All signs point to a Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals rematch. (Getty)
Stranger things have happened in the sports world, but all signs point to a Cavs-Warriors Finals for the third consecutive season. Regardless of who ends up as the final two teams, the 2017 NBA Finals will start on Thursday, June 1 on ABC.
It has been an interesting NBA playoffs as Cleveland and Golden State have been on a collision course this postseason. Here’s a review of the Cavs and Warriors rivalry that has developed over the last three seasons.
A 2017 rematch would be a rubber match of sorts as the teams have split the last two Finals. The Warriors won the 2015 Finals in six games while the Cavs won the 2016 Finals in seven.
Most recently, the two teams played two times this season. The Cavs won the first game on Christmas 109-108. Golden State bounced back in their January matchup with a massive 126-91 victory.
There is one main difference in this potential matchup. The addition of Kevin Durant for the Warriors could be a game changer. It puts pressure on Cleveland to prepare for an additional All-Star player.
Both Finals have had key players missing. With the Warriors up 3-1, Draymond Green was suspended for Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals. Cleveland would go on to win the game and the entire series despite the unlikely odds of winning three straight games.
Kyrie Irving missed the majority of the 2015 Finals with a fractured kneecap. Kevin Love had been injured in a previous series with the Celtics and was also missing for the 2015 Finals.
If the two teams do play again, Golden State would host the series by virtue of a better record. Here’s a look at the tentative 2017 NBA Finals schedule courtesy of Cleveland.com. While the dates and times will remain the same, the locations could change for Games 3, 4, and 6 if the Celtics are able to come back in the conference finals. All times listed are in Eastern time.
Game 1: Thursday, June 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 9 p.m. Eastern ABC
Game 2: Sunday, June 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 8 p.m. ABC
Game 3: Wednesday, June 7 Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 9 p.m. ABC
Game 4: Friday, June 9 Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 9 p.m. ABC
Game 5: Monday, June 12 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 9 p.m. ABC
Game 6: Thursday, June 15 Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers 9 p.m. ABC
Game 7: Sunday, June 18 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors 8 p.m. ABC
*Locations are based on if the Cavs and Warriors both advance to the Finals. Games 5-7 are if necessary.
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NBA Finals Schedule 2017: When Do the NBA Finals Start?