The Last NBA Finals Sweep
Contents
- The Last NBA Finals Sweep
- The Dominance of the Golden State Warriors
- The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Disappointing Performance
- The Lack of Competition in the NBA Finals
- The Warriors’ Unstoppable Offense
- The Cavaliers’ Struggling Defense
- The Warriors’ Outstanding Bench
- The Cavaliers’ Injuries
- The Impact of the NBA Finals on the NBA Season
- The Legacy of the Warriors’ Dynasty
The Last NBA Finals Sweep was an event that occurred during the 1998 NBA Finals It was the first and only time in NBA history that a team has swept the Finals. The Last NBA Finals Sweep was also the last time that the Los Angeles Lakers won an NBA Championship
The Last NBA Finals Sweep
The last time an NBA Finals series ended in asweep was in 2007, when the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers Occasionally, a series will end ina closeout game, which is when one team has won the first four games and can clinch the championship with a victory in Game 5. The Golden State Warriors were two-time defending NBA champions having won the 2015 and 2017 NBA Finals
The Dominance of the Golden State Warriors
It has been four years since an NBA Finals series ended in a sweep. That was in 2015, when the Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games. Since then, the Warriors have been to three straight Finals, winning twice and losing once in seven-game series.
This year, however, the Warriors are back to their old ways, dominant and seemingly unstoppable. They finished the regular season with a league-best 67-15 record and then breezed through the playoffs, losing just two games en route to their fourth straight Finals appearance
In the Finals, they faced off against the Lebron James led Cavs once again. And once again, they proved too much for Cleveland, winning the series in four games. It was a dominant performance from start to finish for Golden State who outscored the Cavs by an average of 16 points per game
With their fourth championship in five years, the Warriors have cemented themselves as one of the greatest teams of all time. And with Lebron James likely headed out of Cleveland this offseason, it doesn’t seem like there will be anyone who can dethrone them anytime soon.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Disappointing Performance
The Cleveland Cavaliers were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the 2018 NBA Finals It was a disappointing performance for a team that had made it to the Finals for four straight years.
The Cavaliers were outmatched by the Warriors in every aspect of the series. They were unable to stop the Warriors’ offense, and their own offense was inconsistent. Lebron James who had been carrying the Cavaliers throughout the playoffs, could not do it all himself.
The result was a disappointing end to what has been an otherwise successful run for the Cavaliers. They will have to regroup and come back stronger next season if they want to win another championship.
The Lack of Competition in the NBA Finals
The 2014 NBA Finals were historic for a number of reasons. It was the first time since 2007 that the Finals went to a Game 7. It also featured two teams, the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat who had met in the Finals before, in 2013. But most significantly, it was the first time in NBA history that a Finals series ended in a sweep, with the Spurs winning 4-0.
The lack of competition in the Finals was due to a number of factors. First, the two best teams in the league were clearly the Spurs and the Heat. Second, while there were some good teams in the Western Conference (such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers), none of them were able to seriously challenge the Spurs for supremacy. Third, in the Eastern Conference no team was able to put up much of a fight against the Heat; even the Indiana Pacers who took Miami to seven games in 2013, were no match for them this time around.
The result was a Finals series that lacked drama and excitement. It was clear from early on that the Spurs were going to win, and they never really seemed to be in danger of losing. As a result, many fans were left disappointed by what they saw as an anticlimactic end to the season.
The Warriors’ Unstoppable Offense
In the 2015 NBA Finals the Warriors swept the Cavaliers to win their first championship in 40 years. The Warriors’ offense was unstoppable in the Finals, averaging 115.2 points per game and shooting a blistering 52.4 percent from the field. Stephen Curry was named the Finals MVP after averaging 26.0 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game
The Cavaliers’ Struggling Defense
The Cavaliers’ defense has been struggling as of late. They have given up an average of 112 points per game in their last five games. This has led to some fans and pundits questioning whether or not the team can turn things around in time for the playoffs.
