3-POINT PLAY
Cavs, Warriors trying to make history with third Finals duel
The NBA should have just staged a best-of-15 series last year.
Instead, we all went through another long regular season and now head into the playoffs that could end with another Cleveland-Golden State Finals. That scenario would make history because the same two teams never have met three straight years in the Finals.
It recalls George C. Scott in his legendary Oscar-winning performance near the end of “Patton” when the general implores a superior: “We’re going to have to fight the Russians eventually anyway. It might as well be now while we’ve already got the army here to do it.”
So a Cavaliers-Warriors storyline is one of the intriguing plots to consider when the NBA playoffs begin Saturday. But beyond LeBron James defending the title with the Cavs, who seemed so vulnerable finishing 11-15, there is much more worth watching.
There is the first-round matchup of MVP contenders Russell Westbrook of the Thunder and James Harden of the Rockets. Want a dark horse contender? Try Toronto. Want a real dark horse? Try Washington. Crave an upset? Keep an eye on No. 1 East seed Boston against No. 8 Chicago. Appreciate professionalism? Watch the Spurs, who present the greatest threat to a Cavs-Warriors three-peat.
Here are some key storylines:
ANOTHER LAST RUN BY THE CLIPPERS, THIS ONE AGAINST KIDS
The Jazz, playoff staples when Stockton-to-Malone reigned and buffalo roamed the plains, are making their first playoff appearance since 2012. The Clippers are back for a sixth-straight year. But this could signal the end of the Clippers as we know them. Chris Paul, Blake
Griffin and JJ Redick are free agents. How many times can you be almost good enough to go to the Finals?
The Clippers’ experience should prevail. But it could go seven. Utah’s Rudy Gobert neutralizes DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers have Gordon Hayward’s scoring to offset Griffin’s. George Hill stabilized the point for Utah, but now he faces Paul.
WHY THE CAVS? THEY HAVE THE MOTHER OF ALL WEAPONS
That would be LeBron, aiming for a seventh straight trip to The Finals. Asked if the Cavs were vulnerable, Toronto’s Kyle Lowry said, “You can’t ever say that about any team with LeBron James.” James knows better than anyone what it takes. “We have a good chance to win it all, but it starts with baby steps,” James said. “Got to play hard, got to understand in the postseason every possession matters. One possession can lose you a game and it could ultimately lose you a series.”
MASTERS OF THE FORMULAIC SERIES
One opposing exec summed up the Spurs’ playoff style: “Win two at home, lose one on the road, come home and win, win again. Series over. Rest up.” In the eyes of the TV lords, the Spurs, despite unquestioned franchise brilliance, are not primetime material. “Spurs-Grizzlies?” one scout said. “What’s that on, The Family Channel? Amazing. The Spurs are one of the premier franchises in the major sports. And nobody knows their team. They’re not on national TV. It’s Golden State or Cleveland.” For those just tuning in, the Spurs didn’t have Tim Duncan this year — and still won 61 games to prep for their fourth postseason meeting in seven years with Memphis. Kawhi Leonard (above) had an MVP-type season, combining brilliant defense with 25.5 points a game. Tony Parker showed his age so Patty Mills must step up to direct the offense against Memphis point Mike Conley and a typically tough Grizzlies defense. Memphis still has monsters inside but moved Zach Randolph to the bench.
SOME OTHER GUYS MIGHT EVEN PLAY
The 3-6 West matchup, James Harden vs. Russell Westbrook, actually will contain other Thunder and Rockets players. It really will be more than, “Our triple-double MVP candidate is better than your triple-double MVP candidate.”
Houston averaged more than 40 3-pointers a game while Oklahoma City took 25.8. The MVP series might be, “Whoever plays defense first, wins.”
It has the scent of upset. Westbrook joined Oscar Robertson as only the second player in history to average a triple-double, collecting a record 42 for the season. But even though OKC is battled tested with a good playoff coach, Houston has better talent. Eric Gordon had a great year. Trevor Ariza is a proven NBA vet. Don’t forget Patrick Beverley, Ryan Anderson and Lou Williams. OKC’s second scoring option is Victor Oladipo in his first playoffs.
