Thursday marks the first time in NBA history that two teams will square off in the Finals for the third straight year.
The defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who boast the best player in the game (…LeBron James) and return the same nucleus that owns the distinction of being the only team that has beaten the Golden State Warriors in a playoff series over the past three years, are Vegas underdogs heading into the 2017 NBA Finals. Remarkably, it marks the sixth time in eight Finals appearances that a James-led team hasn’t been favoured to win it all by oddsmakers.
The folks in Las Vegas may be skeptical of the Cavs’ chances to repeat last year’s stunning title victory. But should they be? Take a look at who Sportsnet’s hoops panel thinks will win it all:
MICHAEL GRANGE, columnist:
Prediction: Cavaliers in seven, primarily because this is the best basketball LeBron has ever played. Think about that. I do think the Dubs are the better team, but not that much better, and I have confidence LeBron can be the difference.
Finals MVP: LeBron James.
GARE JOYCE, senior editor:
Prediction: Warriors in five. Too fleet. Too skilled.
Finals MVP: Kevin Durant.
JD BUNKIS,producer/host SN590 The FAN:
Prediction: Cavs in six. Despite over 50,000 minutes on the odometer I’ve never seen Lebron James play better (ignoring game three against the Celtics). Everyone’s saying the Warriors tilt the series because of their defence, but “Lebron stopper” Andre Iguodala is 33 years old and dealing with lower body injures. Oh, and it should be mentioned the only Cavalier rotation player shooting under 40 per cent from deep this post-season (Kyrie Irving) is peaking at the right time and has knocked ’em down at 55 per cent clip over his last four games.
Finals MVP: LeBron James
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DONNOVAN BENNETT, staff writer:
Prediction: Warriors in four. It’s a toss-up if the Warriors (118.3 PPG, 115.8 efficiency) or the Cavaliers (116.8 PPG, 120.7 efficiency) are better on offence, but Golden State (99.1 points against per 100 possessions) is by far the superior defensive unit. They have four of the best 20 players in the world on one team. If it weren’t for health and suspension last year they probably would have beaten the Cavs in two straight finals and since then they added KEVIN DURANT. Draymond Green has said he wants to “annihilate” Cleveland after a year of the Cavs trolling them after blowing a 3-1 lead, and I’m confident they will.
Finals MVP: Steph Curry. We’ve learned this year that Curry and Durant can co-exist, when Curry is the engine that drives the offence. Losing last year was such a part of Curry’s fall-from-grace narrative that Under Armour made a commercial addressing it and predicting his redemption. Which is why the two time MVP has been pacing himself all year, knowing this moment is ultimately the one people will remember. Curry’s plus-215 in the playoffs thus far is the best since the league has recorded play-by-play data in 1996. This will be a market correction for Curry inexplicably losing out on MVP to Andre Igoudala in 2015.
STEVEN LOUNG, staff writer:
Prediction: Warriors in five. LeBron’s the best player in the world and quickly climbing up the all-time rankings. However, even with him, Kyrie and Love all playing as well as they are, the Cavs are only getting one game.
It feels like a lot of people are picking this series to be an all-time classic because they want it to be given how bad this post-season has been. Too bad, everyone: it’s not going to be. Remember, this Dubs team is better than last season’s that won 73 games. Also, don’t bank on Draymond Green getting himself suspended for a game again. Golden State is every bit as good as Cleveland on offence and much better defensively. This series is going to be a wash.
Finals MVP: Kevin Durant.
DAVE ZARUM, NBA editor:
Prediction: Cavs in seven. Chalk the seven-game prediction to wishful thinking because frankly there’s nothing more exciting in sports than a do-or-die game to determine a championship. As for the Cavs, they’re the only team who can match the Warriors’ offensive onslaught and their supporting stars, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, are peaking at the right time. But as always it all hinges on LeBron, who happens to be playing the best and most complete ball of his career. (Also: talking head Stephen A. Smith, who has wrongly predicted each Finals since 2011, recently went on record saying the Warriors will win it all. You can’t teach that kind of consistency).
Finals MVP: LeBron James.
BRYAN MELER, editorial intern:
Prediction: Cavaliers in seven. It’s simple: Like in any other team sport, chemistry prevails. The Cavaliers are a brotherhood at this point with LeBron James playing the best basketball of his career, Kevin Love shooting lights out from three (47.5 per cent), and Kyrie Irving still cooking anyone who stands in his way.
On the other hand, the Warriors still haven’t faced any major tests while playing with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, two superstars who should be leading their own respective teams into Championship contention. There’s bound to be some pecking order issues, especially down the stretch of, what I assume to be, some pretty close games.
Finals MVP: LeBron James