These NBA Finals have, barring a second-half snoozefest in Game 4, been awesomely entertaining.
It has translated into great television ratings and rewarding games that have bounced between thrillingly competitive to excellently executed.
We have weighed and witnessed LeBron James’ greatness. We have wondered if Steph Curry is the best shooter ever.
We know that a first-year NBA head coach will win the title – a first since the initial NBA championship series – whether the series ends tonight in Cleveland or Friday night outside Oakland.
It has been dramatic and debatable, two of the best qualities in all of sports.
In truth James has been the most valuable player on the floor, regardless if his Cavs win the title or not.
Cleveland must win tonight to extend the series, and other than the hardcore Warriors fans or the most enthusiastic James haters, that would be the best thing for most everyone involved.
This series has been too good not to go seven games. Plus, the NBA and ABC stand to benefit greatly if these finals go the distance considering the exposure and the surging interest. Golden State’s entertaining 104-91 Game 5 win Sunday night drew an awfully impressive 14.2 overnight Nielsen rating. It’s the highest Game 5 number in more than a decade and up more than 20 percent from last year’s Game 5.
The series is averaging a 13.5 share, which is up 26 percent from last year when the San Antonio Spurs beat James and the Miami Heat.
The appeal is clear.
James is the best player on the planet and on the short list of the best ever. He is trying to lift his hometown team to the city’s first championship in more than 50 years. Because of injuries to Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love – Cleveland’s second- and third-leading scorers respectively – James has been carrying an immense load. He has ended more than half of Cleveland’s possessions with either a basket, assist, trip to the foul line or a turnover.
He has been magical – and Magic-like – through five games. He dropped a triple double Sunday night and it still wasn’t even close to enough against a Warriors team that made every big play and got an MVP-type performance from regular-season MVP Curry.
LeBron’s monstrous night – 40 points, 14 boards, 11 assists – wasn’t enough, which begs the question: Is there enough that James can do? The answer is no, if the Warriors play well.
Simply, when these two teams each play well, as they did Sunday night, the Warriors will win nine times out of 10.
If you doubt James has been the most valuable player on the floor in these Finals, it’s never more clear than when he’s not on the floor. This collection of Cavs would have a hard time running more than two straight at the Y, nevermind holding court against the Warriors, who have a chance to finish with the third most wins in a season ever.
It’s an intriguing debate. Can the most valuable player in a series be from the losing team? It’s happened once – when Jerry West was honored after the Lakers lost to the Celtics in 1969 – but is value on a losing team truly valuable?
What can’t be denied is that the best team in the game is beating the best player in the game. It’s understandable, but not necessarily the norm.
Basketball, more than any sport, can be swayed by a singular star. The NBA has marketed itself on its best players more than its teams, a fact that generates interest and one-name connections with megastars like Bird or Jordan or Shaq and now LeBron or Kobe.
Sure the San Antonio Spurs have the reputation of a team-first approach, but let’s not forget that there are at least two Hall of Famers on that roster and potentially three, and that’s not counting Gregg Popovich, who is one the best coaches ever.
For the Curry-led cast of Warriors to spin this forward – and yes, Curry is one of the 10 best in the game but that ascent has been in the last 12-to-18 months more than anything – has been great theater and enjoyable basketball.
Selfishly, here’s hoping we get one more beyond tonight.
Now that’s value on which we all can agree.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter at @jgreesontfp. You can read his online column “The 5-at-10” Monday through Friday at timesfreepress.com after 10 a.m.