Tagged under: EOTR Tag Team Tuesdays, Hall and Nash, Kevin Nash, nWo, Scott Hall, The Outsiders, WCW, WWF
By @TrueGodImmortal
As a fan of tag team wrestling, there are some tag teams that create something that cannot be replicated. When you take two top tier singles competitors and put them together, it has the chance to not work, but in the case of Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, also known as Razor Ramon and Diesel, it was a no brainer. Close friends in the WWF while side by side with Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and X-Pac (of course known then as the 1-2-3 Kid) in the Kliq, when Nash and Hall left the company, no one knew what to expect when they arrived in the WWF's biggest competition, WCW. As fate would have it, WCW would package these two together in what was seen as a takeover of the WCW by former WWF guys. They were called "The Outsiders", hinting at their past in WWF, and when they got ready to face three of the top WCW stars at Bash At the Beach in 1996, they created the biggest faction ever alongside another former WWF star in Hulk Hogan with the NWO.
The NWO took over the WCW landscape for 2 years and a big part of the success came because of Nash and Hall. Soon after the creation of the NWO, the Outsiders went on a mission to secure the WCW tag team belts to assert dominance as Hogan chased the WCW World Title. Their first WCW Tag Titles win came against the legendary Harlem Heat at Halloween Havoc in 1996, and from there, Hall and Nash would be involved in the title picture for a long time to come. The NWO dominance got annoying honestly, as the Steiner Brothers would defeat the Outsiders cleanly for the tag titles and then the decision would get reversed to protect them and make them champions again. The same would happen when Lex Luger and The Giant defeated them for the belts, and Eric Bischoff reversed that decision. Hall and Nash weren't unbeatable or unstoppable, they just had too much power and clout for other teams to really compete.
Hall and Nash would continue to feud with The Steiner Brothers for months and months and trade the tag titles until Scott Steiner turned on his brother and joined the NWO. Unfortunately for the Outsiders, they would experience the ultimate end when Scott Hall started to have issues of his own personally and it began affecting him on TV. It was weird to see such real life issues played out on TV, and when Slamboree 1998 approached, we knew the inevitable was coming. It was obvious. All the tension was leading into a match for the titles against Sting and The Giant, an unlikely team. When this occurred, we witnessed the breakup of the Outsiders, when Scott Hall turned on Kevin Nash and cost him the tag titles and they began a small feud.
Scott Hall's issues made it tough for their feud to really go on the right way, and eventually WCW put these two back together in 1999 for one last run and one final NWO movement. However, after winning the tag titles one last time in December 1999, Scott's issues had become too prevalent to really deal with. Eventually, Scott would drift away from WCW and the team would fizzle out for the most part. There was a brief reunion in WWF as a part of the NWO again, but it didn't last and didn't seem to make much sense honestly. Hall and Nash teamed a few times, but there was nothing exciting about this run of the Outsiders. After Scott was released from the WWF, we saw Nash and Hall resurface in TNA, but there was no consistency. Nash and Hall were on the same side, then they weren't, then the feud gets slowed down because Scott isn't there to be a part of it. It was a frustrating moment I'm sure for the TNA brass.
The final chapter of the Outsiders legacy was written in TNA in 2010, as a final tag titles run was given to Hall and Nash as they would feud briefly with the Dudley Boyz and try to hold onto the belts. They were quickly stripped of the belts because Scott hadn't gotten his demons under control. Say what you will about WCW, but the Outsiders were one of the most fun tag teams at the time overall. They weren't wrestling juggernauts and they weren't the best technical wrestlers, but the combination of Hall and Nash made WCW the must see show on Monday (and Thursday) nights. They are one of the best tag teams of the 90's era, even if they didn't have many classics or solid tag title reigns. Their impact solidified them.
-True
Tagged under: Jordan and Pippen, KD and Russ, KD and Steph, Kevin Durant, Kobe and Shaq, NBA Duos, Steph Curry, Stockton and Malone
By @TrueGodImmortal
Today, I wanted to take a break from NBA Finals coverage if you will, and discuss some of my favorite NBA duos. Right now, we're witnessing the growth of two players who could eventually end up as one of the greatest duos to ever do it in Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry. We also see a possible legendary duo in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving becoming one of the best of this era without question as well. However, in NBA history, duos have shaped the landscape of the dominance. Let's take a look today at a few of the greatest.
