CLEVELAND: There was a sea of Cavaliers fans dressed in wine, gold and blue Wednesday night all around downtown Cleveland.
Zach Cain, his wife, Holly Cain, and their 10-month-old daughter, Ariana, were among thousands of fans who visited the FanFest set up between Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field.
“This is an awesome experience,” said Zach Cain, 30. “I think the Cavs have a great opportunity to get back to the NBA Finals and win the championship. I think they have enough fight to win it all.”
Wednesday’s game was the Cains’ 23rd trip to the arena this season, pretty impressive considering the family lives in Guysville, about a three-hour drive from Cleveland.
“I became a Cavaliers fan the first time LeBron James was here [from 2003-2010],” Cain said. “I stuck with the Cavs when he left to go to Miami [from 2010-2014], and am obviously happy he is back for the second go-around.”
Matt DeShane, 19, and Jesse Oravecz, 20, of Akron grew up idolizing James during his first seven years with the Cavs, and each was wearing a James No. 23 jersey.
Yes, the Golden State Warriors are the defending NBA champions and won a record-setting 73 games in the regular season this year, but DeShane and Oravecz remain confident that this is the year Cleveland celebrates a championship.
“I think this team can go all the way,” DeShane said. “LeBron is the best player in the league and they have a great supporting cast with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and the other guys. They just have to continue to all play together as a team.”
Oravecz said having “Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love back and healthy” after last year’s playoff injuries enhances the Cavs’ chances of going all the way.
“I feel like LeBron is going to turn it on in the playoffs like he did last year and drive them there,” Oravecz said.
If the Cavs can get through the Eastern Conference in the playoffs, an NBA Finals matchup against either the Warriors or San Antonio Spurs could be coming, and both of those teams are filled with experienced champions.
Oravecz and DeShane, and their friends John Wolonsky, 36, and Michael Anderson, 42, also of Akron, know all about how good Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are. The four Akronites remember watching Curry, Thompson and the rest of the Warriors celebrate the 2015 NBA championship, the Warriors’ fourth title, on the Cavs’ home court.
They also recall seeing the Spurs clinch one of their five NBA titles on the Cavs’ home court in 2007 with star players such as Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. This year’s Spurs also have young standouts in LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard.
“I think this [Cavaliers] team can win a title with LeBron,” Wolonsky said. “We’ve been so close.”
Anderson loved the atmosphere in and outside of the Q, and said “The excitement and energy that the Cavaliers and Indians can bring to Northeast Ohio is huge.”
Family affair
Danny Wasco and his wife, Misty Wasco, were also at the Cavs game Wednesday, and they both think their hometown team can win the NBA title.
“I was born and raised in Cleveland and now live in North Royalton,” Danny Wasco said. “I am a die-hard Cleveland fan. I couldn’t be more pleased and more thrilled. I love to get my family involved with sports. I am raising all of my kids as Browns fans, Indians fans and Cavaliers fans.”
And when Wasco, 41, talks about kids, he is talking about his and his wife’s six children — Xavier, 19, Arianna, 10, Mannix, 9, Phoenix, 4, Bronxton, 4, and Onyx, 1 — who joined their parents at the game.
“We have a serious shot to win the NBA title,” Danny Wasco said. “I think it will go to Game 7, but I think the Cavs will take it. Every year is different. Expectations are high, and this is the caliber of team that can win the whole thing.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.