The NBA has confirmed with the remaining four teams in the playoffs that the Finals will not start earlier and that Game 1 will be played on June 4.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have the opportunity to secure a series sweep over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, while the Houston Rockets delayed the inevitable by winning on Monday against the Golden State Warriors to ensure a Game 5.
However, while the Cavs will be confident of seeing off a bruised and banged up Hawks side, the Warriors return home to the Oracle Arena where they have only lost three times all year looking to finish off the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday.
Provided that happens, that would give Cleveland and Golden State over a week before the NBA Finals got underway, and many had questioned whether it would make sense for the schedule to be changed and for the games to be brought forward.
NBA has told the teams will NOT be moving Game 1 of the finals. It will be June 4.
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 25, 2015
While eight days is a long time for the league to not have any action both in terms of keeping interest high and maximising revenue, it would have undoubtedly been a logistical nightmare to move dates for fans, broadcasters, media and various other parties concerned.
It is also a two-way argument for the players and coaches as on one hand it could be argued that the delay will lead to rust which will in turn effect their performance in the opening game.
However, with both teams suffering with injuries to key players at this stage, the likes of Kyrie Irving and Marreese Speights get extra time to rest and recover in order to ensure that both teams are at full strength for the season finale. That should in turn ensure that fans are given the best show possible.
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