Warriors exorcise demons of last season’s failed bid

Game Five was the most anticipated in the NBA Finals, well since Game Four.

After Cleveland Cavaliers lost the first two games in Oakland (sort of expected) then surprisingly losing at home in Game Three in a close encounter, every NBA fan expected a sweep, even die-hard Cavalier fans.

But alas Game Four came and you didn’t have to be clairvoyant to know that the 2016 champs and LeBron James in particular, would come out and represent their mantra to the letter, defend the land, with an emphatic 137-116 victory.

Come Game Five early Tuesday, and the hot coffee in the kettle was not as hot as Kevin Durant’s performance in what was to become the last game of 2016/2017 season.

Durant scored 39 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter as he helped his Warrior team fight off a dogged Cavaliers performance with a 129-120 victory to clinch the NBA title.

He was not alone in that scoring effort, as has been the case for the Oakland team, as Stephen Curry chimed in with 34 points to exorcise last season’s demons.

Warriors were expected to come out guns blazing since they were back home and they did that up to a point in the first quarter as Cleveland were determined to keep their season alive, winning the first quarter and turning the Oracle Arena into a silent collection of golden T-shirts.

The all familiar sinking feeling Warriors experienced last season after letting Cavs eviscerate their 3-1 lead, came back in full force. But the home team was determined not to let history repeat itself, not settling for their usual array of three- pointers but taking the ball to the cup early on.

Their approach was methodical as they outscored Cleveland 38-23 in the second quarter with Durant and Curry doing their best MJ and Pippen imitation.

Though the two were the focal point of their offense, one can’t exclude immense contributions of Andre Igoudala and Draymond Green, the latter scoring 10 points while grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out five assists.

Igouadala, who was the 2015 finals MVP, had another award worthy game as he scored 20 points on the night, 12 crucial ones in the first quarter which included a series of thunderous dunks that Lebron didn’t want any part of.

On the part of the Cavs, it was not all smooth sailing as they gave it a mighty go. Kyrie Irving scored a quiet 26 points as he was held to nine for 22 shooting by the impressive Warriors defence.

James on the other hand was his usual efficient self, scoring 40 points while grabbing 13 rebounds and dishing out eight dimes.

There was only so much James could do to prevent the confetti from raining down the Oracle arena. After trading blows like two heavyweight fighters, Cavs, you could say, lost by a points decision. The punches early and late on came in fast and heavy.

A combination of head and body blows possibly dismantling this team from the current form we know it.

At the end, a new champion was crowned and the likes of Matt Barnes, David West, Patrick McCaw, Zaza Pachulia, James Michael McAdoo and Jahvale McGhee will collect championship rings at the beginning of next season.