The only variable will be the bench, and the Warriors will undoubtedly attract quality players because of the near guarantee that they'll be winning more titles.
But a Durant dunk about four minutes into the second sent the sold-out hometown crowd into a frenzy. His rim-rattling tomahawk slam in the second quarter ignited Oracle arena and kicked off a game-changing 30-8 scoring run. By the time they held off a suddenly risky Cleveland in Game 5, the focus had turned to the present: Golden State winning the title.
These Warriors, LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh Heat, Kobe Bryant-Pau Gasol Lakers, Shaq-Kobe Lakers, Jordan's Bulls, Bad Boys Pistons, Showtime Lakers, Larry Bird Celtics, Bill Russell Celtics and Minneapolis Lakers - that's the entire list. Last year, he battled injuries with the Thunder before losing to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Somehow that made seeing that team reach the finish line Monday night all the more satisfying.
According to the oddsmakers at OddsShark, we should see a Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals for the fourth straight year.
Golden State has everything a team could ever want - and answers when the machine sputters, which isn't often. "It looks like it was easy, but guys like Steph Curry welcoming him and kind of let him shine - it worked out like it should", Myers said.
What made them great: An explosive perimeter attack meant they could score from way beyond the basket, while the versatile Green's defense allowed them to play small-ball lineups without getting hurt on the boards. This is Kerr's seventh championship, five of those as a player and two as a head coach.
"They're so committed to each other and unselfish", Kerr added of his players. Looking back on this season, people will forget that before The Finals, LeBron and company were 12-1 in the postseason.
2 officers killed, 2 inmates on run in Georgia
Police are searching for two escaped inmates from a Georgia prison who reportedly killed two corrections officers. One suspect shot both guards, before the two carjacked a 2004 Honda Civic and escaped, the sheriff's office said.
Draymond Green told reporters, "I told him earlier in the year, I said, 'It's cool that you're here, but we really don't need you for the regular season".
There hasn't been a coaching change in more than a year, which is an incredibly rare occurrence for the league. "I work hard, I believe in myself, I believe in the game, I respect the game, I love the game, and I knew at some point in my life that it will come around for me".
Overall, the Warriors are 207-39 during Kerr's tenure as coach.
Kerr, 51, missed Game 1 of the Finals and 11 total playoff games this year as he dealt with health issues stemming from multiple back surgeries. And Curry, too. Even LeBron James, celebrating the fight and brilliance they each demonstrated during an entertaining back-and-forth basketball show in this Finals trilogy. But in the end, James fell short.
As a fresh National Basketball Association champions cap sat a tad off-kilter on his head, Kevin Durant embraced mother Wanda.
"As far as that team, they're going to be here for a while", James said of the Warriors.
Golden State plays under a set of offensive-friendly rules, and critics said they wouldn't have stood up to the rugged play of the past. "So there will be a lot of teams trying to figure out ways to put personnel together to match that".
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