NBA Finals MVP Odds: Kevin Durant favored to win 5/31/17

Kevin Durant’s first trip to the NBA Finals ended with him watching LeBron James celebrate his first title as Miami downed Oklahoma City for the 2012 crown. Golden State’s offense is in better shape with a healthy Curry and Durant taking Harrison Barnes’ spot. Cleveland Cavaliers’ Deron Williams smiles during an NBA basketball practice, Wednesday, May 31, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. Acting Warriors coach Mike Brown, speaking Wednesday to ESPN’s Michael Wilbon, said Kerr could indeed return as soon as Wednesday for Game 1 but that they wouldn’t know until closer to the 9 p.m. ET tip-off.

And unlike the Warriors squad that blew a 3-1 Finals lead a year ago after a record-setting 73-9 regular season, this version of the team is even more unsafe after adding former league MVP and four-time scoring champion Kevin Durant.

The third consecutive best-of-seven title showdown between the Warriors and Cavaliers opens Thursday with Golden State’s 2015 win and Cleveland’s stinging rally from 3-1 down last June adding to the anticipated drama for two superstar-filled squads.

Fast forward to the upcoming finals, the top-seeded Golden State is playing like a well-oiled machine.

Still stinging after the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in last year’s Finals against Cleveland, the vociferous Green, who was suspended from Game 5, said if given the chance again, he plans to “destroy and annihilate” the Cavs.

Guillermo asked several Warriors to tell James that he isn’t speaking to James either.

Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives around Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on December 25, 2016 in Cleveland.

The Cavs and Warriors steamrolled their respective opponents en route to the Finals, setting up a matchup some are likening to the 1975 “Thrilla in Manila” – the third and final boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. “I’m excited this worked out that I could be here”.

A day before the start of his seventh straight NBA Finals, LeBron James’ mind was far from focused on basketball and the Golden State Warriors.

“It’s pretty intense”, Warriors center Zaza Pachulia said. The Warriors have the best homecourt advantage in the National Basketball Association, 114-9 over the past three seasons, including a league-best 36-5 in the playoffs.

Willa I know set up or fired a talk about.

Yes, Golden State is going to win this series.

The Cavaliers added a 3-point specialist in Korver, along with backup point guard Deron Williams and swingman Derrick Williams to the mix in hopes of giving James more offensive options around him. That lineup should allow them to overwhelm even a team as formidable as the Cavaliers can be. But it was all worth it because of the quest for a championship.

“I just try to use my speed to my advantage”, Green said. Now these two teams are being called dynasties. Us the truth not care cavs fans will brawn James spending get upset me if they want this just in gosh darn truth.

“They’re the champions”, Kerr said Monday. “I think they would say the same thing about us”. James has repeatedly snubbed Guillermo in his comedic interview attempts, dating at least to a year ago. You’ll past year the only games decided Dallas and points was that game seven which turned out to be. The warriors. On a man say on LeBron gets the LeBron it’s about rabbits and on the show a lot of these go down as the five.

Some have waited longer than others. But you’ve got to enjoy everything, man.

“I’m just proud of the work we’ve put in from the beginning of the season”, Durant said.