NBA – National Basketball Association
- 2025 NBA Playoffs Schedule Second Round Bracket Times and How to Watch
2025 NBA Playoffs Schedule
The intensity of the hardwood has hit its apex. Welcome to the business end of the seasonwhere legends are born, dynasties rise (or crumble), and moments are immortalized in highlight reels and championship lore. The 2025 NBA Playoffs are in full swing, and if you’ve somehow been living under a rockor maybe just distracted by your fantasy baseball rosterit’s time to catch up.
Round 1? A distant memory. The field has thinned to the elite eight, and we’re now knee-deep in the Conference Semifinals. Game plans are tighter. Rotations are shorter. And every possession suddenly feels like a potential documentary episode in the making.
Second Round Showcase: The Matchups
Let’s get to what really mattersthe current matchups you should be setting calendar reminders for. The cream has risen, and the narratives are juicier than a Jordan Poole heat check. Here’s how the 2025 NBA Playoff bracket is stacked in the second round:
Eastern Conference
- Boston Celtics (1) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (4): Young meets legacy. The Celtics, behind MVP contender Jayson Tatum, have been clinical, while the Cavaliersled by the ever-evolving Donovan Mitchellare playing like a team determined to crash the party. Strap in for a series that promises clutch finishes and sideline pyrotechnics.
- New York Knicks (2) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (3): Yes, it’s the current Mecca vs. Midwest muscle. The Knicks continue their redemption arc behind a suddenly potent offense, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard aim to bring postseason muscle memory back into Milwaukee’s DNA. Expect elite defense, scrappy series swings, and possibly a game-winner from 36 feet.
Western Conference
- Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (4): A generation clash if there ever was one. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has turned OKC into bona fide contenders, while the Clippers’ trio of playoff-hardened vetsKawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Hardenare trying to finally cash in on their championship chase. It’s old guard vs. new blood, and it’s glorious.
- Denver Nuggets (2) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (3): Call it a Rocky Mountain rumble. Back-to-back MVP Nikola Joki? has Denver aiming for title defense, but Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns aren’t here to make up the numbers. This series may hinge on depth, killer crossovers, and which big man flexes harder under pressure.
Game Times and Daily TV Listings
Planning your evenings around basketball? Smart move. Here’s a snapshot of what today’s NBA schedule looks like:
- Game 3 – Cavaliers at Celtics: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Game 3 – Thunder at Clippers: 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Both series are tied 1-1, which means the tension is about to hike to playoff-tier levels of absurd. Homecourt is shifting, scouting reports are being rewritten, and by the end of the night, we’ll know a lot more about who holds the real leverage.
What to Watch: Storylines Heating Up
It wouldn’t be the playoffs without a healthy dose of drama. Here’s what’s cooking:
- Shai’s Superstar Ascent: Everyone in Oklahoma City knows what he’s about, but with each double-double in April, SGA is making believers nationwide. MVP whispers are turning into full-on chants.
- Madison Square Hype: You haven’t heard noise until you hear the Garden in May. New York fans are convinced this is their year. The Knicks’ blend of youth and grit has been unbearably entertaining for anyone not wearing opposing colors.
- The Joki? Showrolls On: It’s not flashy. It’s not viral. It’s just wildly efficient dominance. Denver’s big man makes the extraordinary look incredibly mundane, which is in itself pretty extraordinary.
Updated Bracket: Who’s Next in Line?
If you’re building a bracket wall like it’s March all over again, here’s where the Final Four picture could be heading:
- Winner of Celtics vs. Cavaliers will face the winner of Knicks vs. Bucks
- Winner of Thunder vs. Clippers will meet the survivor between Nuggets and Timberwolves
From there, it’s the bright lights, the frantic pregame montages, and the chance to etch your name in June basketball history. But first, there’s a lot of workand a lot of jump shotsbetween now and the finals.
Final Thoughts: Playoff Fever in Full Bloom
The 2025 NBA Playoffs are offering everything fans could ask for: tactical chess matches, underdog surges, superstar grudges, and cross-generational matchups that bring out the best of the league. For lovers of the game, this isn’t just basketballit’s a full-blown theater production, and the curtain is nowhere near ready to drop.
So grab your favorite jersey, stock the fridge, and mute the group chatbecause for the next few weeks, there’s only one schedule that matters: the 2025 NBA Playoffs Schedule.
Schedule subject to change as series progress. For real-time updates, visit CBS Sports.
- Timberwolves Eliminate Warriors Advance to 2025 Western Conference Finals
Timberwolves Advance WCF
The Minnesota Timberwolves are howling their way back to the Western Conference Finals. Behind a potent mix of youthful exuberance, disciplined hustle, and an ice-cold finishing touch, the Wolves clawed past the Golden State Warriors with a 112-105 win in Game 6, closing out their Western Conference Semifinal series 4-2. Target Center shook with the sound of postseason aspirations turned reality, as the Timberwolves once again find themselves among the final four teams left standing.
Anthony Edwards: Lone Star in the Northern Sky
Superstars rise in Mayand Anthony Edwards isn’t just rising; he’s soaring. The third-year phenom put up 30 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds, playing both conductor and executor in a high-powered Timberwolves offense that left Golden State grasping for answers. From crossovers that melted ankles to clutch fourth-quarter shot-making, Edwards stamped his signature all over this series. Afterward, he grinned and said, “We just getting started.”
That might be bad news for the West.
Warriors Fade Out as Wolves Sink Their Dynasty Teeth In
Golden State’s magic has finally met its end. For years, they’ve danced through the playoffs with their patented ball movement and a backcourt duo that could bury teams in a tide of threes. But on Thursday night, the splash was more like a ripple. Steph Curry poured in 26 points, but he was hounded all game by the smothering defense of Jaden McDaniels and the ever-switchable Minnesota wings.
Klay Thompson shot just 3-of-12 from the field, looking short on lift and rhythm. Draymond Green’s tenacity remained, but Minnesota neutralized his impact by cutting off passing lanes and forcing him into tough decisions.
Changing of the Guard?
In what could be a signal of a shifting landscape in the West, the Timberwolves not only eliminated a modern-day dynasty but did so with youth, defense, and depth. Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 11 boards, anchoring Minnesota inside while avoiding the foul trouble that’s plagued him in past playoff runs.
Perhaps the most telling sign that this is a new Timberwolves era? The team’s composure. Down five early in the fourth quarter, they calmly executed a 12-2 run, capped by an Edwards step-back triple that sent the Target Center crowd into hysteria.
Bench Production & Coaching Masterclass
Credit also goes to head coach Chris Finch, whose adjustments throughout the series frustrated the Warriors’ offense. His decision to turn to Nickeil Alexander-Walker for extended minutes in Game 6 proved wiseas the lanky guard played stout perimeter defense and knocked down two critical threes in the third quarter.
The bench mob came alive, too. Naz Reid continued his Sixth Man of the Year campaign, chipping in 14 points and providing a steady scoring spark while Rudy Gobert rested. Speaking of Goberthis defensive presence anchored the paint, altering shots and commanding the lane like a bouncer at the NBA’s VIP postseason party.
The Road Ahead: Timberwolves vs. TBD
Now, with the Wolves eyeing a return trip to the Western Conference Finals, the question becomes: Who’s next? With the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder still battling it out in the other semifinal, the Timberwolves will enjoy valuable rest while scouting their potential opponents.
Should it be Denver, expect a heavyweight rematch of last year’s postseason thriller. If it’s OKC, it’s youth vs. youth with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. Either way, the Wolves believe they’re built to lastand built to win now.
Timberwolves’ Redemption Arc in Full Swing
Let’s not forget, this is a franchise that until recently had been a punchline. One lone playoff series win since 2004. But now, with ownership stability, front-office vision, and a roster that makes sense on paper and excels on hardwood, these Wolves are no longer underdogs.
“We’ve been through a lot,” Towns said. “People counted us out, said we couldn’t make it work. But our locker room believed. We believe in each other.”
From perennial rebuild mode to conference finals contenderthis Minnesota story is getting awfully compelling.
