JUNE 8
CLEVELAND-Golden State Warriors swept the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 to win the NBA Title on Friday night in Cleveland. Stephen Curry scored 37 points, Kevin Durant added a triple-double (20 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) and another NBA Finals MVP trophy and the Warriors won their second straight title and third in four years. ”That’s how you know we’re a great team, is when everybody’s coming after us,”Durant said. “Whether it’s opponents, whether it’s different coaches panning for us, whether it’s the fans, the media that hate us, it feels good when you’re the team that everybody’s gunning for. It makes us better.”
“Looking at this playoff journey, we knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as last year,” Curry said. “Then the challenges that faced us. In October we wanted to be back in this moment, and a lot went into it. It’s a great feeling to be back here.”
Faced with challenges all season long, the refined Warriors won their fourth straight finals against the Cavs with ease. The Warriors 108-85 win over the Cavaliers to complete their 4-0 sweep, might make LeBron James think twice about staying in Cleveland for the next season. It was the first sweep in the NBA Finals since 2007 when San Antonio swept LeBron and the Cavs. “We’ve got a lot of three-time, two-time champs in there, and we’ll have plenty of time in our lives to discuss that later;’ Curry said. “So want to keep this thing going as long as we can.”
During the series, the Cavs had a chance to win in Game 1, but loss in overtime that included a reversed official’s call and teammate J.R. Smith dribbling out the clock to end regulation. Being frustrated, LeBron injured himself following Game 1, and he arrived at his postgame news conference with a large black brace on his right hand and explained the injury was “self-inflicted”.
LeBron battled in game 4 to attempt to come back from a 3-0 deficit. However, the Warriors turned up the heat as they built a nine-point halftime lead when Curry ignored a closeout by James and dropped a 3-pointer. Then Warriors continued to apply pressure on Cleveland in the third quarter as they outscored the Cavs 25-13 with their 3-point assault. LeBron finished with 23 points and spent the final minutes on the bench, and Kevin Love added 13 points. “I had emotions of you just don’t get an opportunity like this on the road versus Golden State to be able to get a Game 1, and I let the emotions get the best of me,” James said. “Pretty much played the last three games with a broken hand, so that’s what it is.” James was asked if he played his final game for the Cavs. “I have no idea at this point,” James said. “The one thing that I’ve always done is considered, obviously, my family. So sitting down and considering everything, my family is a huge part of whatever I’ll decide to do in my career, and it will continue to be that.” LeBron came back to the Cleveland and ended the city’s 52-year championship drought in 2016, and he is expected to opt out of his $35.6 million contract and become a free agent. Teams stretching from Philadelphia to Los Angeles hoping to land the three-time champion. For the Warriors, Durant is expected to re-sign with the team, and Curry, Thompson, Green and the rest of the cast are eager to continue their reign.
