HOUSTON -- It's been in the back of everyone's mind all season -- this feeling that this NBA season would end up right back where the past three have, in Oakland and Cleveland, with the best team of its generation going another round against the best player of his generation.
In some corners, the potential of a fourth NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers inspired dread or boredom. In others, it evoked frustration or anger at the salary-cap spike two years ago that allowed the Warriors to add Kevin Durant.