I’m sure you know the clichés by now: “it all comes down to this,” “it’s a must-win situation,” “who is going to cement their legacy, or crumble beneath the pressure?” If you are a fan of the NBA, you have heard these phrases before and are all too familiar with them by now; yet, this year, we are in the midst of something completely different. This is no longer the NBA where “anything can happen:” instead, this has become a two-team show, and the playoffs have proven to be just that.

Let’s be real- we all know what the finals are going to be, we have since the beginning of this season. In the Eastern Conference, history has proven to repeat itself time and again that the east runs through Lebron. Don’t get this twisted- it does not run through Cleveland, it runs through Lebron James. So far, through the first two rounds, the Cavs have looked unstoppable, sweeping the Pacers and Raptors respectively and have made those teams- which Toronto is not that bad mind you- look like elementary schoolers go up against seven-foot giants. While the Toronto-Bucks, Celtics- Wizards, and even the Wizards- Atlanta series were enjoyable they lost a certain feel to them, knowing the winner is the loser. It’s a feeling I cannot describe, but if you watch the NBA as a fan then you understand it; just knowing the winner of a hard-fought battle will ultimately lose to a team head-and-shoulders above everyone else is uninspiring. With that, I get to the Western Conference.

The once saving grace only a few years ago, where it felt like anyone could go to the finals to verse the Lebron led team is now also become a shell of its former self. The Warriors, like the Cavs, have yet to lose one game, sweeping the Trailblazers and the Jazz subsequently. As for the rest of the West, the Clippers lost once again to a team many expected them to beat in the Utah Jazz and Houston beat the Thunder while only dropping one game as the MVP candidates went to work.

With the Conference Finals upon us, we are left waiting for the collision course we are all expecting; then, the real fun begins. Until then the Warriors have already beaten the Spurs twice, and with Kawhi out with an injury, it looks to be a wrap. On the East coast, we now wait to see the young and untested Celtics go off against the veteran, and reigning NBA champions the Cleveland Cavaliers. Heading into the finals, many expect the Warriors to ultimately win the series, however, with Lebron James nothing’s for sure, plus, Curry, Durant, and Klay all have to prove they are not the chokers we all perceive them to be.

If you haven’t been caught up in the playoffs yet don’t worry, all the action is set to take place in possibly the final act of this trilogy we are about to see play out in front of us. Durant made his choice, and now the big question is will he be able to combat Lebron James or will he be exposed once again like in the Miami Heat versus Oklahoma City finals in 2012.? As for Lebron, as he continues to chase the ghost of Michael Jordan, how far will he be willing to push himself for that fourth ring? All these questions are set to be answered in one of the most unique and primetime finals match-ups in all of NBA history.