NBA Finals: Way lami?

“Nahuman na diay? 4-0? Way lami ana uy.” This was a comment from someone who isn’t a basketball fanatic, but was aware that the NBA Finals was ongoing. True enough, the NBA Finals, which is always closely monitored and expected to end in six or seven games, has ended via a fourgame sweep. The Golden State Warriors are back-to-back champions after a relatively easy championship series. They were coming off a tough seven-game series against the Houston Rockets where they dug deep, down 2-3, then winning Games Six and Seven to make it back to the finals for a fourth straight year.

Discussing the technical aspect of the NBA Finals may be useless as it was obvious. The Warriors were too deep and too talented, while the Cavaliers were just a one-man team named LeBron James. On offense, NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson were too much to handle. Curry couldn’t have picked a better time to have a break-out game in Game Four, scoring 38 points (including seven triples), dishing off four assists and grabbing six rebounds. Durant “slowed down” from his huge scoring in Game Three, but came up with a triple double of 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Klay Thompson and

Andre Iguodala combined for 21 points in a show of balanced offense. On the other hand, LeBron James, who was averaging 37 points a game in the finals, was brought down to earth with “only” 23 points. Kevin Love was averaging 21 points as game but was good for 13 in Game 4. JR Smith and Rodney Hood were good for a combined 20 points, but this wasn’t enough.

That’s done but the NBA Finals may be known more for other items that will stand out for quite some time. One of the first is a series of “What ifs.” What if Chris Paul didn’t get injured in the Golden State-Houston series? Who would’ve won Game 7? My biggest “what if” is what if LeBron James was called for goaltending on that lay-up of Victor Oladipo in the Cleveland-Indiana series. The NBA admitted that it was a wrong non-call. If the call was made, would James be in the NBA Finals? Note that the return play was LeBron’s game-winning shot for the Cavs. I’m sure the Pacers will never forget that non-call for as long as they live. What if JR Smith attempted a putback instead of running out the clock in Game 1? Winning Game 1 would’ve made this series more interesting and would’ve given the Cavs the confidence that they needed in the series. What if Boston didn’t collapse in the end-game of Game 7 of the Cleveland-Boston Eastern Conference Finals? The Celtics were the sentimental team of many basketball fans for their amazing winning run despite losing Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. When both went down, practically nobody gave them a chance to make it past the second round of the playoffs, but they showed the young Sixers how to win without your superstars. At their last stop, LeBron was just too much for the Celtics. But hats off to Brad Stevens and his band of hard-working players who overcame all odds to make it this far.

The Finals may also be known as LeBron’s last hurrah with the Cavs. Stories are aplenty about LeBron leaving Cleveland and considering the offers of teams with their eyes on the championship. If you google the topic, you’ll see LeBron portrayed in jerseys of different teams from the Sixers to the Knics, Lakers, Spurs, Celtics and even the Warriors! The NBA

summer is going to be an interesting one as everyone awaits another big LeBron decision, something that also took place when he announced he was moving to Miami and then going back to the Cavs. Kevin Durant is also a free agent, but this one’s a no-brainer. He himself has said that he’s going to resign with the Warriors.

Another NBA Finals side story is the comparison of Lebron to Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant. Is LeBron better than Jordan? I’m not too sure if it’s worth arguing about, but Jordan fans will cite the six championship rings of MJ (that could’ve easily been eight had he not “retired”) and the many times he was part of the NBA’s All-Defensive team in his career. Jordan even won a Defensive Player of the Year award, something that LeBron hasn’t and most likely match at all. To be the league’s best player in offense and defense is something extraordinary. And it’s really tough and maybe not fair to compare players from different generations.

Another interesting side story were the betting gimmicks and odds. Many were already resigned to a Golden State championship that people were now betting on how many games the Cavs would win. I even heard of a “plus 2 games” bet offer for the Cavs. And they couldn’t even win a single game. I wonder if there were straight-up bets for the Warriors without handicaps. In situations like this, Vegas gets creative and cooks up many ways to encourage betting.

And so another NBA Finals has come and gone. Kudos to the Warriors for winning again as the Cavs go back to the drawing boards to think things over. The NBA summer season has now kicked in with hundreds of movements, news and developments sure to take place. And again, everyone asks, “Where will LeBron play?” Way lami gihapon?

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Time-out: We’re asking all to pray for Antero Jamio Jr. who passed away this week.