The Star Malaysia

Ready for Finals charge

Cavs and Warriors set sights on title rematch

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WASHINGTON: LeBron James resumes his bid for a seventh consecutiv­e NBA Finals appearance while the Golden State Warriors plan their third consecutiv­e Finals trip and Russell Westbrook takes aim at history.

And with the NBA trade deadline tomorrow along with the resumption of play following the mid-season NBA All-Star Game break, the championsh­ip chase swings into high gear.

Only six players have reached the Finals more consecutiv­e years than James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers over the Warriors last year in the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history after the Cavs lost to Golden State in 2015.

James, who also guided Miami to two NBA crowns in four Finals appearance­s, says being the player others measure themselves against feeds the hunger for more success.

“It’s motivating. It’s great. To know that everyone is trying to build their team or wanting to get their team to try to get to where you are and try to knock you off, it’s a motivating factor,” James said.

“It’s also a humbling factor to know that I’ve been in this position for so long. I want to continue to work my habits, train my body, train my mind, and work on my game every day to put me in a position to be successful.”

The Cavaliers are 39-16, three games ahead of Boston atop the Eastern Conference with Washington five back.

James is playing nearly 38 minutes a night and starters J.R. Smith and Kevin Love are sidelined by injuries, but James has faith the team can keep improving even without trade deadline moves.

“As the leader of the team, I’m fine with what we have, and we’ll continue to push forward,” James said.

“I’m comfortabl­e with whatever coach wants me to do out on the floor. Whatever he gives me to do, I can figure it out.

“We haven’t been healthy pretty much all season, but I feel like if I’m in the line-up and I’m healthy, I’m feeling good, then we’re going to have a chance.”

The Warriors like their chances as well after adding superstar Kevin Durant to the core of a squad that went an NBA-record 73-9 last season. Golden State is off to a 47-9 start this season, four games ahead of San Antonio atop the Western Conference.

“Win a championsh­ip. That’s it. That’s why we play, to realise that dream,” two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry said.

“We know, having won before, exactly what it takes. Having been on the losing side, we know how thin the line is between winning and losing. That’s what it’s all about.”

Curry has had to share a scoring spotlight with fellow three-point sharpshoot­er Klay Thompson and forward Durant, but after early struggles the combinatio­n has come together in devastatin­g fashion.

“Whether we shoot a lot of jumpers or find other ways to score, everybody is just focused on winning. It doesn’t matter how you characteri­se it,” Curry said.

Durant has adapted to his new team-mates and the results have been impressive and at times overpoweri­ng. — AFP

 ??  ?? A real star: LeBron James is hoping to reach his seventh consecutiv­e NBA Finals this season. — Reuters
A real star: LeBron James is hoping to reach his seventh consecutiv­e NBA Finals this season. — Reuters

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