“We never lost confidence, and every game just played with fearlessness and that confidence that we could get back to the Finals however we had to get it done”, MVP Stephen Curry said after his 36-point performance in Monday night’s 96-88 clincher of the Western Conference finals.
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Key stat: Golden State becomes the 10th team to come back from a 3-1 deficit in National Basketball Association playoff history, and just the third team to win the conference finals after being down by so much. 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 past year after averaging 16.3 points.
A year later, James repeated as MVP and Durant again was second, but the Thunder went out in the second round.
Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders was on hand to witness the Golden State Warriors finish off an epic comeback on Monday night at Oracle Arena. But Golden State may still more quality reserves, some of whom would start on other teams around the league.
The Thunder can offer $149 million over five years to keep their star, or he could opt to return to Oklahoma City for one more year, before re-entering the free agency pool in 2017 – when the salary cap will increase again and thus further raise his salary expectations.
Golden State’s ultimate goal of a repeat title has been in the works since Day 1, even if the Warriors’ chances of digging out of a big hole against Oklahoma City looked dire just last week. “Because once we figure something out, we can get it rolling”, Green said. The Lakers swept the next round against Atlanta to extend their winning streak to seven, but fell in the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks 4-3.
“I haven’t even thought about it”, Durant said.
“What Klay did that night, basically putting us on his shoulders and allowing us to have this opportunity tonight at home”. It is the only game of this year’s finals to fall below the $1,000 average. Should they continue their partnership if it doesn’t amount to a championship? But he shouldn’t need to carry as heavy a load with Love and Kyrie Irving available this time. Games 1 and 2 remain Thursday and Sunday, but Games 3 and 4 in Cleveland are on the following Wednesday and Friday.
POINT GUARD: Stephen Curry vs. I’m just embracing my teammates and just reflecting on the season. With the confidence of Westbrook and Kevin Durant soaring, with Curry struggling to reclaim his rhythm, the Warriors still rallied for three straight victories against a long and talented team that had taken out the 67-win San Antonio Spurs.
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One of Cleveland’s primary challenges will be the way it deals with Golden State’s pick and rolls created to get Curry mismatches.
