Cnotes 2017 NBA Finals - Picks, Trends, News !

[CNOTES]

Kerr not well yet, but hasn't ruled himself out for Game 1
May 29, 2017


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Steve Kerr expects to decide soon whether he will coach the Golden State Warriors at all in the NBA Finals, saying Monday he is not yet ready but hasn't ruled himself out for Game 1.


''As of right now I would not coach Thursday night. It's still up in the air. Still waiting for `Ahhhhhh!''' Kerr said, reaching his hands to the sky as if to receive some miracle healing. ''It's coming, it's coming. ... I think once we get to Game 1, that might be a good time to make a decision one way or the other.''


Golden State, unbeaten this postseason at 12-0 with sweeps of Houston, Utah and San Antonio, hosts the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers in Games 1 and 2 on Thursday and Sunday.


The reigning NBA Coach of the Year is still not feeling well after a May 5 procedure at Duke University to repair a spinal fluid leak stemming from back surgery complications nearly two years ago. He filled in addressing the media Monday when acting coach Mike Brown was out with the flu.


''I told the team the good news is the team is really healthy, the bad news is the coaching staff is dropping like flies,'' Kerr joked.


Brown has been coaching the Warriors since Game 3 of the first-round playoff series at Portland, with Kerr assisting at practice and from the locker room before and during games. Brown was expected back Tuesday.


''Mike's been amazing. It's an awkward situation, again this is so unique,'' Kerr said. ''I'm not sure it's ever happened. ... It's just weird because on the one hand Mike has to coach the team as he sees fit. I'm taking part in practices, helping with the messaging, taking part in coaching meetings, but I'm not on the sidelines during games. And so he has to make those decisions as if it's his team, but he's also taking my advice and counsel behind the scenes. So it's not easy, but he's obviously doing a good job. There seems to be a theme when I'm out, I think the team is like 108-2.''


Brown is set to go up against LeBron James and a Cleveland team he coached in two separate stints.


Brown wasn't around during the past two Finals when the Warriors faced the Cavaliers, so he has watched some of last year's Finals. Kerr recently reviewed all seven games from 2016, when Golden State squandered a 3-1 lead and missed a repeat championship.


Everything he can do to help Golden State get prepared, Kerr is doing - until he feels he might be fine to return to the bench.


''I'm not well enough to coach a game and I know that (because) I coached all 82 games and I did OK. I was uncomfortable and in a lot of pain but I did fine, I could make it through,'' he said. ''The first two games of the Portland series, whatever happened, things got worse. You saw me in the fourth quarter of Game 2, I could not sit still in my chair, it was that much pain. I would say I've gotten a little bit better, that's why I'm here talking to you right now, but you can probably tell I'm not sitting here happy-go-lucky.''

 

[CNOTES]

Livingston, McGee perfect fit on Warriors
May 29, 2017


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) JaVale McGee practices 3-pointers from all around the arch, just in case. He sits with assistant coach Jarron Collins and a laptop to study film, long after practice and his shooting workouts are complete.


The 7-footer's rugged professional path has landed him at seemingly the perfect stop: in the Bay Area with the NBA's best.


Just don't call him a journeyman.


''I've never considered myself a journeyman in the first place,'' McGee said after a practice this weekend. ''Whatever y'all want to call me y'all can call me. The number of teams I've been on was in like one year. I've been with three teams in two years.''


Yet McGee must not look far to find someone else who has learned to thrive as a well-traveled NBA role player. Just a quick glance a couple of lockers down to where Shaun Livingston dresses at Oracle Arena, defying the odds yet again this season as a regular reserve contributing to another Warriors championship chase, is all it takes.


McGee has never made it this far, an NBA Finals first-timer when Golden State hosts defending champion Cleveland in Game 1 on Thursday night. Livingston never should have made it this far, and here he is back to the final round seeking his second title in three seasons - and 10 years after a devastating injury that could have sidelined him for good. Doctors thought they might have to amputate his left leg.


Fourteen teams between them, over 21 combined seasons. Each has found a great groove in Golden State's rotation, called upon to take pressure off the big stars while maintaining the highest level.


''We just kind of follow suit, but it's up to everybody to come in and lock in on the details. It's the playoffs,'' Livingston said. ''Obviously the stars help, they get all the headlines deservedly so, but the small things, the details, that's what we lock in at and that's how we win ballgames.''


McGee has discovered the ideal place to shine as an alley-oop specialist in a pass-happy offense, and even Stephen Curry admits it's so easy to target the sure-handed big man perhaps the Warriors do so too often at times.


''We almost get in trouble because we try to do it too much even if it's not there, because he has the ability to catch it really anywhere around the rim, around the backboard,'' Curry acknowledged. ''You kind of see it developing when he gets a free lane to the rim, and as a passer in that situation literally feel the most confidence that if I just get it anywhere up there, he'll go get it, and usually he does.''


With great efficiency, too.


In Game 3 against the Spurs, McGee scored a postseason-best 16 points, all in the first half to get Golden State going as Zaza Pachulia sat out with a bruised heel. He made all seven of his shots in Game 2 of a first-round win against Portland, shooting 18 for 23 in all in the four-game sweep of the Trail Blazers.


''That's my whole thing, I just try to be efficient out there,'' McGee said. ''I don't try to do too much. I just try to do what's necessary for me in the minutes that I'm out there.''


Livingston has unselfishly dealt with a diminished role, a rotation change late in the season that altered when he's used, and then a hand injury in the first round of the playoffs.


In February 2007 with the Clippers, Livingston tore three major ligaments in his knee - the anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and medial collateral as well as his lateral meniscus, then required extensive surgery. Though the injury could have ended his career at age 21, he still believed he would play again. First he had to walk again.


''Shaun, that story isn't really the same now. He's become a staple of this franchise, he's helped us win a title, he's done some great things here,'' Draymond Green said. ''For JaVale, it's still fresh, to where I think it's a great situation for him. He's finally been put in a position where he can do what he do. He's finally come to an organization, a first-class organization, that has embraced him for him and not tried to make him something that he's not. I think that has been pretty special, just seeing his growth over the course of the year, how he's been able to thrive. ... It's special to see when you take the path that they've taken to get to this moment.''


McGee will have to help keep Cleveland's Tristan Thompson off the boards. His teammates know he's up to the task.


''It just speaks to his kind of character and perseverance and work ethic and his belief in himself that when he's out there on the floor he deserves to be out there on the floor, he belongs and can make an impact,'' Curry said. ''When he showed up here, he understood the opportunity and he's taken full advantage of it. It's great to see.''

 

[CNOTES]

NBA Finals: 10 things to watch
May 29, 2017


When the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers meet in a third consecutive NBA Finals beginning Thursday, it will mark the first time the same clubs staged a three-peat performance on the game's biggest stage.


There are plenty of intriguing storylines ahead of the best-of-seven showdown between the 2015 champion Warriors and the 2016 champion Cavaliers. Here are 10 things to watch:


--LeBron James. Andre Iguodala earned MVP honors of the 2015 Finals mostly for his defense on James, who was harassed into 39.8 percent shooting in the series. Last season, James lit it up for 49.4 percent to wrestle away the hardware and the championship. As the 2017 road to the Finals has demonstrated, James appears to be getting better with age.


--Kevin Durant. At some point, the TV debating duo of Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson are bound to take sides on whether the first-year Warrior should opt out of his contract and return to Oklahoma City next season or unpack his bags and settle in. The question will become: Is he more likely to leave if the Warriors win or if they lose?


--Extracurriculars. It has been a relatively quiet 2017 postseason in terms of flagrant fouls, technicals and ejections. Chalk that up to all the blowouts. But now it's high-tension time, so it is worth noting: Durant, Stephen Curry and Shaun Livingston were all ejected from playoff games last season; Draymond Green drew a league-high five technical fouls and 10 other participants in this year's Finals got nailed with at least one in the 2016 postseason; and Green's momentum-turning flagrant foul wasn't the only one detected among current Warriors and Cavaliers last spring -- Durant, Kevin Love and J.R. Smith crossed that line as well.


