For the seventh year in a row, LeBron James is in the NBA Finals.
And for the third year in a row, the Cavaliers will also be underdogs to the Golden State Warriors and their Legion of Doom roster that features two MVP award winners in Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, arguably the best shooting backcourt in the NBA when Curry and Klay rock together, and an annual candidate for Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most versatile players in the league Draymond Green.
By some estimates, the Cavs have only a 7% chance to win four games in this seven game series. But, since seven seems to be the theme here, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention once again that this is James’ seventh straight trip to the championship round. Make no mistake, LeBron James is the demigod of the most competitive basketball league in the world.
2017 NBA PlayOffs: Cleveland Cavaliers v Boston Celtics – Game 5 Highlights – May 25
GAME 5 RECAP: Celtics 102, Cavaliers 135 | CLE wins 4-1 | EAST FINALS LeBron James scores 35 points and passes Michael Jordan to become all-time playoff scoring leader, as the Cavaliers defeat the Celtics, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. All Rights go to the NBA (2017 PlayOffs).
Since last I checked, he is still the fastest, strongest, biggest, baddest locomotive to ever dribble a basketball, averaging 32 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game in the playoffs thus far. As is the case in anything, it always helps your cause to have the best guy doing the damn thing on your side, right?
What makes this matchup so scintillating is the history of it. The first trifecta Finals matchup in NBA history. As is the case with any good all-time NBA Finals, the underlying drama makes for great theater. This third series is the rubber match between the two, with the addition of one-time NBA MVP Kevin Durant, the Golden State Warriors look even better than they did last year.
However, the Cavs have added two former all-stars in point guard Deron Williams and shooter Kyle Korver. While Korver’s contributions have been negligible thus far in the postseason, he’s a luxury they haven’t needed yet. But Williams has shown flashes of the old D-Will. The one who was rightfully mentioned as a MVP candidate at one time in the distant past.
Kevin Durant Full Game 4 Highlights vs Spurs 2017 Playoffs WCF – 29 Pts, 12 Reb, BEAST!
Become a monster. THE WORLD’S MOST ELITE JUMP PROGRAM: http://goo.gl/RctO1o Take your ball handling to the next level with the BALL HOG GLOVES http://goo.gl/rZRTwc —- All clips property of the NBA. No copyright infringement is intended. All videos are edited to follow the “Free Use” guideline of YouTube.
Kyrie Irving has proven himself to be the anti-Curry, the kryptonite to Steph. Where the Golden State guard is perhaps the greatest shooter in NBA history, Irving has to be among the greatest finishers in league history. Additionally, as was witnessed by all in the Finals last year, it doesn’t appear as if Klay Thompson is very good at guarding him either.
27 points per game, including a 31 point average from Game 3 on, is testament to Kyrie’s game.
But this year, not only are both teams completely injury free, but Kevin Durant’s is good for more than 25 points on 55 percent shooting and has the length and athleticism to be a very good help defender. Never mind the personal drama surrounding Durant’s decision to move to join a former Western Conference finals opponent that you had on the ropes with a 3-1 deficit and a chance to go to the NBA finals on the line.
Kyrie Irving Full Game 4 Highlights vs Celtics 2017 Playoffs ECF – 42 Pts, UNCLE DREW!
Become a monster. THE WORLD’S MOST ELITE JUMP PROGRAM: http://goo.gl/RctO1o Take your ball handling to the next level with the BALL HOG GLOVES http://goo.gl/rZRTwc —- All clips property of the NBA. No copyright infringement is intended. All videos are edited to follow the “Free Use” guideline of YouTube.
It cannot go without saying that many who are going against the Cavaliers are assuming that power forward Kevin Love is going to have another subpar NBA Finals. But he’s a veteran now who has been there before. Also, he’s averaging a man-sized 17 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 47 percent from behind the arc. When he and Tristan Thompson are on the floor at the same time, the Warriors will be hard pressed to matchup size on size.
Indeed, the absence of head coach Steve Kerr from the sideline due to medical complications, and LeBron’s recent brush with racial hatred is yet another non-basketball factor that could have an effect on the game. Indeed, raw data laid out upon a linear curve of possibilities can be successful in predictions if there are no other determining factors outside of that curve. When human beings are involved, though, there’s always the chance of a wildcard, physical or psychological, that no one could have predicted that comes along and screws up those hard facts.
Back within the lines of competition, the offensive powerhouse the Warriors field is a literal basketball leviathan, adorned with virtual fangs, armored skin, wings and venom. But having LeBron James on your team is the best enchanted, flaming and anointed dragon-killing sword in the NBA.
Cavs in 7
