The NBA Finals have been more compelling than the Stanley Cup Final mainly because there will be a 7th game to crown basketball champions, while the NHL showcase series was over in six.
Game for game however, one could try and make a case the hockey was filled with more drama.
The first six games between the Warriors and Cavaliers were decided by double digits, with not one going down to the wire.
This is a sharp contrast from the Penguins and Sharks, where all six had a margin of victory of two goals or less and two of the games needed overtime.
Scores though can be a bit misleading. Pittsburgh had a clear territorial edge, with the Penguins top players outperforming the Sharks big guns.
San Jose, as a team melted on the big stage, even though goalie Martin Jones was superb and a main reason why the Sharks were able to win twice.
While the Eastern Conference is widely considered weaker than the West, no one can dispute that the Penguins were the best team from the start of the playoffs to the end.
Sure, there was star power with the likes of Crosby and Malkin, but that pales in comparison to the superstar power that is on display in the NBA.
Steph Curry and LeBron James, the world’s top two players (not necessarily in that order) are opposing each other and they aren’t the only standouts in the series.
Curry has Klay Thompson and Draymond Green on his side, while James has seen teammate Kyrie Irving blossom in his secondary role.
These five enormous players far outweigh the five best from the Penguins and Sharks.
I’m not sure Sunday’s game seven in Oakland could have any bigger stakes.
It will be as close to a Super Bowl type of atmosphere and hype that the NBA can offer.
If Lebron and the Cavs win, they’ll become the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals, and much more importantly, give Cleveland its first major sports championship since Dec. 27, 1964.
On the other hand if the Warriors win, they will have completed arguably the best season in the NBA history.
After going a record 73-9 in the regular season, how do you argue against Golden State should they capture the Larry O’Brien Trophy (Sure doesn’t have the same esteem as the Stanley Cup does it?)
I am hoping for the Cavaliers but am picking the Warriors without hesitation.
LeBron has been the best player in the series and is coming off back to back 41 point epic performances.
For all his accolades, I still believe he is under-rated and clearly gets over criticized and analyzed.
Sure he made some big blunders earlier in his career that ticked many off but how long should that be held against him?
LeBron is arguably the greatest leader in sports and his play has more than made up to Cleveland fans for “The Decision”.
His all-around game and exceptional basketball IQ have already put him into the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird class, if not higher.
The many LeBron detractors will rejoice that he will be 2-5 in NBA Finals should the Cavaliers lose to the Warriors.
However, he should not have to apologize for being the first player in 50 years to participate in six consecutive Finals.
Let’s put it this way. Cleveland has a chance to win mainly because of LeBron. Golden State has a chance to win, in part because of Curry.
If the Cavaliers played game seven without LeBron and the Warriors played without Steph, Golden State would win the crucial game handily.
The Warriors are a much deeper team and home court advantage is significant.
The home team is 58-26 in this year’s playoffs and 15-3 in game seven of the NBA Finals.
According to Las Vegas betting expert RJ Bell, game seven odds have the Warriors -200 (65% chance) and the Cavaliers +180 (35% chance).
Golden State opened as a 4 ½ point favorite and that number quickly went up to 5.
After Cleveland suffered two embarrassing losses to start the series, it appeared that the Warriors would coast to victory but LeBron, with key help from Kyrie, made sure that didn’t occur.
Should Golden State do the expected and prevail on Father’s Day, the Warriors will deserve the credit, reap the benefits and be in elite company as just six other teams have captured consecutive NBA
titles.
Should Cleveland lose, unfortunately they will be discussed in the same breath as the 4-time Super Bowl runner-up Buffalo Bills.
LeBron’s legacy will also be tarnished with a Cavaliers loss because as ludicrous as it may be, in today’s sports world it’s the ring (and how many) which is the only thing.
From the Quote Rack:
Phil Jackson said Shaquille O’Neal once showed up naked to a Lakers practice. Guess it wasn’t just the free-throw line where Shaq had air balls.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Ichiro dethrones Pete Rose at ‘hit’ king—in baseball or black jack?
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Apparently Cowboys’ RB Darren McFadden dropped his cell phone last month, tried to grab the phone before it hit the ground, and broke a bone in his elbow. Worse yet, the NFL refused to rule it a catch.
Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Denver Broncos star Aqib Talib was shot in a Dallas night club. He claims he was so inebriated that he doesn’t know how he got the bullet wound in his leg. “I wish I would have thought of that”, exclaimed Plaxico Burress.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/
And in case you missed it:
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong.
Charles Wadsworth
Happy Father’s Day to all Dads!
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also is the 94.3
radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games. His column appears Fridays on
myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller