LeBron James punishes Celtics guard Terry Rozier

The first “threematch” – rematch of a rematch – in league history.

The Warriors’ regular season was more understated than many expected, but it was nonetheless dominant.

Let the hype, and the waiting, begin: Game 1 isn’t until June 1. There was too much jubilation and joy in the Cavs’ locker room to wade into that territory.

Two years later in the 1987 Finals, Johnson’s Lakers would win the third and final meeting between the teams in six games.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates in front of Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena.

James has played 212 career playoff games – and is now in the NBA Finals for a seventh straight time.

“Everyone wants to say, ‘Ah man, this is boring and this, that and the other, ‘ but you usually don’t appreciate something until you don’t have it anymore”, Green said. “It’s cute.”. The Cavaliers’ 43 points in the first quarter made them the first playoff team since the 1990 Celtics with three 40-point quarters against the same team. So you have to appreciate it. “Again, sometimes I think that – I’ll go look at it and see all the things that we did wrong, but I think it’s more of a tip-your-hat kind of thing with those two guys tonight”.

Already, the back-and-forth is underway. Cleveland won by one point on Christmas Day and Golden State prevailed by 35 points on January 16.

That was reality for the title holders Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, as Irving set a career play-off high with 42 points in their 112-99 win over the Boston Celtics.

Rubber match is a familiar term to sports fans, especially those who have spent any time playing pick-up games themselves in playgrounds. But there’s also a clear respect level between the clubs as well.

And LeBron James says the Cleveland Cavaliers can still do better. They’re coming out and their hitting us, and they don’t care who you are. “We have to be ready for the challenge”.

An unprecedented Finals trilogy was finally set, and still, James had no interest or energy to engage the topic.

Before departing for what promises to be an interesting offseason, Brad Stevens and his players sounded off on the disappointing end to an eventful year.

“I’m going to be honest”, James told reporters in Boston on Thursday.

“Eastern Conference finals, that’s the biggest stage I’ve ever been on”, Thomas said at the team’s practice facility in Waltham, Mass.

“I’ve got to do what’s best for me in the long run, what’s best for my body”, Thomas said. “I can’t lie”, Durant said, when comparing the 2012 Finals trip to this one.

“How can I get the youth to feel like passing the ball is OK, making the extra pass is OK”, James wondered. So it’s a little different now, obviously.

And if the Warriors’ season was understated then the Cavs’ was disappointing. “I’m not in the right mind to even talk about Golden State”.

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