Golden State plays Cleveland in 2017 NBA Finals
For the third year in a row, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will meet in the NBA Finals. This will be the first time in NBA history that two teams play each other in three straight NBA finals. The NBA finals will begin on Thursday, June 1st as the Warriors host the Cavaliers in Oakland for Game one of the NBA Finals.
The Warriors are Vegas’ favorites to win this series and will open with fairly slim betting odds as well according to ESPN. They’ve been a perfect 12-0 on their way to the Finals and haven’t even been challenged by any of their Western Conference opponents. The Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs couldn’t win one game against the Warriors in the 2017 playoffs.
The Warriors have been led by new free agent signing Kevin Durant. In the previous season, while Durant was a part of the Oklahoma City Thunder, lost to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. A month later, he signed a one year deal with the Warriors. The former MVP will look to win his first championship with the Warriors this year.
The Cavaliers took down the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics. While the Warriors coasted through virtually unscathed, the Cavs won games by smaller margins against the Pacers and dropped a game to the Boston Celtics. Against Indiana, they were a shot or two away from having a competitive series on their hands.
The Cavaliers have been led by Lebron James, who is coming into his seventh straight NBA finals, an NBA record only tied with teammate James Jones. During Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, Lebron passed Michael Jordan having the most points in NBA playoffs history. After breaking the record, James was asked by reporters how he felt about passing Jordan from NBA sideline reporter Doris Burke.
“I’ve always told you guys, any time I’m linked to any of the greats and even the greatest in Mike, it’s an honor,” James said. “It’s a tribute to what I’ve been able to do with this game.”
With Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers will be looking to defeated the Warriors for the second year in a row.
The Warriors and Cavs have dominated to get here. They are a combined 24-1 in this postseason (the only loss was Cleveland’s ECF Game 3 loss to the Celtics), and have beat their opponents by an average of 116.7-103 (Cleveland) and 118.3-102 (Golden State) from ESPN. Before this year, there had been 13 distinct runs of at least three consecutive Finals appearances by one team, but even though some overlapped, none have happened concurrently.
The NBA finals will begin on Thursday, June 1st as the Warriors host the Cavaliers in Oakland for Game one of the NBA Finals.
All of the games will be aired on ABC.
2017 NBA FINALS SCHEDULE, TV TIMES, AND LOCATIONS
Thursday, June 1, 9 p.m. ET: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors | ABC
Sunday, June 4, 8 p.m.: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors | ABC
Wednesday, June 7, 9 p.m.: Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC
Friday, June 9, 9 p.m.: Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC
*Monday, June 12, 9 p.m.: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors | ABC
*Thursday, June 15, 9 p.m.: Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC
*Sunday, June 18, 8 p.m.: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors | ABC
* if necessary