DID WE WASTE SIX MONTHS OR CAN ANYONE BEAT THE CAVS OR WARRIORS?
Short answer: other than the Spurs out West, no.
The teams look different. Kevin Durant is with Golden State. The Cavs have the main pieces intact, including James who can make Cub Scouts favorites, not just a team with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. The Cavs survived injuries all year then lost their final four games and the No. 1 East seed to Boston.
Though discounting San Antonio always is as dangerous as testing electrical currents with your tongue, figure 2016-17 evolves into a Cavs-Warriors World War III.
WORKING DURANT BACK IN
There are tougher assignments. The Warriors learned to play with Durant. Then they had to play without him. Now he’s back. Two scouts had decidedly different views.
“They hadn’t been together for a month, and they’ve got to figure out how to play together again. Steph Curry stepped back to allow Kevin to fit in and then he had to step back up and now it’s again integrating him,” one scout said.
“Doesn’t matter,” said another. “He’s a great player playing with great players. It’s an All-Star team. You’ve got three of the top 10 players on one team. Their wild card is Draymond Green. Does he play and behave?” The Warriors face the Blazers and their high-octane guards, Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Both are great home teams. Figure the Blazers get one game.
A NO. 1 SEED DOESN’T GUARANTEE RESPECT
Top East seed Boston is a very good team, one that raised its defense considerably, but, Isaiah Thomas aside, lacks the star power fans crave.
“If you can game plan to take Isaiah out of the game, who else on that team is going to beat you?” one scout said. “If you take him out of the game, Al Horford are you gonna beat me? Jae Crowder are you gonna beat me? I’ll take my chances with that.
“It will be interesting to see how teams play them in a seven-game series when you see them every night.”
A POSSIBLE 1-8 UPSET SPECIAL
Boston is in a danger zone. Chicago has been decidedly mediocre for two seasons but in a series, could be really dangerous. The Bulls have Dwyane Wade and Jimmy
Butler and the Celtics lack anybody to match up with them. Plus, Chicago’s Rajon
Rondo is still a pretty good player. Bad defender but pretty good player. Butler would bite his mother to win. Wade and Rondo are champions. Robin Lopez can guard Horford inside where the Celtics could be vulnerable. Boston lives and dies with the 3-pointer, always a postseason danger. The Celtics should survive but don’t be stunned they don’t.
SPEAKING OF DARK HORSES…
Two dangerous teams emerge in the East, Toronto and Washington, both of whom made significant deadline additions. The Raptors won 50 for a second straight season and have an All-Star backcourt that averaged nearly 50 points in Lowry, back from injury, and DeMar DeRozan. Toronto added deadline defense with Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker. The Bucks, dealt a huge blow losing Jabari Parker, have star power with Giannis Antetokounmpo (left), who creates as many problems for opponents with his athleticism as he does for headline writers with his name. Bucks coach Jason Kidd will play it loose, up-tempo. Still, if Toronto makes it a halfcourt series, it’s over in five. If not, it could go six. Washington’s John Wall and Bradley Beal form one of the best backcourts in the league. Otto Porter, Markieff Morris and Marcin Gortat are solid up front. And there’s a coach, Scott Brooks, with playoff experience. Washington faces the Hawks who, despite all the free agent defections, including Horford, have a determined defense and a fifth seed. They have made re-signing Paul Millsap a priority but a bad flameout will hurt.
THE PACERS AND THEIR SUBPLOTS
Indiana brought back Lance Stephenson as a playmaker and a LeBron James antagonist. But the Pacers must convince Paul George of the wonders of Indianapolis. Many see him bolting to the Lakers as a free agent after next season. His matchup (along with Thaddeus Young, Glenn Robinson III, Stephenson, the Indianapolis PD Swat Team) with James in the first round intrigues.