NBA FINALS PREP

ESPN analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff van Gundy talk 2017 NBA Finals.

I think theyâ€

re that good that the guys that are struggling shooting the basketball, the reason theyâ€

re elite teams is that theyâ€

re not one-trick ponies. So Klay Thompson, although you look at the numbers struggling shooting the basketball, is still guarding the other teamâ€

s best perimeter guy and getting the job done on the defensive end. So heâ€

s finding ways to impact games even when his shooting is not up to par.

I think thatâ€

s what weâ€

ve seen consistently throughout the course of the season and these three seasons in particular for both of these teams.

: For me, Golden State has more margin of error, so they can have guys maybe not shooting the ball particularly well. But Curry and Durant are on such a roll that it may not matter. I think Cleveland in this series, theyâ€

re going to have to have all their guys shooting the ball well, playing efficiently. I think Golden State will be pushed to do the same.

I think thatâ€

s whatâ€

s going to be fascinating is to see who Cleveland defensively is okay with shooting the ball. I know even though Klay has struggled, theyâ€

re not going to be okay with him getting open looks. They may be more inclined to get those same looks to Green and Iguodala, but weâ€

ll have to wait and see.

: I took Durantâ€

s advice. I did turn it off when the games were blowouts. I just thought it was — I had no problem with him saying that. I donâ€

t think theyâ€

re villains. I think theyâ€

re nice guys. I think sometimes — and I donâ€

t really know why — I think they think people are criticising them. All I see is 99% overwhelming praise for them, and maybe 1% critique, particularly after Durantâ€

s decision to join the Warriors.

But I guess I look at it just the opposite. I donâ€

t see them at all as the villain. I see them as being the darling and have been for quite some time.

: Iâ€

m in total agreement with that. I think itâ€

s been a love-fest, and deservedly so. Theyâ€

re great guys and theyâ€

ve been able to accomplish a whole heck of a lot since they turned this thing around. I think when you get to this level, you look for different ways of motivation and searching for it. But itâ€

s been a lovefest as far as the Warriors are concerned in the coverage, and they deserve it.

: I think what we expected — I hope that was the question, what did we expect — I think we expected because of their body of work as individuals, two class, quality guys, as good a duo of guys as we have in this league. The way theyâ€

ve conducted themselves from day one until now has been inspiring and something that can be modelled through youth basketball and fans of the game.

So I think theyâ€

re unselfish superstars. Theyâ€

re well-accomplished. Both guys will be in the Hall of Fame and will go down amongst the names of the greats that have played this game. And I think it only gets better as weâ€

ve seen the season progress, their play, their timing, their trusting one another. Itâ€

s been a beautiful thing to watch.

: I expected it to go well for them. I didnâ€

t understand the handwringing in the preseason about how they were going to fit together. I thought the harder adjustment was going to be for like Klay Thompson because heâ€

s going from being the guy with the ball in his hands, second or third most, depending on how you view it with Draymond Green, to being, at times, an afterthought in their offense. I thought that was the hard one.

But Durant and Curry have played exceptionally well. Like Mark said, you wouldnâ€

t expect any different. Thatâ€

s who they are. Theyâ€

re great, great talent who work hard and care about the right thing. So, you know, this is a home run for the Warriors to have those two guys in their prime.

: I think we have to be very careful with cause and effect. LeBron James has been successful since heâ€

s been in the NBA. Rested, not rested, it doesnâ€

t really matter. So I think cause and effect, itâ€

s tricky. Iâ€

ve read that both teams chose to rest, and it proved to be successful. There are other teams who have rested and who went out early, but very little said about that as being a failure.

So, again, I think we have to be careful with the whole idea of what it is thatâ€

s worked. LeBron James has worked. Thatâ€

s what we know to be effective, is him on the floor.

