CLEVELAND — The latest and best version of “The Shot” gave the Cavaliers life in the Eastern Conference finals.

But it didn’t make things easier.
“Le Shot” (as ESPN dubbed it) allowed everyone to, again, witness greatness.
But LeBron James’ game-winning three-pointer as the buzzer sounded against the Orlando Magic has not a thing to do with the next game.
It gave Cavs fans a reason to rejoice — and to hope. But it basically also threw the team a lifeline as it heads to Games 3 and 4 in Orlando.
Because had James missed that shot, or had Hedo Turkoglu waited one additional second to make his, the talk today would be of a Magic sweep.
No team wants to fall behind 2-0 in a series when said team heads to the opposing arena. The odds would simply not be with the team that trails, to say the least.
The Magic are even justified being the more confident team heading to Game 3 — though the Cavs always can be confident in the league’s Most Valuable Player.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy was kicking himself late Friday after the game, saying his team lost because of the way he chose to defend James.
He wouldn’t reveal what he would have done, because the same situation might arise again, but it’s safe to believe he thought he should have double-teamed James.
A two sends the game to overtime; a 3-pointer loses the game.
Doubling James at the 3-point line with Mickael Pietrus and Turkoglu would have forced James to take a more difficult shot — assuming he could have gotten the ball at all.
Had Mo Williams given the ball to anyone else, the result probably would have been a two.
Thoughts like that keep a coach up at night.
But it’s hard to coach against greatness, and that’s what James displayed Friday (the sixth anniversary of the day the Cavs won the lottery to draft James). He simply made a great play and a near-unbelievable shot with a defensive player in the vicinity.
There was no time to think, move, or react, because had he done anything but rise and shoot, James would not have gotten the shot off in time.
James made three jump shots all night.
He made one 3-pointer, the first game-winning 3-pointer of his career.
And it came at the end of a quarter, when James was properly whistled for charging and traveling.
The unbridled enthusiasm the Cavs showed after the shot drew some retorts from the Magic.
“Seeing them celebrating,” Turkoglu said. “It means we are in their heads.”
Isn’t that too bad? This unbridled joy was completely in character for this team.
That celebration was spontaneous.
And if the Magic don’t like postgame celebrations, don’t let James make the shot.
“They’re not in our heads at all,” James said.
Whom do you choose to believe?
The fans enjoyed every minute, providing the most deafening roar this side of the Space Center, a short drive from Orlando.
“The loudest it has ever been in this building,” James said.
In his postgame interview, James talked about being in the backyard, counting down the time, describing something that anyone who’s played basketball at any level understands.
But as exciting as it was, there still remains a series to be won.
And the problems that plagued the Cavs in Games 1 and 2 — like Williams shooting 13-for-40 and looking very hesitant — will not go away because James made a magical shot.
In fact, they might be more difficult to overcome on the road. Too, the Magic will be determined not to let the Cavs get off to another fast start.
When the Magic make their shots, they are extremely difficult to defend.
In Game 1, Dwight Howard scored 30 points, and the Magic won by one.
In Game 2, Howard had 10 points, and the Magic lost by one.
In both games, the Magic shot poorly in the first quarter, but with each succeeding quarter, the shooting percentages between the two teams crept closer and closer.
It’s easy to say the momentum from “Le Shot” will propel the Cavs. But it’s also not realistic.
Both teams have been beaten by a late 3-pointer. Don’t expect the Magic to fold in Game 3 any more than the Cavs did in Game 2.
The Magic have taken the homecourt edge, and they keep it until they lose at home.
James’ shot gives the Cavs life and hope, and that hope remains strong because they have James.
But the team’s playoff slogan does not refer to one shot.
It refers to one goal, and there’s a lot to be done to reach said goal.