Photo Credit: Cary Edmondson/USA Today Sports
It seems like it has been forever since both the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals ended, but basketball returns tonight in a big way! Lebron James leads the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight in his quest for his third NBA title, none of which he won with Cleveland. He’ll have to beat reigning-MVP Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors who have been hot all year.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are like a science project of trying to find the best starting rotation. After multiple trades throughout this season, the team finally found a rhythm and have rolled through the playoffs. Unfortunately, it has been without one of their biggest stars Kevin Love for almost all of it. The team has not missed him too much with Tristan Thompson stepping up in his absence. Pointguard Kyrie Irving also missed time this playoff season, but leader Lebron James put the team on his back and swept the Atlanta Hawks. James is currently averaging 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 8.3 assists in the playoffs, just getting it done on the court. If it is possible, he has been somewhat underrated this playoff season. The Cavs have only lost two games thus far and will now get Irving back after some much needed rest. This team has also been helped by the additions of JR Smith and Iman Shumpert from the Knicks. Must be nice to go from the Knicks to the Cavs!
The Golden State Warriors have had a magical season. Finally able to make the jump in the playoffs, this team is probably one of the most talented in recent history. Led by the Splash Brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors finished with the best record in the league and the number one seed in the extremely competitive Western Conference. Thompson was unsure for the beginning of this season after suffering a concussion in game five of the Western Conference Finals. He returned to practice and is ready to go tonight along with Marreese Spreights who was out with a calf injury. Getting this team fully healthy will help slow down James in this series. It will be a tall order for Irving to guard Curry who is averaging 29.2 points per game this postseason. When these teams met in the regular season, the home team won the game.
