This is more than just your typical NBA Finals. Sure, it is two dominant teams per usual, but there is much more on the line in this matchup
From individual player legacies to teams trying to continue their dynasties, this is the third year in a row the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have met each other in the NBA Finals, and they have gotten the better every year.
As they have gotten better, it has come with a price, the stakes are higher than ever.
It’s no secret, both teams have a lot on the line as a unit. The Warriors have gotten better every year as a team since the first time they met up against Cleveland. They failed to win last year, but added arguably the second-best player in the NBA to help “cement” his legacy in the history books.
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The Warriors also have to prove they haven’t just had flukes in the playoffs. In their 2015 and 2017 runs to the NBA Finals, the opponents they faced were littered with big-time injuries, so it softened their competition.
In 2015, they won the Finals thanks to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving both being down with injuries. You can see why there is still work to be done before labeling the Warriors a dynasty.
The Cavaliers don’t necessarily have any cementing to be done, but if they were to lose I’d expect some shake up to take place on the roster.
If this unit fails to beat the Warriors, they are gonna have to make changes. I am not sure exactly what they would do or how they would get it down, especially with the lack of cap space and assets, but their summer would definitely be an interesting one to follow.
Stephen Curry
Out of the three superstar players, Stephen Curry probably has the least at stake with his legacy entering the NBA Finals. It is still a lot nonetheless. Curry has two regular season MVPs, even a unanimous one, but has failed to continue to “wow” viewers and fans in the NBA Finals.
Last season, he was not 100 percent healthy and it showed. The year before, it was a wash.
For him to cement his legacy as one of the truly greats, he needs to have a performance to remember in the NBA Finals. Win or lose, he can establish his greatness over the next two weeks.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is easily the player with the most on the line this NBA Finals. Durant left a budding Oklahoma City Thunder team in order to join a team that had already won. Not only a team that had already won on the biggest stage, but the same team that had just beat him in the Conference Finals.
If Kevin Durant loses in the NBA Finals once again, with a team that has already won before, that “loser” tag that many associate with him will only grow larger.
LeBron James
With a win, LeBron will most likely cement himself as the greatest human being to pick up a basketball besides Brian Scalabrine (of course). With a loss, he will still probably remain as the No. 2 player ever in most eyes but will have a lot harder time jumping Jordan in the majority’s opinion. LeBron will have a lot on his plate. The Warriors team is loaded, and his isn’t (as much). He also would love nothing more to bring another ring home to Cleveland.
Must Read: 2017 NBA Finals: Cavs vs. Warriors, By The Numbers
Bottom line: enjoy it, regardless.
No matter what the outcome, let’s hope we see some good, high-quality basketball games. If you are a Warriors fan, don’t bash Cleveland fans. The same goes for Cleveland Fans. Let’s hope this series makes up for the rest of the poor playoffs.