The Battle of the Cavs: The Finals I ve Challenged in Those Years

2017, the third consecutive year of finals:

Warriors vs. Cavaliers, Curry meets LeBron.

This is also another time since the 2012 Finals, Kevin Durant encountered LeBron James in the Finals.

In 2012, Durant's Thunder lost to LeBron's hot. That fall, LeBron said in an interview with Sports Illustrated at Ridz Carlton, Phoenix:

"I know someone is trying to take my place. He is in Oklahoma. He is trying to go in my direction."

A year later, Durant himself told Sports Illustrated:

"I have been the second in my life. The second best player in high school, the second in the draft, the second in the MVP vote three times, and the second in the finals (referring to 2012). I'm tired of it. Tired of being second... I don't watch other people's video tapes very much, but I look at LeBron's data sheet. I want to see how many scoring, rebounding and assists he got... If he got 30 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, I can tell you how he got it and what kind of basket he shot."

In 2017, LeBron no longer broke through his opponent with low center of gravity and large stride speed when he was young, and began to use his pace to hold his body position more, and the center of gravity changed rapidly, and he used turn, steps, visibility, and position to get rid of it. His shots also reduced the jump height and leaning range, trying to pursue briskness and rhythm. This is the best year for his organization to combine with breakthroughs.

However, the scene presented in the 2017 finals was just as expected by the whole world when Durant joined the Warriors: the Warriors are invincible.

In April, Curry scored 42 points and 11 assists against the Suns, and described his status as follows: from the beginning of the season, he gave up the new record of 74 wins in the regular season.

"It's not worth it, it's really not worth it. You just need to go back to the finals."

The Cavaliers still attacked Curry, limiting his long shots and curbing the Warriors' pass-cut attack, but Durant's strong single-handed challenge left the Cavaliers helpless. The Warriors won the first game 113-91: LeBron himself scored 28 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists, Irving scored 24 points, and the team defended Curry only scored 28 points, but Curry gave 10 assists and Durant scored 38 points.

The Warriors beat the Cavaliers 132 to 113 again: LeBron scored 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists, but Durant scored 33 points and 13 rebounds, and Curry scored 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.

The Cavaliers did everything right in the third game: LeBron made 15 of 27 shots, 39 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists, Irving made 16 of 29 shots, and Love made 13 rebounds and 6 steals. JR Smith made 5 of 10 three-pointers and scored 16 points. 50 seconds left in the game, the Warriors were 111-113 and 2 points behind. Durant took the ball in the backcourt and pushed forward, opposite LeBron. Curry had arrived from the weak side at this time, wanting to provide cover for Durant.

But Durant took a step from outside the three-point line, got up and shot: a three-pointer.

That was his signature skill for winning the four-time scoring champion: with his 2.8-meter standing height, 89 cm bounce, and forced a jump shot, no one could cover his long shot. Durant's shot passed LeBron's fingertips and hit the basket, and the Warriors took the lead. Durant killed the Cavaliers' efforts in the game with this blow. The Warriors won 118-113 and led the Cavaliers 3-0. When asked about the three-pointer after the game, Durant said angrily:

"...I went to the three-point line... I have been practicing such shooting all my life..."

At the end of the third game, Paul Pierce said: "Durant is the new world's best player." Previously, in the 2008 playoffs, Pierce and the Celtics defeated the Lakers led by regular season MVP Kobe, won the Finals MVP, and then claimed to be the number one player in the world. According to his logic: the one who defeats his opponent on the highest stage is the number one in the world.

Of course, it's a matter of opinion, who is superior or inferior, but this year, Durant did provide the strong offensive firepower that the Warriors urgently needed the previous year.

Cavaliers won 137-116 to win Game 4: that was also the only game the Warriors lost in the 2017 playoffs. But in five games in 2017, the Warriors did not give LeBron another chance. In the third quarter, the Cavaliers chased to a 4-point difference, and Durant made a strong three-pointer, 93-86, and the Cavaliers were suspended. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, LeBron beat Durant to make a layup with one-on-one match, but Durant immediately made a mid-range shot. When the Cavaliers thought they had trapped the Warriors' pass, Durant used a strong shot to solve the problem. Throughout the game, LeBron shot 41 points with 30 shots and Durant shot 39 points with 20 shots. Curry scored 34 points and 10 assists, the Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 129-120, and won the 2017 championship 4-1.

Durant won the MVP of the finals.