As far as the regular season, even if I would say that it worked resting, which Iâ€

m not convinced it had anything to do with their success either way, I still think itâ€

s wrong. We market our star players. We ask our fans to watch games, to buy tickets to games, to pay astronomical sums of money to come and watch, and then we bait and switch them without any notice, and we expect it to be okay. Iâ€

ve read that many, including the Commissioner, have said itâ€

s not a big problem. Iâ€

ve always been of the thought, when you get ripped off or when somebody gets ripped off, if itâ€

s not you, itâ€

s not a big problem. But if itâ€

s you, itâ€

s a big problem.

So I think how the fans are treated since they drive this whole business, and they generate these vast sums of money that our players earn, that we should be more judicious in how we treat them. Because right now, I think weâ€

re treating them very poorly when it comes to taking nights off that have nothing to do with injury.

: Talent.

: Talent is what allowed them to flip the switch. Listen, weâ€

d all hope as coaches, and I think Mark would agree, that very few teams are capable of doing what Cleveland has done in that flipping of the switch. But you canâ€

t deny if youâ€

re — myself, even though Iâ€

d love to say itâ€

s all about habits, what this shows me is some teams are so overtalented that they can shortchange themselves in the regular season, flip the switch, and still get back to where they wanted to be, which is The Finals.

Now, whether they have the habits that are good enough when matched up against an equally talented team in Golden State, thatâ€

s what The Finals are going to be about.

: Iâ€

m in total agreement with everything that Jeff just finished saying. As a witness, I can testify that talent allows you to flip the switch. That took place as a player watching Michael Jordan on Magic Johnson teams or the Larry Bird Celtics where it would be a close ballgame, and it wasnâ€

t rest that allowed them to flip the switch. They flipped the switch in the middle of the fourth quarter, those guys are sitting on the sideline, up 20, because they turned it on. I think thatâ€

s what great talent has the ability to do with superior basketball teams.

But to get back to the original question, Iâ€

m in agreement with Jeff. Something has got to be done. It is a concern, and we want to see the best players playing on the floor. Itâ€

s a disservice to the fans and to the game.

: I think there are so many fascinating story lines throughout the lineups of both of these teams. It didnâ€

t stop on the floor. It also extends to the bench. Steve Kerr, obviously, we wish him nothing but the best. Hopefully he comes back healthy and whole, and thatâ€

s important with the job that Mike Brown has done. The job that Ty Lue has done leading his Cavalierâ€

s team. I think we could shower the Warriors organisation top to bottom with a lot of credit. Deservedly so. Whether it be front office, ownership, management, obviously, the bench, why donâ€

t we talk about Mike Brown. We talked about Alvin Gentry, weâ€

ve talked about Luke Walton. Well, Larry Drew is over there as a number two guy with Ty Lue, we donâ€

t shower him. I think we do a disservice across the board. I think both of these organizations have done an incredible job for three years now of preparing themselves and conducting themselves. Itâ€

s story lines all throughout.

So I donâ€

t stop on the floor. I think at the end of the day, looking at the Draymond Green-Kevin Love matchup, will really play a huge part in this series because I think both guys are going to get shots, makeable shots. Will Kevin Love continue to play at the level heâ€

s played at thus far in these Playoffs is going to be very interesting to watch.

: I want to reiterate one point about what Mark said about Mike Brown. Iâ€

m absolutely fascinated to see how often Mike Brown praises Cleveland management and ownership for a great job that they did and how well they treated him, while behind the scenes wanting to bust their ass for firing him after one year. To me, the cliché counting, I canâ€

t wait to start cliché counting, because having been fired I know that youâ€

re not fans right away of the people who let you go. So that he gets a chance to coach against them in a Finals, I believe in my heart that he is absolutely ecstatic over having that opportunity.

On the floor, Kyrie Irving and Steph Curry, well, Steph Curry wonâ€

t guard Kyrie Irving, I wouldnâ€

t think, that much. But both teams switch enough that youâ€

re going to see different matchups all the time. I think the thing that Iâ€

m really looking forward to is watching Kevin Durant guard multiple positions. Heâ€

s been an outstanding defender this year. Heâ€

s got great length, and Iâ€

m going to absolutely cherish watching he and LeBron James, two of the best small forwards of all time, matching up in this series.

