The Trentonian (Trenton, NJ)

L.A. Parker sees a LeBron win for the NBA Finals

- L.A. Parker Columnist L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@trentonian.com. Follow him on Twitter@ laparker6.

Sure, on paper, Golden State Warriors appear as favorites for the NBA championsh­ip.

Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green provide a nucleus that makes coach Steve Kerr and his marauding 3-point shooting squad expected trophy holders as they head back to the Finals for the fourth consecutiv­e year.

NBA ballers know that Golden State caught a huge break when Houston point guard Chris Paul suffered a hamstring injury in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Houston held a 3-2 advantage before losing the final two games with Paul latched to the bench.

There’s somebody being forgotten here. Let’s see. Oh, yeah, LeBron “King” James heads to his eighth consecutiv­e NBA finals.

Cleveland seems undermanne­d with a starting lineup of George Hill, Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith. The Cavaliers need successful 3-point shooting which may have to come from bench man, Kyle Korver, a gunner who when hot can deliver offensive firepower.

Curry attempted early gamesmansh­ip with his James is “amazing” comment followed by his assertion that LeBron’s teammates fail to garner enough credit.

“(Lebron) played an unbelievab­le playoff run to date and has willed his team to his eighth straight Finals and all that, which is unbelievab­le to think about the consistenc­y and the longevity and just the level of greatness that he’s shown in the Eastern Conference.”

“As a basketball fan, to turn on the TV last night and watch the game, and there were points in the game where you didn’t know how it was going to play out and they found a way to get it done, so shout-out to him. It was an amazing performanc­e, but don’t disrespect the other guys out there. They fought hard too.”

Steph Curry resorting to head games as the Cavaliers and Warriors play for the championsh­ip? The guard sounds concerned about LeBron as well he should be. James, undoubtedl­y, the second-best player of all time, could make a case for the best-ever should his team oust Golden State.

James defeated my Boston Celtics for the Eastern Conference crown after being down 2-0. He’s a remarkable player and role model which rarely receives mention.

Golden State seems like chalk but Steph “Pretty Boy” Curry and his Golden State Warriors better man up or James and his minimal cast of characters may surprise.

Take LeBron-ze in seven games as James wins his fourth NBA championsh­ip, thanks Cleveland fans for their support then heads to Philadelph­ia to team with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

 ?? ELISE AMENDOLA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James celebrates as his team pulls away from the Boston Celtics near the end of the second half in Game 7 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals, Sunday in Boston.
ELISE AMENDOLA — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James celebrates as his team pulls away from the Boston Celtics near the end of the second half in Game 7 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals, Sunday in Boston.
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