Game 6 – Timberwolves 112, Warriors 105
- Anthony Edwards: 30 PTS, 9 AST, 6 REB
- Karl-Anthony Towns: 22 PTS, 11 REB
- Steph Curry: 26 PTS, 4 AST
- Klay Thompson: 8 PTS, 3-12 FG
- Bench Points: MIN – 31, GSW – 19
Wolves’ Fans, Howl LoudThis One Matters
Game 6 didn’t just punch Minnesota’s ticket back to the WCF. It might have ushered in a new era altogether. With Anthony Edwards continuing his rise into true superstardom, and a roster clicking at just the right time, the postseason is no longer about experienceit’s about momentum.
The Timberwolves have it in spades. And the rest of the NBA? They better take notice.
- Pacers Eliminate Cavs to Reach 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Again
Pacers Advance East Finals
The Indiana Pacers are crashing the Eastern Conference party and they brought their fast-paced, high-octane offense with them.
A Statement Win in Game 7
Indiana fans, take a bow. Your Pacers just punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2014, and they did it in gutsy, blue-collar fashion on the road in Cleveland. Rick Carlisle’s squad outlasted the Cavaliers in Game 7 of the Eastern semifinals, sealing a 113-104 win and sending the upstart Cavs packing from Rocket Mortgage FieldHousewith a statement.
Whoever said experience wins playoff games clearly forgot to tell the Pacers. Behind another signature playoff performance from Tyrese Haliburton and a late-game surge from Pascal Siakam, Indiana outplayed and outlasted a battered Cleveland team whose fire had slowly dimmed over the past week. The Pacers, who most had pegged as a building team just a year ago, are now just four wins from an NBA Finals berth.
Haliburton’s Heroics Continue
The engine that drives Indiana’s offense? None other than Tyrese Haliburton, who was once again the metronome of the Pacers’ rhythm. Finishing with 25 points and 10 assists, Haliburton shot the lights out early, setting the tone with pace and precision. Whether it was negotiating tight defensive pressure, finding open shooters in the corners, or drawing fouls with heady dribble drives, Haliburton played a controlled but aggressive brand of basketball that Cleveland simply couldn’t match.
“We’re not here by accident,” Haliburton told the media postgame. “We believe in what we’re building. We don’t care about seeds, narratives or what people think we’re supposed to be doing. We play our way.”
Siakam Steps Up When It Matters
If Haliburton lit the match, Pascal Siakam poured on the gasoline in the fourth. In a gritty closeout quarter, Siakam’s veteran presence was palpable. He scored 11 of his 19 points in the final frame, muscling through contact in the paint and draining contested midrange jumpers when Indiana needed poise most.
Acquired midseason in a move that many dubbed a gamble, Siakam has been worth every asset Indiana paid. His championship pedigree from Toronto is now paying postseason dividends in the Hoosier State.
Cleveland Runs Out of Gas
Cleveland deserves credit. This was a team that battled through an injury-marred season, a first-round nail-biter, and fought tooth and nail despite missing Jarrett Allen and nursing a hobbled Donovan Mitchell. Mitchell tried to will the Cavs into the third round with a 26-point outing, but the tank was empty. Fatigue, poor three-point shooting (just 9-of-35 from downtown), and a lack of consistent secondary scoring doomed their chances.
With another early playoff exit now official, questions surround Cleveland’s future. Does Mitchell stick around long-term? Can Allen stay healthy? Will the team explore a backcourt shake-up with Darius Garland?
What’s Next for Indiana?
Now comes the real challenge. The Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals where they’ll meet the top-seeded Boston Celtics. It’s a tale of two vastly different teams: Boston, rich in postseason experience and star power, awaits a fearless Indiana squad relying on depth, tempo, and unselfish basketball.
On paper, the Pacers will be heavy underdogs. But if this postseason has taught us anything, it’s that you overlook Indiana at your peril. They swept the season series against the Celtics 3-1 and match up surprisingly well against Boston’s switch-heavy defense. Carlisle’s coaching chops, the bench production from Obi Toppin and Bennedict Mathurin, and the fearless playmaking of Haliburton make Indiana dangerous.
Pacers Embrace the Underdog Role
Indiana’s rise isn’t just a feel-good story; it’s a blueprint. They rebuilt on player development, made calculated veteran acquisitions, and trusted their identity. They’re not pretending to be something they’re notthey’re doubling down on who they are.
“We’re playing with house money, but that doesn’t mean we’re here to lose.” – Rick Carlisle
Let the record show: the Indiana Pacers are ahead of schedule, they’re brimming with confidence, and they’re headed to the Eastern Conference Finals. Buckle up.
Game 1 tips off in Boston this weekend. The heartland is watching.
- Inside the NBA Draft Lottery Photo Highlights and Tech Behind the Picks
NBA Draft Lottery Photos
Ah, the NBA Draft Lotterywhere hope wears a tailored suit, nerves are palpable behind poker faces, and ping pong balls dictate the fortunes of franchises. Each year, executives, coaches, and team reps gather under the glimmering lights with one shared dream: securing the number one pick. But the lottery is more than just numbers and odds; it’s a spectacleand in many ways, the real game starts here.
Behind the Scenes of the Basketball Bingo
At its core, the NBA Draft Lottery is a symbol of possibility wrapped in velvet ropes and steely suspense. It’s not just about the drawit’s about the drama. And where there’s drama, there’s bound to be some unforgettable facial expressions, elaborate handshakes, and perfectly awkward high fives.
From proud general managers to luck-carrying family members (shoutout to the long-standing tradition of sons, daughters, and lucky charms), the photo collection from this year’s lottery captures a unique blend of raw emotion and polished professionalism. If you didn’t already know that this event determines the trajectory of a franchise for years, the sheer intensity in these frames would clue you in fast.
Fashion Statements & Fortune-Telling Suits
One of the lesser-acknowledged joys of the lottery? The fashion choices. Sure, the players will have their Met Gala moment come draft nightbut the team reps do their best to steal pre-show thunder. From electric blue blazers to custom cufflinks and thematic accessories (yes, there was a cactus lapel pin in honor of the Suns once), the visuals say it all. These photos don’t just capture people; they document personalities.
The Moment of Truth
Then comes the defining momentthe unveil. A quiet hangs in the airnot unlike the final seconds of a Game 7. One by one, logos are revealed, announcing who will have the first shot at basketball’s next generational talent. Every reveal is its own story: elation, devastation, relief, resignation. These emotions are frozen in the rapid click of a shutter, telling fans everything they need to know without a single word spoken.
“A picture is worth a thousand mock drafts.”
The Winners, the Losers, and Everything in Between
This year brought its fair share of surprisessome predictable joy, others less so. But what endures beyond the lottery results is the collection of snapshots that define the evening. For one lucky franchise, these photos will grace next season’s playbook covers. For others, they may serve as either motivation or a reminder that the ping pong gods can be fickle.
Still, every team walks away changed. For better or worse, the lottery is a needle that bobs the compass of the league’s future. And with cameras capturing every held breath and pumped fist, fans get a rare glimpse into the exact moment when their team’s future finds new gears.
Why These Photos Matter
NBA fans are connoisseurs of moments. While buzzer-beaters and trade deadlines dominate headlines, the draft lottery offers a subtle type of chaos that plays by its own rules. These photos immortalize not just team fates, but the humanity behind front offices and decision-makers. They’re reminders that success and failure in the NBA aren’t always forged on the courtsometimes, they’re born in hotel ballrooms under stage lights and beneath the watchful eye of Lady Luck herself.
Final Thoughts
The NBA Draft Lottery isn’t just the setup for June’s main eventit’s a standalone showcase, punctuated by anticipation and unmistakable emotion. If fans didn’t already have the date circled, this year’s photos should be enough to convince them: the NBA Draft Lottery belongs not just in spreadsheets and war rooms, but in framescaptured, preserved, and celebrated.
So whether you’re eyeing that #1 pick, understanding your team’s next steps, or simply in it for the perfectly timed side-eye from a disappointed GM, these photos from the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery offer a front-row seat to basketball’s most unpredictable night.
- NBA Draft Combine Buzz as Kentucky Wildcats Shine in Spotlight
Kentucky NBA Draft Update
With the NBA Draft Combine in full swing, Kentucky basketball finds itself well-representedeven if this year’s combine lineup feels a bit lighter in Wildcat Blue than in years past. But make no mistake: the legacy runs deep, and the 2025 event offers an intriguing glimpse into the evolving makeup of Big Blue alum in the pros as well as the gears turning back home in Lexington.
