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Teams that can prevent a Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals three-peat
The San Antonio Spurs may post the biggest challenge to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference. Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports

Teams that can prevent a Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals three-peat

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have been the last two teams standing the past two NBA seasons, each taking home the Larry O'Brien Trophy, starting with the Warriors in 2015, followed by last year's epic seven-game matchup that finally saw the Cavaliers break through. This season, it appears the two are on a collision course to meet in the NBA Finals for a third straight season, with both teams pacing their respective conferences yet again.

Welcome back to the Yardbarker roundtable, where we wonder if a third straight Cleveland-Golden State Finals is an inevitability or not. The smart bet is on a three-peat matchup given that LeBron James has participated in the past six Finals series and seven of the past 10, while the Warriors added former MVP Kevin Durant to fellow two-time defending MVP Stephen Curry. So we asked a very simple question:

Can any team(s) prevent Cavs-Warriors III, and if so, how?

Alex Wong: No.

Sam Greszes: Please do not bookmark this page and then tweet it at me when I'm proven hilariously wrong, but I think the Wizards can do it. They're catching heat at the right time. John Wall, Otto Porter and Bradley Beal are a legitimately terrifying group to come up against. And perhaps most importantly, the Wizards have been one of the most consistent teams in the league in recent weeks. The Cavaliers... haven't.


Things are finally clicking for the Washington Wizards after a slow start to the season. Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports

Jason Clinkscales: There’s a part of me that believes that San Antonio can thwart the potential third series between the two, but the same thing was said last year until Oklahoma City took the Spurs out in the Western semis. San Antonio has depth, length and a balanced offense that could place a good bit of pressure on the Warriors’ defense. Oh, and they have Kawhi Leonard. That could help.

Daniel Tran: Remember when Tim Duncan retired, and the Spurs were supposed lose some games. About that…

Even with their 19-year mainstay gone, the San Antonio Spurs are cutting through the NBA, notching the second best record in the league. If anyone can figure out a way to stop the Golden State Warriors, the Spurs can. They lead the league in defensive rating and are only giving up 98.7 points per game — the second least in the league.

Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Alridge are powering this team, but they are still getting the best out of every player on the roster. Should we expect anything less from a Gregg Popovich team?

Sean Keane: I think the Celtics or the Ibaka'ed up Raptors have a chance. Boston needs Isaiah Thomas to go off, even against the lock-down defense of Kyrie Irving and Kyle Korver. Toronto needs Ibaka to play like he did in last year's playoffs and for Drake to book an international tour for May that keeps him away from the Air Canada Centre. But, the three things that are most likely to derail the trilogy are Kevin Love's meniscus tear, J.R. Smith's broken thumb and a green-lit "Uncle Drew" movie.Otherwise, prepare for an avalanche of 3-1 jokes in early June.


Are Isaiah Thomas the Boston Celtics ready to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East? Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports

Shiloh Carder: The San Antonio Spurs could. This is a championship team with arguably the best coach in the league and a legit star. Kawhi Leonard is the kind of guy who could carry a team against Golden State plus San Antonio has a frontcourt that could be tough for the Warriors to deal with for a seven-game series. Remember that the Warriors nearly didn't get to the Finals last year. The key will be health.

Cleveland will be in the NBA Finals. Really only the Celtics or Wizards look like they could topple them, but they are so young and inexperienced that I don't foresee that happening.

Demetrius Bell: The Cavs are as vulnerable to missing the Finals as they've been since LeBron's return to Cleveland, but it would still take a massive effort from another Eastern Conference team for them to possibly miss out on the Finals. I still don't think Boston is good enough, and I don't have much faith in Washington to continue its strong run of play into the playoffs or Toronto to turn things around.

Meanwhile in the West, Golden State isn't going to win 73 this year, but the Warriors won't have that pressure to deal with in the postseason. Instead, this could be when their fearsome lineup really gels together and turns into a machine. If that happens, then they could cruise to the Finals again.

Cavs-Warriors III was my Finals pick in the preseason, and nothing's changed in that regard.

David Matthews: I think with Kevin Love's injury, the Celtics will have a chance to get the No. 1 seed in the East, especially if they make a move or two at the deadline. The Cavs will have their hands full with them. In the West, the Spurs are again really, really good and could easily knock off the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

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