The 2016 NBA Championship went to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, as LeBron James led a one for the age’s comeback. After losing three of the first four games of the 2016 NBA Championship series, the Cavs did something unprecedented, they won three straight, including two on the Golden State Warriors’ home court. After losing their third of four games by a score of 108-97, Cleveland then won 112-97, 115-101, and 93-89 in a series where sports bettors who took the under did well.
James Does Good on Promise
Small forward LeBron James returned to Cleveland after winning some championships with the Miami Heat. Upon his return, James promised to bring a championship to the city, which had not held a major sport’s title in 50 years. In the first half of the series, the Cavs seemed outmanned and they were outplayed. But James and company had a major gut check and were able to beat all odds.
Prior to its start, many were looking forward to this 2016 NBA Championship matchup, which featured the two clubs that went down to the wire last season. It that series, the Warriors took the title. But this time, unlike in 2015, the Cavs came out on top. It was a remarkable series as Golden State took the first game 104-89 and the second 110-77. They then lost the third contest 120-90, but mounted a fine comeback to win game four 108-97.
In the final game, James had a triple double, leading the team in points with 27, dishing off 11 assists, and taking down 11 rebounds. Power forward Kevin Love puled down 14 rebounds and point guard Kyrie Irving hit for 26 points.
For the Warriors, power forward Draymond Green had a game-leading 32 points while grabbing 15 rebounds and making nine assists. Point guard Stephen Curry put 17 points on the scoreboard, but he hit just six of 19 from the field and four of 14 from the three-point stripe. Those two stats may be the keys to the seventh game. Curry was, overall, ineffective. Shooting guard Klay Thompson also had a tough night putting in just six of 17 from the field and two of 10 from downtown.
Favorites to be 2017 NBA Champs
NBA futures list the Golden State Warriors as the favorites to win next year’s crown. The Warriors are at 7-4, while the Cavs are 5-2. The San Antonio Spurs are next at 6-1 and the Oklahoma City Thunder come in at 8-1. The odds makers see the West as being more competitive than the East.
In the East, the Boston Celtics are 20-1 and the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors are both 25-1. Thus, if you’re considering who has a better shot at making it back to the NBA Finals, you’d have to say that the Cavaliers are most likely to do so. They face much easier competition. Still, it’s the Warriors that are the team to beat as far as the NBA Championship is concerned.
2016 NBA Championship Wrap Up
The 2016 NBA Championship Finals ended up being an amazing series. What looked at first to be a major disappointment for basketball fans, sports bettors, and the league, became an event that won’t long be forgotten.
It’s important to remember that the 2016 NBA Championship Finals featured the two best teams in the league. It was supposed to be a series that went down to the wire. It offered the Cleveland Cavaliers the opportunity for redemption and the Golden State Warriors the chance to establish themselves as the next NBA dynasty. The former proved to be true whole the latter has been put on hold. Next season, these two teams may meet in the finals once again. If that does happen, fans should expect a spectacular, unpredictable, and exciting series
