LeBron vs Curry
“I don’t get involved in all of that,” James said. “Underdog, overdog, whatever the case may be. It’s stupidity. … We’re better built to start the Finals than we were last year. Doesn’t matter who it’s against.”
If the opponent weren’t Curry, James might’ve sounded believable. James has been denied a rival for most of his career. The difference in age made it hard for it to truly be Paul Pierce and the difference in age and position made it impossible for Tim Duncan, despite three Finals meetings. Curry, nearly three years James’ junior, presents a threat that neither James nor anyone else in the league could’ve foreseen – the uninvited guest looking to crash the party (again) and own the whole house.
Three years removed from his last NBA title and MVP award, James has never had a better opportunity to regain the standing he has yet to fully relinquish. Knocking off James for a second time would give Curry the respect that somehow continues to elude him. The motivations are different, but the quest to cement legacies remains the same.
This series is must see. I love watching the best two players in sports meet up for the biggest stakes.