True, true, but I think that in a situation where both teams are playing their absolute best basketball, Golden State is better. Curry has had playoffs which, while awesome by average standards, felt almost underwhelming coming from him. If he is in the zone, GS is basically invincible and he himself is the most unstoppable player in NBA history, and yes, I factor MJ in the equation.
4-1 might be harsh, but I can absolutely imagine Curry winning 2 games all by himself. While James is a monster, he doesn't tend to pull mammoth games nowadays, and Irving or Love will live their first NBA Finals, no one knows how they will handle the pressure (Love especially).
Don't get me wrong, I would be really happy to see Cleveland taking the series, I just think they are the outsiders here and that their easy playoffs so far might not be such a boon.
On another note, Varejao can technically become NBA champion no matter who wins. Since he played a significant part of the season for the Cavs, if Cleveland were to win it all, then he might be considered a champion despite playing for the opposite team - with the agreement of the Cavaliers' president, Dan Gilbert.
I have a feeling Lebron has been coasting. People said the same you did about him last year and he flipped the switch big time in the finals.
Also pretty sure Lebron will make sure Varejao gets his ring, they're pretty tight.
Well, so far Cleveland does not even look like they will take one game in the series.
Maybe playing at home will make the Cavs play better but who knows?
Apart from LeBron (who's averaging a triple double in this year's Finals) and Richard Jefferson (who if you told me would be making heavy contributions in a Finals game in 2016 I'd have you hauled off to the monkey house), nobody else has showed up to the game for Cleveland. Kyrie and Love might as well be still injured with the way they're playing, Tristan Thompson probably makes LeBron regret ever supporting him getting 80 million and the Cavs bench is hot garbage.
In contrast the Warriors bench is playing like the Chicago Bench Mob so the Splash Bros can afford to struggle. Shaun Livingston could very well be the Finals MVP if they win.
Role Model
I'd laugh if Curry and Klay never won a Finals MVP award because it kept going to their bench.
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
To be fair a Heat-Mavericks '06 story is still possible. It just doesn't look like it is going to happen.
Oh it's still pretty much anyone's game — I think a lot of people are burying the Cavs far too early and they're underestimating three things:
- The Cavs have 3 days to make adjustments
- homecourt advantage (the Warriors aren't the only ones who play well at home)
- how differently bench players play on the road compared to home
If the Cavs get blown out Wednesday, then its time to panic.
edited 6th Jun '16 1:26:41 PM by NoChorus
The rout in game 2 is really not a good sign. That, and the fact that Curry and Thompson haven't even really shined so far, and either can almost single-handedly win a game if the stars are aligned (especially Curry).
わからない
James wasn't coasting tbf. He led the Cavs in points, rebounds, and assists...without playing in the fourth quarter. LOL
I'm reading this because it's interesting. I think. Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot, over.
It's not Lebron that's the problem, it's everyone else. He can try and go super saiyan like last year again he if he wants, but he can only do so much damage to this squad.
Role Model
I saw this on Facebook.
This, and their "when people take anime too far" videos had me laughing.
If Draymond Green doesn't get suspended...well, I wouldn't be shocked but it'd still be BS
Hey, he was!
Not that it will change a thing. I feel like my 4-1 prediction will come true!
If they win this finals, they are for a third consecutive win.
edited 13th Jun '16 5:45:04 PM by general_tiu
Lebron and Kyrie scoring 41 a piece. That's one way to respond with your back against the wall.
And man they had their work cut out for them. Kevin Love was complete trash yet again.
edited 13th Jun '16 9:00:25 PM by NoChorus
わからない
The Milwaukee Bucks have snapped opponent win streaks of 12 games or more six times in their history. Five of those opponents eventually became champions. The sixth one? The 2016 Warriors. Remember that their first loss was against the Bucks...
Role Model
They've got the Bucks Blessing and the Based God curse on their side...
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
Kerr has continued to do what he's almost always done with Bogut and Varejão-put them for maybe a solid 3-4 minutes, and then put them back on the bench just as they start making a difference. Honestly, what the hell is he thinking? Does he actually think guys like Green and Thompson can play defense? Without Bogut or Varejão, they are a team of short people (for basketball, at least).
Some would say that a bigger problem for GS is them constantly trying-and failing-to shoot three pointers, but then, they can't really throw it in from below when they have guys like James, Love, and Tristan Thompson surrounding them.
"Somehow the hated have to walk a tightrope, while those who hate do not."
The insane thing is that GS seems to have forgotten how to get clean, open three pointers. The shoots Curry and Thompson take are mostly insane, off-the-dribble, one-defender-really-close ones.
Compare that to the 2012-2014 Spurs who also used a lot of three-pointers, but mostly because ball movement was so awesome they always ended up with a free man able to take a three-pointer exactly as hard as the ones you take during a warm-up session.
Still, I think GS will take it because Curry is just that good, but it will be much harder than what I expected. It is also strange to see such a series go to seven because most games weren't really tight ones. I know that you can't have Rockets-Knicks '94 every year, but here it has to be the seven-games series with the largest average margin in every game.
The main problem the Warriors have right now is that with Bogut out, they no longer have any rim protection.
Like Bogut may not have played well, but you still need him. Right now LeBron's running in the paint like he owns it, leading for easy transition points.
Role Model
We're all in this together.
Every NBA fan that doesn't want to deal with the omnipresence of Lebron stories.
Every sports city that considers themselves an underdog, or cursed.
Everyone who has ever savored even a sip of haterade.
We must put our hearts together, mind over matter, and pray.
#NEVERCLEVELAND
edited 17th Jun '16 12:18:17 PM by wanderlustwarrior
The sad, REAL American dichotomy
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
I disagree with the belief that he didn't play well. Every time Bogut was there, things went in their favor. In Game 5 of the OKC-GS series, he made 14 rebounds. It was because of him that they were able to push ahead. And yet, every time Kerr decided to put him back on the bench, they immediately lost whatever advantage they might have had.
I just want the city of Cleveland to remain cursed. But, more seriously, I want Le Bron to lose. Dude leaves the Cavs and wins two championships in Miami, then decided to come back home and loses the first time. That, and because he is a dirty player.
Role Model
Hence the second line. As a Chicago Cubs fan, I need our curse to break first. I was at half mast after game 4, and Golden State's dangerously close to blueballing me right now.
A curse? In Chicago?? Are you serious?
edited 17th Jun '16 5:59:09 PM by Julep
You could also argue that the OKC series took it's toll on Golden State. Cleveland has had plenty of rest, and you can't argue that there won't be plenty of motivation from Lebron, as well as Love, Irving and Co.