Who Won the 2017 NBA Championship?
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The Golden State Warriors won the 2017 NBA Championship after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals.
The Golden State Warriors
The Warriors, who also won the title in 2015 and 2016, became the first team in NBA history to win three championships in four seasons. They did it by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals, four games to one. It was the second consecutive year that the two teams had met in the Finals, with the Warriors winning in five games in 2017.
Their regular season record
The Warriors finished the 2016–17 NBA regular season with a 67–15 record, the best in the NBA. They entered the 2017 NBA Playoffs as the top seed in the Western Conference. In the Playoffs, they defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, the Utah Jazz in the second round, and the San Antonio Spurs in the Conference Finals. They then defeated the defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference top seed Cleveland Cavaliers in The Finals to win their fifth NBA championship overall and second in three seasons.
Their playoff record
The Warriors have a playoff record of 73-9, which is the best in NBA history. They have made it to the Finals in each of the last three seasons, winning the championship in 2015 and 2017.
The Cleveland Cavaliers
The 2017 NBA Championship was won by the Cleveland Cavaliers. This was their second championship in franchise history, and their first since joining the NBA in 1970. The Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors in five games, becoming the first team to ever come back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals.
Their regular season record
The Cleveland Cavaliers are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference Central Division. The team began play in 1970 as an expansion team. Their 46-year history has been marked by peaks and valleys, but they are one of the most successful teams in NBA history, having reached the playoffs in 35 of those seasons, coming away with 19 division titles and five conference championships, including four Eastern Conference titles.
Their playoff record
It was a tough battle, but the Cavaliers came out on top after winning the 2017 NBA Championship. This was their third championship in franchise history and they became the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
Their regular season record was 51-31, which was good for second place in the Eastern Conference. They had a rough start to the season, but they turned things around and went on a historic run in the second half of the season. They finished the season with 27 wins in their last 30 games.
In the playoffs, they had to face some tough opponents, but they were up to the task. They started off by sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the first round. In the second round, they faced off against the Toronto Raptors and won in six games. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they faced off against the Boston Celtics and won in five games.
And finally, in the NBA Finals, they faced off against the Golden State Warriors. After losing the first three games, it looked like their season was over. But they fought back and won three straight games to force a Game 7. In that final game, they were down by three points with less than a minute left in regulation, but they came back to win it in overtime and take home the championship.
The Finals
The 2017 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 2016–17 season and conclusion of the season’s playoffs. In this best-of-seven playoff, the defending NBA champions and Western Conference champions Golden State Warriors swept the Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Cavaliers 4–0. This marked the first time in NBA history that a team had won four consecutive games by double-digit points, and the first time a defending champion had been swept in the Finals since 2007.
The series schedule
The Warriors won the 2017 NBA Finals, defeating the Cavaliers 4-1 in the best-of-seven series. The series began on June 1 and ended on June 12.
All times are EDT (UTC−4).
Game one
June 1, 8 p.m., at Oakland: Warriors 113, Cavaliers 91
Game two
June 4, 8 p.m., at Oakland: Warriors 132, Cavaliers 113
Game three
June 7, 9 p.m., at Cleveland: Cavaliers 118, Warriors 113
Game four
June 9, 9 p.m., at Cleveland: Warriors 137, Cavaliers 116
(Warriors lead series 3-1)
Game five (if necessary)
June 12, 8 p.m., at Oakland
The series results
The Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s 2016–17 season and the conclusion of the season’s playoffs. In The Finals, the defending NBA champions and Western Conference champions Golden State Warriors were matched up against the Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Cavaliers. This marks the third consecutive NBA Finals appearance for both teams, as well as the third consecutive meeting between them in The Finals. It was also Golden State’s fifth in thirteen seasons, while it was Cleveland’s fourth straight appearance and seventh overall (also counting their appearances when the franchise was based in Seattle).
The series began on June 1, 2017 and ended on June 12, 2017, with the Warriors winning in five games to earn their second consecutive championship and ninth overall (tying them with the San Antonio Spurs for second-place all-time), as well as their third championship in four seasons. This marks a record sixth straight Finals appearance by a team from either conference.
Why the Warriors Won
Their star players
The Warriors won because they had better players. That might seem like an oversimplification, but it’s true. The Warriors had four All-Stars in their starting lineup, while the Cavaliers had two. When you have that kind of talent advantage, it’s hard to lose.
But the Warriors didn’t just have more talent than the Cavaliers; they also had more depth. They had a strong bench that could come in and provide a spark when the starters needed a rest. The Cavaliers didn’t have that same luxury.
In the end, the Warriors were simply the better team. They deserved to win the 2017 NBA Championship.
Their team depth
The Warriors won because of their team depth. They have a lot of good players that can come off the bench and play well.
Their coaching
The Warriors won the 2017 NBA Championship because of their great coaching. Head coach Steve Kerr is one of the best coaches in the NBA and he knows how to get the most out of his players. He is a big reason why the Warriors are one of the best teams in the league.
