NBA Finals Schedule 2017: Cavaliers vs. Warriors Game 4 TV Info and Predictions
Reality can hit you pretty quickly. For LeBron James, part three between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals may indicate a shift in superstar focus.
With the defending champions facing elimination on Friday, Paul Pierce already sees the end of James' reign as the top player in the league. He initially made the bold statement after Game 2 and doubled down on his words after the Warriors claimed a 118-113 victory in Game 3:
In fairness, the Warriors still have a game to win, which would put them in a category alone at 16-0 through the postseason. Is it also possible Kevin Durant's overall 2017 NBA Finals performance vaults him over James as the best player in the league?
When it matters most, Durant has certainly outperformed James, who's disappeared in the fourth quarters of this series. Furthermore, the Warriors forward remains steady in offensive output when the two-time Finals MVP defends him, per ESPN Stats & Info:
On ESPN's First Take, Stephen A. Smith called for an end to the comparisons between James and Michael Jordan, pending a Cavaliers loss:
Another sweep would place a huge blemish on James' NBA Finals resume, especially with an overall 3-5 record in the championship round. The final outcome of this series will have a lasting effect on the legacies of the top two players in the league.
The media has placed the James' era in the crosshairs as the Warriors chase history. How will Game 4 unfold? Tune in using the details below:
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland
When: Friday, June 9, at 9 p.m. ET
Watch: ABC
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Prediction
The Cavaliers played their best game of the series on Wednesday for the first 57 minutes. Then, they went cold with a six-point lead down the stretch, per ESPN's Michael Eaves:
James and Kyrie Irving put together phenomenal performances, but neither found a way to stop the drought with the Warriors hitting a late surge, per ESPN Stats & Info:
J.R. Smith also chipped in with 16 points after an abysmal start to the series. However, the Warriors' trio of sharpshooters, Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 87 points on 29-of-55 shooting from the field.
It's unfair to place all the blame on Kevin Love for his poor Game 3 performance on the offensive end (9 PTS, 1-9 FG, 1-7 3PT), but the Cavaliers absolutely need their Big 3 to play well in the same game, which hasn't happened during this series.
Furthermore, Cleveland hasn't found its stroke from beyond the arc. Golden State has improved its three-point shooting in every game:
Golden State's only concern would be the ability to maintain a high scoring efficiency from three-point territory. At some point, the shooting percentage will take a slight dip, which creates a small opportunity for the Cavaliers.
Love should put together a bounce-back effort, but don't expect Irving to drop another 38 points in Game 4.
Unfortunately, the Cavaliers don't have enough contributions from the bench to compete with the Warriors' steady offensive flow. Guys like Richard Jefferson, Deron Williams and Iman Shumpert have registered little impact through three games. In addition, Tristan Thompson has completely disappeared in the starting lineup on both ends of the court.
Durant will cap off a remarkable NBA Finals performance with another accurate shooting night at about 45 percent from the field. He'll claim his first NBA title and Finals MVP, which leaves spectators asking if it's his time to rack up the rings.
Warriors 116, Cavaliers 109
