That missed opportunity stung ever since, and even Durant understood, because he gave up the same lead to the Warriors a round earlier with Oklahoma City.
The Warriors, who beat Cleveland in the 2015 Finals only to lose to them previous 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.
"I couldn't sleep for two days", Durant, who was named the Finals MVP, said during an on-court interview.
Durant's incredible efforts in topping 30 points in every game of the Finals enabled the Warriors to avenge a heart-breaking game seven loss to the Cavs at the same stage past year but, when the rest of the league looks at Golden State with envy, they should not study their star free-agent acquisition, but the way in which they have drafted and found affordable gems on the open market. "I was anxious, I was jittery. So for me personally I have nothing to be - I have no reason to put my head down". "We were really good tonight".
"I had a letdown past year", Green said. "You've got to call Kevin Durant a champ now".
Kevin Durant finally gets a title as Warriors finish off Cavaliers
Golden State took an 11-point lead into the half, and never looked back, finishing things off late in the 4th quarter. James said in a press conference screened on nba .com: "I'm not happy he won his first - I'm not happy at all".
"I don't see a big gap. But we prevailed, we're champions and it's unbelievable doing it on our home floor".
The Warriors won in 2014-15 but were beaten in last year's deciding series by the LeBron James-inspired Cavaliers.
"They kept us up all night", Durant said. To be back here and bring gold Larry (O'Brien trophy) back home, I'm just excited to be a part of this group and accomplish something special. "I'm ready to do it again".
Further evidence of the Warriors' ability to draft well came in the form of 2016 second-round draft pick Patrick McCaw, who played 11 minutes in game five and looked like he belonged on the big stage in adding six points, but it was Iguodala's stunning showing and Green's ability to haul in late decisive rebounds to quell any hope of a Cavaliers comeback that perhaps best illustrated just how well this team has been put together. Their one title came previous year when the Cavs became the first National Basketball Association team to rally from a 3-1 Finals deficit to deliver the city its first major championship since 1964. All of this helped him earn the NBA Finals MVP award on the way to his first NBA championship.
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.
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