: I think that 11 Finals is a record. It shocked me. It just shows you how fickle the two professions Mark and I chose after he got done playing. Coaching is a fickle one; so, too, is broadcasting. So I think I would speak for Mark in that we donâ€

t take it for granted. I donâ€

t think we ever envisioned ourselves maybe broadcasting or broadcasting this long. But itâ€

s been a blessing and something that I know I donâ€

t take for granted. Because Iâ€

ve been treated very, very well.

: Itâ€

s very humbling. It truly is a blessing when you think about, Iâ€

m not just a fan of basketball, Iâ€

m a fan of all sports. You think about weâ€

ve done it for quite a long time in a sustained period for a company that we absolutely love and treat us first class. To me, I donâ€

t take for granted also the blessing to be able to work with guys and girls that are absolutely incredible. We have the time of our lives supporting each other as truly a team. These are friendships that have come before my coaching career and early on in my playing career and Iâ€

ve been able to sustain them for so many years. Itâ€

s really a blast.

: Well, weâ€

re going back to the scene of the crime. The scene of the crime of the brownie was in San Francisco. So hopefully theyâ€

ve cooked up another batch because Mark, obviously, took offense to me getting the last brownie.

But I think itâ€

s something that Mark touched on previously. I donâ€

t know how much — itâ€

s hard to separate for me — how much I enjoy broadcasting from how much I enjoy broadcasting with great friends. So Iâ€

ve known Mike and Mark and Doris for well over half my life now, and I consider them exceptional friends, and I love working with them.

Behind the scenes Iâ€

ve known those people left, but like Tim Corrigan, to me, as far as a producer who is working with someone who is rough around the edges as far as broadcasting, because I never had the schooling or I donâ€

t have the smoothness of Mark, heâ€

s been great to work for. When you combine working for a good boss and working with great friends, it really makes it special.

: I echo everything that Jeff just finished saying. Tim Corrigan is a special guy that really is the point guard behind the scenes and controls stuff. But I donâ€

t take it for granted, the relationships. The reason why is because as a fan of sports in general, I have listened to two-man booths and three-man booths and you read the stories of how they couldnâ€

t stand each other and the lights come on and they sound great and did a great job, but the lights go off and they go their separate ways. What you see with us during the telecast is the same thing you would see with us sitting at a dinner table or breakfast table. We really enjoy one another, and the feelings spread out the telecast. And there is nothing but true love throughout this group, and itâ€

s something I donâ€

t take for granted.

: Who is saying he is (laughing)? No, listen, Mark and I have discussed this so many times. What Mike does, he makes look easy, but itâ€

s very, very difficult. He, I think, has unbelievable NBA knowledge. Heâ€

s a student of the game. He understands the history. He knows how to make a big call, and he also encourages us to say what we think, within limits, you know.

Like Tim Corriganâ€

s the point guard behind the scenes, Mike is like the point guard of the game. The way he allows us to be ourselves and not go overboard is a really special trait. Thatâ€

s why heâ€

s going to go in the Hall of Fame. I forget what the name of that award is. I was asking Mark this the last game we had. I thought Mike was already in. I canâ€

t believe heâ€

s not in. I know he will be soon because he deserves it. He is the voice of the NBA.

: Again, I agree. This is scary. Weâ€

re agreeing. This is not momentum building into The Finals for Jeff and I, but Iâ€

m in total agreement. Mike will be in the Hall of Fame. He should have already been there. I really believe that the two best point guards in the business is Ernie Johnson and Mike Breen. The way that they control and dictate the pace, the way that they get guys involved, the way that they donâ€

t get upset and they have no egos, itâ€

s unbelievable to watch from a distance with Ernie and in the field with Mike. Heâ€

s absolutely brilliant. Itâ€

s truly great to watch him control the game and control everything. Even when there are times Iâ€

m sure heâ€

s frustrated with whether Jeff and I talk about a dessert or some other crazy thing that Jeff brings up.

