OAKLAND, Calif. — How appropriate that an NBA Finals with all the gritted teeth and bad blood of a heavyweight prize fight would begin with announcer Michael Buffer commanding us to get ready to rumble. And rumble these teams did, at least for two quarters.
By the middle of the third quarter of an eventual 113-91 beatdown, the Cleveland Cavaliers were less Rocky and more the chicken he has to chase during those interminable training montages—running just for the sake of it. If you require a more contemporary reference, the Golden State Warriors were Mickey Gall and the Cavaliers were CM Punk’s face.