Event of the Day: Vegas Golden Knights versus Washington Capitals
Our event of the day is Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Oracle Arena. This will be the fourth straight NBA finals in which the Warriors square up against their rivals from the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers. The three previous seasons ended with the Warriors winning the first series in six, the Cavaliers taking the second Finals in seven, before the Warriors took the head to head in five last season. The Warriors so far this season have been the much better team, going 58 and 24 en route to the second seed in the West, and dominating the Western Conference Playoffs before having a tough seven game battle with the Houston Rockets during the Conference Finals.
The Cavaliers on the other hand, have had a far more up and down year. While they still do have the best player in the world in LeBron James, they have not had the same dominating presence that they’ve had in recent years leading to the dismissal of a lot of long time players. This started when before this season Kyrie Irving, the team’s second best player, demanded a trade, leading to him being dealt to Boston for Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder. The Cavs were later forced to blow up the roster even more when a long stretch of prolonged losing again forced them to deal both the players acquired in the Kyrie deal, as well as veterans, Iman Shumpert, Channing Frye, Dwayne Wade, and Derrick Rose. These deals along with LeBron’s forceful presence lead to a rejuvenated Cavs who have played their best ball of the season in their playoff run. However this will be their toughest test to date, against an extremely talented Warriors team, with perhaps the weakest Cavs roster since LeBron’s prodigious return. If anyone can overcome this test, it would possibly be the greatest player of all time, LeBron James, who will definitely need to have a series to remember, in his 8th straight finals appearance.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to Day 1 of the U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship at Shoal Creek in Alabama. The dual favourites to win this prestigious event are Inbee Park and Ariya Jutanugarn, who are 1 and 5 in the world rankings respectively. These two golfers are also the two biggest money earners in the LPGA this year.
Other events happening today include a Rugby League Challenge Cup game between Huddersfield Giants and Catalans Dragons at the John Smith’s Stadium, a NRL game between the Sea Eagles and Cowboys at Lottoland, and day five of the French Open at Roland Garros. Football friendlies in the build up to the World Cup also continue, with Romania taking on Chile at the Sportzentrum Graz-Weinzodl, and Slovakia playing the Netherlands at the City Arena Trnava. In MLB, the regular season continues with a National League matchup between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field and in golf it is Day one of the Memorial Day Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio. In Athletics, there is Diamond League action with the Golden Gala - Pietro Mennea at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by NBA