There has been so much talk about how the NBA playoffs haven’t lived up to the hype because everyone knew that it was going to be the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
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And while the Cavs rallied from 3-1 down to win last year’s crown in the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history, it’s not a hole they want to get into again, especially with the Warriors on a 13-0 run to match the NBA’s record playoff long win streak.
The Cavaliers face the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday in Oakland.
However, the likes of Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have already shown what they are capable of doing, making this finals rematch something very special.
“We’re playing a great team, we’re playing the champs”.
Curry started wearing the black sleeve in Game 4 of the Western Conference final after a fall the previous game led to a flare up of bursitis.
Kevin Durant scored a game-high 38 points and Curry added 28 for the Warriors, who trounced the Cavaliers 113-91 and took a 1-0 series lead in the process.
If anything, I think the 10 percent says more about the Warriors’ dominance than it does the Cavs.
The Warriors were a 129-115 victor in their most recent outing on the road against the Spurs. “But it was a reward because when you set out a goal and you’re able to achieve that reward or achieve that goal, like all of us, then it’s rewarding and you feel good about it”. But the coaching gaffe deflated your team, right from the get-go.
The Warriors will be plotting revenge for their loss in the last season finale to Cavaliers, who won 4-3.
These two stars know about the task that lies ahead in the form of Cavaliers, who will depend on James and Love, who is playing some sensational basketball. He shot 14-for-26 in his fifth 30-point performance this postseason, receiving a rousing ovation when he sat down for good with 2:16 remaining. At his State of the National Basketball Association press conference before the game, Silver noted he is in favor of changes in the draft lottery and minimum playing age, but said he is conflicted on the paucity of competitive games this postseason leading into the Finals. Golden State established a theme early: they were going to get to the basket one way or another.
“That’s something we have to limit going forward”, Kyrie Irving said afterwards. “Uncharacteristic with the number of guys that turned the ball over, but we have to credit those guys for creating some of the turnovers”. “They thrive off turnovers and getting out in transition”.
Stephen Curry did his share by scoring 28 points with six 3-pointers and 10 assists as this sure-to-be thrilling trilogy began, a long-expected, spectacular grand finale envisioned ever since that July day Durant left Oklahoma City to join the loaded Warriors. Andre Iguodala, 33, has had plenty of time to rest from his nagging knee injury, as he was kept out of most Golden State’s series against the San Antonio Spurs so he could be rested and ready to guard LeBron when their inevitable meeting happened.
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Midseason acquisitions Deron Williams and Kyle Korver missed all seven shots they took and failed to score.
