The NBA is a bloody bore. Outcomes are rarely in question

basketball since the Celtics/Lakers wars of the Magic/Bird era.

To each his own.

Looks like the Warriors will get revenge from the Cavs beating them last year.

my son, in another city, was also watching. He kindly explains to me all of the many things I don't understand.

Out here in Maryland, watched to whole game even though I had to wake up at 0340 local to start shift at 0500... Wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Hahaha, sorry Cleveland, strength in numbers wins again.

It has been a real experience keeping up on our badass bay area teams over the years while an Army expat:
-watched the 49ers beat the Saints while at Camp Arifjan - great playoff run
-Giants every game of the World Series runs - especially great to see them beat the Royals after that awesome playoff run

lots more. Playoff heartbreak with the Niners, too, hate to say. Oh well,

GO WARRIORS! STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!

Can't say that I blame them; blowing a 3-1 series lead in the Finals? That year's trophy will always leave a hole.

On to a more mundane but related topic: ESPN is all about "Is Lebron James the greatest of all time?" It's a facile question, readily accessible to even the most casual fan, and of course, there's no real answer. From what I can tell, a lot of James' resume is built on having taken his team to the Finals seven straight years, despite a spotty record in terms of bringing home the championship.

My question: Do you think James' Finals streak is a product of his greatness, or simply because he plays in the Eastern Conference? I submit that the addition of James to practically any team in the East automatically confers contender status on that team (possible exception: The hapless Knicks). But in the West? I'll except Golden State and San Antonio, due to their status as perennial contenders for the conference championship already. Would the addition of Lebron James make the Clippers a contender? The Rockets? The Thunder?

Let's get quibbling!

LJ finals streak is due to him creating the "super team" concept. He bailed on CL and went to Miami to create the first super team with wade and bosh. Then after CL cratered and started drafting in the top five for four years I think LJ came back to create the next super team with love and Irving.

For the season LJ didn't even make the top ten statistically (per fantasy rank ordering). It is KD, Davis, Curry, the Greek guy and Leonard, then westbrook, harden....

Other than one superb team.

The playoffs themselves were so blase that I haven't watched Inside the NBA one time. Normally I don't miss it, and especially the Gone Fishin' segments.

Too bad Cleveland didn't hang on in game three. That would have made game four a real battle with great intensity from both sides, although I suspect Golden State would have pulled it out. Normally when a home team is down 0-3 after a devastating home loss they go down rather meekly in game four. No energy. That's why Golden State is -6.5 point favorite in game four after being -3.5 in game three.

You know these finals are setting viewership records? The series has been riveting IMO.


The Worst NBA Finals: 2002
http://www.sbnation.com/2017/6/1/15720436/nba-finals-2002-worst-ever-lakers-nets

Disclaimer: I live in the Bay Area, but I'm a college hoops fan and one of my school's products is actually on the Cavs team. He's pretty good... may have heard of him... Kyrie Irving

But the Warriors have tightened up their defense and I think this is theirs for the taking. Plus no other team has ever come back from 0-3 (though that was also said last year that no team had ever come back from 0-2).

Cavs came out and owned the first quarter. Well done.

Three quarters to go.

I am a San Franciscan so obviously I want the Warriors to pull this off.