The Bradley Basketball team is getting ready for the NBA Finals and the Braves have offered their predictions for the series between Golden State and Cleveland. The Braves are divided in their picks for the series, but they are consistent in predicting a tight series. With all 15 players chiming in, nine Bradley team members pick the reigning champion Golden State Warriors to defend their title and six Braves think the Cavaliers will dethrone the champs and bring Cleveland its first major pro sports championship since 1964 (Cleveland Browns NFL Championship).
|
Name
|
Position
|
Prediction
|
Analysis
|
|
Koch Bar
|
Fr. – C
|
I'm going with Golden State
|
They have good team chemistry and they also showed a will, or desire, to win by coming back from 3-games-to-1 down against Oklahoma City. It's not going to be easy, so I'll go with seven games.
|
|
Callum Barker
|
So. – C
|
Warriors in 6
|
They have too many good shooters and a big Aussie up front in (Andrew) Bogut!
|
|
Darrell Brown
|
Fr. – G
|
Cavs in 6
|
They have King (LeBron) James, plus a healthy Kyrie (Irving) and (Kevin) Love.
|
|
Alex Foster
|
Jr. – F
|
The Cavs
|
I say this because LeBron (James) last year didn't have any help from the other two stars, Kyrie (Irving) and Kevin (Love), but since they are healthy, it will make a huge difference on the outcome. I think it will go all seven games.
|
|
Lou Griffith
|
Fr. – G
|
Warriors in 6
|
If they play unselfish and not like the first two games like the last series. Klay (Thompson) has a wet ball; Curry has an even wetter ball. Their team comradery is the best in the league. Plus, at the end of the day, LeBron (James) is going to have to put the Cavs on his back and I don't think he can do it alone. But he'll make it at least a decent Finals. And, of course, I want my man, Shaun (Livingston), to bring another ring back to Peoria.
|
|
Peter Hanley
|
So. – F
|
Warriors in 6
|
I think it will be a tight series, but with the way Klay Thompson has been playing and with the momentum from the Thunder series, I think the Warriors will pull it off.
|
|
Jayden Hodgson
|
Fr. – G
|
Golden State in 6
|
I think they will win because all around, they have grown as a team and had to deal with adversity a lot more than Cleveland this year and in the playoffs especially. They have a lot more experience all around in close-game situations and in the finals compared to Cleveland. I believe they have gotten their offensive flow back. With the way they space the floor and make shots, I don't think Cleveland will be able to guard their guard play consistently. And Golden State seems to rise to the occasion and a few key players from the Cavs are prone to go missing in big games or in late-game situations.
|
|
Nate Kennell
|
Fr. – G
|
Cavs in 7
|
LeBron (James) took the Cavs last year to six games without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving and this year their shooting is even better, which opens the floor for LeBron, who's one of the best decision makers and, ultimately, the best player on the floor.
|
|
Dwayne Lautier-Ogunleye
|
So. – G
|
Golden State in 7
|
I think the Cavs with a full, healthy roster will give the Warriors a run for their money, however, in my opinion, Golden State will grit it out as they did in the OKC series and win the title.
|
|
JoJo McGlaston
|
Jr. – G/F
|
I think the Warriors will win in 6
|
The Cavs don't know how to face adversity. It will go six because LeBron (James) is LeBron.
|
|
Jerome Merritt
|
Fr. – F
|
Cavs
|
Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving are fully healthy and the whole Cavs team is bac. The Warriors won't have equal match ups.
|
|
Antoine Pittman
|
So. – G
|
Cleveland
|
I think the Cavs will win because of LeBron's (James) leadership and he has a healthy team this year.
|
|
Ronnie Suggs
|
So. – G
|
Warriors in 6
|
Two words - Splash Brothers. There is a reason why they (Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson) are called the Splash Brothers: because they don't miss.
|
|
Donte Thomas
|
Jr. – F
|
Golden State
|
I think the Warriors will win because anything can happen with Steph Curry and Klay (Thompson) on your team.
|
|
Luuk van Bree
|
So. – F
|
I think the Cavs in 6
|
They have a healthy roster this year. With a full roster, they will beat the Warriors.
|
While the Braves have natural interest in The Finals as basketball fans, the Bradley Basketball program has several connections to both of the teams participating in the 2016 Finals:
Golden State Warriors
- would go on to become one of the most prominent broadcasters in Bay Area sports history. In addition to calling Oakland A's and Oakland/LA Raiders games, King was the first San Francisco Warriors radio announcer after joining the organization in Philadelphia. King called Warriors games from 1962-83, including the 1974-75 championship season.Bill KingAfter broadcasting Bradley Basketball games early in his career,
- (2004-06) was the ninth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by Golden State and he played his first two NBA seasons (2006-08) with the Warriors. O'Bryant is joining forces with several former Bradley players on the Always A Brave alumni team that will participate in the 2016 TBT this summer.Patrick O'BryantThe 2006 MVC Defensive Player of the Year, center
- Mike Williams was the 51st overall selection in the 1986 NBA Draft by the Warriors, but did not play for Golden State.
- played his prep basketball for former Bradley player and assistant coach Chuck Buescher. Livingston teamed with former Brave Daniel Ruffin to win the 2003 state championship.Shaun LivingstonAlthough he did not attend Bradley after being drafted out of Peoria High School by the LA Clippers in 2004,
Cleveland Cavaliers
- (1993-97) played the final three of his nine NBA seasons in Cleveland from 2009-12. Parker teamed with LeBron James during the 2009-10 season, helping the Cavaliers to the league's best record (61-21) that season.Anthony ParkerThe 1996 MVC Player of the Year, guard
- The 1977 MVC Player of the year, guard Roger Phegley (1974-78) spent the middle of his six-year NBA career in Cleveland. He enjoyed his most productive NBA season in 1980-81 with the Cavs, averaging a career-best 14.4 points.