I understand the love affair between the media, the metrics geeks, and the Golden State Warriors, right down to its classist, fanboy core. The Warriors are great—by the numbers, maybe historically great—and the brand of basketball they play is fluid, balletic, lovely to behold. Plus, what member of the press doesn't love an expense account trip to Northern California, even if it also costs a couple of nights in Cleveland?
I'm Cleveland-born and -bred, so I can't pretend to be objective here. I can say that I've watched both teams all season, and while I'm not going to argue with Las Vegas, which has the Warriors as heavy favorites, I've seen enough already to say Golden State has a lot to prove, at least to me.
The Dubs waltzed past the Pelicans. They were down 2-1 to Memphis when Tony Allen of the Grizzlies, a crucial Steph Curry defender, got hurt. Thanks to the NBA's playoff seeding system, Golden State didn't have to play the Spurs or the Clippers, who each would've put up more of a fight than the misfit Houston Rockets.
Golden State hasn't faced the kind of physical challenge the Cavaliers will bring, and no team as inexperienced has won an NBA Championship since Michael Jordan led the Bulls. Scorn the Eastern Conference and the Cavs' playoff opposition at will, but Cleveland is battle-tested. They are the tougher team, and the Cavaliers know that to have a chance to win, they'll have to ugly it up. They've become very, very good at that.
Then there's LeBron James. Say what you will (and heaven knows I have), but there's something to be said for having the best player on the floor—every night. If the Cavs can steal one tonight, it'll be over in six. If not, I like the Cavs in seven. See you at the parade.
