[2017 NBA Finals] Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

It's more than "remotely close". This lack of parity is only three years deep so far. In the 80s, the Celtics and/or Lakers were in every single Finals.

 

The 80s Finals matchups:

1980 - Lakers vs Sixers
1981 - Rockets vs Celtics
1982 - Lakers vs Sixers
1983 - Lakers vs Sixers
1984 - Lakers vs Celtics
1985 - Lakers vs Celtics
1986 - Rockets vs Celtics
1987 - Lakers vs Celtics
1988 - Lakers vs Pistons
1989 - Lakers vs Pistons

True, the Lakers did dominate the Western Conference that decade. But you never had the same teams meeting in the Finals 3 straight years. You also had some suspense in the earlier rounds especially over in the Eastern Conference where the Sixers, Celtics, and Pistons took turns dominating during the 80's and lower tier contenders like the Bulls, Bucks, and even the Hawks occasionally made things interesting.

The NBA has a very serious problem on their hands if over the next few years we see the Warriors continuously dominating the regular season, the Cavs coasting until the playoffs while easily remaining at the top of the East standings, and then both teams steamrolling their way to several more Finals rematches. And this problem will only be exacerbated if Golden State destroys Cleveland in 4 or 5 games every time out.

 

I'd have no problem with one of them being in the Finals, as it would show that there's competition in both conferences. But right now there's absolutely none, this wasn't the case in the 80s.

 

Exactly, you never knew whether there'd be an upset, whereas in the past three seasons everyone knew it'd end up GSW vs. CLE.

It kinds of makes the playoffs obsolete fo many fans, as the other 28 teams barely matter and only the Finals have any point in deciding the winner.

 

We've now had 3 straight seasons where the Cavs haven't faced any pressure en route to the Finals. Hell, in 2015, they swept the Hawks in the ECF despite no Kevin Love, a banged up Kyrie, and Atlanta having home court.

And over in the West, the Warriors coasted to the Finals in 2015(thanks in part to all their opponents suffering injuries) and swept their way back this year(again, thanks in part to opponents' injuries including Kawhi's that the Warriors themselves caused). The one obstacle Golden State faced was the Thunder in 2016. And what happened after that 4-3 series win? Durant bails on OKC to sign with the Warriors.

This is not good for the NBA. You can't have the entire season and playoffs predetermined every year before training camp.

 

The Lakers were in 8 Finals in 10 years. Do you honestly believe the Warriors will do anything close to that? Over that same span, only 3 different teams from the East made the Finals.

Later on, the Bulls won 6 championships in 8 years.

You people need to chill and quit whining. This is getting ridiculous.

 

I think the Rockets match up well with the Cavs. All they do is isolation plays, lol. How was Kevin Love in this series? yikes!

 

Love averaged 17pts 10reb for the series, hardly terrible.

 

I think people are reacting this way because they know our team, the Rockets, aren't in the conversation.

 

Regarding the Lakers' dominance in the 80's, I could easily see the Warriors making it to another 3 or 4 consecutive Finals. And even if only 3 teams in the East got to the Finals in the 80's, there was still competition in the earlier rounds. The Sixers and Celtics battled. So did the Celtics and Pistons. The Bucks and Hawks gave the Sixers and Celtics issues. The Pistons had to tangle with the Bulls.

And speaking of the Bulls, they didn't always coast to the Finals. In 1992, they had a brutal 7 game Semifinals with the Knicks. The next round, the Cavs took them to 6 games. In 1993, they had another tough matchup in the ECF with the Knicks where they had to come back from an 0-2 deficit. In 1998, they had an epic 7 game showdown in the ECF with the Pacers that they barely escaped from.

And in the Finals aside from 1991, they needed 6 games to win every title. They had to come back from 15 points down in the 4th quarter at home vs Portland to avoid a Game 7. They needed a last second Paxson 3-pointer a year later to escape a Game 7 vs Phoenix. The 72-win Bulls team still needed 6 games to finish off the Sonics(had George Karl put Payton on MJ starting in Game 1, that series may have played out differently). It took the miraculous "flu game" to eek out a 6 game series win over Utah in 1997. And it took an incredible final minute by MJ to escape with a 1-point win in Game 6 a year later in Utah.

My issue is not with a team(or 2 teams) dominating the league in terms of titles won. The NBA has had plenty of dynasties. What I don't want is no competition or suspense when those teams are racking up championships.

 

Teams should draft better.

 

GM and coach James is going to try to trade him for someone soon. Cavs lost, someone has to go.

 

Harden is Top 30 of all time for p*rn star lover. Harden is #1 in Stripper and p*rn Stars representation. He has a career after the NBA

 

What about Jordan every year? You didn't watch Jordan every year in the finals?

 

with the finals mvp added

last year he was on okc

 

You don't even know what the next several years will offer. Don't assume anything.

Get over it unless you have a time machine or crystal ball.

 

Certainly. But we don't know what rabbit Morey might pull out of his hat.

Remember the 2011 Mavs. Nobody gave them a legit chance of winning it all that year. Then they lost their 2nd best player for the season.

But they were in striking distance. That is where the Rockets stand now.

 

why does curry have so many stans on a rockets board

 

brock huard typical sjw deep down he is pissed because curry didnt win finals mvp