We still have another full day until Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals. Like other laptop jockeys in the basketball world, I’m trying to figure out what I think will happen. I’m trying to internalize what we’ve learned over the past six weeks in the playoffs, and to add it to the regular season calculus. It’s difficult.
The NBA Finals are a battle for the heart and mind of basketball
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Before the playoffs began, I thought the Warriors were clearly the best team in the league (and maybe one of the five greatest teams ever). I predicted they would go 16-0 in the playoffs, becoming the first team to ever do so. (Don’t read the rest of that column. That was my only cogent prediction.) Nothing the Warriors (12-0 now) have done since has dissuaded me from believing they are incredible and one of the greatest teams ever.
I believed in Cleveland a year ago. I’d picked them to win the Finals before the playoffs began on the strength of the Cavaliers’ performance in the 2016 Finals and the health of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Cleveland had taken Golden State to six games with an out-of-gas LeBron and a bevy of role players. I believed adding Love and Irving back in would swing the pendulum. It did!
But so did some other circumstances, including Draymond Green’s Game 5 suspension. That’s what Cleveland needed to win in seven by the skin of their teeth. The Warriors have since added Kevin Durant, a top-three player in the world. The Cavaliers had a disconcerting regular season, one made more annoying by Cleveland’s utter dominance in the playoffs.
My heart thinks LeBron can overcome all, that having the best player means something. My heart thinks this will be a close series at the very least, salvaging an uncompetitive postseason. But my brain can’t get over the fact that the Warriors were this close to winning the Finals last year against this same team without Kevin Durant and having lost Draymond for a critical game.
I’m going with my brain: I think the Warriors will win. Maybe not as easily as I once thought — I don’t think a sweep is in play — but Golden State is so, so freaking good. We saw in 2007 and more recently in 2014 and 2015 that even LeBron can’t overcome some powerhouses. I think this is one of those times.
Prove me wrong one more time, King James.
Mike Prada has a brilliant breakdown assessing who LeBron should defend in the Finals.
I wrote an essay on why it’s wrong to make Kevin Durant a villain because of his free agency decision.
Tyronn Lue’s toughest coaching challenge is right in front of him, writes Tim Cato.
Justin Tinsley at The Undefeated on the inherent allure of Warriors-Cavs III and a sports trilogy.
One of the reasons I believe the Warriors will win this thing: Stephen Curry. Here’s an interesting chat with him from Chris Haynes on learning from 2016.
For this week’s new NBA mock draft, I let chaos reign. The Knicks ended up with LaVar Ball and his son.
The Ringer staff implores teams not to make the following picks.
Great story from Sarah Barker on navigating cultural needs in building youth basketball teams for first- and second-generation Somali-American girls.
A few interesting 2017 free agency notes: C.J. Miles will opt out and become unrestricted, while Dewayne Dedmon has declined his player option and will also become unrestricted. Rumors suggest Danilo Gallinari will also opt out.
Paul Pierce said some ridiculous things about Durant deciding to play for the Warriors instead of the Thunder.
LeBron vs. Jordan has officially been settled.
Kevin O’Connor on why isolation scorers are still needed in the NBA.
Jeff Van Gundy thinks the Warriors will go to 8-10 straight NBA Finals. I can’t really find a reason to think that’s crazy.
Marketing ploy alert! Durant’s new limited edition shoes will only be available to buy during Game 1 ... while KD is on the court. The chaotic neutral in me wants foul trouble to limit Durant to 10 minutes or something.
Speaking of the Warriors and sneakers ... Klay Thompson’s shoes are something else.
Mike Rutherford’s updated college basketball top 25.
Marc Stein reports that the Clippers are going to try to hire Jerry West away from the Warriors.
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