The 2017 NBA Finals were one of the most anticipated series in years. It promised incredible offensive jaw-dropping performances and, of course, these two teams delivered. Offensive records during a Finals series were being broken in what seemed like every single game of the series by both teams.
With Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors, the goal was to immediately win the championship in 2017. If not, the entire season would have been considered an absolute failure, and everyone in that organization knew it.
For the first time, maybe in his entire career, LeBron James was under virtually no pressure to win a title after finally winning one for “The Land”. The Cleveland Cavaliers were going to need great performances from everyone around James and Kyrie Irving.
Their inconsistency on both ends of the floor was the end of them. In my previous article, where the Cavaliers were able to force game 5, I pointed out the three keys for the Cavaliers to at least push it to a Game 6.
- Contain Stephen Curry: The Cavaliers failed to contain Curry. Although they did a good job containing him from three (2 0f 9) which is half the battle, he proved he can put up 30+ points by getting to the line regularly while hitting shots from other spots on the floor, mainly getting to the basket (shot 12 of 15 from the free throw line.
- Slow down the pace offensively: This they were able to accomplish. It took them a while but after games one and two they finally realized that trying to out due the Warriors at their own fast pace game was a bad idea.
This game they did slow down the pace offensively like they did in games three and four. It allowed them to try to limit the number of possessions the Warriors got in an attempt to keep games much closer in the third and fourth quarter, giving them a shot to compete late in games. - Cavalier’s role players continuing to hit shots: This was an absolute F-grade for every one of the role players except for J.R. Smith, who finished with 25 points, hitting 7 of 8 three point shot attempts.
I had mentioned that the guy who held the key to success for the Cavaliers was Kevin Love. He finished in an extremely underwhelming 6 points while going 0 for 3 from three.
Kyle Korver scored 3 points, Deron Williams scored 0 points, Richard Jefferson scored 4 points, and Iman Shumpert also scored zero points.
Although Tristan Thompson had a good game, scoring numbers that low from guys off the bench gives you virtually no chance against this offensive and defensive juggernaut that are the Golden State Warriors.
The Warrior’s offensive fire power proved to be too much for the Cavaliers. Even with James averaging a triple-double during the Finals and Irving playing well, the Cavaliers still fell short. Way short.
For starters, they needed more from the third member of their big-3; Love. Smith does not go insane from three like he did, Game 5 would have gotten ugly.
Where does the NBA go from here?
Most NBA fans believe that these so called “super teams” are on their way to ruining the NBA. These teams have not shown the ability to keep the band together for more than five years but people are scared they are going to break the competitiveness of the league.
But, there may be no reason to fear this.
This trend is going to take the NBA to new heights. Because of what James did going to Miami and what Durant did going to Golden State, more teams and individual players are going to have to do the same thing in order it to compete.
The star player(s) on any given team are going to have to help their organization’s front office by doing some serious recruiting when a high level free agent hits the market. Star players around the league are going to have to pick up the phone and convince a guy like Paul George to come join their team, to join forces in order to give teams like that a real run for their money.
Eventually, the NBA will have about 5 or 6 super teams at a time, with three to four All-Star level players on the same team.
In turn, it could result in an incredible postseason. The earlier rounds of the playoffs would be more intense, the conference finals and Finals would feel even bigger because of the heightened levels of both teams, and TV ratings throughout the entirety of the playoffs would go through the roof.
Where does LeBron James go from here?
After completing his mission as the “Chosen One” to bring a championship title to the Cleveland Cavailers, James seems to now be on a new mission: to take down the Durant and Curry-led Warriors. By whatever means necessary.
Even if that means leaving Cleveland again? Yes.
Do not think for one second that he will stay for the rest of his career just because it is Cleveland. Not saying he is absolutely going to leave.
He can try to stay and help reload the roster but after next year (summer 2018) when his contract expires with Cleveland. But do not be surprised when rumors start rumbling about James looking for a new team to lead to victory over the Warriors. Especially if the Cavalier’s front office fail to reload the roster to a point where he genuinely feels they can compete with the Warriors.
If that, in fact, is the case, and by summer 2018 the Cavaliers have not acquired another star player… the final chapter of LeBron James’ career might very well be to leave Cleveland once again and form one last “super team” in order to complete his mission of taking down the Warriors.
Featuted Image: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports