Inside the Mind of a Cavs Fan: Cavaliers at Grizzlies

So here we are, the final week of the season. There have been times the past few weeks where I didn't think I was going to be able to make it, but now, the end is within sight. Three games in four days and then, nothing. Nothing until October. Almost six full months with no Cavaliers. No veteran leadership, no 100-50 box scores, no Luke Walton in HD, nothing for almost half a year. Freedom, sweet freedom.

But alas, that's Thursday and tonight is Monday. Tonight the Cavaliers take on the Memphis Grizzlies. One of the strongest teams in the West, newly strengthened by the addition of former-Cavalier Lester Hudson, at home, that's fighting to lock down the fourth seed to have home-court advantage against the Clippers. It has the potential to be bad. Add in the fact that it's being nationally televised on NBA TV and the Cavaliers track record in televised games this season, and yeah, this has the potential to be really, really, bad.

But four days! Four days and I'm free! Free to watch good basketball in the playoffs! To look forward to the draft! To catch up on Game of Thrones! To finally watch these DVDs from Netflix that have been sitting on my TV cabinet for five months! To read a book! Free I say! FREE!

And so, to keep my mind on that very fact, tonight's game will be retold through scenes from some of my favorite movies, which I will soon be free to watch again on my Monday nights. As Conrad will attest, I have some strange tastes in film, so brace yourselves, this could get weird.

First Quarter: Tango and Cash

Tango and Cash: Best One-Liner (via ianlarsen)

I can't say enough good things about Kyrie Irving. In one quarter alone, Kyrie has 13 points, 3 assists and is leading the Cavaliers to a 32-36 lead after one quarter. Meanwhile, Tristan Thompson has six points and two offensive rebounds going up against the tough front court of the Grizzlies. The more I think about it, Kyrie and Tristan would make a pretty great buddy cop duo. Kyrie would be the quick, agile martial artist type, meanwhile Tristan would be the big clumsy brute. In honor of this, I am posting my favorite one liner from the Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell buddy cop classic, "Tango and Cash".

Second Quarter: Commando

Commando Quotes (via bigsmooth)

Lester Hudson takes to the court and faces off against his former best friend and teammate, Donald Sloan. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Lesteria is still alive and well in Memphis, with the Grizzles taking a 55-52 lead. It's a battle between two close friends now turned bitter enemies, much like the battle between Arnold Schwarzenegger's John Matrix and some chubby Freddie Mercury look-a-like's Bennet in the classic '80's action film, "Commando".

If this game ends with Donald Sloan throwing a steam pipe through Lester Hudson's chest, I guess you can blame me.

Third Quarter: Shogun Assassin

The Shogun Assassin Intro (via cwggenius)

Kyrie Irving continues to keep the Cavaliers in this game. Kyrie's now up to 25 points, 4 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds. Despite going up against the formidable front-court of Mike Conley and Tony Allen, Kyrie is still able to find an open lane to pass or drive through and is cutting through Grizzlies like a hot knife through butter, leading the Cavaliers to a one point lead. I feel like Kyrie still needs a a good, "Agent Zero"-esque nickname. Maybe "Shogun Assassin"?

Fourth Quarter: Scanners

Scanners (1981) Head Explosion Shot (via randomfrosh)

And then, everything goes to hell. It starts with Omri Casspi making one of the worst fast breaks of all time. Then it continues with Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson going 1-6 from the free throw line which could have put the Cavaliers up. When it's all said and done, the Grizzlies pull away in the final minutes to win an ultimately frustrating game 109-101.

I know it's better for the Cavs in the long run, but man do I hate watching close games like that fall apart. So frustrating.