2017 NBA Finals: Warriors vs. Cavs part 3

[Lamrock]

[flash=][/flash]GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (67-15, 12-0) vs. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (51-31, 12-1)



The 2015 and 2016 champions will meet each other in the Finals for the third straight year, and honestly, this thread could have been made in November. Despite Cleveland coasting in the second half of the season, these two teams were clearly the league's best by far. While injuries robbed us of a potentially good 5 or 6 game GS/SA series, we all knew this was inevitable.

And maybe that's for the best. The two best teams in the NBA, and the league's only current legit rivalry (in my opinion), we have one of the most stacked teams ever assembled taking on a team completely built around a player working on his case for GOAT status. For the most part, everybody is healthy - in 2015, LeBron and Irving were hurt, while in 2016, Bogut went down, Curry was hobbled and Green kept going off his meds. No excuses this year (yeah, that'll happen).

So yeah, maybe we'll get a great Finals series, and forget what a joke the rounds leading up to it were. I've gone back and forth on this - the Warriors seem pretty unbeatable, and haven't lost without their starting lineup since like February. However, the legend of the TNT Bulls died in this post-season, and the memory of the 3-1 lead blown is still etched in my mind. I think the Cavs win it in 7, with KD having a bad shooting night and being subject to a summer of countless hot takes and "hardest path" jokes.

[Dee4Three]

Warriors in 6.

[Kevin]

Warriors in 5 if Irving goes down. If not, Cavs in 6.

[Andrew]

Warriors in 5. Thrilling.

[zz21]

Cavs in 1-3

[air gordon]

i'll go with the warriors. last year's Cavs game plan of ignoring Barnes on defense won't fly this series with KD now filling that role. The Cavs have been trotting out the Love-James combo frontcourt lately. i'm curious to see if Lue continues to roll with it, specifically against the death lineup. Love playing his best ball. i'm not cheering for him but i'd like to see this guy believe in himself and for his teammates to believe in him in the 2nd half of ball games

last year, the refs really let the Cavs be physical with W's backcourt. no penalties for the vast amount of holding and checking off the ball. this could play a big factor again

Warriors in 6

thanks for another year of awesome series previews, lamrock

[[Q]]

Hmm, I dunno, I tihnk the Cavs take it again. Not sure if the extra offense from KD will really help them much over last year's performance.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Warriors in 6, even though I was tempted to go Warriors in 5 since it's pretty much last years' team + Durant and a productive Javale.

The "The NBA is a sad joke" option was tempting though. I'm gonna make sure to stream these finals instead of watching them on TV in order to not give the NBA the ratings. This is bullshit and I want real fucking basketball.

[NovU]

Voted "FUCK LEBRON - he's not even top 20 tbh".

In all seriousness, I don't think the Cavs can afford two off-nights from LBJ. Or the series will be over quickly. He'll need to be at least average good for the Cavs to stay in the game on every night.

Warriors in 6.

[Andrew]

The "The NBA is a sad joke" option was tempting though. I'm gonna make sure to stream these finals instead of watching them on TV in order to not give the NBA the ratings. This is bullshit and I want real fucking basketball.

I normally don't go for the joke options - even though I really like Lamrock's work in that regard - but on this occasion, that's what I cast my vote for. Obviously not everyone shares the same opinion and more power to anyone who's really enjoyed this season and Playoffs, but I've definitely felt disconnected and disillusioned with the NBA this year, so a bit of a snarky grumbling by way of that poll option felt cathartic.

[I Hate Mondays]

This is like watching John Cena getting pushed for a World title for the 999th time. I want something new. I know the league is rigged, chose two fresh teams next year.
Joke aside, Warriors in 5.

[air gordon]

Hmm, I dunno, I tihnk the Cavs take it again. Not sure if the extra offense from KD will really help them much over last year's performance.

dont hate lol

who is going to guard KD this series if it's not james? i think the love-james combo is great on offense but for this series who will guard love?

Andrew- i hope this is something we dont have to get used it. there seems to be a growing sentiment of teams scared of the finals teams so they are playing the waiting game (which i am 100% against).

novu- just let that flower grow. you're not helping

[Andrew]

It makes you wonder how patient they'll be. I don't see the Cavs or Warriors dropping off anytime soon; can't waste too much of players' primes on waiting for that to happen.

[air gordon]

not exactly a proper barometer, but consider the celtics fans on this forum are a consensus ok with playing the waiting game.

[Stress Fracture]

Fuck KD. Fuck the Warriors. Fuck Curry for stealing Harden's 2015 MVP

Cavs in 6

[bowdown]

Hoping for Cavs win because I really like Lebron and want him to become the GOAT.

He is the perfect superstar player and a great teammate unlike Jordan and Kobe.

[Axel The Great]

I hope to see the first 0-3 series comeback in NBA history. The Warriors deserve to go down like that.

[JaoSming]

Ws in 6, but I believe in that damn toaster so maybe sweep-time?

[Kenny]

Don't believe in this prediction, but Cavs in 4. I kind of like the narrative that LeBron is a championship roadblock for KD. A sweep would be ultra satisfying too.

[PeacemanNOT]

Warriors will probably win in 5 or 6, but I'm going with the series that I would like to see on this one. Warriors are obviously the better team but.... it would be amazing seeing social media blow up if the Cavs did win especially with the addition of KD.

Cavs in 7

[Sauru]

i am looking for the option "thank god for steam so i dont have to waste my time on these finals" option

since its not there i am going warriors in 6 thanks to the nba forcing the refs to drag it out

[Andrew]

I was reading that the fewer amount of games this postseason might lead to a smaller salary cap this offseason than originally projected...so yeah, good luck to teams who want to try to stock up and compete with the Cavs and Warriors, whose core are already locked up for years thanks to the big rise in the cap last year.

[Sauru]

the nba is in a great spot. no longer do we have to waste time discussing who will be in the finals year after year. we can now focus on the important stuff like how many balls will draymond kick this season. will kelly olynyk finally give kevin love his arm back. why is chris paul considered good if we judge players based on rings and finals appearances. who is going to spray paint their head next? why didnt bird do magic a solid and trade george for a second round pick.

[Andrew]

We no longer have to think for ourselves either, as there's only one "correct" line of thinking, and everything else is "hating". Besides, it's all a moot point once Lonzo Ball hits the league next season, and averages a quintuple-double while leading the Lakers to an 82-0 record and the championship (sweeping through the Playoffs), as LaVar Ball becomes richer than everyone else on the Forbes list combined.

[Sauru]

We no longer have to think for ourselves either, as there's only one "correct" line of thinking, and everything else is "hating". Besides, it's all a moot point once Lonzo Ball hits the league next season, and averages a quintuple-double while leading the Lakers to an 82-0 record and the championship (sweeping through the Playoffs), as LaVar Ball becomes richer than everyone else on the Forbes list combined.

at that point suicide is my only option