Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyron Lue discussed with the media his team’s ongoing preparation ahead of their third straight NBA Finals showdown with the Golden States Warriors, and also shared his thoughts on Draymond Green’s comments about how bad he wants to annihilate the Cavs this time around.
Kevin Durant effect and Cavs’ mindset
Lue, who is looking to lead the Cavaliers to their second straight NBA Finals appearance as a head coach, made himself available to the media during Sunday morning’s practice at the Cavaliers training facility. There, he talked about his team’s mindset heading into a trilogy with the Warriors and how Kevin Durant made this Warriors’ team a lot different from last season.
“I mean they pretty much run the same stuff, but then they also got a guy now that you can give it to 18 feet out and say get some basket,” Lue said of Durant’s impact on the Warriors. “He can produce at a high clip but we understand that. So when things aren’t going well with Steph and Klay, which is very rare, you know you do have a guy in Kevin Durant whom you can throw the ball to and say give us some basket.”
The Warriors are the slight favorite in the betting odds in Las Vegas a year after blowing a 3-1 lead to the Cavaliers, and Durant is the biggest reason to that. However, Lue stressed that he and his team don’t pay attention whether they are the favorites or the underdogs. The Cavs coach thinks the fact that they are in the NBA finals is enough reason why they have to come out and play hard every single second of the series.
Draymond’s annihilation warning
Lue was then asked what his thoughts on Draymond Green’s warning that he’s going to destroy the Cavaliers in their rubber match. Slightly amused by Green’s comments, the Cavs coach decided to take the high road by calling the Warriors forward a competitor.
“They have probably seen or heard it before.
I think he said it earlier in the season right? I mean he’s a competitor. I think if you want to compete you want the best in vice-versa. I think this is going to be a great series. Draymond is speaking out of his emotion. When you beat a team, they definitely want you back. I like guys that tough and speaks out what he really wants, so we’ve got to be up to the challenge.”
For the first time in NBA history, the same two teams will compete in the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year.
The Cavs gun for a back-to-back, while the Warriors seek a second title in three years. Someone has to give in. The NBA Finals will begin on June 1 at 9:00 p.m US EST at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.