Two Kentucky Stars Get Combine Invites
Let’s start with the headline: Antonio Reeves and Justin Edwardstwo of last season’s most high-profile performers in Rupp Arenaare officially invited to participate in the 2024 NBA Draft Combine. These camps typically highlight the nation’s top basketball talent with scouts from every NBA team seatedand scribbling notescourtside.
Reeves, who captivated the Big Blue Nation with clutch shooting and unshakable poise, is widely loved for his veteran savvy and microwave scoring ability. At 6’6”, he brings size and confidence to the off-guard spot, and if he can continue to impress in defensive drills and spot-up shooting, his stock could quietly sneak upward.
Justin Edwards, meanwhile, rocketed into draft chatter as a projected lottery pick last fall but had a season with mixed flashes. There’s no denying his raw talent and athletic upsideNBA scouts are enamored with his 6’8” frame and versatility. Now, a strong showing in the combine measurements, interviews, and scrimmages could either solidify Edwards in the first round or put a few question marks in the scouts’ clipboards. No pressure, right?
Where’s Rob Dillingham?
Here’s a mini-mystery worth noting: Rob Dillinghama projected lottery pick and offensive wizardhas not yet been added to the official combine participant list. But before you hop on the panic train, take a deep breaththis is more a formality than a flag.
Many sure-thing lottery picks skip the combine entirely or participate in select portions like interviews, medical screenings, or agility tests. Dillingham’s slick handle, creativity, and shot-making likely already sold his skillset to NBA front offices, so don’t read too much into his absence. Stay tuned, thougha surprise workout or private interview session could still sneak into the headlines.
G League Combine: Oweh and Brea Representing
While the main combine grabs national attention, the G League Elite Camp continues to be a hidden gem for prospects and evaluators alike. And two names with ties to Kentucky are trying to make their mark:
- Otega Oweh – The Oklahoma transfer, who’s now linked with Kentucky, is participating in the G League event. A tremendous athlete known for his motor and defense, Oweh’s goal is to showcase improved offense and carve out space among a crowded guard field. Solid performances here often lead to call-ups for the main combine.
- Koby Brea – The Dayton sharpshooter made waves with a hot shooting season and is now aiming to show scouts he’s more than just a perimeter sniper. His link to Kentucky in portal rumors hasn’t gone unnoticed, and a combine nod could both boost his pro stock and pique John Calipari’sand now, Mark Pope’sinterest even further.
Under New Management: What This Means for Kentucky
This summer marks new beginnings in Lexington. With Mark Pope now steering the Wildcat ship after Calipari’s storied tenure, the NBA pipeline remains a crucial pillar for the program’s identity. The presence of multiple Kentucky names at both the NBA and G League combines reinforces that message: playing for Kentucky still means a ticket to the big stage.
Pope’s early offseason effortsincluding portal activity and recruiting buzzsignal a commitment to modernizing the program while respecting its draft-rich tradition. A few Wildcats shining in front of pro scouts would only cement Pope’s early tenure with an extra dose of optimism.
Prediction Time: Who Gets the Call?
It’s a volatile year from top to bottom, but if we’re laying down chips, expect Justin Edwards to go in the late lottery or mid-first round, depending on his combine showing. Antonio Reeves could sneak into the second round or sign a two-way deal. Both players will likely hear their names on draft night in some fashion.
Rob Dillingham? Barring something unforeseen, he’s going Top 10. Write it in ink.
Oweh and Brea face longer odds but could benefit from strong shooting and measurements this week. It’s not unheard of for G League combine standouts to crash the final draft day listor at the very least, earn undrafted free agent camp invites.
Final Word: The Pipeline Remains
Even in a “quieter” year by blue-blood standards, Kentucky’s fingerprints are once again all over the NBA Draft Combine circuit. With a new coach calling the plays and a fresh batch of Wildcats preparing to chase their pro dreams, the message to recruits and fans is loud and clear: Lexington remains a launchpad toward basketball’s biggest stage.
Now the only question is: Who’s next?

NBA – The Black Mamba
- Lebron James NBA 2K20 Fun from “THE BUBBLE” with Anthony Davis and Quinn Cook (7/13/2020)
Lebron James seems to be passing time from the Disney “Bubble” by playing NBA 2k20 at the Park together with Anthony Davis and Quinn Cook.
We are still two weeks from the re-start of the NBA season and since the setup doesn’t allow them to resume their normal lives but continue to be quarantined and practice social distancing.
We will probably be seeing a lot of these virtual stuff from the players.
Enjoy the video! - NBA – 16 days until the NBA Restart! With a lot left to prove, NBA players put the w… (7/14/2020)
Sporati @ NBA’s Social Media update16 days until the NBA Restart!
With a lot left to prove, NBA players put the work in to take care of unfinished business in Orlando ?
#24in24 #WholeNewGame
NBA’s Instagram post informationNBA’s social media post titled 16 days until the NBA Restart!
With a lot left to prove, NBA players put the w… is credited to #WholeNewGame on instagram account nba and currently has 68097 likes as of posting.We are all fans of NBA, follow our posts on NBA Social Media!
- NBA Boycott to protest Jacob Blake shooting, NBA politically calls it Postponed Games on Bucks, Magic, OKC, Rockets, Blazers and Lakers (8/27/2020)
If you were sitting on your couch yesterday ready to enjoy the three scheduled playoff games you were probably surprised to learn that all the games were postponed.
That is exactly what happened when players got together and decided to have a stronger voice in the racial injustice. What is termed by the NBA as postponed on their new release in actuality is a boycott of the players. Well probably the NBA got ahead of the situation and instead of having a striked-out day, they would rather declare postponed.
The Bucks first taking the lead by walking out, the news quickly spread and different teams postponed their games as well.
Here’s the list of all games postponed as a sign of protest:
NBA: Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks (Game 5 — first round)
NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets (Game 5 — first round)
NBA: Portland Trail Blazers vs. Los Angeles Lakers (Game 5 — first round)
WNBA: Washington Mystics vs. Atlanta Dream
WNBA: Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx
WNBA: Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury
MLB: Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers
MLB: Seattle Mariners vs. San Diego Padres
MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants
MLS: Atlanta United vs. Inter Miami
MLS: FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids
MLS: Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles FC
MLS: San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers
MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Seattle SoundersIt is unclear how long this will continue across different sports but one thing is clear they want to be heard.
NBA LEAGUE NEWS
NBA PLAYER NEWS
- Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Champions 2016 (6/20/2016)
.@cavs stun @warriors to finish historic Finals rally from 3-1 down
HIGHLIGHTS: https://t.co/skMVgy0f5T #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/vThWTu8SVm
— NBA.com (@NBAcom) June 20, 2016
The Cleveland Cavaliers have completed a historic comeback from trailing 1-3 in the series and climbing back and winning the Championship game on the road to end the city of Cleveland’s Championship drought in 5 decades. Lebron James finished with a triple double with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kyrie added 26 points and most importantly the 3-point shot that buried the Warriors. A Championship could have been the best ending for the Warriors historic 73-win season but as it turns out it just became a larger story for the Cavaliers conquest of the Finals in 2016.
.@kyrieirving. LEGENDARY shot. NBA champion.#DukeintheNBA #NBAFinalshttps://t.co/02eelpuBO3
— Duke Basketball (@DukeMBB) June 20, 2016
Celebrations and reactions on Cleveland Cavaliers winning the title
The Champs ? #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/lV8j6siala
— The Starters (@TheStarters) June 20, 2016
Lebron talks to Turner Sports
.@KingJames tells @iamisiahthomas he's honored to be in the conversation for greatest to ever play #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/sM57V6bgdt
— TurnerSportsPR (@TurnerSportsPR) June 20, 2016
The Warriors looked like they were coasting for a sweep when they won Games 1 & 2 in blowout scores with an average of 24-point winning margin.
Games 1 saw the Warriors win by 15 points despite Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry only scored a combined 20 points on 8-27 shooting. Shaun Livingston was the hero for that game scoring a personal playoff record of 20 points while Green added a double double 16 points and 11 rebounds. Steve Kerr put it this way —
“We play a lot of people, and we feel like we have a lot of talent on the bench that can come in and score when we need it. So it’s a great sign, obviously, that we can win in the finals without those two guys having big games, but it’s not really that surprising to us. This has been our team the last couple of years.”
