Cavaliers readying for NBA Finals challenge
The Cleveland Cavaliers have reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2007. However, most expect Cleveland to be quick work for the Golden State Warriors, a team that won 67 games during the regular season. Behind Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes, the Warriors have been a dominant force, only losing three home games all year, including the postseason.
Yet, the Cavaliers still have the greatest player on Earth in LeBron James. The man known as “King James” has been nothing short of incredible in the playoffs, leading Cleveland past the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks despite having Kevin Love sidelined with a shoulder injury and Kyrie Irving in and out of the lineup with an ankle problem.
James, who is appearing in his fifth consecutive Finals, believes he is at the peak of his powers to this point, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com.
“I think if you put it all together, yeah,” James said. “If you put everything together as far as my mind, my body, my game. If you put everything in one bottle, this is probably the best I’ve been.”
Love isn’t sure whether Jamesis better now than he was during his four years with the Miami Heat – when he won a pair of titles and multiple MVP awards – but believes James is still a devastating force.
“I think it’s tough. Was he bouncier at one point? Physically, it’s tough to say,” Love said. “But as far as up here [mentally], I think he’s ahead of where he was. Being able to make everybody around him better, it’s a great quality. He doesn’t lack that at all. I think he’s truly done a phenomenal job with guys going down and helping others to play better.”
If James wants to win his third title, he will need to put on nothing short of an all-time performance. James will likely need to average something close to a triple-double, which isn’t out of the question considering he has an average of 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game in the postseason. Against Golden State, it will be interesting to see if James draws Green or Barnes for the majority of his minutes.
Even as great as James is, he will need help. Iman Shumpert and JR Smith must play up to their capability every evening. Tristan Thompson needs to show why he’s a better option for 2016 and beyond than Love. James might be the underdog according to Las Vegas (Golden State is 5/11 to take the Larry O’Brien Trophy, while Cleveland is at 2/1), but only a fool would count him out.
On Thursday, we will begin to find out whether Cleveland or Golden State has the upper hand in this titanic clash.
