Warriors To Defend Crown vs. Cavs in NBA Finals
The Golden State Warriors defeated a feisty Houston Rockets squad 101-92 in Game 7 to move on to the NBA Finals where they will defend their title against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
With the Rockets missing All-Star point guard Chris Paul due to a hamstring injury, James Harden, Eric Gordon and Clint Capela did their best to upset the defending champions. With the way the way the game was being played in the first half, it looked like the underdogs had a legitimate shot. Fueled by a hunger for that elusive crown, the Rockets managed to build up an 11 point lead at the end of the first half.
The Warriors would turn things around after the halftime break. They stepped up their defense, limiting the Rockets to 15 points in the quarter while pouring in 33 points of their own, powered by the 3-point shooting of Stephen Curry. He and Kevin Durant, who finished with a game-high 34 points, chipped away at the lead and eventually allowed their team to seize control of the game.
The Rockets would fight back in the fourth period, but it was not enough as the Bay Area “super team” matched them shot for shot and held on to eventually win the game. MVP candidate James Harden led the Rockets with 32 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals. Even with Eric Gordon providing some offense with 23 points, the team was clearly missing the on-court presence of Chris Paul, who had been a capable defender in the series who was previously able to slow down Stephen Curry.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Cavaliers will be held on Thursday, May 31st, with Game 2 scheduled on Sunday.
LeBron James was able to will his Cavs to an Eastern Conference title, but the Golden State Warriors, despite being accused of being lazy in the Western Finals series, has more talent and firepower than an undermanned Boston Celtics team. It will be an epic battle between the best player in the World versus a superteam. The Warriors are clearly favored to be able to defend their crown, but it will be a sight to behold as James will pull out all the stops to upset his rivals.