Hold the party, Oakland: LeBron, Cavaliers come up big to force Game 6

Enter the Warzone, hold the confetti.

▪ Oracle Arena came out ready for a raucous, once-every-54-years celebration.

That LeBron James, what a party pooper.

▪ Warriors fans booed James every time he touched the ball Monday night. They called him mean, derisive names. Heck, even Stephen Curry’s wife mocked him on Twitter.

And how did James respond? With 41 points and 16 rebounds – one of his best career games – as the Cavaliers dominated Game 5 112-97 to fight off elimination.

▪ Even with the suspended Draymond Green watching from next door, we didn’t think the Cavs’ two stars would win out over the Warriors’ depth.

Sure helps when those two stars are James and Kyrie Irving (also 41 points, on 17 of 24 shooting) are at their brilliant best, and the Warriors don’t have their usual depth.

▪ The Cavs were down 10 points with 2 1/2 minutes left in Game 4 when James lured Green with that Senko worm of a step-over.

Sure it was intentional. Also completely Green’s fault for taking the bait.

▪ Warriors fans broke into a “Free Draymond!” chant early in the first quarter.

First time in sports history a luxury suite at a baseball game has been equated to jail.

▪ Sunday night was one of those rare times when people came out to Chukchansi Park to actually watch baseball.

Not for a family outing or some wacky promotion. Not to drink cheap beer. But to watch a familiar name with an equally familiar delivery fling baseballs toward home plate. It was very cool to witness.

▪ Tim Lincecum hadn’t pitched in Fresno since 2007, and Fresno baseball fans greeted him like a long-lost family member.

During pregame intros the hometown Grizzlies received a smattering of applause from the crowd of 10,192. A roar went up when Lincecum was introduced.

▪ You could tell Lincecum appreciated the support. After pitching seven dazzling innings with a fastball that never reached 90 mph, Lincecum spent nearly an hour signing autographs and was friendly and accommodating to all.

“These fans have been good to me,” he said. “I try to return that. I don’t take it for granted.”

▪ If Lincecum ever decided to take a page from Barry Zito’s book and spend a season at Triple-A ...

Nah, the Astros would never go for it.

▪ The Giants began the week with a five-game lead in the National League West thanks in large part to their 15-7 record in one-run games.

The Dodgers, who are five games back, have a 7-12 record in one-run games.

Sometimes baseball really is that simple.

▪ Biggest concerns for the Giants: a bullpen that can’t be trusted for an entire inning, and a wrist (belonging to Buster Posey) that can’t hang onto the bat.

▪ Annemarie Schwanz’ seventh-place NCAA finish in the 1,500 meters concluded a pretty successful sports year at Fresno State.

The men’s basketball team reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years. The baseball and softball teams each won a Mountain West championship. Wrestling got brought back from the dead.

What’s that, you say? Football? Uh ... well ...

▪ Coach Tim DeRuyter introduced his staff at last week’s Football 101 Ladies Night, and it sure took awhile.

A recruiting coordinator, operations assistant, film analyst, special teams quality control coach and four GAs? You could almost hear Pat Hill grumbling all the way from Fort Washington.

▪ For no particular reason: Orlando Woolridge

▪ This is not the place for a discussion on gun control, mental health or religious scapegoating. So we won’t open that door. But what about a little tolerance for others, regardless of their views and lifestyle choices?

Hate only results in one thing: more hate.

▪ Kudos to Mayor Ashley Swearengin for securing $9.5 million in funding and pushing through the seven-mile Midtown Trail for bikes and pedestrians, which will link Manchester Mall with the Clovis Old Town Trail.

See, Fresno, you can have nice things.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 9:02 PM with the headline "Hold the party, Oakland: LeBron, Cavaliers come up big to force Game 6."