Too tough to call.
Steph Curry and his gang are the defending champs so perhaps basketball fans can give them the courtesy.
But Golden State is just seeded sixth and their semifinal opponents – Los Angeles – are ranked seventh which just about even up things.
Now that the Warriors have evened up the series at 1 apiece, taking Game 2 with a blow out win 127-100 Friday, Game 3 in LA should somehow logically tilt slightly in favor of James and friends.
Homecourt edge is usually the reason.
Los Angelenos hate getting embarassed in their home court and the Lakers know their responsibility.
The Splash Brothers (Curry and Thompson) play unrelentlessly. This mindset is the basic foundation of the Warriors’ offense. Get Thompson or Curry out of the GS line up and you will see how they will collapse.
Meaning, without the other, Steph or Klay will carry the burden singularly on his shoulder.
Together, they are the most dangerous one-two punch of coach Steve Kerr.
Thompson, the son of ex-Laker power forward/center Mychal Thompson, poured in 30 pts while Curry produced 20 and 12 assists in Game 2.
Argumentatively, Laker chief strategist Darvin Ham only need to copy what he did in Game 1 in order for the Lakers to go 2-1 Sunday.
Meaning, Ham must evolve a leech-like defensive strat specifically for each of Curry and Thompson.
Curry carries the ball and creates the situation. Klay usually posts himself at the corner and waits for the assist pass for an open three.
The Laker guard who chases Curry should only have his eyes glued on Steph, otherwise this smart fellow can use a pick to receive the pass and shoot either a two or issue another swift assist to the open sniper.
Observed that Curry carried the brunt and burden in Game 2.
Meaning, Lebron must also take up the cudgels and, like Curry, lead his team to victory in these two home assignments.
Despite the Game 2 defeat, the Lakers maintain an intangible momentum that needs to be concretely translated come jumpball time.
If the Lakers allow the Warriors to snatch a win in either Game 3 or 4, Steve Kerr can ably boost the morale of his boys in the fifth encounter in San Francisco.
Frankly, the Lebron-led Lakers today are not the same hard core Lakers squad Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar led during the famous Showtime era.
They are a different breed now.
GM Rob Pelinka continues to shuffle the LA line up like a new deck of cards, hoping to produce a “Royal Straight Flush” finally.
The Lakers hope to come out a with 3-1 card while the Warriors could welcome a 2-2 even slate going to Game 5 where the latter will host the former. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