: They should be the favourites because of what theyâ€

ve been able to accomplish throughout the course of the year and adding Kevin Durant. Theyâ€

ve been the best team all season long statistically. I donâ€

t know. I saw where the Cavs have a 7% chance of winning The Finals. Iâ€

m not in agreement with that. I think two great teams, best player in the world, obviously, in LeBron James is going to be an incredible series.

To me, the X-factorâ€

s going to be Kevin Love. If heâ€

s playing the way heâ€

s played thus far, this is a Kevin Love that the Warriors have not seen outside of a Minnesota Timberwolves jersey. Heâ€

s playing similar to the way he played there. Rebounding the basketball, knocking shots down, being more involved offensively. Itâ€

s another threat to add to LeBron and Kyrie and makes them a tough team. But thatâ€

s the thing I would look for, how well heâ€

s playing. But the Warriors to me are the favorite.

: I agree with Mark. I think theyâ€

re the prohibitive favourite. I think when youâ€

re the prohibitive favorite against LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, that means youâ€

re a heck of a team, and they sure are. Just the combination of offense and defense, the talent that theyâ€

ve been able to amass, it puts them in position where this is a dynasty to me. They have their youth, they have their health. I see nothing preventing them from going to eight to ten straight Finals. It will be a massive upset, I think, if theyâ€

re not there each and every year.

As far as X-factor, I agree with Mark. I think Kevin Love has to find that balance between spacing the floor at the three-point line and using what I think his best weapon is, which is offensive rebounding. In Game 7 last year he got a couple offensive rebounds. He got more involved in the game. I think heâ€

s going to have to find that balance this year.

Then on the other end, I think Iguodala, his ability to play effectively offensively and be efficient, because if youâ€

re Cleveland, youâ€

re going to have to try to help off of he and Draymond Green. So theyâ€

re going to be presented with opportunities.

Then for them, itâ€

s important that they make — because if youâ€

re Cleveland and youâ€

re game planning, you canâ€

t allow Durant and Curry to shoot such a high percentage and get as many good looks as theyâ€

ve gotten in the previous series.

Q. My question is about the Cavaliers. They sat several players in the mid-season, and I wonder if you could talk about how they might have an effect on this NBA Finals series.

: I believe it was about theyâ€

ve added, who theyâ€

ve added? So I think Korver was a brilliant addition. Echoing what Mark talked about earlier about the Cleveland Cavaliers management, coaching staff, not getting as much credit as maybe they should, I wholeheartedly agree. Ty Lue has done a masterful job. And Markâ€

s right. Even I, as a pro-coach, Iâ€

ve never gone on a broadcast and talked nearly enough about Jim Boylan and Larry Drew, Michael Longabardi and that whole staff. And I think David Griffin goes within that. Heâ€

s done a great job of adding pieces.

The Kyle Korver piece to me, that three-point shooting component for them as an underdog is huge. Even when Korver doesnâ€

t get shots, the space he helps to create because people stay at home on him is critical to the Kyrie Irving, LeBron James penetration game. So I think that Korver pick-up, in particular, was a huge one. David Griffin should be given a lot of praise for that pick-up.

: I think theyâ€

ve done an outstanding job of adding depth to that basketball team without duplicating it. Adding Kyle Korverâ€

s ability to stretch the floor. Needing a legitimate back-up point guard. Going to get a veteran, playoff-tested guy in Deron Williams who looks like he has more life in his legs lately, playing at a higher level. The guys that theyâ€

ve added throughout the lineup, theyâ€

re a deeper basketball team. Theyâ€

re much more equipped to handle the challenges that face them in playoff basketball, which has been proven thus far.

: I think in fairness to the big three in Cleveland, weâ€

re talking about three future Hall of Famers right away in Miami. Chris Bosh, I donâ€

t even know, 10-, 11-time All-Star, somewhere around there. We know Dwyane Wade, in my opinion, the third best shooting guard thatâ€

s ever played the game, and then LeBron James in his prime. So in fairness, this group in Cleveland has much more to accomplish, and thatâ€

s not to sell them short because all three guys, in my opinion, will be in the Hall of Fame. But they have much more to prove. Those guys were in their prime and accomplished from day one.

