Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) handles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the fourth quarter in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena.
For the fourth straight June, we get the Cavaliers and the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Some might consider that awesome, others wish we had new blood, but no matter what side you fall on we at least get to see LeBron square up for four more games (any maybe just four more games) against the NBA's most elite talent.
After securing an historic eighth straight NBA Finals appearance, can LeBron do the unthinkable? Are the Warriors going to sweep the Cavs? Are Nick Young and J.R. Smith really the same person? Does Cleveland really have an answer for Kevin Durant? How can you make some money off the Finals? And how will another NBA Finals loss affect The King's legacy?
You've got questions and we've got answers before the NBA Finals tip Thursday in Oakland.
How can the Cavs pull off the improbable?
Stick with us. We outlined eight ways the Cavaliers can do the unthinkable. Eight!?! So for us, unlike the majority of basketball fans out there, the idea of Cleveland stealing another title from the Warriors is not as far-fetched as you might think.
All it's going to take for the Cavs to pull off the biggest upset the NBA Finals will have seen in over two decades is to shoot better than it did during its run through the Eastern Conference, play tougher defense, watch the Warriors endure a little bad luck for a change, and maybe an exorcism or two. It's admittedly very tough to doubt LeBron as we're witnessing him orchestrate the greatest individual run through the postseason in NBA history. Going against the best player in the world is never a good idea so maybe, just maybe, pick the Warriors at your own discretion. — A.C.
Win or lose, how does this affect LeBron's legacy?
LeBron’s legacy will be fine even if the Cavs lose. This is the second time he’s dragged bums (minus Kevin Love) to the NBA Finals. The first time he did, James was 22 years old in his fourth year. And when the Cavs front office failed to build a championship team around him, he bolted for Miami to play with two of his best friends and carried them to four straight Finals appearances.
Now people will say Michael Jordan is undefeated in the Finals, and they would be correct. What they chose to ignore is that Jordan’s first three titles were won by a team that had several years to build chemistry after their playoff runs ended in failure. In James’ nine Finals appearances he’s played under four different head coaches and a different batch of teammates each time. Michael played under the greatest head coach of all time, alongside the most underrated Top 50 player in history for most of his career, and let’s us not forget that Dennis Rodman and Toni Kukoc played on those last three championship squads. In terms of organizational consistency and competency, Jordan had a way easier road to success. LeBron came into the league as the most hyped prospect ever and not only lived up to the hype, he’s surpassed it. He’s the Bill Russell and MJ of this generation, even if he never wins another championship again. — A.D.
Nick Young is just a younger version of J.R. Smith, without the Henny. Both have been involved in their fair share of social media scandals from sending pipe-related DMs to getting caught admitting to cheating on video. But we’re not here to talk about their social media woes, we’re here to talk about basketball.
On court, both have a tendency to be streaky shooters, but you wouldn’t know it from their levels of self-confidence. Each time one of them makes a shot in a big game they celebrate like they just single-handedly won a title.
After both the Warriors and the Cavs won their respective conference finals, it wasn’t Steph or LeBron looking at the trophy with heart eyes. It was J.R. who (yet again) ran off with it, cradling the trophy like a newborn child. Swaggy P, likewise, just wanted to be left alone.
No matter which team wins, you can bet that at the front of the trophy presentation will stand Nick Young or J.R. Smith. — M.H.
Can the Cavs handle KD?
They can't.
Durant was the difference in last year's Finals—plain and simple. If the Warriors didn't have KD, last year's showdown might have turned out differently. But Cleveland literally couldn't handle the 7-foot shooter, as he averaged 35.2 points per over five games, hit the biggest shot of the series (that 3-pointer with under a minute left in Game 3), and was the obvious choice for MVP honors when the Warriors closed things out in Game 5.
The Cavs couldn't put a defender on Durant that had a chance of slowing him down last year and what's changed in 2018? Nothing. This Cavs team is worst defensively than last year's squad, and Durant is still the most dangerous scorer in the Finals. Averaging 29 points per through the first three rounds playoffs, Durant's rolling into the NBA Finals and as long as he doesn't develop a serious case of stage fright out of the blue. Why would we not expect the second best player in the world to rip the Cavaliers for a second straight June? — A.C.
Did you forget the Warriors are cheaters?
The power forward of the greatest team in NBA history couldn’t wait to leave the Oracle Arena parking lot before calling Kevin Durant for help. Draymond Green, one of the toughest defenders the game has ever scene, had no answers for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving after the 2016 Finals. Durant took the bait, essentially ruining his life in the short term, and his legacy in the long run. Golden State will win more championships, but that stain will live with Draymond and KD forever. Just like Major League Baseball has to make amends with the steroid era, the Warriors and the NBA will have to live with this truth forever. Hopefully Durant and company will be able to move on from this eventually. Hopefully we won’t be hearing about burner accounts anymore. Hopefully. — A.D.
How do you make money on the Finals?
It's tough because the Warriors are ridiculous favorites in the series (-1100), a number NBA gamblers haven't seen since Shaq and Kobe clowned on the Nets in the 2002 Finals. Golden State will be big favorites seemingly in every game of the series—Vegas installed GSW as 12-point favorites in Game 1—and even the ultra-rare Finals sweep offers no value (+135). So if you're picking the Warriors in four or five games (-300), bark up another tree if you're looking for a payoff.
If you think the Cavs are pulling off the massive upset, then take their number for the series (+615) and pray for LeBron to pull off a bigger miracle than the Immaculate Conception. But if you want to throw your money away, just give it to us instead. — A.C.
Who do we have winning?
Adam Caparell: Warriors in 4.
Angel Diaz: Cavs in 7.
Madison Hartman: Warriors in 5.