LeBron James may be the game's greatest player but the manner in which his Cleveland Cavaliers were dispatched in the NBA Finals on Monday may have signaled that his championship window has been slammed shut. How does he not compromise the squad needed to fight past rivals to reach the finals?
He couldn't ask for a better teacher and leader to continue to #DefendTheLand with than LeBron James. Durant has made 14 of 18 shots, including 5 of 7 3-pointers, to put the Warriors on the brink of their second championship in three years.
"I left everything on the floor every game", James said after averaging a triple-double in his eighth Finals.
At the half the Warriors had an 11-point lead on the strength of a 21-2 run midway through the quarter by the Warriors.
As confetti fell on the court, LeBron James gave Kevin Durant a long embrace and congratulatory words before walking off the court with his head held high despite a fifth career NBA Finals loss.
James hit a 3-pointer on the next possession and the Cavs didn't go away, cutting a 17-point deficit to three in the opening minute of the fourth quarter with help from Smith's 25 points. He scored 41 points on the night.
James has 16 points, Kyrie Irving has 12 and Tristan Thompson has eight for the Cavs. With an officiating crew that is trying to keep a handle on the physical play, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both have two fouls for the Warriors while Kevin Love and Kyle Korver have picked up a pair for the Cavs.
Adding George alongside James and Kyrie Irving would be a definite improvement for a Cavaliers team that would likely also be seeking a rim protector and a playmaker off the bench.
Markelle Fultz, Joel Embiid fully believe Sixers are a playoff team
After graduation, Fultz was named tournament MVP after leading Team USA to the gold medal at the FIBA America's U18 tournament. I had a gnawing feeling about the "Doubting Thomases" and their criticism of Fultz's season at the University of Washington .
Kyrie Irving's a student of the game. "It's tough to get back and get matched, especially with their speed". The 9-0 burst was completed after Kevin Love picked up his second foul in a game the officials are calling a little tighter after the physical play in Game 4.
That's great for Durant and the Warriors, who are a dynasty in the making.
Golden State coach Steve Kerr wants the Warriors to be more anxious, ready and eager in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Whomever is the GM of this team going forward, they're going to have to figure out a way to reshape a roster that is top-heavy on salaries.
Durant, with 39 in last night's clincher, was the difference in what was one of the easiest MVP votes in the history of the Finals. Their one title came previous year when the Cavs became the first National Basketball Association team to rally from a 3-1 Finals deficit to deliver the city its first major championship since 1964. "I'm confident we'll have him back. The beauty of what I know of this team, we all want to provide for our families, we want to get all that we can out of this game while we still have the legs to do it, but there are no egos when it comes to that side of the equation when it comes to us as professional athletes".
They played well and had a lead at times.
One of the fans watching the players go through their pregame routines was Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The best player was no match for the super team.
Comments