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2017 NBA Finals: 5 reasons the Cleveland Cavaliers will beat the Golden State Warriors

By Nick Dudukovich

May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) sticks his tongue out during a media timeout during the second quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) sticks his tongue out during a media timeout during the second quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 20, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the ball during the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2017; San Antonio, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots the ball during the second quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Steph’s magic is gone

With the addition of Kevin Durant, Steph Curry just isn’t as scary. One might argue that’s a good thing. Curry’s still a great player, and Durant is probably one of the three best players in the league. Add it all up, and the Warriors are better, right.

I’m not so sure.

The Warriors just don’t carry the same glowing aura that’s emanated from the Bay Area the last two seasons.

Curry shot 41 percent from 3-point range this season, which is the worst of his career. Don’t get irate, I know, a lot of players would commit crimes to shoot 41 percent from 3 for a season. But Curry, a guy who had been transformed into a mythical figure, was supposed to be better.

For comparisons sake, Draymond Green shot 39 percent from 3-point range last season, so Curry is just a little bit better this season than Draymond this season. Take that for what it’s worth.

Confused by this argument. Think back to this time a year ago. A lot of people believed Steph had surpassed LeBron for the title of “Best player in the world.”

But now? James Harden and Russell Westbrook have surpassed Curry.

He’s just not the threat he was the past two seasons when the Warriors, under Steve Kerr, were playing a brand of basketball had never been seen before.

Are the Warriors still great? Their 67-15. I won’t write they aren’t. But there’s something different about them this season, and that favors the Cavs.

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