Start your weekend off with the best moments of the Dubs' Game 1 win ?https://t.co/k9zfxi5IfG
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 4, 2016
The bench of Golden State scored 45 points against the 10 points from Lebron James’ supporting cast.
Warriors "strength in numbers" was in full effect Thursday night, thanks to 45 Pts from the Dubs bench. https://t.co/TMJRYUbQ7u
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 3, 2016
Game 2 and the Warriors continued with their dominance by winning on a 33-point margin and most of Cleveland starters put up the white flag early in the 4th quarter by watching the Warriors run away with a victory. Stephen and Curry did not score to their full potential by just having 18 & 17 points respectively. The Warriors bench scored the points with Draymond Green leading the charge with 28 points 7 rebounds and 5 assists. As Steph says about their teamwork —
“What we’ve done the last few years, everybody, every night has an impact. You don’t know where it’s going to come from any given night. We’ve got to keep our focus and our edge and hopefully get two more.”
.@RealGrantHill33 breaks down @warriors' offensive possessions in Game 2. #NBAFinals https://t.co/ahSSwCex7G
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 8, 2016
Game 3 as Lebron summed it up —
“We can’t afford to go down 3-1 and go into their building and give them confidence going back. So it’s a do-or-die game for us still.”
The Cavaliers were able to bounce back huge with a 30-point winning margin and brought the Cavs back to life and in contention closing the series gap 2-1. In this game, the Cavaliers showed why they haven’t lost at home in the playoffs — they hustled, rebounded and put on an offensive show with Lebron and Kyrie leading the team.
Tristan Thompson showed strength and defense that helped limit the Warriors offense
Tonight's catalyst … pic.twitter.com/LAE1VBUmmL
— Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG) June 9, 2016
Game 4 was supposed to be the equalizer and for most part the Cavaliers controlled the tempo and the game until the third quarter when the Splash Brothers came back to life and began hitting those 3-point shots. The Warriors won by 11 points and made a historic 17-3 pointers in the Finals. Stephen Curry had 38 points and Klay Thompson hitting 25. On Curry’s comeback Green has this to say —
“All the slander. He’s a competitor. He’s been under a heavy microscope, and rightfully so. Two-time MVP, you’re expected to have a great game in the finals. He struggled the first three, tonight he was our guy.”
The Cavaliers are now down 3-1 in the series and no team has ever been able to comeback from this deficit.
Most importantly, this is the game that the Splash Brothers have risen from slumber hitting 3-pointers, layups, making small runs to close the gap, take the lead and eventually win the game.
One more win! Dubs push their #NBAFinals advantage to 3-1 w/ a big Game 4 win in Cleveland. #StrengthInNumbershttps://t.co/XF0dIe3pzc
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 11, 2016
Game 5 is when Lebron James and Irving each scored 41 points a historic finals milestone that saw them push the series to Game 6 in their home court.
Lebron James wouldn’t let his team go down, the half ended tied at 61 all.
HALFTIME: @cavs 61, @warriors 61
LeBron James: 25 points, 9 rebounds
Klay Thompson: 26 points #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/ZTV93cJVy9— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2016
Game 6 and the Cavaliers became the third team to push the series to Game 7 after being down by 3-1 games. Lebron had a back-to-back 40++ point game and major milestone unheard of for a very long time.
Lebron’s monster game saw him scoring 41-points contributing 11 assists, eight rebounds and most notably have outshined Stephen Curry in the game.
LeBron James' monster alley oop in Game 6 of the #NBAFinals from all 20 angles! https://t.co/CvMKI53F36
— NBA (@NBA) June 19, 2016
Game 7 and Lebron just managed to closeout the series on an incredible performance.
Fan critical after falling from deck after NBA Finals Game 7 https://t.co/wBMxFlUWgM pic.twitter.com/vGEmvTNJCG
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 20, 2016
- Golden State Warriors vs Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals 2016 (6/11/2016)Cleveland Cavaliers Wins the Series 4-3GAME SUMMARYGame 1: GSW 104 CLE 89
Game 2: GSW 110 CLE 77
Game 3: CLE 120 GSW 90
Game 4: GSW 108 CLE 97
Game 5: CLE 112 GSW 97
Game 6: CLE 115 GSW 101
Game 7: CLE 93 at GSW 89GAME 7 played on June 19, 2016, CLE wins title 4-3 on the score of 93 (CLE) – 89 (GSW)Game 7 Western Conference Finals 2016 RECAPThe Cleveland Cavaliers have completed a historic comeback being down 1-3 in the series and climbing back and winning the Championship. Lebron James finished with a triple double with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kyrie added 26 points and most importantly the 3-point shot that buried the Warriors and winning the first Championship for the city of Cleveland in over 50 years.
.@kyrieirving. LEGENDARY shot. NBA champion.#DukeintheNBA #NBAFinalshttps://t.co/02eelpuBO3
— Duke Basketball (@DukeMBB) June 20, 2016
The first half can be summed up into – “we are waiting for Lebron or Steph to take over; instead Draymond Green is taking oer as the leader with 22 points, 8-10 fg, 6 rebound and 5 assists giving the Golden State Warriors a 49-42 lead.
JR Smith started the second half strong —
J.R. Smith hits from long range
WATCH: https://t.co/hY91xD1Hrn #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/Lt9zKKWZiU
— NBA.com (@NBAcom) June 20, 2016
JR Smith opens the second half with what looks like a 3-point shot but was just inside the arc to cut the lead to 5, 49-44. Thompson quickly responded with a 5 point swing to give the Warriors their largest lead early in the second half — 54-46. JR Smith however responded with another 3 point-shot scoring his 8th point in less than 3 minutes to cut the lead to 54-52. Irving then followed up with a driving layup from the right side corner to even the score at 54-54 prompting Steve Kerr to call a timeout.
Stephen Curry 3-point catch and shoot.
Catch, shoot & #SPLASH by the MVP on ABC. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/d7RLTmYgHT
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 20, 2016
Cleveland was looking to pull away from game when they pushed the lead 68-61 with a 3 point shot by Irving. With a Barnes and Thompson free throw the Cavs were still leading at 70-63 until Draymond Green fished a foul from Lebron from beyond the arc and making 3 free throws. With another 3 point shot and a driving layup from Livingston tied the game at 71-71.
With over 6 minutes remaining is when we first saw signature pulling and hitting a 3-pointer almost 5 feet away from the top of the key against Irving to tie the game at 83-83, followed by fellow Splash brother Klay Thompson hitting a very long 2-point shot from the left side to give them a 2-point lead.
With 3:36 remaining we already had 20 lead changes and 11 ties. There was a back and forth possession with no one able to score until Kyrie Irving hit the 3-point shot with 53 seconds remaining that proved to be the go ahead basket for winning the game.
Game 7 Western Conference Finals 2016 PREVIEWWe predicted this was going to be short series as the Golden State Warriors won a dominating 73-wins in the regular season, have survived the OKC onslaught and the fact that the East is an easier conference, the Warriors should be coasting along in the series. For a moment there it looked like that when the Golden State Warriors led the series 3-1 before the epic performances of Lebron James and Irving, pushing the series to Game 7.
This is going to be an epic performance and NBA ticket sales are proving it as StubHub reports.
NBA Game 7 should get you all excited as we might not see a comeback of epic proportions like this in a long time.
Get Ready for Game 7 of the 2016 #NBAFinals!!! #NBAmixtapehttps://t.co/f2IvX2oIef
— NBA (@NBA) June 19, 2016
A cool and funny video on the intensity of both teams.
Steph and LeBron trade insults ahead of Game 7 (via @kickerofficial) https://t.co/0n13mYTirB
— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) June 19, 2016
In an interesting article it questions whether the Warriors can recover or Lebron closes this out
And column on Game 7 — the stakes, the Xs-and-Os, adjustments, LeBron, more: https://t.co/6jfymK2OXA
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 19, 2016
Whatever the outcome be sure to seat, relax and get ready for a full 48 minute of NBA Game 7 action.
GAME 6 played on June 16, 2016, CLE win ties series 3-3 on the score of 115 (CLE) – 101 (GSW)Game 6 Western Conference Finals 2016 RECAPLeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to Game 7 becoming only the third team to push Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in the series.
