OK, it turns out this NBA Finals series is not the epic series I thought it would be.
There was no shock when the Golden State Warriors won Game 1 at home over the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, I felt the story of that game was that the Cavs punched the Warriors in the mouth.
Most, if not all, national pundits believed Golden State would sweep Cleveland by landslide margins. The Dubs squeaked by to win in overtime.
A Herculean effort by LeBron James — a career Finals-high 51 points — got the Cavs to within striking distance. If not for the blunder that was J.R. Smith killing off the clock to end regulation, Cleveland I believe was likely to steal Game 1.
In my last column, I said this series would be epic — even if the Warriors won in a sweep — if every game was this dramatic.
Turns out, this is not the case.
Golden State would go on to win the next two games rather comfortably. The Warriors won Game 2 in Oakland, 122-103, and then won Game 3 in Cleveland, 110-102.
Again, though, the Cavs were within striking distance late in Game 3.
Down just three points with less than a minute left, for whatever reason, the Cavs let Kevin Durant have a rather easy three-point attempt albeit a long-range try.
Swish.
Durant’s dagger three-pointer, and his 43 points when Stephen Curry had an off-night, sealed Game 3 to give Golden State a 3-0 series lead with a chance to sweep today in Cleveland.
I’d hate to jump on the bandwagon and say this is over. The Cavs could very well get one win at home and send the series back to Oakland.
But for all intents and purposes, this series is over even if Cleveland wins Game 4.
This will likely end with Golden State winning its third championship in four years whether on the road or in front of the home fans in Oracle Arena, and today could be LeBron’s last home game in The Land.
Other than Durant’s clinching three-pointer on Wednesday, the last two games have been relatively uneventful. There just hasn’t been much drama.
So in all honesty, I’m just looking forward to the offseason soap opera that will be, “Where will LeBron play next season?”
Maybe he stays in Cleveland (that would be a shocker). Maybe he creates another “Big 3” in Philadelphia or Houston. Maybe he will chase rings in San Antonio. Maybe he opts for the lights and sounds of Los Angeles. Maybe he will again “take his talents to South Beach.”
Wherever LeBron ends up, the lead-up to “The Decision Part 2” will probably offer more of a thrill to NBA fans than what this Finals series has.
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Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