--3-point defense. Forget Kyrie Irving vs. Curry. Irving had 34- and 26-point games in losses in last year's Finals. Curry had 11- and 18-point games in wins. They have, and quite possibly will, offset each other. More significant in this matchup will be which team defends the perimeter the best. The final stats show the Warriors outshot the Cavaliers 37.3 percent to 32.9 percent on 3-pointers last year, but don't be misled. It was 37.6 percent to 34.0 percent for the Cavaliers in their wins, 42.7 percent to 26.1 percent for the Warriors in the Golden State wins.


--Shoe wars. James vs. Curry is Nike vs. Under Armour. And then there's Big Baller. Or haven't you noticed that LaVar Ball is everywhere, and the NBA Draft is just four days after a possible Game 7 is scheduled?


--Tyronn Lue vs. Mike Brown. Lue seemed to have the Steve Kerr offense figured out by their seventh meeting last June, a 93-89 Cleveland win that ended with Golden State missing its final nine shots and going scoreless over the final 4:39. Lue has more weapons at his disposal this time around, and the Warriors will have one fewer with Kerr relegated to watching on television from the locker room due to a back ailment.


--Kyle Korver. One of the great chess matches in the series will be how Lue uses arguably his best long-range shooting weapon, and how Brown attacks arguably the series' worst defensive player. When Cleveland is on defense, the 6-foot-7 Korver would seem to match up best with the Warriors' 6-7 Shaun Livingston, a stand-still shooter who likes to use a height advantage to shoot over smaller guards.


--Akron, Ohio. Will we be able to see the lights of Akron, 39 miles to the south, when ABC gives us an aerial view of the Quicken Loans Arena? You better believe we're going to find out given the link between Ohio's fifth-biggest city and the Finals. Both Curry and James were born there. Are there vacancies at the Timber Top Apartments complex on the north side of town, where Curry first lived? Is James' first house, in the Akron inner city and condemned when he was 5 years old, still standing? Stay tuned.


--Celebrities. There is more than Drake (Curry) and Dr. Dre (James) to this series. It's Jim Brown and Joe Montana. Nine Inch Nails and the Grateful Dead. The Cleveland Clinic and Kaiser. And then there's Tom Hanks, born in Oakland but having adopted the Indians in last year's World Series. Too bad there's no Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. After all, this is the most highly anticipated best-of-three rubber match since the Thrilla in Manila.


--Tacos. The most likely person to get fired after the Finals? The promotions director at Taco Bell. In a matchup of teams undefeated (13-0) on the road in the playoffs, Taco Bell is offering "Steal a Game, Steal a Taco" -- one free taco to everyone interested should either team win a road game in the Finals.

 

[CNOTES]

Wednesday’s six-pack


Pac-12 basketball records, over the last four seasons:


Arizona: 59-13 Pac-12, 8-4 NCAA


Oregon: 53-19, 9-4


Utah: 46-26: 3-2


UCLA: 44-28, 6-3


California: 39-33, 0-1


Colorado: 35-37, 0-2


Stanford: 33-39, 2-1


Arizona State: 31-41, 0-1


Oregon State: 26-46, 0-1


Washington: 25-47, 0-0


USC: 24-48, 2-2


Washington State: 17-55, 0-0


*****************************


Wednesday’s List of 13: Mid-week musings…….


13) Best part of the Strickland/Harper shenanigans Monday night was Buster Posey totally declining to get involved. Usually, the catcher tries to keep the angry batter away from the pitcher, but Posey made no such attempt.


Harper hit two very long home runs off Strickland in the ’14 playoffs (thats 2.5 years ago!!!) in their only two previous meetings. Guess something Harper did/said ticked Strickland off.


12) I like watching baseball when they have the strike zone on the right side of the screen, so we can see if the umps miss any pitches. To me, it makes the broadcast a little better.


11) Is Nick Markakis the best active player who has never been an All-Star? He has 1,945 hits, is a solid defender, has a .358 career OB%. You’d think he would’ve made one All-Star team.


10) Jeb Bush is out as part of the group trying to buy the Miami Marlins; apparently he had “only $20M” of his own money involved in the project, not enough to make him a controlling partner, which is what he wanted.


9) 10 of the 64 teams in the NCAA college baseball tournament are located in Texas.


8) Nike stock fell 19% last year, is up only 4% this year; with the NBA Finals starting this week, Nike didn’t need Cavs-Warriors being overshadowed by Eldrick Woods’ DUI arrest. Nike does not sell golf equipment anymore, but they still sell golf clothes, which Woods endorses.


7) Houston Astros are almost definitely going to be in the playoffs; I’m curious how they’ll deal with Josh Reddick playing against lefties (Price? Sale? Lester?) in playoffs/World Series.


Reddick is a career .270 hitter vs righties, .220 vs lefties (.282 OB%). A’s once pinch-hit for him in the 4th inning of a big game because the opponent put a lefty in. So far this year he is 7-25 (.280) vs lefties; maybe the change of scenery has helped him. We’ll see.


6) Kansas Jayhawks will have six transfers amongst their 13 scholarship players next winter; only three of them will be eligible next season. Makes team chemistry a little dicey.


5) David Blatt went 83-40 as coach of the Cavaliers in the regular season, went 14-6 in playoff games and got fired. Now he coaches overseas; I think he had just enough ego to have been a really good college coach, but we’ll probably never know.


Fact of the matter is, if Lebron James wakes up one day in August and wants Tyronn Lue fired, the man is as good as gone. Probably won’t happen, but it could.


4) Not a big fan of playing the infield in; just doesn’t seem necessary, unless the runner on third is really fast. Playing fielders in opens up too many cheap hits that wouldn’t happen with a more traditional defense.


3) Joe Niekro pitched in the major leagues for 22 seasons, had 973 career at-bats with a .156 BA and hit one home run— off his brother, Hall of Fame Phil Niekro.


2) A Saudi prince lost $359M in six hours playing poker at a casino in Egypt; he also sold off five of his nine wives as a way to reduce his debt.


I knew cats had nine lives; had no idea Saudi princes had nine wives.


1) I don’t care what anyone says, Bob Uecker should’ve won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his role as Indians’ announcer Harry Doyle in Major League.

 

[CNOTES]

Trends to Watch - Game 1
May 30, 2017


NBA Finals Betting Trends - Game 1


-- The home team has gone 17-3 straight up in Game 1 of the last 20 NBA Finals


-- Ten of the last 14 victories have come by double digits and 13 have come by eight points or more


-- The ‘under’ has gone 9-3-1 in the last 13 openers and 13-6-1 in the previous 20


-- Golden State has gone 3-0 SU in Game 1 matchups in this year’s playoffs but are just 0-3 against the spread


-- The Warriors are 6-0 SU and 2-4 ATS at home in the playoffs


-- Cleveland is 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS in Game 1’s this postseason and this will be their second opener of the series on the road


-- In the Cavs’ first road game in each of their first three series, they’ve gone 3-0 both SU and ATS


-- Overall, Cleveland is 6-0 SU and 5-0-1 ATS on the road in this year’s playoffs


Listed below are the past 20 openers in the NBA Finals, with total results


GAME 1 OF THE NBA FINALS (1997-2016)


Year Matchup Total


2016 Golden State 104 vs. Cleveland 89 Under (211)


2015 Golden State 108 vs. Cleveland 100 (OT) Over (203.5)


2014 San Antonio 110 vs. Miami 95 Over (198.5)


2013 Miami 88 vs. San Antonio 92 Under (190)


2012 Oklahoma City 105 vs. Miami 94 Over (195.5)


2011 Miami 92 vs. Dallas 84 Under (188)


2010 L.A. Lakers 102 vs. Boston 89 Push (191)


2009 L.A. Lakers 100 vs. Orlando 75 Under (205.5)


2008 Boston 98 vs. L.A. Lakers 88 Under (191.5)


2007 San Antonio 85 vs. Cleveland 76 Under (179.5)


2006 Dallas 90 vs. Miami 80 Under (194)


2005 San Antonio 84 vs. Detroit 69 Under (176)


2004 L.A. Lakers 75 vs. Detroit 87 Under (171)


2003 San Antonio 101 vs. New Jersey 89 Over (187)


2002 L.A. Lakers 99 vs. New Jersey 94 Over (191)


2001 L.A. Lakers 101 vs. Philadelphia 107 (OT) Over (191)


2000 L.A. Lakers 104 vs. Indiana 87 Under (194)


1999 San Antonio 89 vs. New York 77 Under (172)


1998 Utah 88 vs. Chicago 85 (OT) Under (186)


1997 Chicago 84 vs. Utah 82 Under (190.5)

 

[CNOTES]

12 referees selected to officiate NBA Finals
May 30, 2017


NEW YORK (AP) Danny Crawford has been chosen to officiate his 23rd NBA Finals, making him the most experienced of the 12 referees selected for the series.


