The days leading up to the NBA Finals are long, strenuous and tense for all basketball fans, but especially those that reside from Cleveland and the Bay Area. Two franchises with tumultuous pasts and minimal hope for most of their history, Thursday marks another opportunity at a new beginning.
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“What’s so good about Cleveland?” a candid Joakim Noah once stated. Fairly or not, Ohio isn’t seen as any sort of destination, rather a means to a better end. Their sports franchises haven’t tallied any type of consistent success, and besides LeBron James, failed to establish any real superstardom within its borders.
The Bay Area, highlighted by San Francisco, is one of the most sought after termini in the world. Rich in history, the sports scene has something for everyone: two football teams, two baseball teams, one basketball team and even a hockey team. The area has had successes in most, with plenty of athletes calling it home.
May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
James has billboards in Akron while Curry carries a newfound royalty in the Bay, but the reigning MVP never forgets where he once called home: “Growing up in Charlotte, I always thought it was cool that my birth certificate said Akron, Ohio,” Curry said when the Warriors visited Cleveland earlier this season. “I keep a soft spot in my heart for all the Ohioans I meet along the way.”
The similarities between Curry and James stop at their birth certificate.
The dynamic between both cities isn’t what will win the NBA Finals, but the significance of both and the superstars that now (or once again) represent them enhances the importance of a series of such magnitude. The Cavaliers, unlike the Warriors, haven’t had a superstar to be proud of. LeBron James was the prodigal son of Akron, Ohio, being labeled The Chosen One before stepping foot on an NBA floor.
Stephen Curry, also born in Akron, was never branded as such. Even with a successful NBA figure as his father, Steph was constantly seen as the one who needed something more: more bulk, more height, better handles, a different position or new ankles. Unlike James, who needed nothing other than his presence for his team to succeed, Curry was seen as someone who needed saving, never the savior.
Dell Curry only played the 1988-89 season with the Cavaliers before being selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the expansion draft, but he still recognizes importance of a Curry vs. James matchup: “When you think about those two (James and Steph Curry) being from the same place, it’s one of those strange things you can’t even imagine.”
It’s more than just strange; it’s destiny.
The Cavaliers have been on the cusp of championships with James in the past, only to fall short against superior foes. Curry has exceeded all expectations as a player and now is the Most Valuable Player, and with the help of a new coaching staff and formidable talent, the Warriors are as close to a championship as they’ve been in 40 years.
May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
It’s only right one will have to supersede the other to achieve the ultimate goal. For James, the Warriors present a new challenge on a stage he’s become so accustomed to playing on. For Curry, the Cavaliers represent the most important stretch of games in his career and an opportunity to become the leader of the first Warriors championship since Rick Barry.
The NBA isn’t complaining about such a matchup, as Curry and James were first and second in All-Star voting, respectively. They also represent 5 of the last 7 MVP winners and the top-two players in jersey sales this season. They both love the three – Warriors (33.2%) and Cavaliers (30.95) lead the playoffs in percentage of their points coming from deep – and carry weapons prone for offensive explosions.
The Warriors (12-3) and Cavaliers (12-2) have strolled right through their respective conferences and are clearly the two best teams left in the tournament. Led by their MVPs, both teams hope to break their longstanding curses: the Cavaliers have not won a title in their 45-year history and the Warriors not since they carried the name San Francisco.
James was always hailed and praised as the second coming of basketball Jesus since his drafting in 2003. Curry, always doubted, didn’t even receive Division 1 college offers. It’s the tale of two stories with one common denominator: superstardom. The NBA Finals begins Thursday, but both have fought through their own challenges to prepare them for this moment.
Curry has the superior team, but James is the ultimate exception. The reigning MVP has the tools to overpower even a player of James’ caliber, but the undying will and talents of James, the one that saw him climb from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to best player on the planet, is palpable.
Curry has heard every type of doubt an NBA player can endure. James has put an entire city through enough successes and frustrations to last decades. Both born in the same city, both with entirely different paths that have ended at the same destination, both the unstoppable forces that their teams have depended on all season.
Last week, James was asked how to stop Curry, in which he replied with “Well, the same way you slow me down. [Pause] You can’t.”
We can’t wait to find out.
Cool article..GO DUBS