The Cleveland Cavaliers have written one of the biggest stories of the NBA season with their struggles this year, but now the playoffs have arrived we have seen a completely different team. LeBron James has dragged his teammates to the conference final stages where they will take on the Boston Celtics in a series that starts on Sunday. With the injury problems the Celtics have, the Cavaliers will go into the series as favourites, despite finishing below Boston in the regular season standings.

Out west, the Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors to the top of the regular season standings. However, they too have looked even better in the playoffs and are favourites to beat the Rockets. Not only have the Warriors looked in great touch, but also they have done most of it without Steph Curry, a player who will return for the conference final series against Houston. Curry is the most talented man in the NBA and has the ability to win games by himself which makes him an exciting addition to this already promising Warriors team, looking to win the NBA Championships yet again. Their game against the Rockets gets underway on Monday, with the winner making it to the NBA final.

The regular season and playoffs are completely different ball games, and the most successful teams in the NBA know how to turn up the heat when the playoffs arrive. Both the Cavaliers and Warriors didn’t play at full pace during the regular season, but they have certainly brought their A game for the playoffs. LeBron has dragged his Cavaliers team with him, and performed like the MVP he is, whether that is a sign that this is his last push with Cleveland remains to be seen. He has transformed the team around him, and like any good player, he has made others play better because of his influence.

That is what the Golden State Warriors will be hoping for from Steph Curry, something that would elevate them to the level we saw them at last season when they won the championship. Curry has not been around for much of this playoff run, but the Warriors have still looked very good. Add Curry and what he brings to the team, and it is easy to see why the Warriors are the most feared team in the league, and why many people are talking about them winning the title once more.

This looks as though it could be the end of the line for the Celtics and the Rockets as they come up against the two powerhouses of basketball right now. The conference finals get underway on Sunday and Monday, and anything other than seeing the Cavs and the Warriors line up in the final would be a big surprise. They have both looked formidable, and with their star players on the court, they can progress and hopefully set up yet another iconic series between these two franchises.

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