Kerr to miss NBA Finals opener

The Cleveland Cavaliers, however, say they aren’t using any snubs to get ready for the NBA Finals.

In 2015, it was Kerr vs. Cleveland’s David Blatt.

That really is what the rubber-match Finals comes down to, real stars. This is the third straight Finals for the Warriors, who, after setting a single-season record for victories a year ago were able to add Kevin Durant – one of the five best players in the league – to their roster in the off-season. “Right now we are going to enjoy this and we will think about the Warriors tomorrow”.

The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook installed Golden State as a minus-260 favorite, with Cleveland at plus-220, meaning a $100 bet on the Warriors would win $38.46 and the same bet on the Cavaliers would win $220, according to ESPN.

Season series: Tied, 1-1. That’s what happens when you have half of the conference’s All-Star lineup, including a player in Durant who some would call the second best in the world right now. “We’re trying to take what they took from us past year”. So you have to appreciate it.

Already, the back-and-forth has begun.

That is why Golden State is my pick to win the National Basketball Association championship.

Cavaliers blow 3-1 lead: The Cavs going up 3-1 doesn’t seem likely – unless the Warriors allow it. But there’s also a clear respect level between the clubs as well. 7 of Sports Illustrated’s 9 experts picked the Warriors, saying that the addition of KD makes their offense better than the 2016 team. Insane as it sounds considering they’ve been the most dominant team in the National Basketball Association over the past three seasons, this Warriors group – led by Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson – aren’t just healthy. We are a better Cavaliers team and they are a better Warriors team but what does that mean?

On Saturday, we got another look into how the Warriors view Cleveland, this time through the eyes of Steph Curry.

For James, the Finals are an annual rite. Besides five years in age, Durant downplayed the differences between him from then and now. The league has made sure to spread this series out all the way to a Game 7 on Father’s Day if necessary.

Key Matchup: Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James.

“Hopefully”, James said that night, “I don’t continue to have to run into him”.

Last year, of course, the Warriors’ starting small forward was Harrison Barnes, who Cleveland basically left open and who shot 35.2 percent in the series.

Count Warriors’ star Kevin Durant among those who couldn’t care less.

Yes, the Eastern Conference isn’t much better, but that’s a little different.

“It’s one of those things I have no control over, it is what it is”, said Brown, filling in for the ailing Steve Kerr. “I went when I was 23 years old, and it felt like the Western Conference finals was nearly like the championship”.