For some Clevelanders the Cavaliers success provides more than just entertainment.
"We just get to hooting and hollering every time the games come on," Charles Wakefield told NewsChannel 5's Lauren Brill. "The only thing that takes my mind off of everything that has been going on."
Near the start of basketball season Wakefield's 5-month old daughter, Aavielle, died after being shot in a drive-by shooting.
"A lot of people try to tell me to not forget about it but just move on. I am moving forward but there is no moving on," Wakefield explained. "So I got to carry her with me and talk about her as much as I can."
After Aavielle's death, Cavs star Lebron James acknowledged the incident, helping to ignite change and keep Aavielle's memory alive.
"He did not say much. He just said 'C'mon y'all a 5-month old baby.' But that was enough," Wakefield recalled.
Wakefield often reminisces about his daughter.
"She would sit there and I had a TV and she didn’t know what was going on but she watched a few games. Though she had no choice," Wakefield said with a slight smile.
As the Cavs pursue a championship, the idea of his hometown team winning a title is giving him more than just a temporary escape. It is providing him a greater amount of hope.
"There is always going to be dark times throughout life some how you have to make positive energy," Wakefield said fighting back tears. "So to see this Cavalier team and the drive that they have to try and get this championship, it's awesome."
