The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a collision course all season. It seems like only a matter of time before they meet in the NBA Finals. The Warriors and Cavaliers have combined to win 16 straight to open the postseason. Both teams have book their spots in their respective conference finals. Golden State and Cleveland have made it look easy to this point in the year. The Cavaliers are the defending NBA champions, but a rematch against the Warriors could look very different with some key new pieces added to the equation. Here is a look at the NBA top-five power rankings for this week.
1. Golden State Warriors
Last Week: 1
NBA Championship Odds: -400
Golden State has won each of its playoff games by double-digit point totals. The San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets are both capable of hanging with them in a playoff series. However, based on what we have seen to this point there won’t be many experts picking against the Warriors. Stephen Curry has led the way with 27.1 points in just 34.4 minutes per game. Kevin Durant has averaged 23.3 points in 32.0 minutes. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have combined to average 31.0 points even though neither has averaged more than 35.4 minutes per game. The Warriors have been absolutely toying with their opponents so far. The competition will only get tougher in the Western Conference Finals. It’s not like Golden State won’t be rested and waiting for it.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
Last Week: 2
NBA Championship Odds: +300
The Cavaliers scrapped their way to one of the closest four-game sweeps in NBA playoff history against the Indiana Pacers in the opening round. Then they absolutely dominated the Toronto Raptors in a series in which they secured all but one of their wins by double-digit margins. LeBron James has averaged 34.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.13 steals in 42.4 minutes per game in these playoffs. While he has played substantially more minutes than his rival Curry, he has also had plenty of time in between his series’ to rest. Perhaps the most impressive aspect od Cleveland’s dominance has been the improved three-point shooting. The Cavaliers have averaged an NBA-best 14.4 three-point shots per game on 43-percent shooting from beyond the arc. This year’s roster is deeper and more diverse than the Cleveland team that won the championship a year ago. The Cavaliers are very much ready for a potential rematch with Golden State.
3. San Antonio Spurs
Last Week: 5
NBA Championship Odds: +800
The Spurs put away the Houston Rockets with a 39-point shellacking in Game 6. That means that they’ve advanced to the Western Conference final and will now take on the Golden State.
The Spurs really turned it around in the second round. They were crushed at home in Game 1 and everything thought it was over for them. Then they won four of the next five games – and that’s after losing Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard to injuries.
Leonard was walking with a noticeable limp after Game 5 and there are legitimate concerns about his status for Game 1 of the Western Conference final. Manu Ginobili has turned back the clock to play some excellent basketball in this series. However, San Antonio will need Leonard healthy and performing at a high level in order to have any shot at competing with Golden State in the next round.
4. Boston Celtics
Last Week: 4
NBA Championship Odds: +2500
The Celtics are one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals to play Cleveland. Boston won just one of its four contests with the Cavaliers during the regular season so nobody will put too much stock in to the fact that they would have home court advantage for that series. Isaiah Thomas has averaged 24.9 points and 5.9 assists so far this postseason. However, Cleveland was able to absolutely suffocate Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan in their second round series so Thomas will definitely have his work cut out for him versus the Cavaliers. Boston would consider a conference final exit to Cleveland a success. It will also serve as a learning experience to figure out what the Celtics will need to take that next step and become a true championship contender next season.
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