball and looked to be in position for a stunning upset.

The usually inept NBA referees stepped in and changed the perception after a consultation, which set a parade of events together cost Cleveland victory and could weaken them in game two.
First, LeBron James forced Kevin Durant into a charging foul that the referees looked and changed the call into a blocking call on James.
This allowed Durant to hit two free throws to tie the game and that was a huge swing in momentum towards the home team in an awful call that saw the arbiters reason that James was "not in a legal guarding position" outside the restricted zone.
Most observers not in Warrior blue felt otherwise and thereafter the game was scarred with controversy.

Following a James layup and a Stephen Curry score and free throw, Golden State led by one with Cleveland holding the ball for the potential last shot of the game.
James drilled a pass toward the basket and a cutting George Hill for the layup and lead.
A beaten Klay Thompson had no choice but to grab Hill and put him on the line with just under five seconds to play.
Hill nailed the first free throw to tie the game but came up painfully short on the second shot, which would have given Cleveland the lead.
However, J.R.Smith had slid under Kevin Durant for the rebound and had a chance for the putback, which likely would have meant victory.
It would not have been a sure thing as Smith would have to have laid the ball in over the taller Durant, but there was an opportunity for sure.
Instead, Smith "took the ball back" almost like in a bizarre scene out of a half-court pickup game, ate the time away and the Cavaliers chance for a win escaped like air from a balloon as the game headed to overtime.

Usually, in these situations going into overtime, it plays out like this-the underdog is fatigued by the effort and the better team pulls away and that's exactly what happened as Golden State took the 124-114 win.
In a game that that could have been remembered for so much more, it'll be remembered for awful officiating, unwarranted replays and an addle-minded decision by J.R.Smith.

Swashbucklings

1) Just cannot get past the decision to look at the block/charge call.
James was clearly outside the area that he is required to be in to use a replay review to begin with and then to change the call based on James movement (He held position) might have been changed in a game before, but I've never seen it and to pick this time???

2) And to top that off, the play not only shouldn't have been changed but not even reviewed because to activate a review-James must be in the restricted area and he clearly was not.

3) LeBron James became the first player to score over 50 points in the NBA Finals and lose.
James did all of this with one eye, after being poked in the first quarter by noted clean defender Draymond Green.

4) J.R. Smith's simply head-thumping decision to run out the clock is just beyond words to write about.
However, Smith has made a career of these types of plays and considering how he has played this season, why was I not surprised.
It's too bad though because just getting the offensive rebound was a hustle play and was quickly forgotten after his "Webber" like mistake.

5) Don't forget another Smith mistake at the end of the first half, where Smith ridiculously left Stephen Curry alone by going for a steal at mid-court.
Curry then calmly drained an uncontested thirty footer to tie the game at the half.
Awful.

6) I'm generally not an officiating whiner, but this game was bad.
When Steve Kerr AND Draymond Green both are quoted as "We caught a break"-that tells you all you need to know.

7) The end of the game scuffle between Tristan Thompson and Draymond Green needs to be forgotten about by the league for both players.
Considering how the game was called, frustration is inevitable and after watching, the league needs to pass on suspensions.

8) This game wasn't just lost, it was given away by officials and players.
On one hand, I am hopeful that the Cavaliers have proven that they can play with the Warriors.
On the other, game two might be ugly as it's going to be tough to bounce back from a crusher like this Sunday night..