John Goble was the lone first-time selection Tuesday when the NBA announced the referees who would work the series beginning Thursday between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.


Mike Callahan was selected for his 14th NBA Finals, Ken Mauer his 12th and Scott Foster his 10th. Monty McCutchen, Derrick Stafford, Tony Brothers, James Capers, Marc Davis, Ed Malloy and Zach Zarba round out the staff. Each has been picked at least four times.


The officials were selected by NBA Referee Operations management based on their postseason performance. Referees were evaluated after each round to determine advancement.


Crawford has officiated 33 NBA Finals games and Callahan 18.


Tom Washington and Sean Wright are the alternates for the series.

 

[CNOTES]

Best Bets - Finals MVP
May 30, 2017


2017 NBA Finals MVP


NBA Finals MVP Outsiders


The NBA Finals that has a chance to save a overall lackluster 2017 NBA playoffs season is just a few days away now and the hype machine is starting to go in overdrive.


There is no denying just how great the accomplishments of Cleveland and Golden State have been the past few years and with each organization having a championship, we get the rubber match and it should be great.


But while bettors are pouring over series prices, Game 1 lines and even other prop bets, its the Finals MVP that has my attention today.


Sportsbook.ag NBA Finals MVP Odds


A first look at the Finals MVP odds shows it likely being a three-horse race between Durant, LeBron, and Curry. Those three guys are clearly the favorites depending on which team comes out on top, and you know others like Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and Klay Thompson will get some love from their respective teams.


Of those three second tier guys, I believe you've got to lean towards Irving (+1200) simply because of his ability to take over multiple games on a more consistent basis then the other two. Love and Thompson tend to have one or two spectacular games, but they are often overshadowed by their other teammates already mentioned, and will have a tough time surpassing any of them in the MVP race.


However we can make a case of two other guys (one from each team) to put their stamp on this NBA Finals rematch and get involved in the MVP conversation at the same time.


If Golden State wins the Title: Draymond Green (+750)


It won't take long for anyone associated with the Warriors (either with the team, a fan, or otherwise) to remind people that if Green hadn't been suspended for that Game 5 last year, we could be looking at a Golden State team going for three in a row.


Green's ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor, from basically everywhere on the floor, will be a huge asset to the Warriors in this series. Green will be covering anyone and everyone for the Cavs at some point in this series and it could very well be his play that determines the winner.


Defensively, everyone knows what Green is about and Cleveland definitely has their hands full there. But, offensively, Green will see a lot of open looks at least early on, and when he's hot with his shooting stroke the Warriors are basically unbeatable.


The Cavs will look to force Green to beat them with his shot as they would prefer to contain Curry, Durant etc, and Green hitting those shots puts the Cavs in a bind.


If Draymond can bring solid offensive numbers to the table every time out there, maintain his composure and hound the Cavaliers with his defense, we might see him lift up that MVP award at series' end.


If Cleveland wins the Title: Tristan Thompson (+10000)


Obviously more of a flyer here, but Thompson is likely going to have just as many opportunities to positively affect each game for his team as Green will for the Warriors, and his big presences inside is sure to be an asset that Cleveland won't hesitate to use.


Thompson's motor and ability to get extra possessions on the offensive glass could easily turn a game or two Cleveland's way in this series.


He's not quite the all-around scorer that Green is, but Thompson can put a double-double on you in a hurry, and given the perception of the Warriors still being a smaller, softer, team inside, Thompson will be asked to throw his body around in the paint right from the outset.


He's been a much better free-throw shooter in these playoffs as well, meaning Golden State can't automatically default to hacking him when they are in a bit of trouble.


Admittedly it's tough to envision many scenarios where Thompson is considered the best Cavs player in the series should they win, but the huge price tag on this wager deserves at least a bit of flyer consideration, especially if he's asked to guard guys like Durant in crunch time.


Hey, we saw Andre Iguodala win the MVP in the 2015 series for his all-around contribution, and Thompson definitely fills that role this year.

 

[CNOTES]

Why the Warriors will win the NBA Finals
May 30, 2017


There is a way to beat Golden State.


It demands defense.


Let the Warriors shoot 50 percent, they're almost certainly going to win. Let the Warriors score 103 points, they're almost certainly going to win. It's really that simple. To use LeBron James' word, they are a juggernaut. And that juggernaut will require the Cleveland Cavaliers to play airtight defense in these NBA Finals.


Defense has been the question for the Cavaliers all season.


That is why Golden State is my pick to win the NBA championship.


For the record, I picked Cleveland at the start of the season primarily for two reasons. One, James is the best player alive and his entire motivation now seems to revolve around collecting more rings. Two, I wasn't convinced that adding Kevin Durant to the Warriors' loaded mix would be as seamless as Golden State has made it look.


James has probably never been better than he is now.


But with Durant, the Warriors have probably never been better than this either.


Let's get back to those numbers. When the Warriors score 103 this season, they're 78-6. When they score 102 or less, they're 1-9. (That ratio also holds true going back to last year's Finals, Golden State going 3-0 when scoring 103 or more, 0-4 otherwise.) And the last time that the Warriors shot better than 50 percent and lost was in November - that is, November 2014.


When shooting over 50 percent, they've won 106 consecutive games, the last 43 of those coming this season.


The argument from CavsTwitter upon hearing those numbers will likely revolve around how Cleveland has clamped down on Golden State in each of the past two Finals, and that take is accurate. Golden State shot 44 percent against the Cavs in the 2015 Finals, 43 percent last season. Clearly, Cleveland understands what it takes to frustrate the Warriors just enough.


Except those Warriors aren't these Warriors.


And even though Cleveland has rolled through the playoffs, going 12-1, they've allowed opponents over 100 points in all but three of those games.


Durant is the difference. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were daunting enough with Harrison Barnes. Now with Durant in that mix in what essentially was Barnes' spot, the Warriors have found different dimensions both offensively and defensively. Barnes averaged 9.3 points in the Finals a season ago, on 35 percent shooting. There's no way Durant will get held to those sort of numbers.


The Warriors have dealt with adversity - particularly Durant's knee injury and coach Steve Kerr's absence caused by his ongoing back problems. They know the pain that comes with losing a Finals, particularly one where a 3-1 series lead gets wasted. Durant has heard so much criticism for leaving Oklahoma City and moving to Golden State last summer.


They haven't blinked. They're 27-1 in their last 28 games. They're 12-0 in the playoffs. They're rested. They're healthy.


James will push Golden State to the limit. But in the end, the 2016 loss will be avenged and the championship confetti will finally fall on Durant.


Warriors in seven.


****************************


Why the Cleveland Cavaliers will win the NBA Finals
May 30, 2017


Why will the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors in the three-match of the NBA Finals?


''I feel good about our chances,'' LeBron James said this week. ''Very good.''


Often times the simplest answer is the right one.


At 32 years of age, the best player of his generation is playing the best basketball of his life. And if he feels confident going into a series against an overpowering Warriors team filled with four All-Stars, then the rest of Cleveland should, too.


James has reached a rarefied air this postseason, surpassing Michael Jordan on the career playoff scoring list while leading Cavs through an Eastern Conference that looked more overmatched than ever. He is playing in his seventh straight finals. This is home to him and there is no amount of hype, no limit to the number of All-Stars his opponent can have that will shake his resolve.


He is averaging 32.5 points per game in these playoffs, eclipsed only by the 35.3 per-game average as a spry 24-year-old in 2009. He is also averaging career playoff highs in shooting percentage (.566) and 3-point shooting (.421) while grabbing 8.0 rebounds and dishing out 7.0 assists.