James had a back-to-back 40 plus point game scoring 41 points, a performance only achieved by a few, Kyrie Irving scored 23 and winning Game 6 against the Golden State Warriors 115-101.
Cleveland’s hasn’t had a Championship team since Dec. 27, 1964 and Lebron James could bring one to the city, he has this to say — “One more game left. I’ll play it anywhere.”
Lebron had a monster game aside from the 41-points he contributed 11 assists, eight rebounds and most notably have outshined Stephen Curry in the game.
LeBron James' monster alley oop in Game 6 of the #NBAFinals from all 20 angles! https://t.co/CvMKI53F36
— NBA (@NBA) June 19, 2016
The Warriors will be tested and the legacy of their 73-win season will be amplified if they close out the series or be outshined with Lebron and his ability to rally the team back from 3-1/
Stephen Curry became the first MVP to be ejected out of the game due to fouls and Steve Kerr has this to say — “He gets six fouls called on him, three of them were absolutely ridiculous. As the MVP of the league, we’re talking about these touch fouls in the NBA Finals. I’m happy he threw his mouthpiece.”
Stephen Curry fined $25K for throwing mouthpiece in Game 6 https://t.co/OnslRB45RX pic.twitter.com/b1gvNt4PEe
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) June 17, 2016
Curry has this to say — “I didn’t think I fouled either Kyrie or LeBron. It was obviously frustrating fouling out in the fourth quarter of a clinching game and not being out there with my teammates. So it got the best of me, but I’ll be all right for the next game.”
Cavs coach knows what Lebron is capable of — “It’s LeBron being LeBron. He’s one of the greatest of all-time. Our back was against the wall and he took it upon himself, him and Kyrie, they put us on their backs. They’ve got us to where we wanted to be – and that’s Game 7.”
Ayesha Curry is in the news again because of her comments against the NBA saying it was rigged to push the series to Game 7
Ayesha Curry said the NBA was rigged, then deleted the tweet. Said it was “uncalled for.” https://t.co/s5HCtn7Js2 pic.twitter.com/7xeTiKub7x
— SB Nation NBA (@SBNationNBA) June 17, 2016
Game 6 Western Conference Finals 2016 PREVIEWThe Cleveland Cavaliers have managed to push the series to Game 6 and while they have a chance to become the first team in history to climb back from a 3-1 deficit I doubt they are thinking about that right now. The team is focused on playing it one game at a time and while the idea of making history is sweet they have more things in minds like making sure to keep the Warriors from closing them out at home.
In a similar situation last year where the Warriors managed to close the series at Game 6 in front of the Cavaliers home-court, the Cleveland will come out strong and determined led by Lebron James and Kyrie Irving.
There are only two teams in history that was able to push Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in the series and the Cavs have a good chance of becoming the third team.
As James put it — “I think that’s always been the case in the postseason. I think it also depends on the way you played and where you played at. I think that helps. But, I mean, both teams in this series have shown that they can win on each other’s floor, so I don’t think that matters much.
I feel like we’ll be prepared for Game 6. Our coaching staff has given us another great game plan. They’re going to give us some more insight on what needs to be done tomorrow morning at our shootaround, and it’s up to us as the guys to go out and execute that.”
Irving puts it this way — “Not really even thinking about that game (Monday night) right now. As soon as the buzzer ended in Game 5, all I could think about was preparation for Game 6. Watched some film and the next 24 hours would be just solely focused on how we can be better for Game 6.
As a competitor, you want to sustain it. Obviously you want to have a big night, especially playing on this platform. But sometimes it can go either way, and you have to be willing to play through both ways and remain confident in what the game plan is offensively and defensively. And if we stay that course, we feel pretty good that we’ve put ourselves in a great position to be in the game. So for us, it’s just about coming out with that aggressive mindset, pushing in transition, and getting easy opportunities that we can take advantage of.”
It is not yet clear if Kevin Love would play in Game 6 and how effective he could be. Kevin Love has not gained footing in this series and even missed Game 3 because of concussion protocol but when Lebron and Irving are playing the way they play Kevin’s big contributions might not be needed.
Draymond Green is expected to be back from suspension on a flagrant foul slapped on him against Lebron James.. He notes that he believe they could have won the game if he wasn’t suspended.
Curry has this to say — “When you have two guys play the way they did, you obviously notice because you see the ball going in the basket every time. But for me, you kind of get a little edge about you trying to go back at them, but you’ve got to do it within the system of our offense and how we go about things and not get the temptation to abandon that just to get into the little back-and-forth, one-on-one. So that’s kind of my approach. You enjoy those kind of moments, even though we didn’t get the win. But an opportunity to go right back at them.”
GAME 5 played on June 13, 2016, CLE wins trail series 3-2 on the score of 112 (CLE) – 97 (GSW)Game 5 Western Conference Finals 2016 RECAPThe Warriors started strong in Game 5 with a score of 9-3 on a Curry 3 point shot, a jumper by Klay and two layups from Iguodola. Cleveland would not let the game slip by with Lebron James hitting the 3-point shot off an Irving assists for a score of 8-12. When the Warriors were threatening to widen the lead anew Lebron James had a 5-point swing — free throws and three points to even the score at 22-22 with 4:07 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Second quarter was tight with both teams going back and forth scoring on multiple lead exchanges. One highlight was a dunk of Shaun Livingston to tie the score at 38-38.
Livingston throws DOWN on ABC! https://t.co/vX1wKP08au
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 14, 2016
This quarter also saw Klay Thompson scoring from every corner of the court.
Klay Thompson putting on an absolute shooting clinic right now. He has 23 points. @Warriors up just 1. LBJ has 16. pic.twitter.com/QN7tk6kVXG
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2016
Lebron James wouldn’t let his team go down, the half ended tied at 61 all.
HALFTIME: @cavs 61, @warriors 61
LeBron James: 25 points, 9 rebounds
Klay Thompson: 26 points #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/ZTV93cJVy9— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2016
The third quarter is when the Splash Brothers re-emerged in Game 4 however in Game 5 it was the tandem of Lebron James and Kyrie Irving as they have quickly built an 8 point lead on a dunk of Lebron (30 points) on the 8:07, then a 3-point miss by Curry, and a return 3-point shot by Kyrie Irving (26 points) on a James assist with 7:45 remaining. The Cavaliers had a 10 point lead 85-75 after Jefferson scored on a driving layup. The quarter ended with Cavaliers leading by 9 points, 93-89.
After three quarters, the @cavs lead the @warriors 93-84. LeBron James: 36 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/tgfNLTQLRa
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) June 14, 2016
The Warriors started the fourth quarter with a 3-point shot by Curry at the 11:40 mark while Kyrie Irving answered back with a pull-up bank shot 18 seconds later for a 95-87 score. This was a tough quarter for the Warriors as Stephen Curry and everyone else were only able to score 35 second half points while the Cavaliers scored 51 points with James and Kyrie carrying most of the load. As Curry continued to miss his shots Irving couldn’t miss hitting a bank shot on the 6:20 mark, followed by turnaround fadeaway, and 3 point shot at the 5:33 mark. Lebron James scored a jump shot and a free throw with 3:22 remaining for a 111-96 lead.
This is the first time in an NBA Finals that two players scored more than 40 points a piece; Lebron and Irving both finished with 41 points.
I must say this has been an offensive and one of the greatest performances of two superstars in an NBA Game
Game 5 Western Conference Finals 2016 PREVIEWThe Golden State Warriors is one win away for a Championship title repeat becoming only the seventh team to achieve the feat.
The task might not be easy as they would be playing the game without Draymond Green who is Mr. Hustle for the Warriors and can matchup perfectly with Lebron James and limit the effectivity of Tristan Thompson and the Cavaliers on the paint. Without Draymond Green they need to get more of the hustle and defense from Harrison Barnes, Iguodola and Bogut.
The Warriors will have to a chance to win the Championship on their home court in Game 5, something they had to win on the road in last year’s Finals.
A ray of sunshine for the Warriors is the resurgence of the Splash Brothers who led the team to a historic 17-3 pointers in the Finals. Stephen Curry who had 38 points is expected to have another monster night that could spark everyone’s offensive output.