In 2010, Durant was second in the regular season MVP, losing to LeBron; in 2012, Durant, Harden and Westbrook joined forces to enter the finals in the Thunder, losing to LeBron's Miami Heat. It allowed Durant to experience the first real huge setback in his career.

After being taken away by LeBron, Durant began to experience various unpleasant feelings: Harden left, Westbrook was injured, and he was injured himself. Finally, he left the Thunder and joined the Warriors: just to win one of his own championships. After winning the 2017 championship, Durant finally completed a revenge - using his horror score from the entire series and using his three-pointer in the third game.

This year, the three young masters of the Thunder each had their own losses and gains: Westbrook made him so passionately that he won the regular season MVP, scoring king and triple-double king, but he has never been close to the championship since then.

Harden took the assist king and put the Rockets on the road to rise, but hit a wall at a critical moment in the series against the Spurs.

Durant, carrying huge controversy, defeated LeBron, who had taken the championship from his hands five years ago, and won the championship ring he had always dreamed of.

The fate of the third young master of the city of Oshi City has finally completed a circle. Just like Curry gave up the regular season MVP early this season and just returned to the finals to win the championship: everyone has to pay for their dreams. The 2018 finals is the fourth consecutive year of cavalry duel.

But the most difficult battle for the Warriors was the Western Conference Finals against the Rockets.

In 2007, Dantoni was the head coach of the Suns and Cole was the general manager of the Suns. Eleven years later, they led a space team known for their three-point shooting to meet. Dantoni has Harden and Cole has Curry. Both of them entered the industry in 2009 and both had three-pointers in the league, but their styles were very different.

Dantoni's Rockets focus on space and efficiency. Harden held the ball, Paul held the ball, and the scorer group surrounded. They break through + three points, using magic balls and efficiency to win. But Cole's Warriors pursue space and pass-through. Curry has the best shooting skills in basketball history, but he relies more on off-ball moves and three-point threats to open up space for his teammates.

In the 2018 Western Conference Finals, Harden scored 41 points in the first 31 minutes of the first game against the Warriors, but in the last 4 minutes, he got nothing. In fact, Harden made 14 of 24 shots alone in the game, but the Rockets made 25 of 61 shots, 8 of 28 three-pointers and 11 assists. As for the Warriors, Durant scored 37 points, Clay scored 28 points, Curry scored 18 points and 8 assists: The Warriors won 119-106.

In the second game, the Rockets changed their thinking: relying on the pressure and defense replacement on the line, forcing the Warriors to make 7 mistakes in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Rockets set up a strange formation: Paul at 183 cm, Gordon at 193 cm, Harden at 196 cm, Ariza at 203 cm, and Tucker at 196 cm. 9 minutes after this super small lineup appeared, the Rockets made the Warriors' invincible five small lineup 30-22. The Rockets led 64-50 in the first half, and the Warriors have never really caught up again. The Rockets scored 38 points in the second quarter, including Harden scored 5 points and Paul scored only 3 points. Ariza, Tucker and Gordon scored 15 points, 14 points and 13 points in the first half respectively. In the end, the Rockets defeated the Warriors 127 to 105: Harden only made 9 of 24 shots in the game, far from the first game; but the Rockets team scored 23 assists, 10 assists in the second quarter, and 16 of 42 three-pointers. Tucker + Ariza + Tucker made 68 points with 23 shots.

Harden was still in charge of the ball attack, while Paul coordinated the offense for the whole team. The Rockets relied on tough role players to entangle the Warriors' speed and won.

Back at home, the Warriors washed the Rockets 126-85 and won the third game. Curry scored 35 points, and the Warriors led 2-1. But in the fourth game, the Rockets beat the Warriors: Harden scored 30 points, Durant scored 27 points, and Curry scored 28 points. However, Paul, who had the greatest influence on the whole game, scored 27 points.

The Rockets relied on Harden's 26 points in the first half to stabilize the situation and continue to force the Warriors to fight alone. Curry scored 17 points in the third quarter and led the team to a 34-17 wave, and the Warriors once led to 12 points. But Paul stood up: on the defensive end, he changed defense to block Durant three singles with the ball, and on the offensive end, he kept using mid-range shots and instigation, allowing role players to join in. Both sides only hit 39% in the game. The Rockets need this: to put the Warriors in the quagmire of positional warfare. Finally, in a slow stalemate, the Rockets won 95-92 and tied 2-2.

