LeBron James, in his sixth consecutive NBA Finals, leads the Cleveland Cavaliers in a rematch with defending champions Golden State starting today, but this time the superstar has a healthy supporting cast.
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry sparks the Warriors’ quest for a title repeat against four-time MVP “King” James, who is trying to bring Cleveland a major sports crown for the first time since the 1964 NFL Browns.
“Our city deserves it. Our fans deserve it, but that gives us no sense of entitlement. We have still got to go out and do it, be as great as we can every night. We look forward to the challenge,” James said.
Photo: AP
Last year, Cavaliers forward Kevin Love missed nearly all of the playoffs and injury-nagged guard Kyrie Irving broke a kneecap in the championship series opener.
A superman effort by James — the first man to lead the Finals in all three major statistics with averages of 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists — could not keep the Warriors from taking the best-of-seven series in six games.
“It is definitely a different feeling,” James said. “I did not appreciate last year, what we were able to accomplish. Knowing Kev was out and Ky was dealing with injuries from the first round. I just did not appreciate getting to the Finals.”
“Having our team at full strength, and the way I feel personally, I appreciate this moment, to be a part of it once again,” he added.
James and reserve teammate James Jones are the first players to reach six straight NBA Finals since legendary Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics ended a run of eight consecutive titles a half-century ago.
“In this day and age, to see LeBron do something like that, where it has not been done in 50 years, that is crazy,” Cavs forward Richard Jefferson said.
James and the Cavs were swept by San Antonio in the 2007 finals and three years later he departed for Miami. The Heat lost the 2011 and 2014 finals and won the 2012 and 2013 NBA titles before James returned home, vowing to make the Cavs champions, barely missing on his first try.
“I know what it feels like to win it. I know what it feels like to lose and I do not want to lose it again,” James said.
In an 11-2 playoff run, James has averaged 24.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.2 steals per game, with Irving contributing 24.3 points, 5.1 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, and Love adding 17.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
“Thinking about just the steps it took to get back to where we are now, I really have a true appreciation of the journey,” Irving said. “We are still not satisfied. There is still a goal at hand we have to accomplish.”
Blocking that path are Curry, three-point sharpshooter Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala, last year’s NBA Finals MVP after the Warriors won the last three games when he started.
“They have been playing well the whole playoff run,” Curry said. “We are ready for anything. Knowing how important taking care of your home court is, that will be a high priority going into Game 1.”
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