With no Serena, there’s no obvious favorite

James’ Cavs have routedr the East in playoffffffffffffs, but his Heat teams faaced tougher competition. Women’s contenders for French Open all cause some hesitation.

The Cavaliers have won 12 of 133 games on their way to a third conseecutive NBA Finals appearance, a conntinuation of the three-year march thhrough the Eastern Conference playoffff ffffs that, record-wise, has surpassed LLeBron James’ runs to the Finals as a member of the Heat.

But are his Cleveland teamss more dominant than his Miami teaams or have the Cavaliers taken advanntage of weak competition? Cav valiers at War rriors, 9 p.m., ABC

Cleveland has steamrolled through the East in the postseason since James returned home, going 36-5 in three years. Included have been six sweeps, just t wo series that stretched to six games (none taken to a Game 7) and the five- game rout of the Celtics in this year’s Eastern Conference fifinals in which Cleveland outscored Boston by 100 points.

Miami’s teams anchored by James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were 48-16 against the East in the postseason ROME — Asked recently if she believed, as the oddsmakers do, that she is the French Open favorite, Simona Halep dissented.

“No, no,” she said. “In this moment, no.” Who is, then? “About 15 players,” she said, smiling.

The sixth- seeded Halep, of Romania, had just lost the Italian Open fifinal on Sunday to the Main storylines and players to watch at Roland Garros,

eighth-

MF irst-round singles, no oon, NBC

STAFF AND WIRE PHOTOS LeBron James’ three most recent postseason trips through the Eastern Conference featured flflawed opponents. His Big Three-era Heat defeated strong Bulls, Celtics and Pacers teams to reach the Finals.