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SPORTS Saturday 27 May 2017

`THREEMATCH’

The Cleveland Cavaliers pose with their trophy after winning Game 5 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics 135-102, on
Thursday, May 25, 2017, in Boston.
Associated Press

No surprise: It’s Cavs-Warriors in the NBA Finals, again

TIM REYNOLDS “I’ve been very blessed the by 35 on Jan. 16. Golden riors guard Stephen Curry Countered Golden State
AP Basketball Writer last few years to be a part State led the league with said. “Thirty teams suit up acting coach Mike Brown,
Here they go again. of this league and play on 67 wins this season and is every year trying to get when asked about it Thurs-
For the third straight year, the big stage,” said Cleve- a staggering 27-1 in its last to this point, and only two day: “That’s his opinion. It’s
it’s Cleveland and Golden land star LeBron James, 28 games — including a teams do. So you have to cute.” And there will be re-
State in the NBA Finals. The who has now reached the perfect 12-0 in the West- appreciate it. ... We need minders of the Halloween
2016 champions versus the Finals for the eighth time — ern Conference playoffs, to understand the privilege party that James threw for
2015 champions . The first including each of the last the first time a team has that we have and the op- the Cavaliers last fall, with
“threematch” — rematch seven years. “But we’re go- gone this deep into an portunity that we have to “3-1 Lead” — a nod to
of a rematch — in league ing to enjoy this for a cou- NBA postseason without play in the Finals again, to what the Warriors lost in last
history. It’s the match- ple more days before we losing. Cleveland, which have the opportunity to year’s Finals — prominently
up most expected, the have to lock in on that jug- seemed sleepy at times in win a championship.” Al- displayed on the drum set.
matchup most predicted, gernaut out west.” the regular season, went ready, the back-and-forth Much more of that sort of
and probably the matchup The Cavaliers and War- 12-1 in the Eastern Confer- is underway. Cleveland that will likely follow over
the Cavaliers and Warriors riors split their two meetings ence playoffs that ended coach Tyronn Lue was the next week, filling time
wanted as well. this season, both winning with a win over Boston on quoted earlier this week before Golden State plays
Let the hype, and the wait- at home. Cleveland won Thursday night. “Playing in saying he thought Boston’s host to Game 1.
ing, begin: Game 1 isn’t un- by one on Christmas Day, this league, you can’t take offense was “harder to de-
til June 1. Golden State prevailed anything for granted,” War- fend” than Golden State’s. Continued on Page 21