It’s almost playoff time for the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA has been dominated by three teams this year: the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. These three teams have each single-handedly dominated the NBA. Each team has had a few rough patches but still seemed to come out with the victory.
Breaking down the three best teams in the league:
Cleveland Cavaliers 1st in the Eastern Conference 56-22:
The Cavaliers have the potential to win the Eastern Conference, especially now that they have Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving back and healthy. The Cavs were missing a true big man last year as well as a bench. The biggest problem with the Cavs is that they never seem to be on the same page, always arguing with each other about one play or another. If they can all get on the same page and learn to work together, this team could have an easy walk through to the NBA Finals.
San Antonio Spurs 2nd in the Western Conference 65-12:
The Spurs always seem to be a talked-about team when it comes to the NBA Championship. This year, they have been in the news more than usual because of their outstanding home record, but also because they seem to be the only team giving the former NBA Champions trouble. Some key acquisitions in the off-season, such as Lamarcus Aldridge and David West, have made this team just that more dominant.
Golden State Warriors 1st in the Western Conference 69-9:
The former NBA Champions are in the same position this year, only better, if that’s even possible. The Warriors have been on a downslide as of late, but are still the most dominant team in the NBA. They have only lost nine games this season. Nine. That is incredible. The way they all work together from top to bottom. They also have this guy, who not only is probably going to win the Most Valuable Player again, but is probably the hardest player you can guard. The Warriors have the best shot to win it all, but will have to go through two tall tasks playing the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals and the Cav’s in the Finals.
At the end of it all, the Warriors will be raising the NBA Trophy, and then the talks will be comparing them to the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s.
Jonathon Sawyer is sports assignment editor for the Bona Venture. His email is sawyerjp15@bonaventure.edu
