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By the Numbers: Cruising Past the Conference
Author: Joe Gabriele
Publication: Cavs.com
Cavs.com breaks down Cleveland's Eastern Conference run with some interesting integers in today's installment of "By the Numbers" presented by FanDuel.
78.0 … combined points per game by the Big Three in the Eastern Conference Finals
.622, .500, .917 … Kyrie Irving’s field goal, three-point and free throw percentages, respectively, against Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals - CLICK HERE to read full story.
Kevin Love doesn’t feel like an underdog, downplays Draymond Green’s comments
Author: Jason Lloyd
Publication: The Athletic
INDEPENDENCE — Along with being one of the best power forwards in the NBA, Kevin Love hinted that Draymond Green might have mystical powers. Green, after all, was vocal earlier this season about his desire to play the Cavs in the Finals. In fact, Green said back in October that he wanted to “destroy” and “annihilate” the Cavs in this year’s Finals. Now he’ll get his chance.
“He kind of spoke this into existence,” Love said of Green. “He’s a guy who said he wanted us, and he has us starting next Thursday. With the way the Finals went down last year, if I were in his shoes, I would want the same thing.”
The Cavs enter these Finals as heavy underdogs despite defeating the Warriors last year. Golden State, of course, has added Kevin Durant since then and is unbeaten in these playoffs. - CLICK HERE to read full story.
Underdog Cleveland Cavaliers insist they have plenty of bite for NBA Finals
Author: Tom Withers
Publication: Associated Press
Vegas is betting against them and the bookies are hardly alone.
Let’s be honest, not many are giving the Cavaliers much of a chance in the NBA Finals. They may be defending champions and they may have LeBron James, but against Golden State, they are definite underdogs.
Just don’t try to tell them that.
“The whole underdog thing is funny to me, because yeah, at the end of the day we are defending our title,” Cavs forward Kevin Love said following a May 27 practice. “We’re trying to repeat, which is so hard to do. I think we will use it as fuel. We will use it as motivation, but the idea of playing into it? It’s tough for me to say that is the case. I don’t feel like we’re underdogs. - CLICK HERE to read full story.
More Daily Press Links:
- (5/28) Cleveland Cavaliers written off? That's a great spot for this team -- Terry Pluto Cleveland.com
- (5/28) What can Kevin Love do about Draymond Green's intentions to 'destroy,' 'annihilate' Cavaliers? Cleveland.com
- (5/28) Tyronn Lue owes Golden State's acting head coach Mike Brown $100 Cleveland.com
- (5/28) Kevin Love: Cavaliers aren't the 'underdogs' against the Warriors Cleveland.com
- (5/28) Cavaliers have underdog role and Draymond Green’s goal of annihilation if they need motivation against Warriors Akron Beacon Journal
- (5/28) Cavaliers notebook: Cavs coach Tyronn Lue ready to settle long-standing bet with Warriors coach Mike Brown, but Brown won’t take the money Akron Beacon Journal
- (5/28) NBA Finals: Warriors’ Mike Brown still waiting on Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue to pay up overdue bet Associated Press
- (5/28) Cavs' Kevin Love: We're defending champs, not Finals underdogs ESPN.com
- (5/28) Kevin Love Thinks Cavaliers' Underdog Label in NBA Finals Is Funny Bleacher Report
- (5/28) Tyronn Lue, Kevin Love Respond to 'Competitor' Draymond Green's Trash Talk Bleacher Report
- (5/28) Stephen Curry Says Warriors 'Want to Do Something About' Cavaliers Having Fun Bleacher Report
- (5/28) Best player vs. best team: Who will prevail in NBA Finals? Charlotte Observer
- (5/28) The maturation of J.R. Smith The Boston Globe