The Cavs are also more well-rounded than they were in the previous two trips to the finals.


Kevin Love sat out the 2015 finals with a shoulder injury and was more of a blue-collar, dirty work player in last year's conquest. He returns this year more closely resembling the stat-stuffing machine he was in Minnesota than at any other time since he was traded following James' decision to come back to Cleveland. Love is averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds this postseason and shooting 47.5 percent from 3-point range, giving the Cavs a floor spacer that is also a terror on the glass who may be able to exploit the Warriors when they go to a smaller lineup with Draymond Green at the center.


Kyrie Irving has also reached a higher plane these playoffs, even after last season's remarkable performance late in the series to help the Cavs rally from a 3-1 deficit. He scored 42 in an important Game 4 victory over the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals and can stand up to any of Golden State's perimeter players from a scoring and finishing standpoint.


Then there is the X-factor: Tristan Thompson. Cleveland's rugged glass-eater could be a difficult matchup for the Warriors. If he can control the paint and create second chances for the Cavs offense while limiting Golden State on its possessions, the Cavaliers will have a chance to hang close in most games.


Add to that mix veterans like Deron Williams, Channing Frye, Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith and the Cavs are one of the few teams in the league that have the firepower to stay with the Warriors.


''You can look at Golden State and how they're playing, it's pretty dominant,'' Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said on Tuesday. ''But you can never bet against LeBron. If a game is close down the stretch, he can take it over.''


Cavs in seven.

 

[CNOTES]

Higher power: LeBron soaring into 7th straight NBA Finals
May 30, 2017


CLEVELAND (AP) LeBron James will one day take his final bow, the brightest spotlight moving on to someone else.


There will come a time when his legs lose some explosiveness and those vicious dunks will be rendered ordinary. Someday, his jumper won't fall as often, and that astonishing court vision, the key to his game, will become cloudy.


James will face the end of his career one day. Just not anytime soon.


On the eve of his seventh straight NBA Finals appearance, and 10 years since he debuted on basketball's grand stage, James' reign continues: undisputed king of the court.


During a postseason in which he has led the champion Cleveland Cavaliers to a 12-1 record and chased down Michael Jordan as the No. 1 scorer in playoff history, James has not only positioned himself for a fourth title, but intensified the debate over whether he's the greatest player in NBA history.


He isn't slowing down while building his case.


James has always dismissed the Jordan comparisons, saying that kind of talk is ''only great for barbershops'' and that original gravity-defying No. 23 has been his motivational muse, not a target. But after the Cavs won their third straight conference title, punishing an overmatched Boston team in five games - he supplanted Jordan during the clincher - James discussed his place alongside someone who was ''like a god'' to him growing up.


''I did pretty much everything that M.J. did when I was a kid,'' James said. ''I shot fadeaways before I should have. I wore black and red shoes with white socks. I wore short shorts so you could see my undershorts underneath. I didn't go bald like Mike, but I'm getting there. ... But other than that, I did everything Mike did. I even wore a wristband on my forearm. I didn't do the hoop earring, either. That was Mike.


''But I did everything Mike did, man.''


And he's not done, not by a long shot.


James is on a mission, and it's far from accomplished.


By having one of his finest statistical postseasons - 32.5 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 57 percent shooting through 13 games - James is dismissing any argument about the league's true MVP. Although he'll finish behind Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Kawhi Leonard when the regular-season award is given out next month, James has reminded everyone over the past six weeks that he remains the measuring stick at 32.


He's raising the bar even higher, during a decade in which his actions - on and off the floor - have shaped the league.


''LeBron James has dominated, seriously dominated, this era of basketball. His domination has been about the equivalent to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's in his time,'' Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas said. ''He's playing for his place in history, to be talked about as one of the best to ever play. The conversation will come down between he, Kareem and Michael Jordan. Then it's just a matter of taste. Who do you want?''


Of all his accomplishments, making seven straight final rounds is near the top of the list. When the ball goes up in Game 1 on Thursday, James will be the seventh player to appear in seven consecutive Finals, and the first since Bill Russell led a handful of Celtics on their dynastic run in the 1960s.


James reluctantly reflects on what he's done. As the Cavs prepared for the Warriors, he took a moment to consider his latest feat.


''It's going to be great for my legacy,'' he said. ''Once I'm done playing the game and can look back on the game and say, `Oh, this guy went to three straight Finals, four straight Finals, five, six, whatever. It's great to be talked about, see what I was able to accomplish as an individual. When you talk about longevity and being able to just play at a high level for a long period of time, I've been fortunate enough to be able to do that and take two franchises to four Finals apiece - and no one has ever done that either.


''I've always been proud to be part of the biggest stage in our league, and it's the Finals.''


And this is Act III of a three-year drama with Golden State.


After ending Cleveland's 52-year championship drought last season, James has been unburdened, free of the criticism or consequences. Early in Game 1, he will become the first player with 6,000 points in the postseason, and there's no reason to think he won't pass 7,000 in due time.


Whatever he finishes with, Cavs veteran forward Richard Jefferson doesn't think anyone will catch him.


''Like the Joe DiMaggio hit streak, Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100, there are certain records that will be unbreakable,'' Jefferson said. ''Whoever tries to get to that is going to have to play in 10 NBA Finals and average 30 points a game to get there. Let's put that in perspective: that's impossible. What he's doing right now is obviously on a level that has never been seen before. To pass Michael Jordan when you're still in the prime of your career, one of the greats of all-time? That record will be unbreakable.


''If he adds another 1,000 points, who's going to be able to come in and go to 10 NBA Finals in this modern age? It's impossible.''

 

[CNOTES]

Capsule preview of the Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals matchup
May 30, 2017


Capsule and prediction for the NBA Finals between Golden State and Cleveland that begins Thursday:


No. 1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (67-15, 12-0) vs. No. 2 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (51-31, 12-1)


Season series: Tied, 1-1. The Cavaliers pulled out a 109-108 victory in their heavily hyped Christmas Day matchup in Cleveland when Kyrie Irving made a turnaround jumper with 3.4 seconds remaining to complete a comeback from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit. Golden State answered with a 126-91 rout nearly a month later, leading by as much as 39 points at home against a Cavaliers team that lacked energy in the last game of a six-game road trip.


Story line: The Warriors and Cavaliers make NBA history by becoming the first teams to meet in three straight NBA Finals. Golden State won in 2015, Cleveland erased a 3-1 deficit to win its first championship last year, and the rubber match that was expected all along was set up easily with the teams combining for just one loss through three rounds.


Key Matchup: Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James. Their second NBA Finals matchup comes five years after their first, when James won his first championship as Miami overpowered Oklahoma City in 2012. Durant has a much better team and has become a much more complete player now in his first season with the Warriors. But this also may be the best all-around version of James, who is averaging 32.5 points on nearly 57 percent shooting, and adding 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game.


Prediction: Warriors in 7.

 

[CNOTES]

Position-by-position Finals matchups
May 30, 2017


A position-by-position look at the matchups in the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers:


CENTER: Zaza Pachulia vs. Tristan Thompson. Pachulia is back and ready to go after missing two games in the Western Conference finals with a heel injury. He may not be out there long if the Warriors decide they need more mobility against Thompson, who is nearly averaging a double-double and shooting 60 percent while creating plenty of extra possessions with his offensive rebounding for the Cavaliers. Edge: Cavaliers.


POWER FORWARD: Draymond Green vs. Kevin Love. Green wanted the matchup with the Cavaliers after Golden State fell short last year despite his brilliant Game 7, and now here it comes. On top of his versatility and defense that is so important to Golden State, he's shooting 47 percent from 3-point range in the postseason, tops on a team that has some of the best perimeter shooters in the world. Love broke out in a big way in the Eastern Conference finals after opening the playoffs with two quiet rounds, averaging 22.6 points and 12.4 rebounds against Boston. Edge: Warriors.