In the fifth battle of Tianwang Mountain, Houston Rockets legendary superstar Olajuwon appeared on the sidelines to watch the game. The Rockets paid tribute to Dameng with a tragic victory of 98 to 94. Both sides lost 89 goals, 59 free throws, 16 alternate leads and 10 draws. Chris Paul: He made 6 of 12 shots in the second half including 4 three-pointers. 7 rebounds in the game, including 2 frontcourt rebounds. He controlled the rhythm and brought Tucker, Ariza, Gordon and Capela to win the game. The Rockets led 3-2 and pushed the invincible Warriors to the edge of the cliff. The Rockets' super small lineup has been highly praised by Coach Cole. He believes that the Rockets' defenders are similar to the center linebacker in football - in football, most of the center linebackers are not tall, but are generous, strong and fast. This team makes it difficult for Warriors to display their flexible space advantages.

It was also in the fifth game. Coach Cole exposed his differences with Durant for the first time:

Durant made 17 of 46 shots in two consecutive games, but he did not pass enough, and he was not determined enough when he was blocked by the Rockets. Cole cited the example of Jordan when he was with the Bulls, hoping that Durant would not be obsessed with a one-on-one challenge, but should still pursue fast break propulsion, quickly transfer, and pass and cut. This disagreement will break out in a year.

But the Warriors still crossed the threshold of fate in 2018: In the end of the fifth game, Paul, who was one step away from the finals, suffered a injury to his right thigh and was about to miss the subsequent game. Although the Warriors also lost Iguodala due to injury, the importance of Paul and Iguodala cannot be compared.

In the sixth game, the Warriors broke the Rockets without Paul 115-86, and chased the score difference to 3-3. Harden scored 32 points alone and led the team to lead the Warriors 39-22 in the first quarter, but the Warriors began to chase in the second quarter, climaxing 33-16 in the third quarter, and 31-9 in the fourth quarter, hitting the Rockets in a perfect state: Curry scored 29 points, and sounded the horn of victory in the third quarter. Clay played another classic game sixth: 35 points and 9 three-pointers. Durant scored 23 points, Green only scored 4 points but had 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 steals and 5 blocks: The Warriors reversed their fate again.

The beginning of the seventh game that decided the victory and loss, the Warriors seemed very nervous: they made 3 of 10 free throws in the first 10 free throws, made 10 mistakes in half of the second quarter, and the Rockets also snatched 10 frontcourt rebounds. At the time of life and death, Curry stood up: in the 22 minutes after the game, he grabbed 9 defensive rebounds and accelerated on the spot, leading the team's rhythm. Curry scored 27 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists and 7 three-pointers, while Durant scored 34 points. Harden scored 32 points, but the real theme of the game was: the Magic Ball strategy that the Rockets have always relied on to win, and the "basketball or three-pointer" efficiency style failed. In order to pursue efficiency, the Rockets relied heavily on three-pointers. As a result, in this game, the Rockets missed 27 consecutive three-pointers, making 7 of 44 three-pointers, causing the offensive rhythm to collapse in the third quarter.. The Warriors won 101-92, won the seventh game, eliminated the Rockets 4-3, and entered the 2018 Finals.

Warriors general manager Bob Meyers pointed out after the game that the Rockets lost 27 three-pointers in a row, which is the source of failure: "In today's three-pointer era, 20 points are not safe enough to lead. But there must be someone on the court, "We are 10 points behind, we must score." We go to the free throw line, we reduce 10 points to 8 points, we handle the defense, don't pull it to 13 points and 15 points... This is not to say that three-point shooting is not good, but in the playoffs, sometimes you just need to score. ”

This is the lesson of the Rockets in 2018: they believe in the magic ball style that is more efficient, relying infinitely on three-pointers, and have been at the forefront of the league; they finally failed at the most critical moment: three-pointers and three-pointers in defeat.

So in the 2018 Finals, for the fourth consecutive year, the Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers.

LeBron performed well in the first game: in the first quarter, he made a step adjustment after breaking through and adjusted his speed and made a layup with a cover; he used the cover to jump and jump to the three-pointer; counterattack to make a small jump hook shot; and after making a high position, he broke through with the ball. In the second quarter, he held the ball and took the open position in one step, adjusting his pace and layup. After both sides tied 70, he A 30-foot long shot that was close to a single action shot: At this point, he made 13 of 16 shots. Regardless of the technical details and shooting choices, they are perfect.

