The NBA Finals is just one night away and since I've been on something of a track overload for the last month or so, I figured it would be fun for me to talk a little basketball.
I actually played basketball for the first time in months Sunday at a park near my house. I'm still sore. It ended up being a pretty physical return to action and I left with a slightly ripped and bloodied shirt, quite the change from going on a casual run through the neighborhoods.
And this physical element to the game has left two of the most pivotal players in this series with question marks next to their health in Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson (and of course Kevin Love is already down for the count). Kyrie is the main source of non Lebron offense for the cavs as both an excellent attacker and shooter, while Klay is the best perimeter defender for the league's best defense. The ability of these two Ks to produce at their normal level may very well decide the series.
Good news is there has been a long lay off between games, maximizing the time these two have to recover.
It also could make for a pair of rusty teams in Game 1. I think back to the 2001 finals when the Lakers were just destroying everyone so easily they had a long wait while the Sixers played down to the wire in true 7 game grindfests. The Sixers ended up stealing Game 1 in LA against a much better team.
Of course in this case, both teams have had a similar lay off. That being said, I'd guess the Warriors, who have a more rhythmic, flowing offense featuring a best player who is primarily a shooter, would be more vulnerable to rust. Plus, this Warriors team is likely going to be incredibly nervous in their first finals.
Meanwhile on the opposite sideline stands Lebron James, who has done this whole NBA finals thing a few times. He doesn't have to worry about going cold, because he was already an iceberg this playoffs shooting the basketball. The lay off isn't going to make him any worse. He's still incredibly strong, has a great post game and is going to be a nightmare for whoever of the Thompson/Green/Barnes group is playing d.
I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Cavs steal game one tomorrow.
That being said, I do think the Warriors are a better team. They were the #1 offense and defense this season and just dominated teams during the regular season. In the playoffs things haven't been much different. They have a diverse group of players, tons of shooting, and a great coach who has a few rings already as a player. And you can't forget about that bench. The Warriors go way deeper than the Cavs and have multiple former all stars (key word former) sitting on the pine at tip off.
Both teams have excellent home crowds who have waited a long time for a championship.
I would say Warriors in 6, but it's hard to imagine Lebron losing in front of his people in game 6. That would be a brutal home coming for the King.
That's the thing I always come back to. The Cavs have Lebron. Sure they have solid shooting and game changing offensive rebounding, but more importantly they have Lebron.
So in my mind we are going to blessed with a great series that goes 7 games and either team can win.
Warriors in 7.
Is what an unbiased person would say.
But what I say ...
Two words. Steph Curry. Two more words. Splash Brothers. Three letters. MVP. The greatest jump shooter of all time who was once denied a huge pay day because he had fragile ankles has taken it upon himself to break the ankles of everyone else in the league. Riley Curry is going sing blessings for everyone during the parade.
Warriors in 3. Nothing is impossible with Steph Curry.
*hits chest and points to sky*
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