Well, basketball fans, the epic “three-match” is upon us. The defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are set to meet in the NBA Finals for an unprecedented third consecutive season.

By now, most hoops fans know how the first two chapters of this novel were written, with Golden State winning in 2015, then Cleveland coming back from a 3-1 deficit in 2016 to win their first championship.

There has been a certain measure of trash talk coming from the Warriors heading into Thursday’s Game 1 showdown, but Cavs forward Richard Jefferson isn’t trying to hear it. “RJ,” as he’s known dished out a little clap back when Kevin Jones of KNBR in San Francisco brought up last year’s Finals and the chatter leading into this one.

“Our team was more poised last year. That’s why we won the championship.”

Game 1 is scheduled to tip on Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. ABC will have live broadcast coverage. The time for talking has almost come to an end. Now, “it’s time to put up or shut up,” as Cavs head coach Tyronn Lue often says.