Stephen Curry hopes Cleveland locker room still smells like champagne

The Warriors’ 113-95 loss at Detroit on Saturday was their worst defeat of the past two years in any game Curry has played.

Tickets are available for the rematch, but they are pricey. He is back as a high-level second option to LeBron James, who is averaging 25.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 54.8 percent in the last six games.

When he’s more as a point forward while the team defending the Cavs have to worry about other players as well, it’s when James is at his best, and when the Cavaliers are at their best. Thanks as always, furthermore, to Micah Adams and all of our pals within the National Basketball Association wing of ESPN Stats & Information, as well as the Elias Sports Bureau, for the priceless data assistance they provide week after week in helping us with all of our calculations.

However, the Cavaliers cut the lead down to three by halftime and soon it was a close game where the two teams battled for every point. It’s what everyone wants to see. The media is going to continuously talk about it, and they should.

The Cavaliers at 28-10 have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

The Warriors are the best offensive team in the league and the Spurs are the best defensive team. But they’re a little shaky. The Pistons are 22-18.

Irving and the Cavaliers lost to the Warriors on Christmas Day so revenge is clearly on their minds. The Warriors, won, 89-83, in what was just Irving’s third game back from a fractured kneecap.

Some of that was expected, because Irving is going to get his share of possessions. “It’s just important for us to take care of home court”, Irving said via ESPN. “Our fans are great. We know it, certainly against a great team like Golden State”.

The Cavs are in Brooklyn on Jan. 20 then host the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 21 and the Chicago Bulls on Jan. 23. That’s the troubling aspect for the team that was 36-2 through its first 38 games. And this will be a no-excuses clash for both teams. “It’s not easy to be on the road with anybody for 12 straight days. We’ve got to come out with an edge”. Hopefully we’ll be done with that by tomorrow and be ready to go. We’ve got to rise above their intensity.

Here are this week’s NBA Power Rankings, in which the Spurs overtake the Warriors. Green’s uniqueness allowed the Warriors to play small in last year’s Finals, a strategy that exposed and ultimately defeated the Cavs, who have no one who can do what Green can do, much less someone who can effectively defend him. If this season plays out as it’s going, Cleveland will play either team in the Finals.

It prompted Draymond Green to address the team, and he summed up the message: “We need to be better”.