VAN GUNDY: I have nothing more to add. Well said.

: Well, the Warriors, and this is Jeff, the Warriors are the template for any period of time when you want to be great on offense and great on defense and have a huge talent differential. So I think the way the game is being played at the lower levels, the three-point shot is a huge, obviously, weapon. I donâ€

t think a lot of guys want to take the time nor do teams want to take the time to learn about how to effectively use a post player. I think what itâ€

s given us is a lot of — there are not many differing styles of play. I used to love, back in the â€

90â€

s, watching teams play differently. From the Phoenix Suns pushing it up, quick pick-and-rolls with all their great point guards, Kevin Johnson, et cetera, the Bulls were a mid-tempo team running the triangle. You had Utah with their 1-4 offense. There was just a lot of different — you had Hakeem Olajuwon, three-point-shooting Rockets. So there were varying styles. I found that more enjoyable to watch when there were different styles. But I agree with Greg in that either thereâ€

s not enough big men willing to learn to play with their back to basket, or teams are just not seeking those type of plays out. But I do think with all the switching that teams are doing in todayâ€

s NBA, the more guys you can have who can put their back to the basket and take advantage of a quick mismatch, you have a better chance. We saw that when teams switched small on to Kevin Durant and small on to LeBron James. They absolutely punished those guys.

: Iâ€

m in agreement with him. One thing that you realise is the copycat league, and thatâ€

s an unfortunate thing. Because teams are trying to duplicate what the Warriors are doing without the same cast. Iâ€

m talking about three all-time great shooters in Curry, Durant, and Thompson in their starting lineup. Iâ€

m talking about on the defensive end, three great defenders in Durant, Green, and Thompson. Pachulia, very good defender. And Steph Curry, very good competitor that understands schemes defensively. So youâ€

re trying to copy them when you donâ€

t have the same cast, and itâ€

s not going to bring the same result.

To me, I think ultimately one thing that Jeff talked about during the telecast, and Iâ€

m in agreement, is the way that the post-up play is being called. Youâ€

re allowed to be more physical with these post-up players, which is discouraging teams to run post-up plays. But I think itâ€

s a recipe for disaster trying to duplicate what they have when you donâ€

t have the same cast. So itâ€

s an unfortunate thing. I think ultimately teams, due to their lack of success in trying to do that, will go back to what truly is their identity, instead of trying to play the Warriors identity.

: I wonâ€

t sit here and tell you it would be better for the NBA right now if there are two other teams in The Finals. We have the two best teams left in The Finals playing for a championship. We have the best players in the world, including best player in the world in LeBron James, on the biggest platform. So to me, I think itâ€

s a great result for the NBA.

I remember watching Roy Jones Jr. when he said he didnâ€

t fight anybody, he said I just made him look like nobody, and thatâ€

s what happened with Cleveland and the Warriors. Theyâ€

re superior. Theyâ€

ve played against good teams, but because theyâ€

re so talented, so deep, and so disciplined, they were able to make those teams not look as legit as they were.

: I think greatness is always good for a league. So whether itâ€

s great player or great teams, thatâ€

s always good for the NBA or any sports league.

I think what I would have liked is them to have been pushed more in this playoff run. Last year Cleveland got — it was 2-2 against Toronto, and they had to win a Game 5 at home. The Warriors, I think in both years, they got down in a series in the previous two runs to The Finals, and had to figure out a way out of that hole.

So I think itâ€

s great to have greatness. It would have been even better if that greatness had been pushed a little bit harder so they had to dig down deep and find their way out of a hole.