*John Stockton and Karl Malone
-Quite possibly the greatest duo to never win a championship together, these two played together for many seasons, and had great chemistry. Malone could dominate in the post and Stockton was solid from three and was the greatest passer in the NBA. They were always in the playoffs, they were always a focal point in the Western Conference, but aside from two NBA Finals trips in 1997 and 1998, the Utah Jazz duo never tasted the big stage. It's a shame that they never got a chance to win a NBA Title, but their greatness is solidified.
*LeBron James and Dwyane Wade
-While I think this duo is a bit overrated, there's no LeBron James championships in Miami without Dwyane Wade stepping up when needed. They went to 4 straight Finals together and teamed up with Chris Bosh when all three were still basically in their prime, something we had never seen before. LeBron and Wade together was something magical on the NBA courts and with two titles together, they are an extremely successful duo.
*Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson
-The Showtime Lakers were a true superteam if you think about it. There was no duo on that team more valuable than Magic and Kareem. The greatest point guard ever and arguably the greatest center ever playing together is almost unfair. With Kareem no longer in his athletic prime, he was still a tremendous post player and had the ability to stop you with blocks, pull down boards, and hit that illustrious skyhook. Magic was skilled in all aspects and young when they first teamed up, and together they would win 5 NBA Championships, and go to even more NBA Finals, making them one of the most dominant duos ever without question.
*Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant
-These two are included on this list for comparison. The truth be told, these two are extremely different players driven by different things, and while they should have had more success together, it's not a surprise that they only went to one Finals together. Injuries, lack of smart plays in clutch moments, and internal conflict makes this yet another Penny and Shaq style "what if" scenario, as Westbrook and Durant just couldn't win together like they needed to. Still, two of the greatest players to play the game today side by side with each other for as many seasons as they had together was always a joy to watch and the Thunder were a great Western Conference team because of it. Just not great enough to win championships.
*Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry
-It's too early to really gauge their success, but what if this is the start of the next NBA Dynasty? In one season together, two of the best players in the game (no. 2 and 3 if you ask me) have gotten to the big stage and so far, both are performing well. They've went 67-15 to give the Warriors another record regular season, and in the NBA Playoffs at the moment, they have racked up 14 postseason wins, which is a NBA record as well. If both are playing together at a MVP level, this duo will be very tough to stop and the scariest thing about these two together is that they are both just entering their prime and getting better. Could Steph and KD end up with their names in the lights next to MJ and Pippen or Kobe and Shaq? Only time will tell.
*Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway
-Aside from Stockton and Malone, and possibly Westbrook and Durant, this duo is the best to never win a title. They went to one Finals together, and perhaps if they added another piece to compete with the Bulls during the MJ return, they might have done more. However, their chemistry was just building as they ended up dividing, as Shaq and his ego, as we've seen, is too much to have a great duo together for too long. Shaq wanted to be the man and for Penny, he wanted to be the man. After a sweep by the Rockets in the 1995 Finals, and a loss in the 1996 playoffs, they were split, but this is yet another "what if" scenario.
*Tim Duncan and David Robinson
-These two are honestly amazing and legends in their own right, and for the seasons they played together, they were able to make amazing things happen. In the era of the Lakers and another legendary duo of Kobe and Shaq, the Twin Towers managed to win two titles together and Duncan took over Robinson's role as the leader of the team. This is one duo that was essentially the passing of the torch, showing what could be accomplished when egos don't destroy greatness.
*Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
-Two amazing players. One playe that is the greatest NBA player in history. The other is a top 5 SF ever, probably top 3. Both in their primes. This is essentially something we've never seen before. This is why they were so successful. Jordan in his unstoppable zone, Pippen being a great scorer and a top defender, these two were just too much for the other teams. Jordan and Pippen won 6 titles together, and had two three peats as they remain the most successful duo in the history of the modern NBA. Jordan and Pippen are the standard.
*Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal
-The 2nd... maybe the greatest duo of all time. 4 NBA Finals in 5 seasons. Kobe and Shaq together dominated the Western Conference after a long road to perfect their formula. With Nick Van Exel and Eddie Jones, the Lakers were a playoff team, but ego was getting in the way as both Kobe and Shaq were trying to get it together and win as well. However, once Van Exel and Jones were gone, Kobe and Shaq became the most dynamic duo in Lakers history (yes, even over Kareem and Magic IMO), winning three straight titles and elevating Shaq to an all time great center, maybe the greatest, and Kobe became one of the best players in the game during this time. It was as if while Kobe was finding his prime that Shaq was well into his and leaving out of it by the time their partnership ended. This is my favorite duo personally, as they showed just what dominance can be, but if they had put their personal differences aside, they might have ended up as 4 or 5 time champions.
-True
Tagged under: Kane, The Undertaker, Undertaker vs Kane, Wrestlemania 14, WWE, WWF
By @Phranchize19
The best rivalries are sometimes between brothers. The Undertaker and Kane gave us a dynamic that wasn't often seen in WWE. It pushed The Undertaker character to new heights and made for some of the best TV you're gonna see.
Background
Paul Bearer turned on The Undertaker in August of 1996. Over the following year, Bearer would taunt The Undertaker by telling him that his brother Kane was still alive. Undertaker did not believe until he came across Kane at Badd Blood 1997, when he interfered in his HIAC match against Shawn Michaels to cost him a victory. Undertaker would refuse to fight Kane for months after. Kane was on the verge of being attacked once until The Undertaker came to his aid. Kane would then side with Undertaker heading into his title match at the Royal Rumble in the beginning of 1998. Kane would then turn on his brother, put him in a casket and set it ablaze. Taker would not be seen or heard from for weeks. Kane would terrorize WWE in his absence until Taker would drop hints of his impending return. Once Taker returned, he accepted a match with his brother at Wrestlemania.
The Match
This match would start with a Wrestlemania moment as we saw the face off between the two men. Undertaker would attempt to take it to Kane with punches but Kane would get the better of him. Kane would then unleash a beat down on The Undertaker the likes of which we had never seen with punch after punch and destructive move after destructive move. Paul Bearer would get a few licks in on the Deadman, but once the fight spilled to the outside, Undertaker would show great agility by jumping on Kane’s shoulders but Kane would confer and drop him to the ground. Undertaker began showing his great prowess by rope-a-doping while Kane punched away. Undertaker would finally take control and deliver a chokeslam and three tombstones to finally defeat Kane. That was the first time it took three tombstones to defeat an opponent of the Undertaker.
Grade And Analysis
This was as perfect a match that two big men could have. Kane showed he could go for extended time in the ring with his performance in this match. The psychology was fantastic with Kane showing he was a monster through his lack of selling and the kick out right at three protected him and also put over The Undertaker. As usual, JR and King would provide great storytelling at commentary. This is the match which made Kane a main event guy IMO and he would enjoy a nice run through the year of 1998. This match lived up to the hype and was the best match on that card IMO.
Rating: 9.8/10
-C. Yates
Tagged under: AJ Styles, Cena vs Punk, CM Punk, John Cena, Kevin Owens, MITB, Money In The Bank, Owens vs Cena, Reigns vs Rollins, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Styles vs Cena
By @TrueGodImmortal
Now that the WWE has decided to turn the Money In The Bank PPV into a Smackdown only PPV, we decided it was only right to take a look back at the best matches that DIDN'T involve the briefcase at the event. What are the best non MITB/1 on 1 matches at the PPV? Let's take a look at the 5 greatest.
5. CM Punk vs Daniel Bryan
WWE Championship
Money In the Bank 2012
-This match was a continuation of the feud between Punk, Bryan, and AJ Lee. AJ Lee was the special guest referee, and Bryan and Punk would go at it in a really solid contest that saw both men get more aggressive than usual. With a No Disqualification stipulation, this wasn't your average technical classic like we saw at Over The Limit 2012, but this was different. Tables and weapons got involved, AJ got involved, and Punk walked away with the 1-2-3 victory to retain the WWE Championship. I feel like this match is honestly forgotten, but it was a truly entertaining contest that might have been even better and higher on this list IF AJ Lee was never involved.
4. Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins
WWE Championship
Money In The Bank 2016
-Initially, I wasn't excited about this match, but I know Seth and Roman have good chemistry, much like Seth and Dean do (Seth and Dean had a great match in 2015 that just missed the list). This match went a bit too long, and started off slow as it was Seth's first big singles match since his return from injury. However, once the pace picked up, both Reigns and Rollins went at it with vigor and a fire, giving each other everything they had to get a hold of that WWE Championship. Reigns was the defending champion, and the belief that Rollins had his number. Sure enough, Rollins DID have his number and as Reigns went for a big spear, Rollins countered it into a Pedigree and picked up the clean pinfall victory. Now, after the match, Ambrose ended up cashing in his briefcase and walking away with the big time victory, but Reigns vs Rollins really didn't disappoint and Rollins getting the huge victory meant a lot to his comeback.
3. Kevin Owens vs John Cena
US Championship
Money In The Bank 2015
-I'm more partial to their classic match at Elimination Chamber, but if I can be honest, this was just as good, if not more exciting at times than that contest. However, when you're trying to outdo one of the best matches of the year already, it can be quite the challenge. Luckily for us as viewers, both Cena and Owens were willing to put it all on the line. After 20 plus minutes of great action, Cena would pick up the victory and get his win back from the previous contest, but Owens looked great even in a loss, a rare occurrence where WWE made a truly concise decision booking wise that hurt neither one of the participants in the match. While I would have rather witnessed Owens win, Cena won in a fashion that seemed to hint at a rematch. Sure enough, we got one the following PPV.
2. AJ Styles vs John Cena
Money In The Bank 2016
-It was surprising that AJ Styles made his way to WWE, but it was even more of a surprise when WWE gave us Cena vs Styles just a few months after his arrival and right when Cena returned from injury. This match was built well with AJ turning heel to kick off the feud, and the actual match itself didn't disappoint. Styles and Cena went back and forth giving each other everything that they had, and it would take some slick interference from Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to help turn the match in Styles' favor. Styles would pick up the 1-2-3, and walk away with the biggest victory of his career in a true classic. Styles vs Cena is without a doubt a great feud and this was the match that kicked off their epic run.
1. CM Punk vs John Cena
WWE Championship
Money In The Bank 2011
-This is one of the greatest matches in WWE history. The build for it was epic, Punk was extremely over, and Cena was ready for the challenge. With the thought of Cena possibly losing his job if he didn't defeat Punk, along with the possibility of Punk leaving the WWE with the championship and going elsewhere, this match had so much riding on it. It was a true big fight feel and sure enough, Punk and Cena delivered. For nearly 40 minutes, the two biggest stars of the last two eras went back and forth until something had to give. Punk would end up getting the upper hand and hitting the GTS for a clean pinfall victory, one of the few times that happened on WWE PPV or TV. Punk winning was the right call and after he won, the image of him leaving with the WWE Title is one of the most iconic moments of the last 10 years in wrestling and because of that, there's no way you can put any other match from this short PPV history above it. This is the best match in MITB history period.
-True
Tagged under: Cavs vs warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Klay Thompson, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, NBA Finals, Steph Curry
By @TrueGodImmortal
Let me say this to start this off: this is NOT an article predicting who will win the NBA Finals. I will not give a prediction. I will NOT say I think the Warriors could become the first team to sweep through the playoffs. I will NOT say I think that Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are due to have huge breakout series, and it will be a toss up between the two for Finals MVP. No, I will not say that if things don't run smoothly for the Warriors that the Cavs could win in 7 and Kyrie wins Finals MVP instead of LeBron. No, I will not say that it's possible for LeBron to average a 30 point triple double in the series and that he could get his 4th ring and Finals MVP in the process. No. That's not what I'm here to do (Dubs in 4, 5 at best if I had to choose, hypothetically speaking) at all. I'm here to provide insight for both teams on their keys to win this series. The third and heavily anticipated meeting between the two juggernauts has many wondering who will win this series. There's no possible suspensions, there are no flagrant fouls racking up and technical fouls racking, this is just exactly what we wanted. A healthy Cavs team. A healthy Warriors team. So who wins? Let's take a look at the keys to victory for each team, starting with Cleveland.
Keys To A Cleveland Victory
The Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in the Eastern Conference and the defending NBA Champions. They have the best player in the league in LeBron James, a sniper and great player in Kyrie Irving, and a comfortable power forward in Kevin Love. In addition to that, they have a 80 million dollar rebounder in Tristan Thompson, as well as J.R. Smith, a veteran like Richard Jefferson, and two former all stars off the bench in Kyle Korver and Deron Williams. On paper, this is almost an unbeatable lineup. When they were constructed this team back in January, on paper, they seemed like the proverbial favorites to win. Yet, for some reason, they are the underdogs in this series. Should they be? Actually, I don't think they should be. Let's take a look at the keys to a Cavs victory and a repeat championship run.
