Tonight, when the Cleveland Cavaliers face off against the Golden State Warriors in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, they’ll be looking to prevent a sweep, but also history.
As most basketball fans know, the Warriors have marched through this year’s playoffs unscathed (15-0). With a win tonight, they can become the first team in NBA history to finish the playoffs with an undefeated record.
There have been several contributing factors in Golden State’s success, most notably — the acquisition of Kevin Durant, who some argue is the second-best player in the game today.
After today’s shootaround at Cleveland Clinic Courts, Cavs forward Richard Jefferson was asked how guarding Durant now — with the Warriors — differs from when he was with his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“He has a lot better players around him,” Jefferson said as he shook his head. “You know, Russell (Westbrook) is obviously a high-level MVP candidate. Say whatever you want, but he joined a 73-win team that was one game away from winning a championship. And you add probably the second-best talent in the NBA to that team — in a position that Harrison (Barnes) left and (Andrew) Bogut left. And so you add basically a three-man in that position. You know, it’s an impressive add. You have a high-level coach in Steve Kerr and you have a hungry group. So they’re a very, very talented team with good pieces all around.”
Game 4 is set to tip at 9:00 p.m. EST inside Quicken Loans Arena. Will Jefferson and the Cavs be able to change the narrative of this trilogy?