The Warriors and Cavaliers remain on a "collision course for perhaps the most anticipated NBA Finals" since the Celtics-Lakers clashes in the '80s, but this modern-day rivalry is causing the NBA to "turn itself into college basketball: a one-month sport," according to Adrian Wojnarowski of THE VERTICAL. This year's playoffs have "been a nightmare for the NBA," and "downright unwatchable in the conference finals." The Warriors enter tonight's Western Conference Finals Game 4 against the Spurs having gone 11-0 so far in the postseason, while the Cavaliers are 10-1, suffering their first loss last night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Celtics (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/21). CBS Sports Network's Adam Schein said a Cavs-Warriors matchup would be "one of the greatest NBA Finals ever.” That series "will overshadow the garbage and the nonsense of the first three rounds” of the NBA playoffs (“Time to Schein,” CBSSN, 5/19). In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy wrote every game the Cavaliers have played in the postseason prior to last night "had the look of a preseason scrimmage as they prepare for serious ball in the NBA Finals" against the Warriors for the third consecutive year. The dominance by the Cavs and Warriors is "truly amazing," but it is "not competitive and not good for NBA business" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/21). In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan wrote, "It's not uncommon for teams to roll in the playoffs. But it's far more interesting when the top teams are tested in the early rounds." Sullivan: "I can't remember a postseason so devoid of drama" (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/21).
ALL ABOUT AVAILABILITY: In DC, Tim Bontemps wrote the Warriors-Spurs Game 3 "continued what has become a consistent theme throughout these playoffs: an underwhelming spectacle marred by the absence of a star player." Since these playoffs began, a "seemingly never-ending list of big-name players" -- Bulls G Rajon Rondo, Cippers F Blake Griffin, Raptors G Kyle Lowry, Jazz C Rudy Gobert -- "have either missed games or, in some cases, entire series." That trend has "continued in both conference finals matchups" -- Spurs F Kawhi Leonard has sat out the "past two-and-a-half games" and Celtics G Isaiah Thomas will "miss the remainder of the postseason after aggravating a preexisting hip injury" in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals (WASHINGTON POST, 5/21). NBA.com's Shaun Powell wrote the Warriors and Cavs have "managed to dodge any and all serious injuries over the last seven weeks and that’s suddenly the best news for an NBA postseason that’s lacking in suspense and drama." Powell: "How annoying would it be if, on their way to clinching the conference crown, one or more of the stars on either the Cavs or Warriors comes up lame and deprives the league of a championship series that many have waited seven months to see?" (NBA.com, 5/21).
PLAYING CHESS INSTEAD OF CHECKERS: SI.com's Andrew Sharp notes the postseason has "lacked drama for weeks now," as the Cavs and Warriors are "operating on a different frequency than the rest of these teams." This "may not be a crisis for the league," but there is "no point in denying it" (SI.com, 5/22). ESPN’s Mike Golic said a Cavs-Warriors finals "feels so preordained -- and still does for the next couple years -- because we keep saying, ‘Who’s going to build the team that challenges the Cavs or challenges Golden State in their respective conferences?’” ESPN's Adnan Virk: "Everybody’s bemoaning the fact that the games haven’t been close, but it’s not like people have been turning it off” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN, 5/22).
SUPERTEAMS GOOD OR BAD FOR LEAGUE? TNT's Charles Barkley said the NBA "has a big problem" on its hands. With the recent trend of "all the stars wanting to play together, we're not going to have competitive balance, probably not going to have it for a while." Barkley: "We don't have any competition in the NBA” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN, 5/22). SPORTING NEWS' Sean Deveney wrote "superteams are the bane" of Commissioner Adam Silver's existence, as "they’ve rendered the postseason as meaningless as the regular season had been" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 5/20).
