STAFF GIVES NOD TO WARRIORS IN RUBBER MATCH
Golden State Warriors. Cleveland Cavaliers. Stephen Curry. LeBron James. Round 3. It doesn’t get better than this. As the basketball world awaits this NBA Finals rubber match, the USA TODAY Sports NBA staff gives its predictions.
Sam Amick: As ill-timed obstacles go, the Warriors have one: the uncertain coaching status of Steve Kerr. That’s a whole lot better than this time a year ago, when the fatigue of chasing 73 wins, multiple Curry injuries early in the playoffs and a seven-game Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder left them vulnerable from the Game 1 tip against the Cavaliers. It didn’t look that way when they won three of the first four, but you could see the collective toll it took during their collapse (and, of course, when Draymond Green was suspended for Game 5).
This time around, everyone except Kerr is healthy. Acting coach Mike Brown is undefeated in the playoffs. Curry, Green and Kevin Durant are playing at their peak, while Klay Thompson is the slumping shooter who’s surely about to blow his top at any minute. The greatness of James, the continued ascension of Kyrie Irving and the better-than-ever comfort level of Kevin Love will be enough to help the Cavs put up a good fight, but this Warriors group is just too good. Warriors in six.
Jeff Zillgitt: Underdogs in the Finals once again, the Cavaliers face an even more difficult challenge against the Warriors. It’s one thing to beat Curry, Green and Thompson. It’s another to beat Curry, Green, Thompson and Durant. The Cavs have enough offensive power to win games in the series, but do they have enough defense to win the series? The Cavs’ defense has been questioned all season, and it improved during the playoffs. But Cleveland didn’t face an offense like Golden State’s, nor did the Warriors face an offense like the Cavs’.
However, in this series, the burden of proof is on Cleveland’s defense. It will take another special performance from Cleveland to win a second consecutive title. It’s foolish to count out a James-led team, but the Warriors are the favorite for a reason. They’ve been the better team this season. Warriors in six.
Michael Singer: Despite what Love says, the Warriors are the favorites to win the unprecedented rubber match. Adding a player of Durant’s caliber makes an already dangerous team terrifying. And though their offense is the main attraction, they have the best defensive rating of any team this postseason.
It’s hard to counter what James, Irving and Love have done this postseason, their collective talent showing the disparity between themselves and the rest of the East. But the Warriors are a devastating group that not only have last year’s collapse still lingering in their minds, but also an inherent motivation in Kerr. Warriors in seven.
AJ Neuharth-Keusch: If last year taught us anything, it’s that betting against James is never a good idea, regardless of who’s standing in the way. But this year is a different story. Crazy as it sounds considering they’ve been the most dominant team in the NBA over the last three seasons, this Warriors group is not only healthy but also hungry as ever.
As far as the entertainment aspect, this is what the basketball world has been waiting for since the final buzzer sounded on Game 7 last June, and it won’t disappoint. But we mustn’t forget: This is a Cavaliers team that struggled mightily on the defensive end in the regular season. Sure, they’ve been significantly better in the playoffs, but their first three opponents couldn’t hold a candle to Golden State. Simple as it sounds, the Warriors are just too strong and talented on both ends of the floor to end another season without the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Warriors in six.