SMALL FORWARD: Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James. Durant has been terrific in his first postseason with the Warriors, averaging 25.2 points on 55.6 percent shooting. James has been even better, putting up 32.5 points on nearly 57 percent shooting, and adding 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. James won his first NBA title five years ago at Durant's expense, and now Durant tries to get his first playing against James. Edge: Cavaliers.


SHOOTING GUARD: Klay Thompson vs. J.R. Smith. Thompson's shot has been off in the postseason, hitting just about 38 percent from the field, but his defense is probably more important than his offense now anyway as the usual primary defender against Kyrie Irving. Smith has had a quiet postseason, playing more than 30 minutes and taking more than eight shots just once in the Eastern Conference finals. Edge: Warriors.


POINT GUARD: Stephen Curry vs. Kyrie Irving. With his big performance in Game 5 that helped start Cleveland's comeback, his 3-pointer in Game 7 and then his go-ahead basket in their Christmas Day matchup, Irving has repeatedly hurt the Warriors. Now he comes into this series off a sizzling conference finals, shooting 62 percent against Boston. Curry is averaging 28.6 points in the playoffs and looking like a different player now than heading into last year's NBA Finals after a knee injury earlier in the postseason. Edge: Warriors.


RESERVES: Andre Iguodala, Shawn Livingston, JaVale McGee, Ian Clark, David West, and Patrick McCaw vs. Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert, Kyle Korver, Deron Williams and Richard Jefferson. Iguodala has shot the ball poorly in the postseason but the 2015 NBA Finals MVP will be on the floor plenty anyway because of his other contributions. Meanwhile, McGee (74 percent), Livingston (61), West (57) and Clark (52) have shot it great. Frye and Korver had their minutes slashed in the last round but the Cavaliers figure to need their 3-point shooting now against the tougher Golden State defense. Advantage: Warriors.


COACHES: Steve Kerr or Mike Brown vs. Tyronn Lue. Kerr is still trying to determine if his back is healthy enough to return to the bench. If not, Brown, who replaced him midway through the first round, faces the team he led to the 2007 NBA Finals. Lue tries to build on the terrific start to his coaching career by becoming just the second NBA coach to win titles in his first two seasons. Edge: Even.

 

[CNOTES]

49ers' Bowman talks KD in middle school
May 30, 2017


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Imagine Kevin Durant as a skinny, timid teen being told to shoot by his middle school point guard who saw so much potential all those years ago.


He needed a little urging back then. Much of it came from star San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who fondly recalls his days passing to the future NBA star.


Bowman, who claims he was the superior player at Drew Freeman Middle School in Prince George's County, Maryland, used to encourage the lanky Durant to be aggressive, to take it to the hoop with authority. Durant already measured more than 6 feet tall at the time and would rapidly add inches in the upcoming years.


''Can you believe we had to tell him to shoot?'' Bowman recalled with a grin last week at Levi's Stadium while relaxing after football practice in Santa Clara.


''Yeah, we had to tell him to shoot. We knew that he could play the game and he would eventually get better, but how tall he was, back in the day if you were that tall you would be in the post or you would be in the paint. This guy was on the wing. You could see the talent there. Eventually, as you see now, he grew into it and became a great player.''


Durant insists all he wanted to do was create opportunities for others.


''I would just always want to please my teammates, so I would pass up a shot to get somebody else a look,'' Durant said. ''I always had that trait and that kind of turned into not being aggressive, if that's what it was called. But I was more so just catering to my teammates, trying to make them feel comfortable. And at a young age, NaVorro being such a leader that he is, he knew that I had some pretty good talent at that age and he just told me, `Go out there and just play.' As a kid, you need that, you want that validation from your teammates. Especially starting off early when I started to take basketball really, really serious, just a couple words from him meant a lot.''


They've since reunited in the Bay Area, Bowman cheering for KD to win his first championship with the Warriors. Bowman plans to be there in person at Oracle Arena this week. Game 1 against the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers is Thursday night.


The Maryland boys' paths crossed before middle school, as opponents in AAU ball - Durant figures around age 11.


As each chased professional dreams over the next decade, they pushed one another from afar without even knowing it, taking great pride in their shared ''DMV'' - D.C., Maryland, Virginia - roots and making it big in their respective athletic pursuits.


''We really grew up together. He always played Pee Wee football and you would walk to the field and you'd see NaVorro wearing a No. 99 jersey, all black on with a visor, just bigger than everybody else,'' Durant said. ''You didn't really know who he was until he took his helmet off. But you could tell that he was on another level, just his focus, just how much he wanted it, his energy as a kid and then it just continued to grow. I knew we kind of inspired and pushed each other without even having to say anything.''


From age 12 through high school, Bowman would play basketball all day at a 24-hour gym, sometimes going from 8 a.m. until midnight. Durant would join him sometimes, though he lived on the opposite side of town. They knew the same people, and where to land a competitive pickup game.


By eighth grade, scouts flocked to see KD. Bowman attracted a few, too.


Bowman was recruited by DeMatha Catholic High but didn't want to attend an all-boys school, so he went to nearby Suitland. Durant spent one semester at Suitland, then left for Montrose Christian. That's where his career took off.


Several prominent schools recruited Bowman for basketball, but he saw a future in football and wound up at Penn State.


''I just made a business decision, knowing that I wasn't getting taller,'' the 6-foot, four-time All-Pro said.


Now, Bowman is getting a thrill as an up-close spectator - supporting a dear friend.


He sent a text message to KD after the Warriors' sweep of San Antonio last week.


''I had to congratulate him on his success and the choice he made. I know it was hard and challenging but it's about winning a championship,'' Bowman said of KD leaving Oklahoma City. ''I think that was his choice and why he made it. I texted him, `I know you're excited to be where you are and accomplish what you've accomplished, let's go get it, let's get it taken care of.'''


Durant, too, is pulling for Bowman as he comes back from another injury, this time a torn Achilles.


''Once I made it, I knew that he was next up, and it's kind of come full circle from playing eighth grade ball together to us living right down the street from each other. He comes over all the time and he comes to games,'' Durant said. ''It's one of those legacy things that we'll sit down and talk about forever, people from our area just for this to come together like this is divine and it's special. I have a friend for life in him.''

 

[CNOTES]

Thursday’s six-pack


— Astros 17, Twins 6— In nine innings vs Minnesota bullpen this week, Astros scored 28 runs.


— A’s 3, Indians 1— Chad Pinder homered twice for a team that really needed a win.


— Padres 2, Cubs 1— Chicago lost its eight road games; this was an 0-6 road trip.


— Brewers 7, Mets 1— You walk Eric Sogard three times, you deserve to lose.


— They sell roasted grasshoppers at Mariner games in Seattle. Seriously.


— Mike Tirico will replace Al Michaels on Thursday Night Football this fall.


*****************************


Thursday’s Den: How MLB teams do in series openers……


Series records for major league teams (thru May 31):


Road-Home/Total


National League
Ariz: 1-4-2…..7-2….8-6-2
All: 4-5-1…2-3-2…6-8-3
Chi: 4-4….5-2-1….9-6-1
Cin: 4-3-1…3-4-2…7-7-3
Col: 7-0-1…5-2-1…12-2-2
LA: 1-4-2…5-1-3….6-5-5
Mia: 2-5-2…2-5-1…4-10-3
Mil: 4-2-1…3-5-1…7-7-2
NY: 4-3……4-5……8-8
Phil: 1-7……3-5……4-12
Pitt: 2-5-2….5-3…..7-8-2
StL: 3-3-1…3-5-1…6-8-1
SD: 3-6….2-4-2…5-10-2
SF: 2-6-1…4-2-1…6-8-2
Wsh: 4-4…..8-9……12-13


American League
Balt: 2-4-2….7-1…..9-5-2
Bos: .3-4….6-2-2…9-6-2
Chi: 4-4-1…3-3-1…7-7-2
Clev: 5-3-1….2-6…..7-9-1
Det: 2-4-3….4-2-1…6-6-4
Hst: 6-1……7-2…..13-3
KC: 3-5…..2-4-2….5-9-2
LAA: 1-6-2…3-2-2….4-8-4
Min: 6-1……3-6……9-7
NY: 3-4-1…..7-1….10-5-1
A’s: 1-7…..5-1-2….6-8-2
Sea: 3-7……5-2…….8-9
TB: 4-4…..4-3-2….8-7-2
Tex: 2-6-1…..5-3.….7-9-1
Tor: 2-5-2…..4-4…..6-9-2

 

[CNOTES]

NBA Finals Game 1 Preview
May 31, 2017


NBA Finals - Game 1
No. 2 Cleveland at No. 1 Golden State (ABC, 9 p.m. ET)


Cavs-Warriors III is finally here, arriving as the first-ever NBA Finals matchup played between teams vying for the title three consecutive times. Considering the Celtics and Lakers have run things in multiple decades and are unquestionably still the rivalry to end all rivalries, this is quite the accomplishment.


