2023-05-02 01:28:02
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — It’s LeBron vs. Steph on the big stage.
The two basketball greats look a little different after so many seasons.
“Two of the most competitive players the sport has ever seen,” James said Monday. “We want to record our name in the history books and we play our way. I have nothing less than admiration and respect for Steph.”
Curry and Draymond Green reflected on their most memorable Finals moments against James and marveled that they are still playing at the highest level so many years later.
Still, this matchup in the Western Conference semifinals is new to everyone: Curry, Green, Klay Thompson and the rest of the Warriors have never faced LeBron James against the Lakers in the postseason.
“It’s special to think about the first series we played against him in Cleveland in 2014-15 to now, we’re blessed to continue playing at this level,” Curry admitted.
The Warriors and James’ Cavs met in four straight Finals between 2015 and 2018.
Game 1 of the conference semifinal will be at the home of the Warriors — after Golden State finished sixth and the Lakers seventh in the West.
Curry is 15-7 against James in the postseason, but the Warriors guard is averaging 25.4 points to James’ 33.
They still dazzle.
LITTLE KNOWN RIVAL
Thompson has dreamed of the opportunity to face the team he grew up admiring. His father Mychal played with Los Angeles in his last five seasons in the NBA between 1986 and 1991.
The Warriors haven’t faced the Lakers in the postseason since the old Thompson was there in 1991 when the Warriors led by Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin lost the conference semifinals to Magic Johnson and James Worthy.
This season the Lakers took their last three regular-season games after rebuilding the team at the trade limit in February. Los Angeles won the first-round series against the Grizzlies in six games on Friday and had a longer rest.
RENOVATED
But how different are the Lakers from the team that started the season 2-0 after losing to Golden State on the opening night of the season? Only three players who scored in that game will get significant minutes in this series.
The Lakers started a great moment after the trade limit and have won 14 of their last 18 games before heading to San Francisco. Los Angeles added former Warriors player D’Angelo Russell and former defensive standout Jarred Vanderbilt to the starting lineup, along with Austin Reaves to enhance the supporting cast of James. The Warriors know it: Los Angeles beat Golden State three times in 23 days in the regular season.
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