Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Friday 11 May 2018

Final Four

Continued from Page 17 off meeting, and all have
come in the last four sea-
Cleveland and Boston sons. The Warriors are 2-0
don’t tip off the Eastern in the series, winning both
Conference finals until Sun- times in five games — the
day, and the Warriors and 2015 West finals and a first-
Rockets start their West title round matchup in 2016.
series on Monday. And yes, SEEKING 10
the Cavaliers and Warriors Golden State is trying to
are four wins away from a reach the NBA Finals for
fourth consecutive meet- the 10th time, a mark that
ing in the NBA Finals. two other franchises have
A few things to know going reached. The Los Angeles
into the conference finals: Lakers have made The Fi-
LEBRON, OF COURSE nals on 31 occasions (win-
Any list of anything this time ning 16 titles), and the
of year basically has to Celtics have gone 21 times
start with LeBron James, still (winning a league-high 17
generally considered the titles).
best player on the planet If the Warriors successfully
even at 33 years old and in defend their NBA title and
his 15th NBA season. go back-to-back, it’ll be Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) and James Harden celebrate the team’s win over the Utah
Cleveland’s star is trying to the franchise’s sixth time as Jazz during Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Tuesday, May 8, 2018, in
reach the NBA Finals for the the last team standing — Houston.
eighth consecutive sea- and would tie Chicago for Associated Press
son — something only four the third-most champion- LeBron James and Stephen Of the 68 teams that have fix on those last two days,
other players have done, ships in league history, be- Curry are coming his way. taken 1-0 series leads in the fret not — there will be NBA
and they were all Boston hind the Celtics and Lakers. James is No. 2 on the all- conference finals, 57 have Combine activities going
Celtics. Bill Russell went to MVP WATCH time list with 346 playoff gone on to make the NBA on in Chicago on those
10 straight title series, Sam Houston’s James Harden 3-pointers. Curry is No. 3 Finals. two days.
Jones and Tom Heinsohn seems like the probable with 329 — in only 79 play- But four times in the last POOL UPDATE
went to nine, and Frank winner of the NBA’s MVP off games. Allen played in seven years, a team has The NBA’s playoff pool for
Ramsey went to eight. award this season, with the 171, and James has played dropped Game 1 in this this season is $20 million,
James is already the NBA’s only other realistic candi- in 228. round and made The Finals and here’s a look at how
all-time playoff leader in date for top honors prob- WELL DONE, SCHEDULE anyway. much the four remaining
points, steals and minutes ably LeBron James. MAKERS MORE DAYS OFF? teams have made so far
played. He’s fifth in play- They won’t know who won Here’s how the NBA season The NBA Finals start May 31. in this postseason — along
off wins with 152, behind until June 25 — after the began, back on Oct. 17: That means there could be with a look at what they
only Derek Fisher (161), Tim season. Boston at Cleveland, and a lot of days without bas- could get.
Duncan (157), Robert Horry Regardless, they could Houston at Golden State. ketball before then. Rockets: $2,322,122. Would
(155) and Kareem Abdul- wind up adding to a re- Almost seven months later, If both series end in sweeps finish with $4,669,069 if
Jabbar (154). cent trend. the conference finals begin — unlikely, of course, but they lose the NBA Finals,
CAVS-CELTICS HISTORY The league MVP has with Cleveland at Boston, possible — the Boston- $5,864,018 if they win the
This is the eighth time Cleve- played in the NBA Finals in Golden State at Houston. Cleveland winner would title.
land and Boston have met four of the last six seasons WIN GAME 1 have 10 days off before Celtics and Warriors:
in the postseason. Boston — James and the Miami Winning Game 1 of any The Finals and the Houston- $1,646,226 each so far.
has won four of the previ- Heat won titles in 2012 and NBA playoff series is impor- Golden State winner would They’d get $3,993,173 if
ous seven meetings, but 2013, Stephen Curry and tant; under this format that have nine. they reach The Finals and
Cleveland has won the last the Warriors won in 2015 the league has been using Starting Thursday, there will lose, $5,188,122 if they win
two — including the East fi- and lost to Cleveland in since 1984, teams that take be no games five times in a the championship.
nals last season. 2016. 1-0 series leads ultimately nine-day span. There’s no Cavaliers: $1,478,543.
WARRIORS-ROCKETS HIS- MATTER OF TIME win those matchups about games until Sunday, and Would finish with $3,825,490
TORY Ray Allen is still the league’s 80 percent of the time. there’s no games in either if they lose the NBA Finals,
This is only the third Gold- all-time leader in playoff That’s even more pro- series on May 17 and 18. $5,020,439 if they win the
en State-Houston play- 3-pointers made, with 385. nounced in this round. Those needing a basketball title.q