The Golden State Warriors have advanced to the NBA Finals and will face the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second consecutive year. After having the type of season that dreams are made of, the Warriors’ express train to another championship was temporarily slowed post-season by unforeseen injuries and losses that were uncharacteristic of their squad. Down 3 games to their 1, the Warriors were on the brink of elimination when they caught a second wind and won 3 games in a row. In Monday night’s final matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors battled back from a 13-point deficit to seal a game 7 victory and clinch an NBA Finals spot.
Klay Thompson scored 21 points, landing six 3’s, while league MVP Stephen Curry ended up with 36 points and made seven 3’s. Curry’s final 3-pointer, shot with 26 seconds left on the clock sealed the Thunder’s fate and guaranteed the Warriors victory.
LeBron James, who will be playing in his sixth consecutive NBA Final, and the rest of the Cavaliers squad will face the Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday. The Warriors are being favored to win the title but odds and favors mean little to James as he explained in a press conference. “Not my concern. I don’t get involved in all of that — underdog, overdog, whatever the case may be. It’s stupidity.” He went on to say, “We’re better built to start the Finals than we were last year. Doesn’t matter who it’s against. I mean, that’s not a headline. It’s obvious.Like Coach [Tyronn] Lue said, we’re just waiting on the winner. We’re fortunate to be here and we look forward to the challenge. It’s an unbelievable team that we’re going against. Hats off.”