Six Truths About the 2016 NBA Finals
In typical LeBron fashion, James and company are back in the NBA Finals. For his 6th (that's right, SIX) consecutive year, the King himself is within reach of the coveted Larry O'Brien trophy. James' last obstacle in his quest to be the Greatest Of All Time (henceforth referred to as the GOAT) is none other than the Golden State Warriors, led by the phenomenon that is Stephen Curry. Will James add another Finals championship to his resume or will the Warriors back-up their 73-9 season and replace the '95-96' Bulls as the greatest NBA team ever?
It's hard to predict. But we do know a few things for certain:
1. There is no underdog in this series.
Lebron James and the Cavs; Steph Curry and the Warriors. These are arguably the two hottest players in basketball to date - neither of which have had a season that is less than incredible. Lebron, averaging 25 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists throughout the 2015-16 season, enters the playoffs with a season PER of nearly 28. In the other corner, Curry, finished the regular season with arguably better stats (30 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists) and a PER of 30.
2. Fatigue will Set In.
Although this is stating the obvious, it is important to understand this before investing yourself in this series. Both teams are tired. The NBA regular season starts in late October and (88 games later) ends in mid-April. So, something like 5 and-a-half months. That's a LOT of basketball in not a lot of time. Both Curry and James are averaging right at 35 minutes/game this season. Do a little math, carry the one... that brings you right to 3,080 minutes of basketball this season. Wow.
Knowing this, the Cavs made it to the Finals in extremely impressive fashion. With a sweep over the Pistons, a 4 win cake walk past the Hawks, and a 4-2 series win over the Toronto Raptors (who are extremely good, and if you disagree you're dumb) - LeBron and Co. totaled 14 total contests. Comparing this to the Warriors 17 games (including the impressive comeback from 3-1 against the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals), the Cavaliers have an advantage in the "R & R" category. Will the Warriors season-long momentum and youth be the deciding factor, or will the Cavaliers impressive gameplay of late finally hault their historic season?
3. If Cleveland wins the series, the city will riot.
There should be ZERO doubt in anyone's mind that if Cleveland wins the title, the city will burn to the ground. There will be fire, vandalism and probably a death of at least one GSW fan. Think about it - the Cavaliers have won only 3 conference championships in their FRANCHISE HISTORY. Even further, they've recorded "not 1, not 2, not 3..." but ZERO NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS in that same time. This is absolutely huge for the City of Cleveland, the franchise and its' fans and ultimately... for LeBron James. Expect absolute madness in Northeastern Ohio if the Cavs close this out.
4. Draymond Green Will Be Back.
It's rather obvious that the nut-shot incident in the Thunder/Warriors series took a toll on Draymond Green. During (and after) this fiasco, he didn't play nearly as well. It was a slump, for lack of a better term. If you've kept up with the last 90ish games that Draymond has played, you remember his major shooting slump back in late December/early January, in which he came out of to produce multiple triple doubles and 30+ point games in the second half of the season. Whether you love him, hate him or are indifferent; expect Draymond to be in full Draymond mode for this series. Emotions and all.
5. This series is great for the game of basketball.
For basketball as an industry, a game and a important part of life for many individuals across the map, this series is excellent. It is everything the Finals should be. The two best teams fighting for the title, led by none other than the two top players in the league - the unanimous MVP and LeBron, who is in his own realm of athleticism that has yet to be matched. Just as the NCAA basketball championship was great for basketball in it's textbook ending, the 2016 NBA Finals will be one for the ages.
6. LeBron James is Still the Best Player on the Planet.
If you can actually argue this - you're crazy. As mentioned previously, King James is in his own realm of athleticism. He is in his own realm of size and strength and how his impressive skills mesh together with that size and strength. He has shown that he can defend, overpower and score on nearly any defender in the league. Yes, there are few who guard him exceptionally well (i.e. Kawhi Leonard), but overall, James prevails. In his 6th straight Finals appearance on his 3rd of three different squads, the all-star has proven himself time and time again. Not one player currently playing in the NBA has a resume quite like LeBron James, and that is a fact. Also, video footage of Richard Jefferson's Snapchat story surfaced on twitter yesterday, highlighting his excitement for this series:
If you aren't excited for this series, you hate basketball. If you call yourself a "true basketball fan" and you aren't pacing around your living room/office/yard in pure anticipation for tip-off, you are doing it wrong.
Expert Opinion: Warriors in 7.
