Signs point to Cavaliers and LeBron (hopefully) rebounding in Game 6

The signs at two Willoughby businesses convey a positive, hopeful tone about the Cavaliers and their fourth deep playoff push in as many seasons.

“Let’s Go Cavs”

“Go Cavs”

Signs with similar exhortations for the Cavs are everywhere to be seen across Northeast Ohio.

Chances are, though, you won’t see signs bearing these messages.

“Let’s go Cavs, or else the season is over.”

“Go Cavs, because you don’t have any more wiggle room.”

Here’s where the Cavs are, seven months after the first practice in October and going on six weeks since the first game of the first round of the playoffs:

Having survived a fierce challenge in that first round from the Indiana, and after blowing by Toronto in the second round, the Cavs are down to the Boston Celtics, 3-2, in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals.

That makes Game 6, set for May 25 at Quicken Loans Arena, an elimination game for LeBron James and the Cavs. If they stumble in Game 6, there is no Game 7 in Boston on May 27.

They arrived at this perilous point by losing to the Celtics, 96-83, in Game 5 at TD Garden on May 23.

Both teams have displayed split personalities in this series. They’ve been dominant on their home floor and doormats in the visitor’s building.

Some observers thought the Cavs, who rallied from an 0-2 deficit with two relatively easy wins at The Q, were poised to flip the script and break through with the first road win of the series in Game 5.

That did not happen.

Do the Cavs summon the will to win Game 6 in front of their fans and force Game 7?

Based on a quick study of their performance in elimination games in the four playoff runs since James returned to the Cavs from Miami, the answer is: It’s possible.

Against the Pacers in this playoff run, they took a 3-2 lead in that series. With a chance to end the series in Game 6 in Indiana, the Cavs faltered badly in a 121-97 loss. They returned home and won Game 7, 105-101.

In the 2017 NBA Finals, they fell into a 3-0 hole against the Golden State Warriors. After avoiding elimination with an impressive, 137-116 victory in Game 4 at The Q, they were beaten in Game 5 at Oracle Arena, 129-120.

In the 2016 NBA Finals, also against the Warriors, the Cavs fell into a 1-3 hole after a deflating loss in Game 4 at The Q. Famously, they won three straight elimination games to claim the first title for a major Cleveland professional sports franchise since the 1964 Browns.

The Warriors and Cavaliers began their Finals rivalry in 2015. Hobbled by season-ending injuries to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, the Cavs surprisingly took a 2-1 lead in the series. The Warriors then won three straight games, eliminating the Cavs in Game 6 at The Q.

If you’re keeping score at home, the Cavs’ record in playoff games where they faced elimination in the LeBron 2 era is 5-2.

Editor’s note: This article was modified at 12:27 p.m. May 25 to correct the Cavs’ record when facing elimination.