Go back to the regular reason. The Cavaliers are dominating, every podcast hyped the championship is theirs. Then came the Conference Semi-Finals. The second round of the playoffs has been a wild ride for the Cavs and Pacers. Indiana stunned Cleveland by taking the first two games, and Game 2 especially hit hard, losing by one after leading late, all thanks to Tyrese Haliburton. The Cavs finally looked like themselves in Game 3, dominating the Pacers on the road. But that relief didn’t last long. In Game 4, Indiana came back even stronger, completely steamrolling Cleveland. So now, it’s 3-1. And sure, that sounds bad, but hasn’t the league seen crazier comebacks?

Let’s not forget what happened in 2016. The Cavs, led by LeBron and Kyrie, came back from 3-1 in the Finals against a 73-win Warriors team. In 2015, the Rockets turned a similar deficit around against the Clippers, catching fire when it mattered most. And don’t sleep on the Nuggets in 2020, they pulled it off twice! So yeah, the odds are low, but history shows it’s not impossible. Still, every comeback had something the Cavs are missing right now: health and momentum. Can they get both in time?

Lou Williams had something to say about their shot at the feat. In a particular segment of Run It Back, he recently said, “Hey, listen, I’ve been on the wrong side of a 3-1. Nothing is over until it’s over.” He’s been there, felt that sting. In his words, “All right, I still get cold sweats and heartbreak from that. So no, this thing isn’t over.” Still, he didn’t sugarcoat it either. “It’s a wrap. They can go and pack it up. Great regular season, awful postseason. It is what it is,” He added. 

His words hit harder when you remember what he said after Game 2. “I want to apologize to Indiana. I’m a man, and I was wrong. Y’all aren’t a boring basketball team. Y’all can get out of my mentions.” So now, he’s praising the Pacers while still giving the Cavs a fighting chance? It’s confusing, but also kind of honest. Maybe he sees both sides.

According to Williams, “Donovan Mitchell is one thing. But if Garland can’t play, if Mobley can’t play, and these guys aren’t 100% and they’re playing like they’re not 100%, it’s going to be over anyway.” He stated that while a turnaround is possible but if the key team players can’t get themselves together before the fifth matchup, things aren’t very hopeful for the Cavs. That makes you wonder: Does he really believe in the Cavs? Or is he just holding onto hope like the rest of us?

The collapse that won’t let go: Lou Williams still haunted by 2020 playoff meltdown

For Lou Williams, the 2020 playoff loss in the bubble isn’t just a stat line, it’s a scar. Five years later, he still brought it up with a hint of pain. Back then, the Clippers had everything going for them. A 3-1 lead. Two stars in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. A dominant bench. And then… nothing. The Nuggets took the next three games, and the Clippers fell apart. For Williams, that collapse never fully left him.

Williams had been a driving force off the bench all season, averaging over 18 points and fueling the second unit with Montrezl Harrell. But once the playoffs hit, his rhythm was off. He shot just 35% from the field, including a brutal 3-for-27 from deep. And in Game 7? The team didn’t even crack 90 points. Williams barely made an impact. Every missed shot, every failed switch on defense, it all stacked up. And in his own words, the team simply didn’t have the right mindset to finish the job. “It was a struggle to get us to the bubble to begin with; we didn’t even wanna go,” he had said.

The infamous Magic City visit didn’t help either. Williams had left the bubble briefly for personal reasons but was caught visiting a gentleman’s club in Atlanta. That decision led to a 10-day quarantine and became a media circus. Fans and analysts questioned his focus. It hurt the team’s chemistry and morale.

Looking back in 2023, Williams still believed they would’ve won it all without the bubble. Maybe they would’ve. The regular season numbers say they had the roster. But it’s not just about stats, it’s about resilience, mindset, and cohesion. The Nuggets had all three. The Clippers didn’t. Williams later stated, “Yeah, we’re pissed off. Simple and plain. We’re pissed off. We were up 3-1.” Not because they weren’t good enough, but because mentally, they weren’t ready. And for a player with a 17-year career and no championship, that kind of missed opportunity? It lingers.