LeBron made a layup against Green twice in the fourth quarter. When he was behind 96 to 100, LeBron called Hill and JR Smith to cover two screens, targeting Curry, and a breakthrough dunk. In the end of regular time, he broke through Durant, faced Green, and adjusted the balance and threw the basket. In the last 50 seconds of the game, LeBron broke through and made a three-pointer, scoring a 47th point, giving the Cavaliers 104 to 102.

In the end, the Cavaliers did not stabilize: because of JR Smith's strange mistake, the Cavaliers were dragged into overtime, and finally The Cavaliers lacked stamina, and the Warriors won 124-114.

LeBron scored a career-high 51 points in a single playoff game - those who scored 50 points in the NBA history Finals include: Baylor's 61 points in 1962, Jordan's 55 points in 1993, Barry's 55 points in 1967, West's 53 points in 1969, and Petty's 50 points in 1958. After the game, LeBron hit the wall of the locker room with annoyance and injured his right hand.

Game 2, one minute at the beginning of the fourth quarter, LeBron scored a three-pointer, and the Cavaliers fell 7 points behind 83 to 90. But 20 seconds later, Curry forced a defense and made a strong shot three Score. In the next round, Curry rebounded quickly after the backcourt, passed Green and cut another three-pointer. The Warriors led by 13 points. Three minutes later, Curry replaced Lof against him and scored a three-pointer: 103-89. Afterwards, Curry was knocked down by Lof on the right wing corner, but the three-pointer was still successful. Curry scored the fifth three-pointer on the left wing: within 8 minutes, Curry swept 16 points in one breath. In the whole game, Curry scored 33 points and 8 assists, and shot into the 9 three-pointers recorded in the NBA Finals. In the second quarter, he scored a three-pointer to widen the gap to 15 points, Jeff Van Gundy, who commented on the sidelines, joked:

"Curry is just kidding you! "In the fourth quarter, when Curry pushed the whole team forward, Van Gundy said again: "Curry is in contact with everyone in the game! ”

So the Warriors won 122-103, leading the Cavaliers 2-0.

The third game, the Cavaliers defended Curry to death, but Durant came: Durant scored a career-high 43 points in the playoffs in the game. In the last 2 minutes of the game, LeBron scored a three-pointer and the Cavaliers chased to 100-101. But Durant first assisted Iguodala to dunk, and then rushed back and stopped a three-pointer from 9 meters away from the basket, locking in the victory - almost the same shooting point as the previous year, Death swung the knife, ending the suspense.

So for two consecutive years, in the third game of the finals, the Warriors led the Cavaliers 2-0, and Durant scored a shot and scored a deadly three-pointer. The Warriors won 110-102, leading the Cavaliers 3-0.

There is no suspense in the fourth game: Curry scored 37 points, Durant scored 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, his first triple-double in his playoffs, the Warriors broke the Cavaliers 108-85, and completed a sweep 4-0. The Golden State Warriors won the 2018 championship and the third championship in four years. Kevin Durant held up the total for the second consecutive year Final MVP Trophy: It has been six years since he played in the Finals for the first time in 2012, lost to LeBron, and watched LeBron hold up his first championship trophy.

The Rockets and Cavaliers fought against the Warriors one after another, which can be seen as a showdown between two basketball thinking:

LeBron James and James Harden are both top ball-holders, combining shooters and a large number of switches to fight against the Warriors' wide-area space team. In the end, LeBron ended the season with the most tragic playoffs in his career. Harden led 3-2 and lost 27 consecutive shots in the seventh game.

Durant relied on his outstanding scoring ability to win the Finals MVP, but the Warriors' core tactics of three championships in four years are still the team's passes and cuts. Half a year later, on December 28, 2018, Curry himself said, "I do want more ball holding... But the team needs a balance, and Durant needs to be placed, Clay has a shot, and Green has the ball holding, so that the tactics can run. ”

Coach Cole said: "I hope the fans understand that many people asked me why I didn't let Curry pick-and-roll. I want to say that the special thing about our team is that there are too many organizers... So the breakthrough passes and passes and moves, and everyone integrates into it. ”

In terms of the results, the Warriors won the championship in three years in four years would make bystanders boring; but from the perspective of basketball skills and tactics, the Warriors played the best team basketball at that time: the only ball sharing and pass-cut moves seen in history. It was just that they happened to be killed when the team tactics were killed, and a superstar came out to take over.

With the end of the 2018 finals, the Battle of the Riding War is also heading to the end. The era is about to turn to the next page.