A historic battle between two powerhouses
Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena would be the last stop for the 2014-15 NBA Season, as the Golden State Warriors wrapped up the playoffs with a victory over the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. Game six ended the best of seven series by a final score of 4-2 in favour of the Warriors. Golden State secured their fourth NBA Championship and their first title since 1975.
The two teams produced a brilliant series that had many storylines, and great star-power. The world’s best player, Lebron James, squared off against the world’s best team. In this case, the team prevailed. Led by league MVP Stephen Curry, and eventual Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, the Warriors were able to win a war of attrition against Lebron’s Cavaliers. The Warriors won three consecutive games to overcome a 2-1 series deficit. Golden State finished the NBA season with the best regular season record, and subsequently collected the Championship jewellery last Tuesday.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this year’s Finals is the story of Lebron James and his inability to secure his third NBA Championship. Lebron was once again the centre of attention in the Finals, which has been the case for the last five years, with him appearing in all five. Lebron James highlighted a broken down Cavaliers team, that lost all-star guard Kyrie Irving in game one to a fractured knee cap. Irving’s injury added to the list that already included superstar Kevin Love, and Anderson Varejao, who were ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs with significant injuries. One could argue that Lebron was really doing it all on his own.
Lebron’s performance was legendary; averaging 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game, just short of a triple double. Lebron’s excellence throughout the Finals and the NBA playoffs had basketball fans questioning his ranking in terms of all-time great players; it was a magical run that ended with another type of brilliance. Golden State’s talent and team play simply took over the finals, as it had appeared that Lebron James had nothing left to give. Cleveland’s injuries simply forced them to rely on Lebron as an individual, a plan that was eventually exploited by collaborative efforts of the Warriors team.
Small forward Andre Iguodala was pivotal in the series, providing Golden State with a secondary option alongside Stephen Curry. Iguodala contributed 25 points in the final game and was effective on both sides of the ball, given the task of guarding Lebron James. Iguodala was a difference-maker, and was thoroughly deserving of the Finals MVP; he now joins an elite company of players who have previously won the award.
Lebron James, who was guarded by Andre Iguodala throughout the finals, nearly won the Finals MVP himself. James would have become just the second Finals MVP winner from a losing team in the history of the NBA.
The NBA Finals between the Cavaliers and Warriors also sported the highest TV ratings for a Finals series since 1998, when Michael Jordan won his last title with the Chicago Bulls.
It was a series to remember, and one that may eventually be looked at as the first instalment in a special basketball rivalry.