Now the series just has to live up to the hype to try and salvage what's been by all accounts a dud of a postseason. Fortunately, all the ingredients are there.


Well, most. Steve Kerr won't coach Game 1 and is questionable for the rest of the series as he attempts to overcome lingering side effects from back surgery.


That means Mike Brown will be coaching these Finals against the Cavs, who fired him after deciding he was expendable back in 2010. LeBron James left Cleveland for Miami weeks later.


There are loads of ties that bind in this series. There are tons of driving forces that extend beyond just claiming a ring and going 2-for-3 in this Finals matchup.


Draymond Green feels especially guilty for what transpired after he lost his temper and got himself excluded from a key Game 6 as the Warriors blew a 3-1 series lead last year. That collapse allowed Kevin Durant to feel it was ok to jump ship to the Warriors, which makes this year's task much tougher for LeBron and Co.


Durant has a score to settle, having been beaten by LeBron as a favorite with Oklahoma City on a team that he led which also featured Russell Westbrook and James Harden. That alleviated James' burden in Miami after being upset in the 2011 Finals by Dallas.


Then there's Steph Curry, whose 6-for-19 Game 7 implosion contributed heavily to the 93-89 loss in the series-deciding game. He shot 4-for-14 from 3-point range, a performance that still haunts him. It's easier to forget that he also started poorly in last year's Finals, shooting 4-for-15 in Game 1 despite his Warriors pulling away for a 104-89 win.


Golden State won thanks to its depth, getting a particularly strong game from Shaun Livingston in a 104-89 romp that also featured great efforts from Andre Iguodala and Leandro Barbosa off the bench. All but Barbosa are back, so the noise that this team is weaker due to less depth because they traded Durant is just that - noise.


Game 2 featured a Cavs team determined to lock in defensively and saw them up 21-19 after a quarter, but at home, depth and familiarity played to the Warriors advantage in an easy 110-88 win as they rolled 91-56 the rest of the way. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined for 15 points and six rebounds in a no-show that would seem ridiculous at this point given the form they've displayed this postseason and what they've already accomplished in becoming champs for the first time. James led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists that game, but gets significantly more help these days.


The Warriors are a -240 series favorite, which is roughly a 70 percent lean on the series. You get the rationale. Up 3-1 without Durant, a key variable since Harrison Barnes was a liability in the same spot in the lineup, the Dubs have to be favored to win a championship. Golden State is a 7-point favorite for Game 1.


While Love is within his rights to wonder aloud how in the world the defending champs are substantial underdogs defending their own title, there's a method to the madness of bookmakers and experts that are viewing this series without bias.


As far as Game 1 is concerned, the Cavs have little to lose and can experiment with some strategies that should serve them well down the road in what they're expecting will be a long series. Golden State doesn't really have that luxury since a loss would immediately forfeit the homecourt edge that could play such a huge role in deciding a champ.


Although they lost Game 7 on their home floor last season, the opportunity to get off to a strong start in Oakland in addition to the prospect of playing a key Game 5 and potential Game 7 there loom large. There's no one under more pressure than Durant, who has faced immense backlash for his decision to defect from the Thunder, even irrationally catching blame for the lack of competitiveness in this postseason. Then there's Curry and Klay Thompson, who need to shoot it well to ensure the Cavs have to respect everyone defensively.


Cleveland won every game it needed to last year, thriving in a Game 3 where it faced a certain sweep had it lost, then rallying in three straight elimination games to impose its will. It's well within their rights to feel like they're being slighted here and can also rely on having rallied from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit on Christmas Day to edge Golden State 109-108. Irving scored 25 points and made the winning basket, helping the Cavs overcome a 36-point, 15-rebound. Curry shot 4-for-11 in that game, further fueling speculation that Cleveland has his number.


Tristan Thompson's ability to generate extra opportunities on the boards and serving as the backbone of a defense that was porous most of the regular season makes him the x-factor for the Cavs. Zaza Pachulia is healthy and ready to go for the Warriors, but we'll see how often Brown utilizes him or JaVale McGee in the middle as opposed to going small with Green at the five.


Because the pace is expected to be fluid and 3-pointers are likely to fly, the total has been placed incredibly high for an NBA Finals game. Oddsmakers opened the total for Game 1 at 225 ½ and that number has held steady over the last week while a couple books have gone to 226.


VegasInsider.com NBA analyst Chris David provides his thoughts on Thursday’s opener and what could happen with the total numbers during this series.


“If you look at the last two finals between the pair, you can see that the oddsmakers are expecting some wild shootouts this summer. In 2015, the numbers ranged from 193 ½ to 203 ½ and the ‘under’ went 3-2-1 in that series and two of the games went into overtime. While Cleveland was short-handed in that series, it had a healthy squad last year and the totals ranged from 205 to 210 ½ and the ‘under’ again produced a winning mark (4-3),” said David.


He added, “Even though the total seems a tad inflated, we’re looking at a completely different Cleveland team. Offensively, they’re averaging 116.8 PPG in the playoffs and that’s a drastic increase (104.8 PPG, 99 PPG) from the previous two postseasons. At the same time, they’ve been worse defensively (103.2 PPG) this year and the margins are kind of startling as well (96.1 PPG, 95 PPG). A great defense usually trumps a great offense and I would lean that way in Game 1. I’d play the Cavaliers team total ‘under’ (109 ½) and also lean to the ‘under’ in the game as well.”


Cleveland has averaged 118.7 PPG on the road in the playoffs, which has helped produced a 4-3 ‘over’ record. The ‘over’ has gone 4-2 in Golden State’s six playoff games at Oracle Arena. In the two regular season meetings between the pair, the ‘under’ went 2-0 despite Golden State averaging 117 PPG.

 

[CNOTES]

Cavs-GSW III picks up where it left off
May 31, 2017


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) After a summer highlighted by Kevin Durant's decision to leave Oklahoma City for the star-laden Golden State Warriors, a six-month regular season and three rounds of playoffs, the NBA Finals are right back where they ended last June.


Not that anyone expected any different.


Take III of the NBA Finals trilogy between Golden State and the Cleveland Cavaliers gives Stephen Curry and Draymond Green a chance to avenge last year's Warriors collapse and LeBron James the opportunity to add a fourth title in his chase of Michael Jordan's six.


Perhaps most noteworthy, it gives Durant the chance at a first championship and validation for his decision to leave the Thunder and join the league's latest super team.


''I can't go out there and do everything on my own or I can't go out there and just let my teammates do all the work for me,'' Durant said Wednesday, a day before the series opener. ''I got to do my part and we all got to make it come together as a group.''


This matchup has seemed ordained since James walked off the court in Oakland last June, having delivered his native northeast Ohio its first major team championship since 1964.


James had won two titles as part of another ''super team'' in Miami but last year's crown meant even more to his legacy.


''I'm not in the `prove people wrong, silence critics' department no more,'' James said. ''I got a promotion when I got to the 30s. At the end of the day, I know the way I'm built. My only motivation is to be able to compete for a championship every single year.''


The Warriors have been right there the past two years, winning the franchise's first title in 40 years in 2015 and then blowing a 3-1 lead last year to put a sour ending on a record-breaking 73-win season.


That series turned when Green was suspended for Game 5 and James and Kyrie Irving took over from there.


''Any time someone beats you, you'd love to play them,'' Green said. ''But at the end of the day winning a championship is winning a championship. You don't care who you've got to take down, you just want to take whoever that is down.''


