Cavaliers, Warriors begin title quests again
OAKLAND, California – Minutes after LeBron James lost the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors four months ago, he vowed to return to the gym right away with plans to get back to the big stage. To win another ring.
Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant heard it yet already knew it – and everybody on the defending champs and King James’ Cleveland Cavaliers realizes these teams could be destined for another championship showdown at the end of this season.
No, James is not through. Neither are the reigning champs if they have their way.
They all understand the entire league has upped its game to chase these two heavyweights from their respective conferences.
“That’s the beauty of competition at the highest level, other teams make us better and vice versa. Cleveland made us better,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “They beat us two years ago, they made us better last year. We’re doing the same thing for them. They’re retooling a little bit, they’ve got some great talent. Every team is trying to get where we are and that pushes us. We push them. That’s what makes the game better.”
The Warriors and new-look Cavs will be tested in their openers: Golden State hosts Houston on Tuesday night (Wednesday in Manila) in Chris Paul’s Rockets debut, while Cleveland plays Boston at home with Kyrie Irving in a Celtics jersey following that blockbuster August trade that transformed the Eastern Conference rivals.
After losing to Golden State in a Game 5 clincher in Oakland, the Cavs spent the summer rebuilding a roster that now features new stars like Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Isaiah Thomas.
Despite dealing Irving to its closest competitor in the East, Cleveland is deeper with more versatility and talent than at any time James has been on the roster.
And with close friend Wade back by his side, James is not only happy but is teammates with a player who brings out the best in him. Throw in former league MVP Rose, motivated to show he’s still one of the game’s elite guards, along with Thomas, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Jae Crowder, Jeff Green, Kyle Korver and Tristan Thompson, and it’s easy to see why Cleveland seems to be on a collision course with the Warriors again.