Curry says this about missing Green – “Yeah, we’re going to come out aggressive and confident, just like we would if Draymond was playing. We understand what we’re playing for, and that’s all that matters. So we hope to have a great night, take care of the details of the game. Individual guys step up and play pretty special and have special efforts and come out with a win.”
Tyronne Lue of the Cavs says this — “He’s the heart and soul of their team, but we’ve still got to play. His suspension doesn’t make us win the game. We’ve got to go out and win the game and take the game. So it’s a big suspension on their end, but we’ve still got to play.”
Klay Thompson added 25 points for the Warriors and we are expecting him to rain 3s tonight. Klay has this to say — “If you don’t get up for that, there’s something wrong with you. We can’t wait to get to Oracle on Monday. I’ve been fortunate to play there for five years and we really do have the best fans in the league. They probably won’t have ever seemed as excited before as when we get to Monday.”
Kerr on Game 5 — “I just think that it’s the NBA Finals. We’re at home. We have a chance to close things out. I don’t think we need any more of an edge, any more psychological advantage, anything like that.
The game gives us all the motivation we need, and the biggest thing for us is to just tweak things a little bit here and there to try to get the right rotations on the floor at the right time. And because of our versatility, I feel like we’ll be able to do that.”
On the other side, we cannot rule out the Cleveland Cavaliers that while winning 3 straight games against a team that has won 73-regular season games is nearly improbable to comeback but they might be able to win Game 5 especially without Draymond Green.
Warriors is only the tenth team who was able to rally from a 3-1 deficit but no one in the Final was able to do that.
James has this to say — “We’ve already got to take a flight home back anyways, so we might as well come home with a win and play on our home floor again. Being a confident bunch, we feel like the chips have been stacked up against us all year anyway.”Lue says this — “Just win one game. Bring everything we’ve got to win one game. I told the guys when we left — we have to come back to Cleveland anyways, so why not come back and play a game. So we’ve got to give everything we’ve got. Our backs are against the wall, so we’ve got to be prepared to win just one game.”
GAME 4 played on June 10, 2016, GSW wins leads series 3-1 on the score of 108 (GSW) – 97 (CLE)Game 4 Western Conference Finals 2016 RECAPThis is the game that the Splash Brothers have risen from slumber hitting 3-pointers, layups, making small runs to close the gap, take the lead and eventually win the game.
One more win! Dubs push their #NBAFinals advantage to 3-1 w/ a big Game 4 win in Cleveland. #StrengthInNumbershttps://t.co/XF0dIe3pzc
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 11, 2016
Stephen Curry looked normal in the first three games of the NBA Finals and critics are vocal about Curry’s ability to push more in the finals.
Stephen Curry exploded for 38 points while fellow Splash brother Klay Thompson had 25 points beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-97.
Curry who just averaged 16 points in the first three games in Finals showed why he is the MVP and what he is capable of doing.
Check this Curry highlights
#ChefCurry shined scoring 38 points of 7/13 from ? to lead the @warriors to a Game 4 victory. pic.twitter.com/6RmxjjB8mL
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) June 11, 2016
Third quarter with over 8 minutes remaining is when the Splash Brothers came back to life in the NBA Finals 2016. Stephen Curry hit a three point shot, followed by another three by Thompson.
Iguodola had his moments when he tied the game with over 4.5 minutes remaining on a 3 pointer. Stephen Curry followed up with another 3-point shot with 4:07 remaining to give the Warriors the lead 72-69.
When the Splash brothers came back in the third quarter, James fought hard and was determined to win this game grabbing an offensive rebound in a paint of Warriors with 2:41 second and getting two points. James followed it up with a block against Curry with .7 seconds left in the shot clock.
Highlights, photos, & more from a big Game 4 win in Cleveland! https://t.co/G24F0THvHZ
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 11, 2016
On Curry’s comeback Green has this to say — “All the slander. He’s a competitor. He’s been under a heavy microscope, and rightfully so. Two-time MVP, you’re expected to have a great game in the finals. He struggled the first three, tonight he was our guy.”
Curry downplays his return back to action — “Business as usual. We answered the bell. We got back to who we are as a team.”
Steve Kerr feels that Curry getting back to business is as expected — “He’s Stephen Curry. He’s the MVP for a reason. He doesn’t have the size and strength to dominate a game physically, so he has to dominate with his skill and that’s not an easy thing to do because your shot sometimes isn’t going to go in. Tonight they went in.”
The Cavaliers had a hard time containing the Warriors especially when they hit a finals record of 17 3-pointers.
Kerr adds — “They got going. Sooner or later it’s going to happen. You can’t keep guys like that down forever.”
The Warriors have a huge chance of closing this game at home in Game 5, something they weren’t able to do in last year’s Finals when they won on the road against the Cavaliers.
Game 4 Western Conference Finals 2016 PREVIEWThis it the game that would test the character of the Golden State Warriors as they were blown by 30 points in Game 3 and the momentum has now shifted to the Cleveland Cavaliers with Game 4 on the Cavs’ arena, a place they have not lost in the playoffs this year.
Having gotten back from a 3-1 has the Warrior still optimistic with Curry still have a lot to give in the Finals, as Steve Kerr notes — “Just think about the OKC series. We’re down 3-1, he hadn’t played well. Look what he did the last few games. So that’s Steph. That’s who he is. He always responds. He’s got a huge heart, competitive as hell, and extremely talented. I know how he will respond. He’ll play well. He always does.”
Credit also to the Cavaliers defense who doesn’t allow Stephen Curry to shake out of screens and rotations.
Kerr knows they have to put Stephen in better scoring opportunities and would also need Curry to step up the game especially now in the Finals — “We can definitely help Steph out and we will. We can put him in better position to catch the ball or to handle the ball and to come off screens and that kind of stuff with more space, and we’ll do that tomorrow. Then the other side of it is just him playing better, and that’s what the Playoffs are about.”
After Game 2, the Warriors looked very bullish and the Cavs didn’t look like they had any chance of winning but after Game 3 people are worried that the Warriors might have slowed down while the Cavaliers are accelerating to winning status.
Kerr is alright with the situation and no need to worry — “All this stuff about, ‘Oh, my God, what are we going to do? All we have to do is take stock. We’re up 2-1. We’re in pretty good shape. We haven’t played that well. Let’s play better.”
Lebron James knew in Game 3 they cannot go down 3-0 in the series but same could be said in Game 4 as there is no team that were able to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals.
The Cavaliers still need three more games to win the series
Thirteen down.
Three to go.
#ALLin216 pic.twitter.com/6996YuS14U— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 9, 2016
James says — “We can’t afford to go down 3-1 and go into their building and give them confidence going back. So it’s a do-or-die game for us still.”
We should expect Kyrie Irving to continue his offensive game which helped the Cavs win Game 3 while Kevin Love might play and contribute some given that he is coming back from concussion and doesn’t seem to find the flow in the Finals against the Warriors.
Irving has this to say — “As a maturing young player, young man, I had to really just remove myself emotionally and realize that the journey isn’t going to be easy in order to be a champion in this league, a great player or anything. And when you have the chance to learn from someone like that and you have a group of guys in our locker room like we do with veteran leadership, it makes my job a lot easier and a lot more fun to be a part of. So I’m happy about the team that we’re part of and the teams that I’ve been part of. But being around him every single day has been great for my career.”
What we are most interested in Game 4 is whether Stephen Curry can come back and show a mighty offense we have missed in this year’s Finals.
GAME 3 played on June 9, 2016, CLE wins trail series 2-1 on the score of 120 (CLE) – 90 (GSW)Game 3 Western Conference Finals 2016 RECAPCleveland has played very well at home in the playoffs keeping their record unbeaten. They did not only beat the Warriors but took them for a crushing spin on a 30-point margin win.
Lebron James scored 32 points and 11 rebounds but most notably he put in jumpers whenever the Warriors are starting a mini-run to keep their opponents from closing the gap. Kyrie Irving who did not play well in the first two finals game scored 30 points.
"We got back to our game tonight." – @KingJames on the collective effort to #DefendTheLand pic.twitter.com/7MfxnXdCUx
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 9, 2016
The Cavaliers could not afford to lose this game and trail 0-3 in the series so they had one mission going into Game 3 – give everything and win. The Cavaliers spirits could have been crushed after blowout losses against the Warriors but today they showed character and the ability to bounce back.
