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Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Golden State Warriors v. Cleveland Cavaliers

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez
For the first time ever in the history of the United States, the same two teams are meeting for the fourth consecutive time in a series that will decide the champion. The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers opened the NBA Finals at the Oracle Arena on Thursday night. The rivalry began in 2015 when the Warriors wiped out the Cavaliers in five games. In 2016, the Cavaliers rebounded as Lebron James, arguably the greatest player on the planet, defeated the Warriors in a grueling seven game series. In 2017, the Warriors eliminated LeBron and company in six games.

Touching down at the Oakland International Airport are many Lear jets bringing Hollywood celebrities to "the place to be." Kim Kardashian, who just met with president Donald Trump in the White House to discuss prison reform, will likely be seen at Oracle Arena.

Like the previous three finals, we'll probably see rapper Jay-Z, singer Rihanna, actor Kevin Hart, comedian Dave Chappelle, Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, Brazilian soccer superstar Neymar and NFL players Marshawn Lynch, Solomon Thomas and Odell Beckham Jr. We could also see rapper Drake, actor Matt Damon and many more.

Oakland is closer than Cleveland for the Hollywood jet set so I am pretty sure we will see more stars in Oakland than Cleveland. It is only a one-and-a-half-hour flight from Los Angeles. That's good enough for these celebs to have breakfast in LA and dinner in the Bay, with the game in between.

In the '90s I traveled with the Golden State Warriors as their Spanish play-by-play announcer and saw guys at mid-court like Jack Nicholson in Los Angeles and Billy Crystal in New York. Nicholson was a fixture at the old Forum at every Lakers game.

The Warriors were a popular team who always sold out at home, but never won a title. The last one was under Al Attles' 1975-76 team, who swept the Washington Bullets.

The last four years the Oracle Arena has become a "Fantasy Island" for Warriors fans in the Bay Area. They're now the undisputed leaders in flag displays on thousands of cars. No matter where you drive in San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose, there's a car with one or more Warriors flags. The Warriors have become larger than life in the greater Bay Area. There will be watch parties in bars, restaurants and private homes all over the Bay Area. It is like a second Super Bowl every year. Nobody expects the Warriors to lose.

It was a long season for both teams. Each were taken to seven games in their respective Conference finals: the Warriors by the Rockets, who really did as good as they could against a superior team, and the Cavaliers in seven games against a young and promising Boston Celtics team.

Lebron James will really have to be Superman and have all of the Marvel Heroes support him again this time if he wants to take the Cavaliers to the promised land again. like in 2016.

ABC producers are busy getting their camera locations and angles set up during rehearsals. They will also give you a couple shots of the celebrities and are carrying the series. I will be surprised if the Cavaliers can stay with the Warriors for five games.

All games on ABC , Channel 7 for the Bay Area, in PST.
Game 3 -- Wednesday, June 6 | @ Cleveland | 6 p.m.
Game 4 -- Friday, June 8 | @ Cleveland | 6 p.m.
Game 5 -- Monday, June 11 | Oakland | 6 p.m.
Game 6 -- Thursday, June 14 | @ Cleveland | 6 p.m.
Game 7--  Sunday, June 17 | Oakland | 5 p.m.

Amaury Pi-González is the Spanish Voice of the Oakland Athletics and a pioneer in establishing Spanish baseball radio in the Bay Area. Pi-Gonzalez was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame in 2010. Games are on KIQI 1010AM/990AM radio in the Bay Area and Northern California. They can also be heard in Spanish on the SAP on NBC Sports California. Total of 74 games (71 home games plus three on the road) from
AT&T Park in San Francisco.  Published courtesy: 

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