The NBA postseason is well on its way and the way things are looking right now we are likely to see the third straight Finals matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Both teams have stormed their way through the first two rounds in their respective Conferences and are now waiting for their Conference Finals opponents.
Cavs and Warriors yet to lose in this year's playoffs
The defending NBA Champions - Cleveland Cavaliers, swept their first two series and haven't lost a single game this postseason. They played the number seven seed Indiana Pacers in the first round and sent them to an early vacation with a 4-0 series sweep.
LeBron James dominated that matchup averaging nearly 33 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists throughout those four games. Cleveland played the Toronto Raptors in the Conference Semifinals and the outcome was the same. Led by James, the Cavs dismantled the Raptors in four games and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. James finished the series against Toronto averaging 36 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. It is the third straight time since LeBron James returned to Cleveland that the Cavaliers will play in the Conference Finals.
Golden State on the other hand, also handled their business in the Western Conference. They swept the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, and in the Conference Semifinals they played the number five seed Utah Jazz.
Warriors handed a 4-0 sweep to the Jazz as Kevin Durant dominated that series averaging 24.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
It is the first time in NBA history that two teams have started the postseason with 8 straight wins. The way things are going it appears that Conference Finals will be a formality the Cavs and the Warriors.
If so, it will be the first time in NBA history that two teams have met in three consecutive NBA Finals. The 2015 Finals saw the Warriors win it 4-2 against Cleveland and in 2016 NBA Finals the Cavaliers won the championship winning it 4-3 against the Warriors. According to Cavs' head coach Tyronn Lue, a Finals rematch again this year would be a good thing for the league.
Lue, "A lot of people want to see Golden State-Cavs matchup."
After Wednesday's practice Cleveland's coach spoke to the media and adressed a potential matchup against the Warriors in this year's Finals, "Is it a problem? I don't think so. I think a lot of people wanted to see Boston and the Lakers back in the day. I think nowadays, a lot of people want to see Golden State-Cavs. And it's not a problem. Right now, it's two of the teams playing some of the best basketball right now."
Last year's Game 7 of the NBA finals was the highest-rated NBA game ever on ABC and surely from the business standpoint - Cavs vs Warriors rematch would make a lot of sense.
"Why not want to see it again? I don’t see why it would be a problem.
Last year had some of the best ratings, I think, in NBA history." Lue added that last year's Finals had some of the highest ratings ever and with the way both teams are playing this season, it could be even higher.
There's a lot of basketball to be played until the Finals start, but it appears that the Cavaliers vs. Warriors rematch is what every NBA fan wants. It remains to be seen if there will be round 3 of this epic matchup.
