Los Angeles: The NBA’s sprint to the finish begins on Thursday with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers trying to catch the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
“We just added four new guys before the break, and we have a lot of work to do,” James said. “So I really don’t like to think that too far ahead. But obviously winning championships is what it’s all about. That’s what this league is all about and hopefully at the end of the road then I have the Cavs there to actually compete for one, to be in a finals representing the East.”
The Golden State Warriors are also in the unusual position of pursuers, after red-hot Houston passed them for the league’s best record with 10 straight wins leading into the All-Star break. But nobody would count out the Warriors, not with their star-studded group that has won two of the last three titles.
Toronto are an NBA-best 24-4 at home and could make the Cavs’ NBA Finals plans difficult if they have to go through Canada.
“We would hope so, but we’ve got to get there,” Raptors All-Star guard Kyle Lowry said. “We’ve got to finish the season strong.”