The Cavaliers are not the only team with defensive struggles. The Golden State Warriors have also been giving up a lot of points, but they have been able to offset that with their high-powered offense.
The question now is whether or not the Cavaliers can figure out their defensive problems before the playoffs start. If they cannot, it is possible that they could be swept in the Finals.
The Warriors’ Outstanding Bench
In the 2017 NBA Finals the Warriors showcased their outstanding bench, which was a big reason for their series sweep over the Cavaliers. Led by reserves like Andre Iguodala Shaun Livingston, and David West the Warriors’ bench outscored the Cavaliers’ bench by a total of 96 points over the course of the four-game series.
This was a stark contrast to the 2016 NBA Finals when the Cavaliers’ bench outscored the Warriors’ bench by an average of 9.5 points per game In that series, Cavaliers reserves like Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson played major roles in helping their team win a decisive Game 7 on the road.
The difference in production between the two teams’ benches was one of the biggest factors in deciding which team would come out victorious in each series. In 2017, it was clear that the Warriors had the better overall team, and their depth proved to be too much for the Cavaliers to handle.
The Cavaliers’ Injuries
In the 2015 NBA Finals the Cleveland Cavaliers were defeated by the Golden State Warriors in six games. This was a disappointing outcome for the Cavs, who had entered the series as the defending champions and were heavily favored to win. However, it is important to note that the Cavs were significantly hampered by injuries throughout the series.
In Game 1, starting point guard Kyrie Irving was lost to a fractured kneecap. This was a devastating blow to the Cavs, as Irving is one of their best players and a key offensive weapon. Without Irving, the Cavs struggled to score points and were unable to keep up with the high-powered Warriors offense.
In Game 2, Power Forward Kevin Love was also lost to injury, this time suffering a concussion after being elbowed in the head by Warriors center Andrew Bogut. Again, this was a huge blow for the Cavs, as Love is another key player and had been averaging over 20 Points per game in the playoffs up to that point.
With two of their best players out of commission, the Cavs simply didn’t have enough firepower to compete with the Warriors. They ended up losing the series in six games, becoming just the fourth team in NBA history to be swept in the Finals while also being down two All-Star caliber players.
The Impact of the NBA Finals on the NBA Season
The 2017 NBA Finals was a rematch of the previous year’s Championship Series between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers In a stunning upset, the Warriors won the series in five games, becoming the first team in NBA history to win four consecutive Finals series. The Warriors’ victory had a profound impact on the following NBA season
The most immediate consequence of the Warriors’ win was that it spurred a number of changes among the league’s top teams In the offseason, the Cavaliers made a number of notable trades, acquiring All-Star forward Kevin Love and signing free agent superstar Lebron James The Warriors, meanwhile, added former MVPs Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala to an already stacked roster.
These moves led to a sharp increase in competition at the top of the standings. The regular season was marked by close races for both conference titles and playoff seeding. In the end, it was the Warriors and Cavaliers who met again in the Finals, with Golden State coming out on top once more.
The Warriors’ dominance has had a lasting effect on the league as a whole. Their success has inspired other teams to try to build dynasties of their own, leading to even more intense competition among the league’s best. It remains to be seen if anyone can dethrone Golden State anytime soon, but one thing is certain: The NBA is more exciting than ever thanks to their dominance.
The Legacy of the Warriors’ Dynasty
The Last NBA Finals Sweep was one of the most dominant displays in the history of the NBA. The Warriors won the championship in 2018, and their dynasty seemed like it would continue for years to come. But, after a disappointing 2019 season, the Warriors’ dynasty came to an end. However, their legacy will live on forever.
The Warriors were one of the most talented teams in NBA history Their “big three” of Stephen Curry Klay Thompson and Draymond Green was unrivaled. They also had a deep bench that could score points in bunches. The Warriors were a true dynasty, and they will be remembered as one of the greatest teams of all time.
The Last NBA Finals Sweep was a fitting end to the Warriors’ dynasty. They went out on top, and their legacy will live on forever.