Eyes on the prize

Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with teammates after the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-113 in Game 3 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Cleveland, Wednesday, June 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

CLEVELAND—Forgive the Golden State Warriors if they stubbornly focus on winning the NBA crown instead of the chance they become the first champion with an undefeated playoff charge.

The Warriors lead the best-of-seven NBA Finals 3-0 entering game four Friday at Cleveland and have won 15 consecutive playoff games, the longest streak in North American major pro sports history.

“It would be great to own a piece of history,” Warriors guard Klay Thompson said. “Just because 16-0 means we’re champs. It wasn’t a goal of ours to start the postseason; but now that’s it’s attainable, we have our eyes set on it.

“All we have to do is come out with great focus and play as hard as we can and we should be in a position to win.”

The nearest an NBA champion has come to playoff perfection was the 2000-01 Los Angeles Lakers, who went 15-1. Led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, the team lost only its finals opener to Philadelphia.

And the Warriors made history but got burned last year, when they won a record of 73 regular-season games and took a 3-1 lead over Cleveland in the finals only to lose after the Cavaliers made the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history.

No team has ever rallied from 3-0 down to win in 126 NBA playoff series, but Thompson says locking up the title means more than completing a playoff sweep.

“We still remember what happened last year. It’s fresh in our minds,” Thompson said. “It doesn’t matter until we get that 16th one.

“It’s very impressive, though. It’s something we pride ourselves on, just our consistency this postseason and not getting down on ourselves, not feeling ourselves too much when we’ve been winning, but still staying hungry and on course.”

Cavaliers guard JR Smith would enjoy shattering the perfect playoff run.

“I would love to put a dent in that record,” he said. “I don’t really focus on it too much. That’s really for them, whether they get the record or they don’t.” —AFP