Courtesy of a 129-120 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals, the Warriors earned the third title in franchise history in front of the home fans at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California Monday night.
James has stood in the way of Golden State each of the last three seasons, CBS Sports reports.
The Cavaliers like to play a more rugged game using the size and strength of James, Love and Tristan Thompson to their advantage. Warriors who came into the fifth with a commanding 3-1 lead needed to wrap up the fifth game to clinch the title. Everyone knew the Warriors were the favorites, but the "never count out LeBron James" mantra was repeated enough for most fans to convince themselves we would see a real series. That group led the Warriors to 73 regular season wins, but when they met Cleveland in The Finals they were still stoppable.
With the lead up to 17 and halftime fast approaching Smith hit back-to-back threes on the Cavs final two possessions to get this back to a deficit from which it still felt like it was one the Cavaliers could come back.
"But we're champions and it's incredible doing it on our home court".
During their embrace this time around, Durant lifted his hand to his mouth and spoke in James' ear. "It's tough to get back and get matched, especially with their speed".
The Warriors, who beat Cleveland in the 2015 Finals only to lose to them past year after squandering a 3-1 series lead, went a record-setting 15-1 in the playoffs, their only loss coming in Game Four of the best-of-seven championship.
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They are thought to be travelling in a 2004 green Honda Civic and armed with the officers'.40 calibre pistols. Both men have been serving sentences for armed robbery and other crimes, according to the agency's website.
But adding one of the best players in the league and allowing that holy trinity to act as role players in some cases left Cleveland with no room for error.
Cleveland's inability to give the Warriors much of a fight has already sparked talk that James, who left the team in 2010 for Miami before returning four years later, could consider another move during 2018 free agency. From the Hakeem Olajuwon-Charles Barkley-Scottie Pippen Rockets of the '90s, to the LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh Heat of recent years, superstars coming together have not always resulted in a championship in their first season together, if ever.
"For us as a team, we have to be more on edge", Kerr said. "I was anxious and jittery and I just wanted to leave it all out there", Durant told ESPN's Doris Burke minutes after the game ended. Golden State Warriors won the Western Conference while Cleveland Cavaliers had another stellar season winning the Eastern Conference.
"There was never any question in my mind this was going to work", Kerr said.
Both Durant and the Warriors blew their first closeout chance in Game 4. Nervous is good. "Appropriate fear" is the Gregg Popovich line. And that's all you can ask. In 2016, the team started 2-0 before dropping Game 3, winning Game 4 then losing the last three.
"Appropriate fear", a stone-faced Lue said.
On Monday, Golden State used a 27-4 second-quarter run to take charge - just after it appeared Durant should have been called for a third foul on a basket by James - and got to celebrate right at home in Oakland surrounded by a deafening home crowd waving yellow rally towels and holding up phones to shoot video and photos as the final minute of the clock ticked away. And throughout the Finals, it often looked as though they were listening to him. "We won't have any excuses, because no one is hurt, everyone is playing".
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