2017 NBA Western Conference Finals: Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs
The 2017 NBA Western Conference Finals featured two powerhouse teams, the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. In this matchup, the Warriors proved to be too much for the injury-riddled Spurs, taking the series in four games. Here's a breakdown of how the Warriors dominated the series.
Warriors' dominance from beyond the arc
The Warriors cemented their status as the best three-point shooting team in the league during the Western Conference Finals. Led by sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, the team shot an incredible 44.3% from beyond the arc throughout the series. Not only did this efficient shooting open up the floor for the Warriors' offense, but it also put tremendous pressure on the Spurs' defense. The Spurs simply couldn't keep up with the Warriors' fast-paced, high-scoring style of play.
Kawhi Leonard's injury tilts the series
The Spurs' hopes of challenging the Warriors were dealt a huge blow when their star player, Kawhi Leonard, went down with an ankle injury in Game 1. With Leonard out for the rest of the series, the Spurs were left without their top scorer and defensive anchor. The Warriors took full advantage of Leonard's absence, winning the next three games by an average of 18.3 points. Although the Spurs displayed a valiant effort in Game 4, pushing the Warriors to overtime, it was clear that Leonard's absence had taken its toll on the team.
Curry and Durant shine in the clutch
Throughout the Western Conference Finals, Curry and Durant proved to be unstoppable in crunch time. The duo averaged a combined 50.5 points per game, with both players hitting a number of game-changing shots. In Game 3, Curry hit an incredible three-pointer with just over two minutes left in the game, effectively sealing the win for the Warriors. In Game 4, Durant hit a clutch three-pointer in overtime to put the Warriors up by two points, helping the team secure the series sweep. Their ability to perform under pressure was simply too much for the Spurs to handle.
In the end, the Golden State Warriors' dominant performance in the Western Conference Finals served as a preview of what was to come in the NBA Finals, where they would take home their second championship in three years.
2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
The 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals saw the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics face off in a matchup that saw the Cavaliers sweep the series 4-0. Despite the Celtics' efforts, the Cavaliers simply proved to be too much for them to handle. Here's a closer look at how the Cavaliers dominated the series.
LeBron James leads the way
As expected, LeBron James was the catalyst for the Cavaliers throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron dominated the Celtics from start to finish, averaging 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. James' ability to control the pace of the game and get his teammates involved made life difficult for the Celtics' defense, as they struggled to contain him throughout the series.
Cavaliers' bench steps up
While James played a huge role in the Cavaliers' success, the team's bench was also instrumental in their sweep of the Celtics. Players such as Kyle Korver, Deron Williams, and Channing Frye stepped up when called upon, providing valuable minutes and scoring output off the bench. Their contributions allowed the Cavaliers to keep a steady flow of offense and maintain leads throughout the series.
Celtics suffer from Isaiah Thomas' injury
The Celtics' chances of beating the Cavaliers were dealt a major blow when star point guard Isaiah Thomas went down with a hip injury in Game 2 of the series. Without Thomas, the Celtics struggled to generate offense and deal with the Cavaliers' high-scoring attack. While Boston showed flashes of brilliance throughout the series, particularly in Game 3 where they erased a 21-point deficit, their efforts were ultimately not enough to overcome the Cavaliers.
With this series win, the Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the third straight year, setting the stage for another epic showdown between LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors.
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