NBA Finals Preview Posted on June 2, 2016June 13, 2016 | Posted by Staff Writers Golden State Warriors (73-9) vs Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25) Regular Season Series: Warriors 2-0 It’s the Finals rematch we’ve been waiting 12 months to see – the record breaking Golden State Warriors against a full strength Cleveland Cavaliers. Barely tested through the Playoffs, the Cavs needed just 14 games to blow past Detroit, Atlanta and Toronto. LeBron James is rested, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are healthy, and this edition of the Cavs presents a far bigger threat than the team that took the Warriors to six games this time last year. Golden State on the other hand got here the hard way. A knee injury to MVP point guard Stephen Curry and then a 3-1 deficit at the hands of the Thunder had many writing off a team that had just surpassed the Chicago Bulls for most wins in a single season. But as great teams do, the Warriors responded, and now enter the Finals favoured to win back-to-back NBA Championships. The Cavaliers LeBron James Who else? The Cavaliers live and die by the performance of number 23. LeBron will be the most experienced player on the court in this series, and in his 6th straight NBA Finals, he knows what it takes to win. He is 0-2 in the Finals with the Cavaliers, but finally has the team around him to make it third time lucky and in doing so delivering Cleveland a maiden NBA Championship. Three Point Shooting The three-ball is crucial to Cleveland’s success. If Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Channing Frye, and JR Smith can find their range, opening up the lane for LeBron in the process, the Cavs could well beat Golden State at their own game. The Warriors Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson LeBron James this week called them the two greatest shooters the game has ever seen. 3-1 down against the Thunder, both Curry and Thompson were out of sorts and struggling with the length of OKC’s perimeter defenders. It took a Game 6 explosion from Thompson (11 treys) to reignite the pair whose game will be better suited up against the Cleveland backcourt. Andre Iguodala Last year’s Finals MVP is Golden State’s “Mr Fix It.” Down 3-1 against the Thunder, Steve Kerr injected Iguodala into the starting line-up – upping his minutes from 28 per game to 38 and switching the balance of power in the process. Expect Iguodala to follow LeBron James wherever he goes on the court, and if he can do a similar job to last year, we could be looking at back-to-back champions and a back-to-back Finals MVP. Prediction LeBron James and Matthew Dellavedova stole home court and pushed the Warriors to 6 games just 12 months ago. This time they return with a team that is deeper, healthy and well rested. The Warriors have appeared fatigued at times in the post-season, they’ve played four extra games through the playoffs and might pay the price for chasing the 73 win regular season record when the number one seed in the West was already secured. Cavaliers in 7 Finals MVP: LeBron James bet now
Weekend Tipsters May 17, 2024 Flemington Saturday Warren Huntly Quaddie 13 4 2 6 16 – 12 9 3 6 – 6 15 1 2 – 1 7 3 10… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Kalgoorlie Preview May 17, 2024 RACE 1 BAALBEK won a C2 1200 at Kalgoorlie under 60kg by 4L and then went to town to win a C3 at Ascot from… Read More
Warren Huntly’s Saturday Flemington Preview May 17, 2024 Race 1 SNEAKY SUNRISE hit the line well in a key lead up race and can settle closer from a favourable draw. NARBOLD comes through… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Friday Greyhound Best Bets May 17, 2024 MANDURAH Race 1 No. 3 Bling it Black Takes his time to wind up and looking for more ground but the small field and race… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Doomben Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 Group 1 racing at Doomben kicks off with a Class 6 over the mile & it’s a tough way to kick off the… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Scone Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 Off to Scone we go for this week’s feature meeting, this one is a two-day carnival with the Cup run yesterday. The day… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 ARNIE’S BOY has found a lovely race. Two starts back he won an identical race – Westspeed 1600 – and since then he… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Carnarvon Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 SET THE SCENE had six runs at Carnarvon last season for 2 wins and 2 minors. He has won a 58+ 1400 at… Read More
Scott Embry’s Friday Albany Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 FOUR SEAS and MATSOKA are both 2 year olds who take on the older horses here in a 5 horse field. FOUR SEAS… Read More
Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 10 May 16, 2024 THURSDAY Gold Coast v Geelong, TIO Stadium, 5.30pm Bookmakers have a leaning towards Geelong in the opening match of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. It makes… Read More
Trent Cooper’s Gloucester Park Preview May 16, 2024 Race 1 CAPTAIN BLIGH (11) won his first three starts back from a spell and didn’t lose any admirers when he faced the breeze and… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Thursday Greyhound Best Bets May 16, 2024 MANDURAH Race 3 No. 2 In Her Mood Has not been going too bad for the new kennel and it doesn’t get any easier than… Read More