Speaking Wednesday during Houston’s exit interviews after losing Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the Golden State Warriors on Monday, Morey remained confident that his front office has the capability to maneuver the cap to make space for another max-level player.
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The Warriors recruited free agent Kevin Durant in the off-season and roared through the playoffs, sweeping the first three series and taking a 3-0 lead over Cleveland before suffering their lone defeat, missing out on the first flawless 16-game playoff run in National Basketball Association history but still managing the best win percentage of any National Basketball Association champion with the 4-1 victory.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in the last seconds of play against the Boston Celtics during the second half in game seven of the Eastern conference finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden.
And the Warriors have won the opening game in the last three NBA Finals against the Cavs. But the Warriors proved that they are exactly what their team’s name implies, taking the decisive game seven in Houston 101-92. On several occasions, Morey has said he has built his team with Golden State in mind.
For the first time in NBA Finals history the first two games went to overtime.
In addition to the Rockets’ longstanding interest in free agent-to-be LeBron James, another noteworthy longtime target of general manager Daryl Morey is Paul George, two league sources told Rockets Wire. In the early numbers that’s up 7% over last year’s Game 1 between the winning Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators. The Warriors have four future hall-of-famers, home court advantage, a better coach and momentum from beating the team with the best record in the National Basketball Association.
Even with Iguodala sidelined, Golden State has a preponderance of talent.
“We know he’s going to make tough shots, and sometimes you’ve got to live with it. That’s all that matters”, James said.
Let’s take a look at three reasons why the Houston Rockets’ season came to an end before reaching their goal of an NBA Finals appearance.
James has willed his Cavs this far, saying, “I don’t know how I can compare it to other seasons because I can only think about this one in the present”. “But I was in the league before I got here, and I learned a lot along that time”, Durant said tongue-in-cheek.
My heart says, “LeBron has one more epic series left this season”. “It’s not like we’re not the best friends, and I don’t think you should be best friends with a player, and an owner shouldn’t be best friends unless I’m your father and that’s my son, and, OK, cool we could be great then”.
So when James eventually writes the book of his life, he said he’s going to give the Warriors a nod. He has sparked the Cavaliers in the playoffs with 34.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocked shots per game.
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The Warriors seek their third crown in four seasons and sixth overall, which would match the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls for third on the all-time list behind Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers. “I’ve seen him play some great games, but collectively his playoffs have been truly remarkable”.
