Then Andrew Bogut went down in the first half with a knee injury, and the Warriors – through a series of Twitter attacks, emojis and thinly veiled press conference hints – made a decision to challenge James’ manhood.
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This wasn’t a signature snapshot in the heat of the moment before a crowd of thousands – that could come in Game 7 of the NBA Finals – but rather a moment on Saturday afternoon as he sauntered through a crowd of a few dozen reporters. The Warriors will need one more bounce-back win to defend their National Basketball Association championship this Sunday night when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7. They’re really into their teams. The Warriors are exhausted, injured, missing open shots, playing lackluster defense and struggling to avoid being blown out of games. How the home team has won the last six Game 7s.
Otherwise, the season will feel empty.
Asked if the Warriors have to adjust to the Cavs and perhaps “stay at home” more on individual defensive matchups to avoid unfavorable situations for Curry, coach Steve Kerr was up front.
There’s no doubt the drama of the NBA’s two biggest stars, Curry and James, and the thrill of a record-setting comeback or a repeat champion has captivated USA sports fans at a profitable pace for telecasters. With back-to-back epic performances, he’s given hope to generations of fans who have known mostly sports misery that the drought will end today in Game 7 – on Father’s Day.
“We were in adversity the last series down 3-1 and had to rattle off three straight wins”. “It’s no fun getting second place”. We’ve had some breakdowns, but he’s played well. LeBron James is just so damn good, he makes us forget that sometimes.
Steph Curry, the reigning two-time MVP, won’t mince words, either.
Pressure will squarely be on the Warriors. They understand that, if they blow a 3-1 lead, they’ll have an historic choke attached to this splendid season.
Even so, the Warriors will be the favorites in Game 7.
Aside from his numbers per game, you’ve then got what he’s done to put his name into other sections of the history books. Forty-eight minutes to do it.
And a razor’s edge is about all separating a hard-won title from bitter disappointment come Sunday. “No two ways around that”. “The last two games, our antennas have been razor sharp”. All of those defeats have come by 14 points or more. Curry was the leading scorer in the quarter – despite sitting half of it – with a lone three-pointer.
Golden State is starting to sound whiny, too. Kerr criticized officials afterward.
Each was fined $25,000 by the league on Friday for separate incidents. And while Cleveland may have the fleeting benefit of “momentum” from winning two-straight games, the Game 6 victor has actually won Game 7 less than half the time (44 percent winning percentage).
“It was obviously frustrating fouling out in the fourth quarter of a clinching game and not being out there with my teammates”, Curry said. So, that’s kind of all I’m anxious about.
He cracked, “I might have to cut the Wi-Fi off at my house, though”. They totally will, right? But can they still play like the Warriors? But while Golden State may have – as a roster – run a negligible amount more than Cleveland this series, the Eastern Conference champ has leaned far more heavily on its stars. “You don’t want to use it as an excuse so you tell yourself you’re fine”. On their home court – with not just the championship, but their legacy on the line – I expect one final answer to all the questions. “It’s easy to forget where you are”. The work we’ve put in, the opportunity we’ve given ourselves. we’ve got to be excited.
“I remember my rookie year”.
His wife, Ayesha, wife spoke out loudly on social media with a tweet near the end of Game 6, saying it was rigged: “I’ve lost all respect sorry this is absolutely rigged for money”.
It won’t be 1-on-1 Sunday night.
Not since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 had a player broken 40 points in consecutive finals games. On Sunday, they play for history, but it strikes them that history is the culmination of a lot of days – a lot of games – that they have already won. That doesn’t take any spotlight off of what my job is on the floor.
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The most reliable team in sports needs an encore.
