BEATIN’ HIM AT HIS OWN GAME
G.S. wants series short and sweep
CLEVELAND — Most of the Warriors publicly insist it doesn’t matter if the four wins needed for the NBA Finals come in four, five, six or seven games. Most say that. But not all. “I want a sweep,” reserve Shaun Livingston said flatly. “I want a sweep, I’ll put that on record. Going against the grain that it’s already over, that’s kind of the thinking behind it. I want that. I want to win [Friday] because it’s an opportunity to do something we haven’t done.”
Livingston can get his wish and the Warriors can claim their third title in four years, all at the expense of the Cavaliers — the team that interrupted the run — on Friday in Game 4 of the Finals.
The Warriors feel a sweep would validate a long, tough season. They were second in the West, record-wise, to the Rockets. For the first time in their run, some serious doubt emerged regard- ing their chances. Injuries and some sluggish play contributed to the down vibe. But forget all that.
“At the end of the day, you can never count out a champion, no matter what’s going on in the course of their season,” LeBron James said.
So go for the sweep — for lots of reasons.
“We know what’s at stake. We don’t want to leave it up to chance and go back to Oakland,” Klay Thompson said. “We have a golden opportunity here to get a 4-0 sweep ... We have never done it in the Finals. It would be a nice cap to the up-and-down year we had.”
As intent as the Warriors may be to finish it off after Kevin Durant lifted them with a stunning 43-point Game 3 nuclear detonation that provided a 110-102 victory Wednesday, the Cavs are equally set to force a Game 5.
“We made our own bed. Now we’ve got to dig ourselves out,” said Cavs guard George Hill, who claimed he doesn’t “pay attention to the history stuff” when reminded history says no NBA team has rallied from 0-3 to win a seven-game playoff series. “I don’t think there is nothing mentally you can do. You’re down 3-0. It’s a must-win situation or the season’s over.”
And the Warriors want it over Friday.
“You never know, crazy things that can happen, turn of events in a series that could take place,” said Draymond Green, whose basketball IQ and defense have drawn constant praise in the series. “You have the opportunity to close out, you want to do that.” With a sweep. “Let’s be great,” Livingston said. “Why shouldn’t we want the sweep and win back-to- back? It’s kind of foreshadowing a little bit, but at the same time we’re very capable ... It’s been a long year and it would be great to wrap it up in a bow.”