Here are some other things to watch in Part III:


FINALS REMATCH


While the Cavs and Warriors have played in the Finals the past two years, Durant and James met before that in different uniforms. James won his first title in 2012 with Miami in a five-game series over Durant and the Thunder. Durant played well, averaging 30.6 points and shooting 55 percent but James came out on top.


''I know I've grown as a player just through experience from the last five years, but if I don't go out there and execute, none of that matters,'' Durant said.

BROWN CONNECTION


James' first trip to the Finals came 10 years ago when the Cavs were swept by San Antonio. His coach that year was Mike Brown, who has served as acting coach for the Warriors while Steve Kerr is out following complications from back surgery. Brown had two stints as coach in Cleveland, leading the team to the playoffs five straight times from 2006-10 before returning for a one-year stint in 2013-14 when the Cavs won 33 games.


''It feels a little surreal,'' Brown said. ''I'm sure come tip-off tomorrow, when I'm looking at those guys in that uniform, it will feel even more that way, but right now just kind of taking everything in stride.''


UNDERDOG CAVS


According to the odds makers in Las Vegas and the number crunchers at analytical sites, the Warriors are the clear favorites to win the series after sweeping their way through the playoffs with a record-setting margin of victory of 16.3 points per game. James has called Golden State a ''juggernaut'' but the Warriors aren't buying all that talk.


''We've had a great season to this point, a great playoff run. And hopefully we keep it going, but we fully respect and are aware that this team that we're playing, they're the champions and we're not,'' Kerr said.

KLAY'S SHOT


One of the few things that hasn't gone right for Golden State this postseason has been Klay Thompson's shooting. He has hit just 38 percent of his shots as his normally reliable jumper has failed him.


''I've had a week off,'' Thompson said. ''So I feel great. Can't get caught up in your shot falling or not.''


Thompson has been stellar on the defensive end even when his shot has been off and will likely be counted on at times to slow down Irving, who scored 98 points in the final three games last year, including the series-clinching 3-pointer.


BY THE NUMBERS


The Warriors are the first team to win their first 12 games of the postseason, sweeping all three rounds so far. The Cavs haven't been far behind, losing only in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final to Boston.


This series also features 11 players who have been named All-Stars in their careers, including seven this year. The only other time a Finals matchup featured 11 former All-Stars came in 1983 when Philadelphia swept the Los Angeles Lakers.

 

[CNOTES]

Newcomers to rivalry embrace Finals
May 31, 2017


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Watching Part II of the Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals trilogy last spring, Kyle Korver came to a realization.


''These are the two best teams and if you were on one of these two teams you were hopeful that you'd be here at the end,'' Korver said Wednesday, a day before the teams meet for the third straight Finals. ''I'm excited this worked out that I could be here.''


Korver got added to the mix midway through the season when he was dealt from Atlanta to Cleveland and is one of a dozen players on the two rosters who weren't on these teams last June when the Cavs rallied from 3-1 down to win the title.


While much of the focus leading up to Cavs vs. Warriors III has been on how the addition of Kevin Durant to Golden State's star core led by Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson will make life even more difficult for LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers, there are several other newcomers to the rivalry who could play a key role in determining which team wins a second title in this trilogy.


''It's pretty intense,'' Warriors center Zaza Pachulia said. ''Obviously when you play against somebody and it's the third time in a row and split the seasons and championships, they don't like each other. ... Even though I wasn't here the last couple years, talking and hearing the stories and watching the film kind of transfers me and I feel like I've been part of this team.''


Pachulia passed up a chance at bigger money to have a chance for a title when he signed with Golden State last summer for $2.9 million. He's part of a revamped center position along with fellow newcomers Javale McGee and David West.


Swingman Matt Barnes adds more energy off the bench and rookie guard Patrick McCaw has provided another boost.


The Cavaliers added a 3-point specialist in Korver, along with backup point guard Deron Williams and swingman Derrick Williams to the mix in hopes of giving James more offensive options around him.


Many of these players had to take on smaller roles now that they had joined so-called super teams filled with stars. But it was all worth it because of the quest for a championship.


''I felt like when I got here, I could fill in some gaps, fill in some holes just in the way these guys approach the game and the level of seriousness it takes every single day,'' West said.


All the newcomers remembered watching these two teams square off the past two Junes as fans. There was Golden State winning its first title since 1975 when the Warriors bested a short-handed Cavaliers squad missing Irving and Kevin Love on Cleveland's home court in 2015.


Then the Cavs got their revenge last year when they rallied back to claim their city's first major team championship since 1964 with a Game 7 win in Oakland.


''They've been battles, they've been wars,'' Barnes said. ''This is really the grudge match. I think the world has been waiting for this to finally get here.''


Barnes wasn't exactly a neutral observer last year, having grown up in Northern California and having played with the Warriors before their recent run of dominance. Barnes was a key reserve on the ''We Believe'' team in 2007 that made it to the second round of the playoffs and said his heart never left the East Bay.


He started this season in Sacramento before getting waived in February and joining the Warriors for the stretch run. Now he's ready to help avenge last year's disappointment.


''They know they left a ring on the table,'' Barnes said of his teammates. ''It kind of goes without saying. It's not something we talk about. Everybody has been waiting to get to this point in the season.''


Some have waited longer than others. Korver ranks second among all active players with 104 playoff games without a Finals appearance, trailing only Joe Johnson's 112 games. West (95 games), Barnes (90) and Deron Williams (85) aren't far behind.


That all changes Thursday.


''It's been a long journey, some ups and downs but it's well worth it once you get here in the Finals,'' Williams said. ''It's definitely exciting. I feel blessed to be in this position to compete for a championship.''

 

[CNOTES]

NBA notebook: James' Los Angeles home vandalized
May 31, 2017


A Los Angeles home owned by Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James was vandalized Wednesday morning with a racial slur spray-painted on the front gate of the $21 million estate.


The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed officers were called to the Brentwood neighborhood estate to investigate the incident of the racial epithet.


The vandalism was discovered about 6:45 a.m. PT and has since been painted over by the property manager, according to the LAPD.


A Los Angeles Times source described the slur as the "N-word."


The LAPD is investigating the incident as a hate crime and an official police report was expected later Wednesday.


James bought the 9,440-square-foot house in 2015 for about $20.9 million, according to public records. His primary residence during the NBA season is in Akron, Ohio,


--The Los Angeles Clippers reportedly are interested in hiring NBA legend Jerry West from the Golden State Warriors.


League sources told ESPN's Marc Stein that the Clippers would like to bring the 79-year-old West into their organization in an advisory capacity, similar to the role he holds with the Warriors since May 2011.


The Hall of Famer is under contract with the Warriors through July as a member of the franchise's executive board. He previously was an executive with the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies, winning NBA Executive of the Year twice.


Warriors owner Joe Lacob said last week he wants West to remain with the team.


--Former UCLA point guard Lonzo Ball is expected to make a pre-draft workout for the Los Angeles Lakers on June 7, according to multiple reports.


Ball also plans to meet with the Lakers' coaching staff and front-office personnel, ESPN and the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday night.


The Lakers own the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, which will take place in New York on June 22.


Ball did not attend the NBA combine so the workout will give the Lakers a chance to meet with him for the first time and see him in drills.

 

[CNOTES]

Game 1 Props - Best Bets
May 31, 2017


Game 1 of the 2017 NBA Finals tips off Thursday and bettors will have plenty of opportunities to cash tickets on the best-of-seven series between the Warriors and Cavaliers.


Along with your basic side and total wagers, all sportsbooks are offering up “Proposition Wagers” or “Props” for each game of the series.


Similar to our predictions for each round, our trio of NBA experts will be offering up their Best Prop Bets for each game.


Based on a five-unit bankroll for each game, their top plays are listed below for the opener between Golden State and Cleveland.


