Curry, Durant power Warriors past Cavs in Game 1

The juggernaut that is the Warriors’ offense is operating on all cylinders at the moment, with Durant as the main alpha. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots against Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half of Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Thursday, June 1, 2017. Last July free agent Kevin Durant decided if you can’t beat ’em, you may as well get insane paid to join ’em. Never before have the same two National Basketball Association teams faced each other for the championship three years in a row. In the process, Stephen Curry & Co. became the first team to take a 12-0 playoff record into the finals. Said Durant, “That’s all this is about”.

It has to be the fact that we’re finally starting to see the team peak when all the key players are relatively healthy. The Wine and Gold dropped the opener, but stole Game 2 in Oracle Arena. But after a playoffs spent largely coasting through games and wrapping them up in three quarters or less, some mental rust could be present.

However, ESPN reports that Durant is willing to take less than his max contract, meaning the Warriors don’t need cap space to sign him, and thus, don’t have to renounce Iguodala and Livingston.

Eventually, though, the Warriors found their legs – in large part thanks to Cleveland’s inability to string together any kind of a consistent effort defensively. They win, and win big, and while they have a deep concern for Kerr’s health and his well-being away from the game, they are able to block it out when it comes to preparing for games and playing them. But again, can he sustain this play against Golden State when it matters the most? Curry poured in 28 points and hit six 3-pointers, including several from way beyond the arc. They taste blood in the water and they will not hesitate to finish you off. “We made a lot of mistakes, and they capitalized”, LeBron James said. Golden State got important contributions from across the board on both ends and racked up a 31-to-4 assist-to-turnover ratio in the impressive performance.

The sleeve didn’t feel right, but Curry joked of his arm wear, “As a little kid I always wanted to be like Allen Iverson and that was the only way I could really come close”.

ABOUT THE CAVALIERS: Small forward LeBron James averaged 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 8.9 assists in last season’s Finals and has been superb this postseason with averages of 32.5 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Perhaps the Cavs should listen to Golden State point guard Steph Curry explain his team’s lowturnover rate. Cleveland’s had six games decided by single digits in the playoffs. What can anyone do against a team that only had two players score in double digits and still won by 22 points? It’s like a million voices are realizing that last season was a fluke – that Stephen Curry was operating on a bad ankle and Andrew Bogut’s absence was more serious than anyone realized.

James and Irving carried the Cavs during their historic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit a year ago, when they were undoubtedly the two best players on the floor over the final three games.

Unfortunately, unless unforeseen injuries occur or an unknown Kryptonite is discovered to slow this deadly Warriors squad, Durant’s unselfishness could essentially slam the championship door shut for numerous rest of the West’s squads including the Utah Jazz.

Cavaliers Coach Tyronn Lue was among those wowed. “I’m trying to do other things other than just scoring so I can help my team put us in the best situations to win”, Curry said.