PERHAPS it was but fitting that as time ran out on Game 5 of the NBA finals giving Kevin Durant his first NBA title and Finals MVP award, he was the one with the ball, dribbling away as time expired.
After all, he proved to be the dominant and driving force of this series, the fulcrum by which the Golden State Warriors were able to launch their stellar plays.
In Game 5, Durant went 14/20 from the field and scored 39 points. His scoring was very crucial in pivotal moments of the 4th quarter when the Cleveland Cavaliers repeatedly threatened to narrow the gap.
Stephen Currry definitely had big moments in this series but with averages of 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists, there was no doubt Durant was the runaway MVP winner.
GAME 5. This game was crucial for the Warriors because they lost game 5 last year which led to the Cavaliers becoming the first team to come back from a 1-3 Finals deficit.
The game was fought in spurts. Cleveland led in the first quarter with 12 points from Lebron and a torrid 62.5 shooting percentage from the field.
But the Warriors went on a 21-2 run to close the half with a 71-60 lead.
Thereafter, the Cavs tried to keep the lead within single digits, but ultimately the spectacular 4th quarter plays from Durant, Curry and Andre Igoudala proved to be the difference in the closing minutes of the fourth.
DURANT. We have now seen the rise of Durant from being the leader of a title contender team to becoming the marquee player of a world champion team.
He had been criticized unfairly for switching teams, but all that is pure baloney when you consider that it’s every player’s right to choose how he charts his career and how he fulfills his destiny.
Perhaps things turned out for the best. He is the MVP for the finals and maybe his former partner at OKC, Russell Westbrook will be the MVP of the regular season.
He created matchup nightmares for the Cavs in this series. There was really no one who could guard him one on one except for Lebron, and on the occasions that he did, Lebron seemed winded and tired since he had to perform offensively and defensively.
DYNASTY? With 2 NBA titles in the last three years, there is already talk of the Warriors creating a dynasty.
It’s not improbable considering the depth of talent this ballclub has, assuming they stay healthy and the key players have no contractual issues.
But one thing is for certain, they better make sure they got that 7-foot basketball wonder who can shoot three pointers with ease and glide to the basket for a rim-rattling dunk with the grace of a ballerina.
VERBATIM. “It feels great to win, but to go against somebody I view as like a rival, personally, is an amazing feeling to beat him,” Durant said.
LAST ROUND. It’s on our very own Pinoy Aquaman, Atty. Ingemar Macarine. Happy birthday and cheers!