‘Believeland’ Cavs tested after Game 1 letdown

3:39 AM ET

OAKLAND, Calif. — LeBron James formed the knot on his tie -– a rich, deep yellow-colored tie that, in all honestly, could be best described as golden -– as he got dressed in front of his locker Thursday and tried to sum up the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 104-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Finals.

The defense, he rationalized, did its job. The offense, he admitted, was “s—.” The box score, he lamented, told two irrefutable truths.

“When you’re outscored 45-10 in bench points and give up 25 points off turnovers, you’re not winning that game,” James said, in a matter-of-fact tone.

LeBron James lamented Cleveland’s offense in Game 1 after the team shot just 38.1 percent from the field. Cary Edmondson/USA TODAY Sports

For months the Cavs pined for this opportunity, this chance at redemption that comes around all too rarely in life, and then fell as flat as Matthew Dellavedova’s jump shot when the moment arrived.

Through three dominant opening rounds of the playoffs, Cleveland convinced itself it was a team on the ascent, saving its best ball for when it mattered most and sharpening its skillset through each fallen opponent. The Cavs matched the Detroit Pistons’ physicality pound-for-pound; they opened up the floor and dropped bombs from deep against the Atlanta Hawks; they spent more time in the paint than an art restoration technician against the Toronto Raptors.

At long last, the Cavs found the Warriors matched up against them with a chance to show off that supposed mastery -– and maybe even rub their noses in it, too, with a specific tie and socks choice combo saved for the postgame news conference by their captain (oh yes, James’ socks were golden too) -– and instead turned in their most disjointed effort in months.

There will be 48 hours for Cleveland to digest this one before Sunday’s Game 2 (8 p.m. ET, ABC) and the team will walk …

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