NBA PLAYOFFS PREVIEW
Rockets are among teams out to spoil Cavs-Warriors IV
When the 2017-18 NBA season began, life held certain steadfast truths.
Phone call s from “Unavailable” on caller ID were for donations or worse, solar panels. Side effects for TV medicines were worse than the ailment they were designed to relieve (we’ll take scaly elbows over “death in some cases”).
Most of all, the Warriors and Cavaliers were destined to wage a fourth straight NBA Finals war.
Don’ t discount it, but the chances have diminished vastly. LeBron James and Cleveland may emerge from the East, despite a talented, focused Raptors team. But the Warriors must navigate the Houston minefield out West. The Rockets rearmed with Chris Paul and hope James Harden’s past playoff flops are, well, past.
The Cavs were given up for dead. Defensively, they stunk all year, but retooled at the trade deadline with talented — although in experienced— additions. But they have LeBron. And he alone can punch a team’s Finals ticket.
“We’ve got a chance. We’re one of 16 teams that have a chance to win a championship,” James said. “That’s all you can ask for.”
Actually, we would ask for LeBron on our team. Then nothing is impossible. As one scout said: “All you have to do is go 4-3 every week. Round 1, Round 2, Round 3. Go 4-3, go to the Finals. What the Cavs have against them is they don’t have home-court [advantage].”
The postseason starts Saturday so here are some storylines that could lead to Cavaliers-Warriors IV — or Raptors-Rockets I: