Let’s be honest. The city of Cleveland, at least when it comes to its pro sports worship, owns the book on disasters in the playoffs.

This is not to be confused with what Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith allegedly did to a 19-year-old man (with braces) after the Knicks asked for a photo opp in Harlem last November. Upon being shunned by Smith, who was on a cell phone, the fan yelled, “That’s why New York kicked you out, yo!” 

Thanks to great lawyering, Smith, one of the most unlikeable players in the NBA, wasn’t charged with choking. 

Anyway, the heartbreak this city has endured over its major pro sports teams is the stuff of legends.

Here are several semi-recent, memorable heartbreaking losses/chokes:

In the 1980 playoffs, Browns quarterback Brian Sipe, the MVP that year, had his team inside the Raiders’ 20 in the last minute down 14-12. Instead of calling a running play, coach Sam Rutigliano called a pass play. It was intercepted. Dream season over.

In the 1988 AFC title game, John Elway memorialized that game with “The Drive.” But that was preceded by “The Fumble,” by Earnest Byner when the Browns were prepping to finish the game.

Remember the Michael Jordan jumper and fist-pump afterward? That was against the Cavs in Game 5 (first round), clinching the come-from-behind win.

The 1995 Indians won a record 100 games in a 144-game strike-shortened season, but lost to the Atlanta Braves (their only WS title in 13 consecutive playoff appearances). 

The 1997 Indians had a 2-1 lead in Game 7 of the World Series to the Marlins, only to blow it.

The 2007 Indians had a 3-1 lead over the Red Sox with ace C.C. Sabathia on the mound in the ALCS. He was outpitched by Josh Beckett in Game 5 (7-1), and the Sox pulverized the Indians in Game 6 (12-2) and Game 7 (11-2).

The biggest slap in the face, though, came when then-Browns owner Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore. He never returned to the area because of death threats.

Well, it’s officially here. Something we — American sports fans who have a heart — got a taste of last year. The Cavaliers are playing for another championship.

While LeBron James had been one of the most disliked players, for his brashness upon his “taking his talents to South Beach,” he earned big-time kudos for opting out of of Miami and back to where his career started in Cleveland.

Mind you, the Cavs owner tore LeBron apart and thousands of fans burned his jersey, everything was forgiven. 

It was a great story. The Akron native, only 40 miles from Cleveland, was going to try to win the city’s first title since the 1964 Browns, pre-Super Bowl, won the NFL Championship.

Well, that story is back again. And the Cleveland area could probably use some positive energy.

In fact, their 2015-16 story is an enticing one. They were a mess for a good chunk of the season, with their Big Three — LeBron, Tyrie Irving and Kevin Love — not on the same page. Then this 32-year-old journeyman (now 33), Channing Frye, with 20 unimpressive playoff games to his resume, innocently starts team-building.

This group of Cavs, we’ve heard, apparently get along better than any other Cavs team before. And they probably are the most talented group of Cavs LeBron has lead into June.

Though I have a hard time warming up to the Cavs version of Bill Laimbeer, Matthew Dellavedova, I am officially on this bandwagon. In fact, the Golden State Warriors three-for-all, while incredible to watch, needs to be unplugged. 

Cleveland has had enough of heartbreak. Golden State has had enough glorification. 

LeBron didn’t have to go back to Cleveland. In fact, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he chose to stay in Miami or go to New York or Los Angeles. But he did. 

I’m rooting for the LeBron and the Cavs beginning tonight. But in reality, I’m rooting for Cleveland. 

You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.