With the Finals starting tonight, I figured this is a better time than ever to give you my super unsolicited opinion. But first...
Credit to Lebron James for how he handled the atrocity that was done to his LA home. As much as I love MJ, he never spoke out about any pressing social issues until just recently - regarding North Carolina’s bathroom laws. In a socio-racial climate as troubling as it’s ever been, he could have just rolled over. Instead, he took it as a moment to take a stance and I appreciate that.
With that said let’s look at 5...uh...things?...sure things, that kind of matter in this year’s NBA Finals.
Thing Number 1: Lebron, GOAT?
Don’t @ me. But, Lebron is the third greatest player ever behind MJ (forever #1) and Kareem’s sky hook. You can argue all you want, but the resume’s are there and recency bias is really the biggest reason people think LBJ is the greatest. PEOPLE!! BEING THE THIRD BEST BASKETBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME ISN’T A F*$#ING INSULT. With that said, a win this year would vault him into number 2. In fact, he would be so comfortably number 2, that everyone else for the rest of time will probably be playing for number 3.
Thing Number 2: KD, first ring?
Hopefully not. Listen, I don’t like to be labeled a hater. But of all the KD interviews that took place this year, no one ever presses him for the amount of times he’s constantly contradicted himself. For example, on one Bill Simmons’ Podcast, he said that he joined the Warriors because they were his favorite people and best friends. *Cut to everyone on the Thunder* Then, on one hand said that Enes was his brother. After the first game in OKC when Enes began talking shit to him, he did another podcast where he said he wasn’t even that close to Enes. There’s a reason why people considered the idea that he was impressionable.
Thing Number 3: The Warriors Offense
There’s a thing that hasn’t happened yet and we saw a semblance of it during game 1 against the Spurs. You remember that game? It was the game where Kawhi Leonard treated the Warriors like his own personal demolition derby while he drove a super powered tank through the course before busting a wheel. While this was happening KD and Steph kind of looked like they were expecting the other guy to become MVP’s to stop the run. It never happened. Instead, Kawhi got injured and the rest, as they say, was history. The Cavs know exactly who they are. They know when they need a scoring burst, it’s Kyrie’s turn. When the game begins, they test the Kevin Love waters and ride him for a while. When it’s time for everything else, Lebron James reminds everyone he’s the best player in the world. The only time a super team came together and won a championship in year one, was the 08 Celtics. We’ll see if this Warriors team can pull it out.
Thing Number 4: The Warriors Defense
With that said, their defense is still arguably the best in the league. Their lineup of death now has 7 foot tall Kevin Durant playing the 5 with an 8 foot wingspan. During his days in OKC, the Thunder routinely stayed near the top of the league in blocked shots, and he played a huge part in that. Steph is an extremely underrated defender and I am not willing to hear otherwise. The evidence is everywhere and if you watch a game at any point you can see it. Klay is arguably a first team all defensive player and Draymond is Draymond. Their defense is good enough to carry them. Except for the aforementioned game 1 against the Spurs. As long as G Pop doesn’t show up, they should be fine.
Thing Number 5: The Coaching
If Steve Kerr is able to come back this isn’t even a thing. Steve Kerr is one of the better coaches in the league and does a great job with adjustments and late game execution. Much like Pop, he never overreacts and he allows his guys to play through lulls. With that said, the Mike Brown v Tyronn Lue matchup should be a classic slugfest of horrible coaching morals and terrible in game adjustments.
I can’t see a way that the Cavs take 4 in 7 games against this Warriors team. I’m going Warriors in 6. If I had to guess, it would start off tight. Probably a 2-2 series going into game 5 before the Warriors take off and dominate games 5 and 6 before ascending into the clouds and dominating the next 3 years of the NBA. I need a drink...
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