Can Cavs clip Cleveland curse?
WITH HEALTHY ‘BIG 3’
OAKLAND, United States—LeBron James, in his sixth consecutive NBA Finals, leads the Cleveland Cavaliers in a rematch with defending champion Golden State starting Thursday, but this time the superstar has a healthy supporting cast.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry sparks the Warriors’ quest for a title repeat against four-time MVP “King” James, who is trying to bring Cleveland a major sports crown for the first time since the 1964 NFL Browns.
“Our city deserves it. Our fans deserve it,” James said. “But that gives us no sense of entitlement. We’ve still got to go out and do it.”
Last year, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love missed nearly all of the playoffs and injury-nagged guard Kyrie Irving broke a kneecap in the championship series opener.
A superman effort by James—the first player to lead the Finals in all three major statistics with averages of 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists—couldn’t keep the Warriors from taking the bestof-seven series in six games.
“It’s definitely a different feeling,” James said. “I didn’t appreciate last year, what we were able to accomplish. Knowing Kev was out and Ky was dealing with injuries from the first round. I just didn’t appreciate getting to the Finals.
“Having our team at full strength, and the way I feel personally, I appreciate this moment, to be a part of it once again.”
James and Cavs reserve James Jones are the first players to reach six straight Finals since legendary Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics ended a run of eight consecutive titles half a century ago.
“I know what it feels like to win it. I know what it feels like to lose,” James said. “And I don’t want to lose it again.”
In a 12-2 playoff run, James has averaged 24.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.2 steals a game with Irving contributing 24.3 points, 5.1 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game and Love adding 17.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game.
“Thinking about just the steps it took to get back to where we are now, I really have a true appreciation of the journey,” Irving said. “We’re still not satisfied.”
Blocking that path are Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, last year’s NBA Finals MVP.
“They’ve been playing well the whole playoff run,” Curry said. “We’re ready for anything.”
But this year, the Warriors have battled playoff injuries—Curry missing two games with an ankle sprain and two weeks with a right knee sprain—and enter the finals after three must-win triumphs over Oklahoma City with only two days off.
“Guys have been playing hurt all year,” Thompson said. “But I think no matter what they’re going through, we’ve got too many competitors on this team to let that hold them back.”