Back 2 Back
In the early hours of this morning the Golden State Warriors were crowned NBA champions.
Completing a sweep of 4-0 on the road in Cleveland, the Bay Area team coached by former Chicago Bulls guard Steve Kerr beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-85.
This is the third title in four years for the Warriors and their second consecutive. It’s also the third title in four years for three of its core players: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. It’s the second title for the team’s other All-Star, Kevin Durant.
Steph Curry ended the game with 37 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, while Kevin Durant finished with a triple double 20-12-10 with one steal.
Without doubt the toughest run the Warriors have had to endure these past four years in the playoffs, their road to the finals was almost cut short when their backs were up against the wall in the Western Conference Finals going down 2-3 versus the Houston Rockets. But they pulled it back to take the series 4-3 which earned them an NBA Finals showdown with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Aside from the championship, the award for NBA Finals MVP was also presented this morning. Given to Kevin Durant of the Warriors for the second year in a row, it was a close call and could so easily have been awarded to Steph Curry – who is yet to win a finals MVP but has two regular season MVPs, including the first ever unanimous MVP – but in the end the judges chose Durant who won it with a vote of 7-4.
On the opposing team Lebron James, who continues to be widely regarded as the world’s best player, ended the night with 23 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
But the bigger conversation regarding Lebron revolves around whether or not tonight was his last game in a Cleveland jersey. He now has an option to take his talents elsewhere, which will more than likely occupy the news this off season.
After the season he’s had, where individually he’s been spectacular but he’s struggled with support from his teammates, no one would blame him for making an exit. Let’s not forget he also delivered the city a championship after an incredible comeback against the Warriors in 2016, so he’s done his part, he doesn’t owe them anything.
Will he go to Philadelphia and join Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid at the 76ers? Will he join Chris Paul and James Harden in Houston at the Rockets? Or will he head to L.A. and join Magic Johnson and the Lakers? Who knows.
What we do know however is that the Golden State Warriors are once against NBA Champions. Congratulations to the Warriors organisation and we look forward to seeing if you can three-peat next season.