*LeBron James
-LeBron has to play at an extremely great level in order to win the Cavs to a victory. He's the biggest key to a victory for them. Without Bron playing at his absolute best, the responsibility falls on the rest of the team and we saw how that's worked out in Game 3 of the Celtics series. The Warriors are a different animal than the Celtics and the Cavs need LeBron to be unstoppable. One has to wonder if fatigue will set in for him if they put Bron on KD, and what possible defensive stops could KD, Draymond, and Iguodala get on Bron. That is the biggest question for the Cavs, but we all expect LeBron to show up and have a very good Finals showing, as always really (except 2011). LeBron is essentially the main key, but of course, he's not the only one.
*Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love
-Lost in the narrative for Bron is that he has two multiple time All Stars who are more than willing to show up when needed. Kyrie is a star, Kevin Love is playing at the best level he's played since he's been in Cleveland, and everything is aligning right. If Love can play really good defense, if Kyrie can continue to score in bursts and make his amazing plays, and they can manage to be almost flawless against this top tier Warriors defense, the Cavs have a clear path to victory. Kyrie seems focused. Love seems focused. However, they both seemed focused before last year's series before they went down 3-1, so in addition to their focus, execution is key for them both and I don't doubt that Kyrie and Love are up to that challenge.
*The Bench Production
-There isn't a single bench in the NBA that's as strong on paper as the Cavs bench. There is just one issue: their strength is offensive only. After bringing in Andrew Bogut for nothing, getting rid of Larry Sanders and Birdman Chris Andersen, they've found a rhythm with Kyle Korver and Deron Williams, two veterans who are making their first appearances in the NBA Finals. Iman Shumpert is another vital piece, as is Derrick Williams, Richard Jefferson, and Channing Frye. Truthfully, their bench won't get AS MUCH play because it's the Finals and that could be slightly detrimental to them depending how it goes. Regardless, the Cavs have a great chance if their bench is clicking and playing to the highest level.
*Defense
-Let's be honest here: the Cavs have very little competition in the East. They haven't really turned on the switch like that so far in the playoffs, as we've seen their struggles through the 13 games they played so far, but their biggest struggle is defense. The Cavs had a tough time containing the Pacers, a slightly easier time against the Raptors, who aren't a great shooting team (and missed a lot of wide open shots), and they couldn't sweep a Celtics team that were without Isaiah Thomas, their biggest scoring threat. They didn't play bad defense, but they didn't play champions defense and that's going to be a difference maker in this series. Do I think the Cavs come out playing amazing defense in games 1 and 2? No, I don't. I think they'll play decent defense and make some shots tougher for the Warriors, but the defense is going to make all of the difference going forward. To put it plainly, both the Jazz and Spurs are much better defensive teams and they were swept by the Warriors. Can the Cavs avoid those pitfalls and stay tenacious on defense? That will be the deciding factor in this series for sure. If the Cavs can defend very well in this series, they can win.
Keys To A Golden State Victory
The Golden State Warriors are the best team in the NBA yet again. In 2015, on paper, fully healthy, the Warriors were slightly outmatched by the Cavs, but a series of events led to Kevin Love and Kyrie not being involved in the series. I think the Cavs were a better team then. In 2016, everything was pointing to a Warriors repeat, as they were 73-9 and able to win 3 games, being just one game away from winning the series. Injuries to Iguodala, Bogut, Steph, and Draymond missing game 5 changed the momentum of the series and lead to the decisive game 7, where the Warriors blew it in the final minutes (they led a majority of the game). The Warriors were the better team this year, but did not win due to injuries and the momentum shift. Similar to 2015, the result of 2016 was decided by momentum and injury in a way. Here we are at 2017. It's do or die. It's win or be ridiculed. It's redemption or another loss that they can't afford. This 2017 NBA Finals literally means everything to the Golden State Warriors and they will need many keys to win. Here are the keys that will make the Warriors tough to beat.