As James noted — “We finally got back to our game. It was a good flow, a collective team win.”
The Cavaliers had to rely on their two superstars Kyrie Irving and Lebron James to carry most of the offensive load. Kevin Love is out on concussion protocol and the Cavs was able to find a way to win without him.
Tristan Thompson showed strength and defense that helped limit the Warriors offense
Tonight's catalyst … pic.twitter.com/LAE1VBUmmL
— Joe Gabriele (@CavsJoeG) June 9, 2016
Missing in the finals series is MVP Stephen Curry who just scored a dismal 19 points. Curry started slow by only scoring two points in the first half and wasn’t able to pick it up in the second. Fellow splash brother Klay Thompson is also missing in action as he only scored 10 points while Harrison Barnes was able to contribute 18.
The Cavs are not yet out of the woods and call this a series until they have won Game 4 and make this a best of 3 series.
Steve Kerr was disappointed with his team — “We were soft. When you’re soft, you get beat on the glass and turn the ball over.”
Stephen Curry who still has to find his flow and range has this to say — “I’ve got to play 100 times better than that. I’m fine. Not the way we wanted the night to go.”
The Warriors need to steal one on the road to better their chances of winning the Championship instead of hoping to finish them off in Game 7 utilizing their home-court advantage.
It would be interesting how the Cavaliers will continue their dominance at home and whether the Warriors can bounce back on the road, most specially Stephen Curry.
Game 3 Western Conference Finals 2016 PREVIEWThe Cleveland Cavaliers are now down 0-2 in the NBA Finals 2016, both games played at the Warriors home court where they have been outstanding this season although not as much as the points and point margin win against the Cavaliers.
Cleveland has been able to score but could not play defense as the Warriors went on a scoring spree. Lebron James in an interview said they have to win Game 3 as they cannot be down by 0-3.
Warriors defense key for Game 3 on the road
Prior to Game 3, we look at the keys to the @Warriors 2-0 start: elite defense & bench scoring! (? via @SAPSports) https://t.co/AZPLgcQ1gP
— NBA (@NBA) June 8, 2016
With a 33-point win, the Warriors looked invincible especially since both the Splash Brothers just scored less than 20 a piece, more than half of what they are capable of scoring on big times.
The good thing going for Lebron James and the Cavaliers is they are playing at home where they play extremely well having routed the Raptors and every other team in the playoffs.
Both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love has not played well and it was reported that Kevin will be out in Game 3 because of concussion. Kyrie Irving will have to step up in Game 3 to make this a series.
As James noted — “It’s a do or die game for us”.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have not yet lost at home in the playoffs and while it is known that the East has weaker teams; the Warriors might find themselves trying to keep up with the Cavs.
Tristan Thompson notes — “We feed off each other. We’ve been great at home. We’re excited.”
James adds — “If we can score a little bit more, which I believe we will do in Game 3, that will help our defense out a lot, too. When you miss versus those guys it gives them the ability to get out and run, which they’re very good at. Either from Draymond (Green) pushing the break or Iguodala pushing the break or Steph and those guys run the floor and they run to their spots and create a lot of problems. So if they’re taking the ball out of bounds, then it slows it up just a little bit. So we’ve got to do a better job of putting the ball in the basket.”
Draymond Green, the main hustle man for the Warriors is optimistic they could find energy on the road — “I’ve always said the best feeling in the world is to quiet another team’s crowd, so that right there is motivation.”
Steve Kerr on the total team effort — “We just want to win. It doesn’t matter who scores the points or who gets the credit. We do feel like the strength of our team is our depth, and we’re not overly reliant on one player, even the MVP. So our depth has shown so far, and I’m sure we’ll have different players continue to step up as the series goes on.”
GAME 2 played on June 5, 2016, GSW wins leads the series 2-0 on the score of 110 (GSW) – 77 (CLE)Game 2 Western Conference Finals 2016 RECAPThe Warriors came into the game knowing what happened last year when they won Game 1 and lost the next two games to a depleted Cleveland Cavaliers. They arrived focused and with so much strength and force that it looked like they were playing against a bunch of amateur players when they routed the team for 33 points.
The Cavaliers didn’t even put up a fight in the fourth quarter when the Warriors were trying to break away as Lebron James continued to rest the quarter.
The offense for the Warriors on Game 2 was outstanding
.@RealGrantHill33 breaks down @warriors' offensive possessions in Game 2. #NBAFinals https://t.co/ahSSwCex7G
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 8, 2016
There is a lot of pressure for the Golden State Warriors to win the Championship especially after breaking the Chicago Bulls record of regular season wins by finishing with 73. The historic regular season would have been for nothing if they didn’t end up with a Championship trophy. The Warriors are now two wins away from making this an incredible season whose records may not be broken for the next few decades.
The supporting cast of the Warriors delivered once again with Green scoring 28 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists and hitting five 3-pointers. MVP Stephen Curry scored 18 points still far from what he is capable of but the Warriors still won by a huge margin of 33 points, the Warriors biggest finals win.
A BIG night from @Money23Green led the Dubs to a dominating Game 2 victory » https://t.co/GLQUVf6lSy #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/8y8XWwqHEQ
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 6, 2016
Lebron has this to say on the loss — “They just beat us. We didn’t win anything. At no point in the game did we win anything.”
Coach Steve Kerr says this — “I’m definitely surprised at the margin of victory tonight. It happens in the NBA, sometimes things get away from you. Sometimes shots go in, sometimes they don’t. … Everything changes when we go to Cleveland, we know that.”
Klay Thompson scored 17 points and the Splash brothers had almost twice the performance they had in Game 1.
Stephen Curry says this — “What we’ve done the last few years, everybody, every night has an impact. You don’t know where it’s going to come from any given night. We’ve got to keep our focus and our edge and hopefully get two more.”
Lebron James have to talk things over with the team and coach Tyronne Lue needs to pull something from his sleeve to at least close the gap when they host the Warriors on Wednesday for Game 3 of the NBA Finals 2016.
Kevin Love was put in the NBA’s concussion protocol after he felt dizzy in the second half of the game.
Lue has this to say — “The guys are not discouraged. But we’ve got to be tougher. … They did what they were supposed to do, they won two games at home. We’ve got to get home and do the same.”
“Stop it,” Green said as he had a great night with five 3-pointers. His 3-point accuracy got Thompson to say this — “Tonight, he’s one of us”.
The Warriors’ 87 victories combined from their record 73-win regular season and the playoffs matched the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, the group Golden State topped for the most regular season victories in NBA history of 73.
Andrew Bogut delivered on the defensive end with five blocks while the Warriors had nine overall.
Thompson thinks the Warriors are better than the Lakers — “We’re better than the Showtime Lakers”.
The Cavaliers need to get their act together and would have their best chance of coming back on Game 3 at their homecourt; otherwise, they will be down 0-3 in this series. In the next game they are just a win away to making this a series.
Game 2 Western Conference Finals 2016 PREVIEWIf the Cleveland Cavaliers have a chance of winning the NBA Finals Championship 2016 it has to start in Game 2.
The Warriors was able to beat them by 15 points without their superstars contributing much in Game 1. The Cavaliers will have to be ready for the Splash brothers explosion while keeping up with the rest of the reserves to level the series in Game 2.
.@RealGrantHill33 breaks down @warriors' offensive possessions in Game 2. #NBAFinals https://t.co/ahSSwCex7G
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 8, 2016
The Cavaliers seemed to be a stronger opponent when they didn’t have the two other stars in the game. Lebron will have to rally his team similar to how he got everyone to elevate their game to stretch the series to Game 6 in last year’s finals.
The Cavs looked superior on their playoff run only losing two games and not it seems the weaker Eastern Conference has not done them a favor.
James however remains confident — “We’re not a team that loses our composure over anything”.
Cavs coach Tyronne Lue has this to say — “It was funny because people were talking about not having been through adversity, and, I mean, we’ve been through adversity all season. And I thought our guys did a great job of just coming together and understanding we have one common goal to start the season, and throughout that we had a lot of bumps in the road and a lot of things that happened.”
