The Bulls and Cavs better hope the Warriors don't make the Finals
Two of the more formidable Eastern Conference powers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls, should be big fans of the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder or some other Western Conference finals threat. Because the Bulls and Cavs don't want any part of the Warriors after what happened this week.
The Warriors, coming off a 132-98 drubbing of the Cavs in Cleveland on Monday, traveled to Chicago and gave the Bulls a 125-94 loss Wednesday night. That's a combined margin of victory of 65 points — on the road!
Golden State took the crowd out of it early against Chicago, jumping out to a 34-18 lead after one quarter. If that sounds familiar, it's because the Warriors did the same thing against the Cavs, rolling to 34-21 lead after one quarter Monday.
Both games were essentially over by halftime, robbing the home crowds of any reason to cheer. Not only did the Warriors take the crowds out of the game, but they also neutralized the Bulls' and Cavs' best offensive big men. Kevin Love had a season-low three points on Monday night and Pau Gasol was almost bageled, finishing with one point on 0-of-8 shooting.
Steph Curry was special in both games, torching the Cavs with 35 points in 28 minutes and giving the Bulls 25 points in 34 minutes. It got so bad, that Curry threw down his third dunk of the season Wednesday. The Bulls even got 29 points from Derrick Rose and still lost by 31.
Steph Curry throws down his 3rd dunk of the year, this time with the left hand. https://t.co/Z667m5BwVy
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 21, 2016
The Cavaliers and, to a lesser extent, the Bulls could give the Warriors a run in maybe one or two games if everything falls into place. If the Warriors go cold from deep — they shot a combined 31 of 72 on 3's in the two blowout wins — and one of the stars from the Cavs or Bulls gets it going, maybe they can take a game or two.
But it's going to be a tall order for them, or anyone for that matter, to beat a healthy Golden State four out of seven games.
