Warriors find Finals better the second time around

OAKLAND, United States: NBA scoring leader Stephen Curry and the defending champion Golden State Warriors have found the NBA Finals are better the second time around now that they know what to expect.

The Warriors, who downed Cleveland 104-89 in Thursday’s opener of the best-of-seven series, can move halfway to a championship repeat by beating the Cavaliers in game two today.

“We have the ultimate confidence in ourselves because of all that went into winning a championship last year,” Curry said.

“It still means as much, if not more, this time around, but you just have a certain sense of comfort knowing you have been through it before and at the end of the day it’s just basketball and going out and having confidence in what you do.”

Curry won his second consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player award this season and led the Warriors to a league-record 73 wins.

He made an NBA record 402 3-point shots, also led the league in steals and was the NBA’s most accurate free throw shooter.

But in the Western Conference finals, the Warriors had to win three intense do-or-die games to eliminate Oklahoma City and return to the NBA Finals.

“Getting back to the playoffs, there’s a different kind of pressure you feel because you know the feeling of winning and you want to get back there,” Curry said.

“But there’s also a sense of expectation knowing through each round how to deal with the emotions, the environment of the playoffs themselves, the hoopla around it, especially when you get to the finals.

“I didn’t feel as much anxiousness as last year. The more experiences you go through, the better you are at handling anything that’s thrown at you.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who helped the Chicago Bulls win three titles in a row in his playing days, reflected on what it means to have already won a crown when seeking another.

“It’s an interesting dynamic when you’re trying to repeat because it’s a very difficult thing to do,” he said. — AFP