They both still have work to do but are the Cavs more prepared to take down the Warriors this year?
With both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors looking great all season thoughts of a rematch keep coming to almost every basketball fans’ mind.
The time has come when these two teams must settle the questions that remain after last year’s NBA Finals. Now that the Cavaliers are healthy going into the Eastern Conference Finals, will LeBron’s Cleveland Cavaliers be able to beat Curry’s Golden State Warriors in a seven-game series?
First, both teams will have to get to the FInals once again. The Cavs are up 2 – 1 in their series while the Warriors are down 2 – 1 after getting crushed in Game 3 and may be without Draymond Green for Game 4.
With Steph Curry’s performance in Game 4 vs. the Portland Trailblazers, and the Cavaliers dominance in the Eastern Conference, one must at least consider the fact that this could be a rematch of two teams finally healthy as they proceed towards the NBA Finals as their goal.
Last year the Cavaliers lost Kevin Love in the 1st round of the playoffs and lost Kyrie Irving at the end of regulation in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. LeBron James and the Cavaliers are confident and hopeful for a title win this year despite the fact that somehow the Warriors managed to get even better than last year.
But will the Warriors come out of the West unscathed?
During the playoff series with the Portland Trailblazers, Curry injured his MCL (grade 1 sprain). But within two weeks he has returned to the floor and has been his usual “MVP winning” self. But with Curry’s injury history and tendency to injure his ankle, the Warriors are hoping for him to stay healthy.
However, they have been facing off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals and lost Game 1 on their own floor, losing home court advantage for the time being. The series appears to be headed towards a physical, chippy finale. The Thunder were impressive in their six-game series with the Spurs and won the final three games using their physicality and impressive shooting from Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
To create even more doubt and bewilderment, they took the Warriors on in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on the Warriors floor and defeated them 108-102, holding them to the least points scored in the 4th quarter in any playoff series at just 14.
No matter what happens, with the trouncing the Warriors put on the Thunder in Game 2, it seemed the Warriors are destined for the NBA Finals, and most likely a re-match with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have looked dominate in the playoffs, winning all 9 of the games they have played thus far.
Last night’s loss puts a huge pause in that assumption but many are still betting on the Warriors to matchup with the Cavs.
If the Cavaliers can maintain their dominance in the paint as well as the three-point line, they could very well challenge the Warriors and steal the NBA title from the reigning champions. The main hurdle the Cavaliers need to consider, and have thus far in the playoffs is playing 48 minutes of suffocating defense.
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The Warriors are a well-oiled machine and have ways to give even the best defense in the league fits. This means every player must be at their best and head coach Tyronn Lue must come up with a successful game-plan.
Can the Thunder beat the Warriors? Most likely not. However they can extend this series and tire out the Warriors for the NBA Finals, giving the Cavaliers an advantage.
The Cavaliers still need to advance past the Toronto Raptors, but if Game 1 is any indication of how this series will go, the Cavs could possible sweep the Raptors and head into the NBA finals 12-0.
The Conference finals are the last step for both teams, but come June it will most likely be the Warriors and the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals – Only this time look out… The Cavaliers are healthy and playing their best basketball of the season!