Kevin Love expressed amusement at the Warriors being favored over the defending-champion Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
Golden State coach Kerr, via NBC Sports Bay Area:We’ve had a great season to this point, a great playoff run. And hopefully we keep it going.
But we fully respect and are aware that this team that we’re playing, they’re the champions. We’re not. I saw the quote from Kevin Love. He said he’s surprised. I’m surprised, too. What the hell is everyone talking about? Are you kidding me? They’re a great team. They’re the champs. We’re trying to take what they took from us last year.
Kerr, like Love, has an agenda. Love openly discussed using the underdog slight as motivation. I think Kerr is trying to keep his team hungry (and maybe protects its legacy considering how many people take a Warriors title as such a forgone conclusion, they wouldn’t properly appreciate it).
The Warriors should be favored. They were better than Cleveland in the regular season and have been better in the playoffs.
Last year’s Finals shouldn’t be the only baseline – especially considering, if you play that series 100 times, I think Golden State wins about 2/3. Credit the Cavs for winning in reality. This is to take nothing away from them. But the Warriors looked liked the better team overall last season, and the stylistic matchup seemed to favor them.
And, of course, Golden State added Kevin Durant. This is not last year’s team.
The Warriors are favored for good reason. Kerr is also trying to turn the discussion the other way for good reason.