*Steph Curry
-The two time MVP has been playing the best basketball of his career in the playoffs this year and it looks like he is finally comfortable next to Kevin Durant. After deferring a bit for KD to get him into integrated into the system, Steph has returned to MVP form just in time for the NBA Finals. He's well rested and despite a small nagging elbow "injury", it doesn't seem like Steph will be taken off of his game. He's my personal pick to end up winning Finals MVP in the event that the Warriors win, as I think revenge and redemption is weighing heavy on his mind. When Durant went down, Steph stepped up huge when they needed him and returned to form as one of the top 4 players in the entire league. Cleveland, in the playoffs, haven't necessarily had his number, but they've slowed him down a bit. In 2015, in his first Finals, he led the team in scoring and clutch plays averaging 26 points, but 2016 was a bit tougher, as he only had two 30 point games in the entire series and didn't shoot very well. This year, he's healthy, focused, and ready. If Steph goes off, he could very well end up winning Finals MVP and be the vital piece. He's still the leader of the team and he will be the most important piece of the Warriors in this Finals.
*Kevin Durant
-The X Factor. The Warriors last year matched up well with the Cavs. Kyrie and Steph. Klay and JR. Love and Draymond. And either Harrison Barnes or Iguodala against LeBron. Now substitute those names against LeBron with KD. That changes the entire vibe of the series. Dramatically. Will KD go off? He's one of the players that you can't stop or shut down and he's elevated his game. If he's playing great on both ends of the floor, he could end up winning Finals MVP and secure the ring for the Warriors.
*Top Defense And Ball Movement
-The best defense in the playoffs and a top 3 defense all season? The Warriors. They've found that rhythm and are due to hit their final form going into this Finals series. If they play tough defense on the Cavs, they can slow down the scoring barrage the Cavs would try and go on and slow down their pace, which would work wonders for the Warriors. Defense is going to be very important for the Warriors in this series and if they can move the ball like they always have, and defend extremely well, they have great chances.
*Draymond Green
-The heart of the Warriors. Draymond will be your Defensive Player of The Year finally, and he's well deserving. This is his biggest test yet. Draymond is a student of the game and he's had to have been watching and scouting Kyrie, Love, LeBron, and even JR. If he's focused defensively and motivating the team on both ends, the Warriors will take off and score at will and defend perfectly. Draymond is the true biggest secret to victory for the Warriors. Simple as that.
*Klay Thompson
-During this playoff season, Klay has struggled some. I don't expect it to continue this Finals series. I think the four headed monster of Klay, Steph, KD, and Draymond will all be locked in, which could be very deadly for any team, and if Klay has his shot falling along with his good defense going strong, the Cavs will be in for a brutal series. Klay is needed to produce and I don't think he will let his team down in the Finals. Not this year.
*The Bench Production
-I remember when the season started and we all felt like the biggest issue that the Warriors would face is the bench, as they brought in faces like Javale McGee, who on paper didn't seem like a factor, and even Zaza Pachulia, who also seemed to not be a factor. After the Durant injury, they would also acquire Matt Barnes, who filled his role pretty well on both ends of the floor, minus a few choice moments. In addition to that, the Warriors drafted Patrick McCaw and Damien Jones, and it was believed that they would not be big factors for the season, but how wrong we were. Alongside 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, and Ian Clark, the Golden State Warriors bench could really be a difference maker during those 2nd and 3rd quarter moments where they are needed to step up.
Who Wins
Well, I said I wouldn't give an official prediction and I'm not. Who wins in this? The fans do. This will be the most watched NBA Finals in quite some time, and no matter who wins, the result works very well for the league. Who has more to lose? I'd say the Warriors have more to lose in every aspect, and they're playing for revenge. In any event, that could be dangerous and could work AGAINST them instead of for them. However, I've been saying this entire season that this reminds of the 2014 playoffs when Miami had an easy road through the East and got demolished by the Spurs, who were looking for true revenge. The Heat were a better defensive team in that era against a Spurs team with less weapons than the Warriors, which is why the Warriors are the favorites. The Cavs have all the tools to win, but if you ask me who I'm pulling for personally? I love to see redemption. I didn't mind LeBron getting his redemption and revenge last year, and if the Warriors get redemption this year, along with a ring for KD and Javale, I'm more than fine with that. Whoever wins, it'll be a great series in terms of attention, money, and drawing for the NBA. The NBA is the greatest spectacle on earth IMO and this Finals is a big supporter of that. Let the games begin.
-True
