LeBron calls Warriors “best team”, not a “rival”

Many may say that the NBA’s regular season doesn’t matter for teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. The players may not say it, at least to the media, but you, along with everyone else around the NBA, know that when these two teams want to beat each other, whether it’s the regular season or playoffs. Whether it be for bragging rights, just thinking that they are the better team, or having that “W” in the win column next to the matchup, the two regular season games between the Cavs and Warriors mean more than any other regular season game to the wine and gold.

Everyone around the NBA knows this, but even then, the players on each team still say that it’s just another game, including Cavs star LeBron James. With the wine and gold winning the first game between the two on Christmas Day, Cleveland is in Golden State to take on the Warriors Monday night. Following practice on Sunday, James tried to play off the rivalry and matchup as just another game against another regular NBA team, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

“I don’t think we have a rival in our game today. We’ve had two great Finals appearances the last two years, but I had the same with San Antonio when I was in Miami. We weren’t rivals. And I think I played those guys more, so I wouldn’t look at it as rivals.”

For what it’s worth, James has played against the Spurs in the Finals (three times) than he has the Warriors (twice). Let’s be honest: They are rivals. No matter what James says, they are. Whether it’s the matchups, the trash talking, or the last two Finals, it is a rivalry. So, No. 23, while not considering the Dubs a rival, knows just how good they are, saying that they are even better than the wine and gold.

“They’re a great team, a hell of a team, probably one of the best teams ever assembled, and they’re going to continue to get better and better as the season goes along. … [They’ve] been the best team the last couple years, last three years.

“They’re even more dangerous. They’re even more dangerous than they were last year, and that’s pretty hard to say because they were a damn great team last year and they’re even better this year.”

On Monday, the Cavs will return to Oracle Arena for the first time since winning the title on June 19, 2016. The memories and emotions may run high, and the locker room may still smell a little bit like champagne, but James, being the leader that he is, will make sure that the Cavs are focused and ready. While it may just be one game, a regular season sweep over the Warriors would look good, right?

Since James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the 2014-15 season, the wine and gold have been one of the best teams in the NBA. At the conclusion of his first season back, the Golden State Warriors beat the Cavs in Game 6 to take home their first title title in 40 years. But, while winning the championship, there was an asterisk because two-thirds of Cleveland’s Big Three was out, due to Kevin Love’s shoulder injury and Kyrie Irving’s ankle injury.

While James may say that the Warriors are the better team, the Cavs have proven that they are better on the court, winning four-consecutive games against Golden State, two of which were in Oakland.

Oh, and if we need anything else to prove which team is better, let’s take a look at these highlights, which were all turning points in last summer’s Finals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiTpCPu3gu0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4ESyLXha0s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kil_Ugzezk

LeBron may not consider it a rivalry, but it clearly is, right? What are your thoughts on No. 23 saying that the Warriors are just another opponent, just like the other teams around the NBA? Also, he admitted that the Warriors are the better team. Is that true? The past four matchups say differently.