: I think the dangerous thing as a former player and former coach is to come to the conclusion, even though the people were right saying itâ€

s a foregone conclusion, that Cleveland and Golden State will play in The Finals. As a former player and former coach, thatâ€

s a dangerous place to be. It worked out that way, but teams are more than capable of beating these teams, especially last year. This year was a different story. But I think you get into a dangerous area when you begin to think, oh, this is an automatic win. Itâ€

s a credit to the discipline and mindset of both of these teams and organisations that they ultimately wound up facing each other in the championship round.

But itâ€

s more of a credit to them as opposed to the rest of the league.

: I just think the Warriors are just head and shoulders talent-wise above anybody else in the NBA. Through a confluence of events, they were able to add Durant, and itâ€

s great for the Warriors, great to have a great team. But some of the competition suffered because of it. Because Oklahoma City was a legitimate threat last year. Then Cleveland, you know, they took a step back in the regular season. Iâ€

m going to be interested to see going forward what their approach is. But someoneâ€

s going to have to step up in the East or in the West if weâ€

re not to see this next year as well. Itâ€

s hard to imagine either team not being the heavy favorite next year going into their respective conferences.

: I think the combination of his ability to guard multiple positions and his passing ability at a forward position make him extremely unique and valuable. And that he plays with other great, great scorers, all-time shooters, scorers, I think does help him. I think he has the right cone in Golden State for him. If he was placed in another environment where he was paid big money and he was having them find a way to get 18 to 20 a game, that would be a challenge. So I think he has unique skills and itâ€

s well-placed on a Warrior team that has deep, deep scoring ability.

JACKSON: I agree with everything Coach just said.

Q. What are the second X-factors that you will see on both teams? And also, is there any letdown because the series has been so hyped and been so looked forward to that could there be some letdown?

: Iâ€

m not concerned about any letdown. The reason why is because there are great players and great stories throughout these Finals. Iâ€

m anticipating it to be an incredible Final series.

As far as the second option, to me, I look at Draymond Green. The reason why, if Iâ€

m facing the Golden State Warriors, whether Iâ€

m the Cavs or anybody else in the league, itâ€

s no secret that you have to be able to live with something. With all due respect to Draymond Green, he understands it. He was game planning against the Warriors, he would have himself get open shots and heâ€

d live with the results. But you have to defend Curry, Durant and Thompson. So heâ€

s going to have to step up and make and take big-time shots. As a result, if youâ€

re the Cavs, there are certain things you live with. So thatâ€

s going to be a key factor for me. If heâ€

s making shots, itâ€

s impossible to guard them or beat them.

: I agree with Mark. If Draymond Green makes threes, really hard to beat him. Now, he had one of the all-time great Game 7s last year, and Cleveland found a way to win. But this is a different team with Durant. I think three-point shooting is the X-factor for Cleveland. Clevelandâ€

s going to have to make more threes and get more shots by pounding the offensive boards because of the offensive firepower that Golden State has.

: Again, I donâ€

t really go into it as a fan hoping one way or the other, unless itâ€

s guys that Iâ€

ve worked with or coached that itâ€

s deeper than that. Iâ€

m happy for these teams. I just, again, to reiterate, I just wish that they had been pushed harder. I enjoy watching great teams find a way out of difficult challenges. None were really presented this year. But it will be in The Finals. I think Cleveland or Golden State will obviously be put into a difficult challenge, and weâ€

ll see how they respond. Iâ€

m hopeful that itâ€

s a good response.

: You went back to the Lakers versus Celtics. I think the difference with those days as opposed to these times is they were truly great teams, and when I say “great teams,†Iâ€

m not just talking about the Lakers and Celtics. I believe that you can be a great team without winning a championship. I played against great teams, and I played on great teams. So I think thatâ€

s the difference.

I donâ€

t know how many teams today truly had a legitimate chance of winning a championship with this Warrior team and this Cavaliers team in the NBA. That was a different story back then, and hopefully weâ€

ll get back to that. But thatâ€

s not to say anything negative with these two teams. Theyâ€

re the two best teams. Theyâ€

re two great teams, and weâ€

re looking forward to an incredible Finals.

The post NBA FINALS PREP appeared first on Hoopsfix.com.