CLEVELAND (AP) – Biggest game since 1997.
That was the consensus among Cleveland fans, who have waited 51 years for either the Cavaliers, Indians or Browns to win a championship.
The streets outside Quicken Loans Arena were packed with fans in the hours leading up to tip-off for Game 3 as the Cavs hosted their first NBA Finals matchup since 2007, when Cleveland was swept in four games by San Antonio.
This time around, though, Clevelanders, normally a pretty pessimistic bunch, are feeling hopeful about the Cavs’ chances of ending a title drought dating to 1964.
“Very confident and excited,” said Sarah Zuercher, who was headed to the game with her husband, Chris, wearing a “Woah Delly” T-shirt to honor pesky guard Matthew Dellavedova.
Bars and restaurants were overflowing with patrons on trendy East 4th Street, just a long 3-pointer or two from the Q.
The Zuerchers aren’t greedy, but they’re hoping if the Cavs can win the title, they do it at home.
“We’ll take it any way we can,” Sarah said. “But wouldn’t it be fantastic if they could win it in Cleveland?”