Description
The 2017 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2016–17 season and conclusion of the 2017 playoffs. The Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors beat the Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers 4–1, the first time in NBA history two teams had met for a third consecutive year. The Cavaliers sought to repeat as champions after winning the championship in 2016, while the Warriors won the first meeting in 2015. Golden State earned home-court advantage with a 2016–17 regular season record of 67–15, while Cleveland finished the regular season with a 51–31 record. The Warriors entered the 2017 Finals after becoming the first team in NBA playoff history to start 12–0, while the Cavaliers entered the 2017 Finals with a 12–1 record during the first three rounds of the postseason. The Warriors 16–1 record is the best winning percentage (.941) in NBA playoff history.
The 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season is the 71st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its 55th in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Warriors won their fifth NBA Championship, setting the best postseason record in NBA history by going 16–1. They entered the season as runners-up in the 2016 NBA Finals, after a record breaking regular-season in 2015–16. With the acquisition of free agent Kevin Durant in the offseason, the Warriors were hailed as a "Superteam" by the media and fans, forming a new All-Star "Fantastic Four" of Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. The Warriors equaled their 2014–15 regular-season record of 67–15, their second most wins in franchise history.
In the postseason, Golden State clinched the top seed in the playoffs for the third successive year. The Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers 4–0 in the first round, the Utah Jazz 4–0 in the Western Conference semi-finals and the San Antonio Spurs 4–0 in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors claimed their fifth NBA Championship by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–1 in the NBA Finals, the first time in NBA history two teams have met for a third consecutive year. Golden State became the first team ever to start 15–0 in the playoffs and their fifteen straight wins were the most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history. They also became the first team in all four major professional sports in America to start 15–0 in the postseason. The Warriors set the best playoff record in NBA history by going 16–1 (.941).
Golden State won the Pacific Division title and Western Conference Championship for the third consecutive season. The Warriors became only the second team in NBA history to win 30 road games in back-to-back seasons, joining the 1995–96 and 1996–97 Chicago Bulls. Stephen Curry set numerous three-point NBA records this season; including most three-pointers made in a single game with 13 and most consecutive games (regular-season and postseason combined) with a made three-pointer with 196. Curry also surpassed 300 three-pointers in the regular-season for the second time in NBA history, he finished with 324.
Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were all named to the All-Star Game, the first time Golden State have had four All-Stars and just the eighth time in NBA history a single team has had four players in the game. The Warriors were the only team with multiple players named to the All-NBA Team this season, with Curry, Durant and Green all selected. The Warriors were the fastest team in NBA history to clinch a playoff berth this season, achieving the feat on February 25, 2017.
The 2016–17 Golden State Warriors season is the 71st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its 55th in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Warriors won their fifth NBA Championship, setting the best postseason record in NBA history by going 16–1. They entered the season as runners-up in the 2016 NBA Finals, after a record breaking regular-season in 2015–16. With the acquisition of free agent Kevin Durant in the offseason, the Warriors were hailed as a "Superteam" by the media and fans, forming a new All-Star "Fantastic Four" of Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. The Warriors equaled their 2014–15 regular-season record of 67–15, their second most wins in franchise history.
In the postseason, Golden State clinched the top seed in the playoffs for the third successive year. The Warriors swept the Portland Trail Blazers 4–0 in the first round, the Utah Jazz 4–0 in the Western Conference semi-finals and the San Antonio Spurs 4–0 in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors claimed their fifth NBA Championship by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 4–1 in the NBA Finals, the first time in NBA history two teams have met for a third consecutive year. Golden State became the first team ever to start 15–0 in the playoffs and their fifteen straight wins were the most consecutive postseason wins in NBA history. They also became the first team in all four major professional sports in America to start 15–0 in the postseason. The Warriors set the best playoff record in NBA history by going 16–1 (.941).
Golden State won the Pacific Division title and Western Conference Championship for the third consecutive season. The Warriors became only the second team in NBA history to win 30 road games in back-to-back seasons, joining the 1995–96 and 1996–97 Chicago Bulls. Stephen Curry set numerous three-point NBA records this season; including most three-pointers made in a single game with 13 and most consecutive games (regular-season and postseason combined) with a made three-pointer with 196. Curry also surpassed 300 three-pointers in the regular-season for the second time in NBA history, he finished with 324.
Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were all named to the All-Star Game, the first time Golden State have had four All-Stars and just the eighth time in NBA history a single team has had four players in the game. The Warriors were the only team with multiple players named to the All-NBA Team this season, with Curry, Durant and Green all selected. The Warriors were the fastest team in NBA history to clinch a playoff berth this season, achieving the feat on February 25, 2017.