Less than a half hour after the Warriors punched their ticket to the NBA Finals Monday night, Golden State owner Joe Lacob told reporters that he’s looking forward to facing the Cavs once again, and that the Warriors were the better team last year despite losing the series.
Joe Lacob said he wants Cleveland: “We were the better team but they did win. We need a chance to go in there and prove that.”
— Marcus Thompson (@ThompsonScribe) May 23, 2017
Joe Lacob on the NBA Finals: “I don’t care who we play…Ok, maybe a slight preference for Cleveland (sly grin).”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2017
With the Warriors’ 129-115 victory over the Spurs in Game 4 on Monday, Golden State punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive season, and are likely to face Cleveland for the third year in a row. The Cavs currently hold a 2-1 lead with home court advantage over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, but are also coming off a shocking home loss to a Boston team without Isiah Thomas in Game 3.
Golden State beat the Cavs in 2015, and looked to go back-to-back, before infamously blowing a 3-1 lead last season. A chance for redemption seemed to lift a weight of Lacob’s shoulders.
Joe Lacob on this game: “I’ve never been so stress-free, which is really kind of a weird feeling–a very strange feeling, actually..
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 23, 2017
More Lacob: “Our guys are playing at an elite level. We have an incredible team, well-coached, we’re ready.”
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 23, 2017
The NBA Finals begin on June 1.