Kevin Love thinks being down in the series is an opportunity to show how they fight — “There’s good things that can come from it and feeling like your back is up against the wall. Then you have to push back and fight. I think we’ve been a team that has kind of thrived in, I don’t know if chaos is the right word, but thrived in adversity and been able to bounce back. We’re going to look to Sunday as definitely a bounce-back game and try to go 1-1 back to Cleveland.”
The Cavs need smarter play from their star guard to avoid a 2-0 Finals deficit, writes @mcten. https://t.co/gLXifZamAz
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 5, 2016
The series that the Warriors had with the Thunder strengthened them more as Green says — “I think that experience of going through that definitely makes us closer and a lot tougher. That wasn’t an easy series by any means. Then coming down and coming back from down 3-1, it gives you a certain amount of confidence.”
The Warriors will be working harder despite taking Game 1 as they do not want to be in the same situation they were last year when they went down 2-1 in the series after winning Game 1. Steve Kerr on this — “I don’t think it will be a problem. “I think we’re much more experienced. We have that memory in our mind. We’ve been through this now, and we understand you can’t let up ever. Sunday is obviously a huge game. We’d like to go take care of business and get out on the road with a 2-0 lead. But we’ve got to play well.”
GAME 1 played on June 2, 2016, GSW wins leads the series 1-0 on the score of 104 (GSW) – 89 (CLE)Game 1 Western Conference Finals 2016 RECAPJames said before Game 1 that facing the Warriors is unique – “The fact that we’re going back to back, I think, is pretty unique.” James adds that it would be an interesting write-up in history — “It’s pretty unique to be in this position to have another opportunity for guys to write about, for us to play it, for the people to talk about it throughout the world. I’m blessed that I can be a part of conversations.”
Start your weekend off with the best moments of the Dubs' Game 1 win ?https://t.co/k9zfxi5IfG
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) June 4, 2016
I highly doubt this is what James thought about being written for this Championship series. The Cleveland Cavaliers got blown out by 15 points in game dominated by the Warriors. James was probably confident they would fare better compared to last year’s finals especially because Irving and Love are in the roster.
What adds insult to injury is that the Warriors was able to win by 15 points while the Splash brothers were having a bad night. Both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson only combined 20 points on 8-27 shooting, less than half of what they were capable of. The supporting case were the ones who delivered the loss to the Cavaliers with Draymond Green scoring 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, and Shaun Livingston adding 20 points, his highest personal playoff record.
Curry has this to say on their performance — “You don’t win championships without the entire squad coming in and making an impact on games. That’s why we’re here.”
The bench of Golden State scored 45 points against the 10 points from Lebron James’ supporting cast.
Warriors "strength in numbers" was in full effect Thursday night, thanks to 45 Pts from the Dubs bench. https://t.co/TMJRYUbQ7u
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 3, 2016
The next game will still be played on the Warriors ground and Lebron knows what is at stake — “When you get outscored 45-10 on the bench and give up 25 points off 17 turnovers, no matter what someone does or doesn’t do, it’s going to be hard to win, especially on the road. Don’t matter what you do with Steph and Klay, don’t matter what you do with Draymond.”
The supporting cast of the Splash brothers delivered with Barbosa scoring 11 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting night, Iguodala scoring 12 points, adding seven rebounds and six assists.
Steve Kerr praise the bench of the Warriors — “We play a lot of people, and we feel like we have a lot of talent on the bench that can come in and score when we need it. So it’s a great sign, obviously, that we can win in the finals without those two guys having big games, but it’s not really that surprising to us. This has been our team the last couple of years.”
At @yahooBDL: Video: Warriors coach Steve Kerr destroys clipboard during Game 1 timeout. https://t.co/D5XX9m6JUK https://t.co/SybGYAJN8H
— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) June 3, 2016
The Warriors battle cry “Strength in Numbers” fits how the Warriors performed to win the first game of the Finals. Livingston reinforces this — “That’s our motto. That’s what we believe in. We pick each other up. We believe in each other and we just fight.”
Lebron James scored 23 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, while Kyrie Irving added 26 points, 11 on free throws.
Iguodala is a great team player as he had performed very well when he played at the starting lineup for Game 7 clincher against Oklahoma City but did not miss a beat when he went back to the bench contributing from both ends of the floor.
Harrison Barnes who is starting in Iguodala’s place, scored 13 points. Superstar Curry only had 11 points but had six assists and five rebounds, while Thompson only scored nine points.
Cavaliers coach said this — “I thought our guys did a great job of locking into those guys. Their bench played well. So we’ve got to go back to the drawing board and try to figure out how to take those guys out of the game.”
Kevin Love had a productive night with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Game 1 Western Conference Finals 2016 PREVIEWThis is a rematch of last year’s Finals. More than that it features a head to head competition between two of the best ballplayers in the world. Both are MVP players. Both are endorsers of big sports products — Nike vs Under Armour.
LeBron James vs. Stephen Curry is also a Nike-Under Armour duel ? https://t.co/QD13TTlhzF pic.twitter.com/bXuX83LYyw
— FORTUNE (@FortuneMagazine) June 2, 2016
The Warriors have defeated the Cavaliers last year and we would expect Lebron James to rally his team and end the 52-year drought of the city of Cleveland from winning a Championship title. The task would not be easy however as the Warriors are way better this year having won 73-regular season games and was able to show their ability under pressure after climbing back from a deficit of 3-1 against the Thunder.
GAME 1 : Cavaliers vs Warriors | Oracle Arena | 03h00 #DubNation #CAVSvGSW pic.twitter.com/LHWTseaOSC
— Golden State FR (@GS_WarriorsFR) June 2, 2016
The same could be said for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they are more complete than last year when Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love was out and James had to carry his team.
Is this going to be a team rivalry? We are not yet sure given that Lebron James could transfer to another team next year and the rivalry maybe between these two superstars.
Curry’s take on the matchup finals — “It’s really annoying for me. That’s not what I’m playing for, to be the face of the NBA or to be this or that or to take LeBron’s throne or whatever. You know, I’m trying to chase rings, and that’s what I’m all about. So that’s where the conversation stops for me.”
Curry does not seem to be bothered by the attitude of James towards him when during last year’s finals James has proclaimed he is the best player on the planet despite Stephen Curry winning the MVP title. James posted 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists but could not deliver the Championship to the city of Cleveland.
James took another shot at Curry when he won his second MVP award and became the only unanimous winner — “but when you talk about most `valuable’ then you can have a different conversation, so, take nothing away from him, he’s definitely deserving of that award, for sure.”
The media have been eating the comments of James and tries to make a rivalry out of them, James however downplays it — “You guys make rivals. I think it’s great for the sport. It’s great for all sports. I don’t think me and Steph, when you talk about rivalries, you talk about Carolina-Duke, you talk about Ohio State-Michigan. It’s hard to say LeBron and Steph. If there’s a smaller scale or another word for a rival.”
Klay Tompson says this about these stars — “I don’t think there’s just a face in the NBA. I think there are faces because it’s such a star-driven league. … But I think it might be easier for the common fan to relate to Steph because it’s hard to be 6-8, 260 and have a 40-inch (vertical) and be the fastest guy on the floor.”
Stephen Curry is a superstar that most of the fans can relate too, small, thin, people doubting his ability. As such he had to work harder to keep up with players of superior athletic ability. He had to work the hardest to overtake players bigger and stronger. Curry has become the hero most fans want to be and the surging sales of Under Armour proves this.
As Thompson notes — “The casual fan might relate better to Steph because he doesn’t have that athletic just God-given ability. It’s tough to say. It’s just personal preference, honestly.”
James on facing the Warriors again — “The fact that we’re going back to back, I think, is pretty unique. It’s pretty unique to be in this position to have another opportunity for guys to write about, for us to play it, for the people to talk about it throughout the world. I’m blessed that I can be a part of conversations.”
- Lebron James 2018-2019 Best Selling Jersey (5/21/2019)
Lebron James is out of the playoffs but his brand still remain on top.
Lebron is ranked #1 as the best selling jersey in 2018-2019. What is impressive is that his jersey have not gone one sale yet compared to others teams like the Warriors who have their jersey on discount for quite sometime now.
Congrats LBJ!
Lebron James Best Selling NBA Jersey - LeBron James and Bronny James: Father-Son NBA Duo (10/23/2024)