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Are the Cavs ready for the Warriors?

Let's think back to before the NBA season started. The Cleveland Cavaliers were (and still are) the reigning NBA champions and the Golden State Warriors had signed Kevin Durant to add to their already amazing team. So naturally, almost everyone expected the 2017 NBA Finals to be a rematch for a third straight year, Cavs vs. Warriors.

But since then, the Cavs haven't been playing as well as everyone thought they would. Now, almost at the all-star break, the Cavs only have a two-and-a-half game lead on the Boston Celtics for the number one spot in the Eastern conference. So the question becomes: "Are the Cavs ready for the Warriors?"

Many pundits think no, if they haven't been able to beat teams such as the Sacramento Kings, who are not a very good team, in Cleveland, there is not a chance in France of them beating the Warriors in the Finals. But on the other side, there are experts that say yes, the Cavs are ready for the Warriors because they will play better when it matters most.

I think yes, the Cavaliers are ready for the Warriors. The Cavs, especially LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, play a lot better in clutch situations and in the playoffs. This has been proved the past two years. Two years ago, in the 2014-2015 NBA season, the Cavs finished second in the eastern conference behind the Atlanta Hawks. Many people thought the Cavs would lose and be out. But the Cavs swept the Hawks and made it all the way to the NBA Finals before losing to the Warriors.

In my eyes, this season is almost a repeat of that season. Even if the Cavs finish second or third in the east, they can still beat whoever they come up against in the playoffs. And here's why: LeBron James is an absolute monster when it comes to the playoffs. Add in Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, and even new addition Kyle Korver, and you have a great team who can make a long run in the playoffs. Irving and Korver are having fantastic seasons and Love is averaging a double-double. That type of team is going to be almost unbeatable in the playoffs.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 6: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the tie-winning shot during the game against the Washington Wizards on February 6, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Lebron James sinks a deep three pointer
to send the Cavs vs Wizards game
into overtime. The Cavs ended up winning
140-135.
In addition, the Cavs have proved they can play when it matters most. On Christmas Day, they beat the Warriors by one point without J.R Smith, the starting shooting guard. A couple of days ago, they beat the Washington Wizards in overtime even though Lebron fouled out and could not play most of overtime. Take those games, and more, as examples of the fact that when it matters most, the Cavs play at their best.

But the Warriors will still be a huge challenge. Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are two of the top 10 players in the NBA right now, and you could make a case for Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the top 10 or 15 also.

But the Cavs are ready. The Cavs won in last year's NBA Finals, but the Warriors now have Durant. But the trio of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, who can do everything, added on to a team of three point shooters like Kyle Korver and great rebounders like Tristan Thompson, will prove a formidable opponent and take down the Warriors in the Finals this year.

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