NBA Finals - Who ya got?
The long awaited NBA finals finally start tonight as the defending NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers (boy that's got a nice ring to it) take on the Golden State Warriors and this marks the first time two teams have met three straight years in the finals. The Cavs come in 12-1 in the playoffs while the Warriors are 12-0 and have won an amazing 27 of their last 28 games.
ESPN polled 27 NBA experts and 23 have the Warriors winning with most picking them to prevail in 5 (top bet in Vegas by the way). Speaking of Vegas they have Golden State as a prohibitive -240 to win the series (you have to put up $240 to win $100) and the odds to win the finals MVP are Durrant the favorite at 7-5, Curry #2 at 8-5 and LeBron #3 at 2-1. Clearly the entire world thinks Golden State will make quick work of the Cavs.
Me? Well I think just about everybody here knows I'm not seeing things that way. I think as long as #23 is on the court Cleveland has a "punchers chance" of defending their title. I've got the Cavs in 7 in an epic repeat of last year's finals with a red hot Kevin Love being the surprise X factor when all is said and done.
Go Cavs!
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Zeke cements his status as best point guard ever, Pistons win
Warriors in 6. Almost 5 but Cleveland pulls out a a game-winning shot with a few seconds to force game 6. Golden State rubs it back in the Cleveland fans face by winning in their arena.
That's why I've got Love as the X factor. Against Boston he was unreal - averaged 24 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks and 1 steal for the series.
If THAT guy shows up I like our chances a lot.
While we're on the subject, heard a great stat this morning: Kevin Love completed more passes that traveled 20+ yards in the air this season than something like 5 or 6 NFL teams
Warriors just look ridiculous right now.
Shoe sales and fixed games for the win.
I put money on W's in 6. Fuck Ohio. I wish them all pain.
I like you.
Cavs in 6
I want the 2017 Warriors to be the first team to accomplish Fo' Fo' Fo' Fo' and destroy any chance Lebron has of surpassing Jordan.
I hate every Ohio pro sports team and I certainly won't be rooting for a Ohio-born to lead any of them to success.
Here's a pic of me and another "Ohio-born" Michigan player (Phil Hubbard) at last year's finals. We sang the Victors together in the lobby of the Q
... those that end up playing/coaching for the Michigan Wolverines.
So even Chris Spielman, for all his greatness, can DIAF.
Ohio born.
Bo Schembechler
Ohio born.
But sure your logic is sound.
I give NO F*CKS about a Ohio born playing for or coaching a team from Ohio.
I care about Michigan first and foremost. Therefore, my logic IS sound.
Next.
Despite the Ohio connection, forever fuck Kevin Durant for ditching his own team for the one that beat him in the Conference Finals last year. His ass shouldn't be carried to an NBA title. Plus, 4 titles cements LBJ's legacy, which I would like to see.
I liked Kevin Durant at OKC and I can't stand him now. Jumping to an already championship team that you lost to is just so freaking weak. At least Lebron created his own teams and didn't just jump aboard somebody else's machine.
game.
Plus, their colors are almost perfect (could benefit from slightly darkening the shade of each).
On paper they're the better team and unlike last year when Cleveland had the arguably the two best players, Durant is heads and shoulders better than any participant not named LeBron. Gun to my head, I say Warriors in 6.
Thing is, I just can't bring myself to believe that a team coached by Mike Brown could succeed where a team coached by Steve Kerr failed. And any team with LeBron has more than a puncher's chance. But for his casual Ohio St. fandom, I have no problem with LeBron as a player or person. There's no denying his greatness at this point and if you're still naysaying his game put down the crack pipe and stop following Skip Bayless' Twitter account.
I'm not sure who I want to win. I don't want Golden State to eclipse the 2001 Lakers' 15-1 record for playoff dominance. While I'd like to see Cleveland get another taste of victory, the thought of Dan Gilbert ever experiencing another moment of happiness makes my skin crawl. What I do know is that last season's epic showdown is a helluva act to follow and I'll certainly be tuned in to watch in the hopes that even one game can come withing spitting distance of last year's Game 7 which was the most exciting basketball game I've ever watched without a rooting interest.
Just a guess based on having watched both teams play here and there throughout the season and in the postseason - I'd lean towards the Warriors this time around. Yeah, 3-1 lead....blah blah....but I don't know that the Cavs have everything to overcome GSW plus Durant.
The Predators....
Although it's not looking so good now.....
Oh basketball?? eh. dont care.
Should be a fun series. Everyone mentions how much better the Warriors are with KD, which is true. Nobody seems to mention how much better the Cavs are as well. Last year the Cavs weren't really equipped to get into a shootout. Now they have Korver and DWill they can bring off the bench.
Biggest key to the series for me is how well Lebron can perform playing 44mins and guarding KD. If he has to sit out more than a couple mins a half they are probably in trouble.
Should be a great series. My dislike for Draymond Green and Durant's leaving OKC equals the dislike for the hype for LeBron (he is not better than Jordan..yet) and Cleveland fans in general.
Klay Thomson will carry the Warriors to a series win in 6.
Too bad there is no Stanley Cup talk. Ian Cole was great yesterday. I hate the Pens but respect the heck out of the job they have been doing. Just win.
8th in total
I am far from a Cavs/Lebron fan, but my hatred for the Warriors is nearly OSU levels right now. Please save the league, Lebron.
A 73 win team added the second best player in the world. They would be favorites without him. Now theyre all gonna take less than max contracts and win every title for the next 5 years. As a basketball fan, it sucks.