“They shoot the ball extremely well”, James said before the team left for California and Game 1 on Thursday. “And I look forward to getting four more wins”. It’s an unbelievable team that we’re going against. The Warriors erased a 3-1 deficit to end Oklahoma City’s season and set up Golden State vs. Cleveland, the sequel. There was no such thing as Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson coming off the bench to drain 3s and play defense last season. The Warriors moved Iguodala into the starting lineup late in the Western Conference finals and the Cavs are well aware of the impact he can make, as he won NBA Finals MVP honors previous year after averaging 16.3 points.
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“This may be the greatest team in the history of the National Basketball Association”, he said. “We have another year under our belt and more chemistry, but health-wise, you know we’re healthy and we’re excited about the opportunity”.
Now the Warriors need to see if Draymond Green can feel comfortable again, but they’re not too anxious.
When league MVP Stephen Curry and trigger-happy Golden State teammate Klay Thompson are knocking down 3-pointers from 30 feet, swishing contested jumpers over taller players and destroying defenses created to stop them, the only option is pray they miss.
Then Curry was injured in the first round of the playoffs, and the Warriors haven’t quite been the same. Conversely, the Cavs have lost just two games throughout the playoffs thus far. Expect plenty of 3-pointers from these two, as Thompson has made 77 in the postseason – including a playoff-record 11 in Game 6 of the West finals – and Smith has nailed 49 in just 14 games.
“I’m just proud of what all we’ve been through this season”, Durant said.
After Monday’s series clinching Warriors victory, the rapper said: “And they said the curse was not real ” The BasedGod” has never lied to me and like he told us.
Oklahoma City not only had a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven, but also double-digit cushions in both Game Six and Seven. “We feel great that he wants to come back to our organization”.
Why James? Because he was probably counting on the Thunder to stop the Warriors. His body beat up, Curry had no choice but to watch Klay Thompson and others carry the Warriors for much of this postseason run while he worked his way back.
This year they are at full strength and looking a different team under new coach Tyronn Lue, who has them running and gunning three-pointers as an Eastern Conference version of the Warriors.
While fans, the league office and TV executives clamored for a Curry-James rematch, the Cavs claim they were ready for any opponent.
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“Not my concern”, he said.
