This is the third time these two teams meet in the NBA Finals with similar circumstances, we’ll take a look at the previous two clashes. The 2016 champions versus the 2015 champions.
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John McGraw’s Giants won the rematch the following year 4-0 with one tie before Ruth gave the Yankees their first title the following year to cap the first season at Yankee Stadium. It’s the matchup most expected, the matchup most predicted, and probably the matchup the Cavaliers and Warriors wanted as well. According to NBA.com, Golden State’s 16.8 net rating is the highest among the 16 playoff teams. Primarily due to Thomas’ absence, Bradley finished the conference finals with an average of 19 shot attempts per contest, a definitive uptick from the first two rounds of the playoffs and the regular season. So you have to appreciate it. … The Cavs are well experienced and surely understand that they’ll need to play both sides of the ball versus the Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors, of course, were favored to repeat as champions after breaking the Bulls’ old record for wins, and then blew a 3-1 lead in the Finals to a Cavs team paced by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.
It’s also pretty clear that Kyrie Irving is relatively excited to get another crack at the Warriors on the biggest stage.
The NBA limits salaries for individual players, meaning an already-stacked Warriors team could only offer as much money for Kevin Durant as any other team that doesn’t have a shot at winning a title. They’re going to challenge us a lot, offensively, defensively, mentally, physically.
The Warriors are comfortable favorites in Las Vegas to beat the Cavs for the second time in three Finals. Howe set a record with 12 points in the round and Lindsay scored four goals in a Game 2 win. “I can’t lie”, Durant said when comparing the 2012 Finals trip to this one.
They’ll collide again, starting next week.
The Warriors signed Kevin Durant in the offseason, and they’ve shown few vulnerabilities in the postseason, sweeping their first three series.
“Just how tough and determined the guy is, to be able to go through the situation he was going through on a day-to-day basis, still being focused and maintaining his focus for the team, you know, family is everything”. So it’s a little different now, obviously. They’ve been super-impressive. It’s kind of in our minds that that’s who we were going to see. Can James win his fourth ring? With the implementation of Durant into the rotation, it was immediately apparent that he would be the first, sometimes second option on offense. Some of the decorations said “3-1 lead”, aiming at the Warriors failure to close out the Cavs previous year after the commanding lead, and the cookies at the party were shaped in tombstones and had some of the Warriors’ names on them. Yep, Lue owes him $100 and Brown plans to accept it at long last – perhaps even during the NBA Finals when they see each other.
“Us and Cleveland worked our butts off all year to put ourselves in position to be playing for a championship, and the league is as strong talent-wise across the board as it’s ever been”, Curry told reporters.
Get ready for the third installment of the Golden State Warriors vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers. “I want to win a championship and being so close to getting to the Finals, that makes you want it that much more”.
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James spoke Thursday during the morning shootaround before the Cavaliers play the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
