Tough road for Cavaliers
LEBRON James has won a road game in an NBA record 29 consecutive playoff series and the Cleveland superstar must stretch that streak for the Cavaliers to defend their title.
Golden State owns a home-court edge in the NBA Finals and opened the best-ofseven championship series with a 113-91 home triumph, although James will have another chance to win at Oakland in game two today.
If “King” James and the Cavaliers don’t take advantage at Oracle Arena, the Warriors will stretch their NBA playoff win streak record to 14 games and could become the first champions to run undefeated through the playoffs by winning on Wednesday and Friday in Cleveland.
The 32-year-old playmaker has won a road game in 35 of 38 playoff series over his 12 NBA playoff campaigns, last failing to do so with Cleveland against Orlando in the 2009 Eastern Conference finals.
“He’s a great player,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Anytime you want to win a championship, you have to win on the road. With Golden State having home court the last three years, we know it’s going to be tough. You have to win on the road to be great.”
James, who last month overtook Michael Jordan to become the NBA’s alltime playoff scoring leader, was coached by current Warriors acting coach Mike Brown with the Cavaliers, who appreciates the streak and the longevity James has shown in reaching eight career NBA Finals, the past seven in a row.
James is 3-4 in NBA Finals appearances but his teams, the Cavaliers and Miami from 2011 to 2014, are 1-7 in NBA Finals openers.
James said his attitude doesn’t change whether he is playing before fans in Cleveland or crowds against him on the road.