Odds & Props provided by Sportsbook.ag


Chris David


2 Units – Under Kyrie Irving Total Points 26 (-120)


If you look at Kyrie Irving’s numbers during the regular season, he was a better scorer on the road but that’s flip-flopped in this year’s playoffs. The All-Star point guard is leading the team with 29.5 points per game at home in the postseason while shooting a blistering 51 percent from the field. In seven road games, that number dips to 20.3 PPG and the field goal percentage (41.9%) also drops substantially as well. You could argue that he should’ve won the Finals MVP last year based on the numbers (30.4 PPG) he produced in the final five games versus the Warriors, but his effort in the first two games (26, 10) in that series from the Bay Area showed his struggles. While his confidence should be high, we certainly didn’t see it in the two regular season meetings versus the Warriors as he was held to 21 PPG while shooting just 37 percent from the floor.


2 Units – Under Kyle Korver Total Points 8 (-115)


I really don’t believe we’ll see much of Kyle Korver in this series because he’s such a defensive liability that if he gets on the floor, Golden State will go after him right away. His numbers dropped to 14.6 minutes in the conference semifinals and he only received significant minutes when the games were out of hand. He’s averaging 6.4 PPG in the playoffs and based on this number, he would be 7-3-1 to the ‘under’ so far.


1 Unit – Under Andre Iguodala Total Points + Rebounds + Assists 14.5 (-115)

The 2015 NBA Finals MVP hasn’t been himself in this year’s playoffs and that’s due to a knee injury that he suffered in the conference semis versus the Spurs. Even before his minutes declined, you can see a big disparity with his home/away numbers in the postseason. On the road he averaged 8 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 2.3 APG which barely get him ‘over’ the number listed by the oddsmakers. However, those numbers are much lower (4.8 PPG, 4 RPG, 4 APG) in the playoff games played at Oracle Arena.


Kevin Rogers


2 Units – Under LeBron James Total Points + Rebounds + Assists 49.5 (-110)


Even though the Cavaliers won the championship last season, the expectations are still high for James to post big numbers. James has not pulled down double-digit rebounds in the last 10 games, while depending on 30+ point games in 11 of 13 playoff contests. In the first two games of the Finals last season at Golden State, James scored a combined 42 points, but did grab at least eight boards in all seven games of that series.


James will get his points throughout the series, but this prop depends on him compiling enough rebounds and assists to cash this number.


2 Units – Under Kyrie Irving 3-Point Attempts 6.5 (-115)


Irving attempted between six and eight three-pointers in the final four games of the Eastern Conference Finals after posting three attempts in each of the first two wins against Boston. In last season’s Finals, Irving hoisted up more than six treys only twice in the seven-game series, while attempting a total of seven three-pointers in the first two losses at Oracle Arena.


1 Unit – Under Stephen Curry Total Points 27.5 (-115)


With the addition of Kevin Durant, there are fewer shot attempts for Curry, even though he scored at least 29 points in three of four games against the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. In last year’s Finals, Curry scored fewer than 25 points in five of seven games, including three efforts of 18 or less at home. In two matchups against Cleveland this season, Curry posted 15 and 20 points, although he only played in 31 minutes in the second matchup when the Warriors blasted the Cavaliers.


Tony Mejia


2 Units – Under LeBron James Total Points 32.5 (-110)


Because the Cavs lost the first two games in Oakland last year, there should be a sense that this series opener isn't a must-win. All the pressure is on the Warriors, which means James' natural inclination will be to make sure his teammates get going and feel comfortable in the series. We'll see him allow Irving and Love look for their shot, making him more of a distributor here.


It doesn't help his cause that he'll be seeing a lot of competent defenders on switches and double-teams, which means he'll look to make the right play and find the open man. As a result, I don't see him breaking the 30-point mark here.


2 Units – Over Kevin Durant Total Points 28.5 (-115)


Durant was terrific for the Warriors in this season's two meetings against the Cavs, who don't really have an answer for him. There's no question he'll be aggressive here and should lead the way in scoring for both teams, getting to the free-throw line when he needs to and easily topping the 30-point mark since he's under pressure to get off to a strong start as the largest variable in the series.


1 Unit – Over Andre Iguodala Total Points+ Rebounds+ Assists 14.5 (-115)


The 2015 Finals MVP will be out there quite a bit since the Dubs value his ability to switch and defend all of the Cavs' key weapons, so expect him to be in the mix for more than 25 minutes. Although he's not much of a scorer, he'll rebound well, keep the ball moving by making the extra pass and should pitch in with a few buckets in transition. Look for him to enjoy a strong Game 1.

 

[CNOTES]

NBA knowledge


Game 1


Golden State is 12-0 in playoffs, Cleveland 12-1. Teams meet in NBA Finals for third straight year; Cavaliers rallied from down 3-1 LY to win title. Cleveland is 5-2 in last seven series games; they won two of last three games in Oakland, but lost 126-91 here in January. Under is 6-2-1 in last nine series games. Cleveland is 7-0 on road in playoffs; they led by 21 in only playoff game they’ve lost this spring. Over is 6-3 in last nine Cavalier games, Golden State covered five of its last six games; they’re 2-4 vs spread at home in playoffs. Warriors’ last five games all went over the total.


NBA Finals


Cleveland-Golden State

 

[CNOTES]

Thursday's NBA Finals Game 1 Betting Preview: Cavaliers at Warriors


LeBron James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists in last season's Finals and has been superb this postseason with averages of 32.5 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.


Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors (-7, 225.5)


Series tied 0-0


The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers clash in the NBA Finals for the third straight season and the festivities begin Thursday in Oakland, Calif. The Warriors won the title two years ago and the Cavaliers rallied from a 3-1 deficit last season to win their first-ever title.


Golden State is 12-0 this postseason and viewed as heavy favorites in Finals matchup No. 3, and that doesn't sit right with Cleveland power forward Kevin Love. "The whole underdog thing is funny to me, because, yeah, at the end of the day we are defending our title," Love told reporters. "We're trying to repeat, which is so hard to do. I think we will use it as fuel, we will use it as motivation, but the idea of playing into it? It's tough for me to say that is the case. I don't feel like we're underdogs." The Cavaliers also have been strong this postseason with a 12-1 mark and Warriors forward Draymond Green sees the series as a matchup of "greatness," and doesn't understand why there appears to be a lack of appreciations for how both teams rolled through the postseason. "I think you've found two great teams, and we've played that way, and maybe people don't appreciate it because of a blowout or because of a sweep," Green said. "But people may want to be careful, because I think right now you're witnessing greatness. Two great teams, great players, and that's what it is."


TV: 9 p.m. ET, ABC


LINE HISTORY: The Warriors opened as seven-point home favorites for Game 1 and, despite a very brief stop at -6.5, the current point spread is the same as the opening figure. The total hit the betting board at 225.5 and has yet to move off that initial number.


INJURY REPORT:


Cavaliers - C E. Tavares (Out For Season, hand).


Warriors - SG P. McCaw (Probable, ankle), C Z. Pachulia (Probable, heel), SF K. Looney (Out Indefinitely, hip).


ABOUT THE CAVALIERS (63-32 SU, 44-47-4 ATS, 56-38-1 O/U): Small forward LeBron James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists in last season's Finals and has been superb this postseason with averages of 32.5 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Point guard Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.5 points this postseason while Love is contributing 17.2 points and 10.4 rebounds. The Cavaliers will be hoping that swingman Kyle Korver (6.4 postseason average) and guards J.R. Smith (6.6) and Iman Shumpert (4.7) step up their performances in the series.


ABOUT THE WARRIORS (79-15 SU, 48-43-3 ATS, 41-53 O.U): Golden State hasn’t lived down the memory of blowing a 3-1 lead in last season's finals, the turning point being a one-game suspension handed to Green after a flagrant foul for kicking James in the groin during Game 4. Small forward Kevin Durant (25.2 average) is a new part of the mix while point guard Stephen Curry (28.6) has once again been leading the postseason charge. Shooting guard Klay Thompson is averaging a lackluster 14.4 points on 38.3 percent shooting in the postseason but he scored 25 or more three times - including a high of 37 - in last year's Finals.

TRENDS:


* Cavaliers are 7-0-1 ATS in their last 8 road games.
* Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 NBA Championship games.
* Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 overall.
* Under is 8-1-2 in the last 11 meetings in Golden State.


CONSENSUS: 55 percent of users are siding with the road underdog Cleveland Cavaliers and 67 percent are on the Over.