Day 283

Fresh Start_283: Finally, “The Trilogy” is here
Well, today is the day that has seemed to be a longer wait than Super Bowl week, the first game of the NBA Finals. “The Trilogy” is going to finally start; this NBA Finals has been on the horizon since July 4th of last year when Kevin Durant announced that he was signing with the Golden State Warriors.

Durant turned into the NBA villain—something that Lebron had on his back for a portion of his career when he signed with Miami following the 2009-10 season. Durant has seemed comfortable in this roll, and NBA fans have just longed for this rematch. This matchup just seemed like the right choice because of how talented these two teams truly are.

When taping my podcast yesterday afternoon, I noticed that the NBA has more at stake than just who will win “the trilogy.” This series is as polarizing as this past years Presidential Election. The Golden State Warrior haters/the bandwagon haters/Super Team haters/Steph Curry haters vs. the Lebron haters. That doesn’t even take into account the regional fans that route for the Cavs and the Warriors. The NBA seems to be extremely top heavy, which is a problem for the product of the NBA and their TV ratings. It is a series issue that commissioner Adam Silver must solve as soon as a solution arises.

One question that keep seeming to ask myself going into this series is; what does it mean for basketball if Durant get a ring with the Warriors? What will happen to the NBA that we all know and love if the Super Team Warriors win the NBA Championship this year? Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are unrestricted free agents after this series, which adds to the pressure that the Warriors have pressed up against them. Not only is Golden State battling the pressure of last year’s 3-1 blown lead (which wasted the best record in NBA history), and the Cavilers, but also the inevitable clock that Durant and Curry have with them as each game comes and goes.

Assuming the Warriors win this series redeeming themselves for their blown lead of last year, Golden State picks Curry over Durant right? They don’t let their MVP who has been their undoubtable leader throughout these past two Finals runs. So arguably the second most talented player in the NBA hits the free agent market yet again, fresh off an NBA title, what does that grant as far as dollars, and where does he land?

If Cleveland wins, Durant won’t stay, and Draymond Green’s head will explode in the press conference following the clinching game. Lebron will top Michael Jordan on the mountain top of basketball (to some), and the Super Team dissolves as fast as it started.

Everything that I have been thinking hasn’t been how the Cavilers are going to guard the juggernaut that is the Golden State Warriors. Or how the Warriors will adjust their rotations because of how challenging the Caviler starting five is to guard. Everything that has surrounded this series so far is the bigger picture of the Cavs, Warriors, and the NBA as a whole. Maybe, that’s just my mind escaping into different theories just waiting for this series to start, but maybe not. I won’t know until tonight when the ball is thrown up into the air, and Game One of the NBA Finals is underway.

As a basketball fan, this series is just so fun to watch based off the brand of basketball that each team play. The Warriors with their “3 and D” style, and Cleveland’s offense with Lebron and Kyrie—the free-flowing way that the offense seems to just happen. I hope this series goes Seven Games because the wait for this series won’t seem to worth it. If this series goes seven games, all the topics that are racing in my mind (and others) will be put on hold for a short time. The storylines of what happens with this series will drive the NBA media to digest what is happening in front of them, and it will be refreshing to see. The games will speak for themselves, and what happens in the series will bring the general dramatic soap opera that the game of basketball in a seven-game series truly is.

My prediction and what I want to happen is see the Cleveland Cavilers win in seven games. If that doesn’t happen, my secondary prediction is the Warriors in six—just in case the Cavilers can’t handle the Warrior Super Team brand of basketball that every player of the Warriors has hinted at throughout the playoffs. All in all I just want to see a good series that doesn’t leave anything on the table. I want to see a full fight with all the haymakers that a 12-round goliath of a fight. I’m done speculating and am ready for action. Lase up your boots straps—this series is sure to be an Academy Award winning soap.
Sources:(espn.com, nba.com, si.com, sbnation.com)

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