Perhaps one of the most entertaining finals in NBA history ended Sunday night with Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers defeating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in game seven. Both teams had amazing regular seasons, both teams ranked number one in the respective conferences, with the Warriors obtaining the best regular season record in NBA history.
This finals, however, were special for many reasons, the obvious being that it was a rematch of last year. The Warriors went on to win and become champions in 2015, defeating a depleted, injury-prone Cavaliers squad. The biggest reason why these finals were special is that it featured two of the best players in the NBA competing head to head in what some would consider legacy-defining for both James and Curry.
Lebron James, upon entering the league in 2003, was deemed the chosen one. Drafted number one overall right out of high school, James was considered the heir apparent to the great Michael Jordan and the praise, as well as criticism, never stopped. After a seven-year term with his hometown team of Cleveland, he decided to take his talents to South Beach, and become a member of the Miami Heat. The criticism heightened, he was considered a traitor and called a coward. You could see fans burning their Lebron jerseys in the streets and even the Cavaliers owner had some strong words directed at James. James went on to win two back-to-back championships with the Heat, but still had a 2-4 finals record.
Stephen Curry, arguably the best shooter in the NBA, had less of a rise. Drafted number seven overall out of Davidson College in 2009, Curry was considered undersized and not many knew whether he’d play the one or two in the NBA. Despite a couple flashes of greatness, Curry was riddled with injuries to his ankles and foot, and many doubted whether the Warriors should’ve given him a contract extension. Curry silenced the doubters in 2014 after having an MVP season and breaking the all-time three-point record. He capped that off with a championship defeating Lebron James and many began to question whether he was the face of the NBA. 2015 was no different as Curry shattered his three-point record from the year prior, obtained another MVP award, and became the first player ever to voted MVP unanimously.
History was made tonight as the Cavaliers brought the championship to the city of Cleveland for the first time in 52 years. History could’ve been made either way, as the Warriors could’ve capped off a historic regular season, coming off a three-game deficit Eastern Conference finals. However, the one thing I hope does not happen is that people forget all the things that led up to this championship game and give Lebron underserved credit.
The Warriors were leading the finals three games to one and all of a sudden the NBA decided to suspend Draymond Green for game five for a controversial technical foul given to him for a scuffle with Lebron James. Green is vital to the Warriors small ball lineup, and still he’s the heart and soul of that team. Without Green, the Warriors lost, and not only that, Lebron James was able to drop 41 points. Up to that point, with Draymond Green defending the rim, Lebron was nowhere near 41 points. I’m not a conspiracy theorist, I would never accuse a professional sport of rigging games. However, the league does seem very suspect.
If Draymond Green never gets suspended, the Warriors win the series in five games, six, maximum. Lebron James will now be back at the pinnacle of conversation. I can now no longer watch ESPN until football season because there will be wall-to-wall coverage of Lebron James and how he led his team to a championship and brought one back to the city of Cleveland and it is all underserving. Lebron James did not deserve to win these finals. With a combination of unnecessary foul calls, ejections, suspensions and the injury to Andrew Bogut, the NBA won these finals for Lebron and that is the truth.
