Coin Flip: 2015 NBA Finals

Sports fans have been fortunate to watch some big events this year.  From Super Bowl XLIX pitting the greatest dynasty of the 2000s in the New England Patriots against a team looking to repeat in the Seattle Seahawks to the biggest boxing match of this modern era featuring Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, we have been able to witness legendary athletes, coaches, and teams compete to be the best.  In the NBA, the "best" has usually been a moniker reserved for a select few organizations.  Since 1999, the only other teams to win an NBA championship besides the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs or Miami Heat were the 2004 Detroit Pistons, '08 Boston Celtics, and '11 Dallas Mavericks.  This year's NBA Finals feels revitalized as the chokehold NBA blue bloods have had on the series is no more.  2015 features the Golden State Warriors who haven't won the championship since 1975 and the Cleveland Cavaliers who, well, have never captured the elusive NBA title.

For Lebron James, the two-time NBA champion, four-time NBA MVP, and eleven-time All-Star, the objective has never been more clear.  When he returned to the Cavaliers after a four-year stint maturing with the Miami Heat, he called for patience saying in his homecoming letter, "it will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010 [when James and the Heat lost to the Mavericks]."  After a rocky 20-20 start and a season ending injury to one of the Cav's "big three," Kevin Love, Lebron James' letter seemed more prescient than ever.  However, Lebron is the king for a reason.  After losing just twice in the first three rounds of the playoffs and sweeping the best team in the Eastern Conference without Love or an injured Kyrie Irving, King James has once again carried his hometown team to the pinnacle--that's five straight Finals appearances for the kid out of Akron.

The Golden State Warriors' initial push to become one of the league's elite began in 2011 with the hiring of former NBA point guard, Mark Jackson, as their head coach.  Under his short three-year tenure, the Warriors were able to acquire and develop players such as Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes, and reigning MVP Stephen Curry.  Prior to the start of the 2015 season, Mark Jackson was controversially fired.  Perhaps it was for the best considering he was unable to lead his budding team past the Eastern Conference semifinals during his three years.  His replacement?  Five-time NBA champion and Michael Jordan disciple, Steve Kerr.  Now, their play is unorthodox yet surgically lethal; once they cross half court any shot is within range.  From the tip-off of the first game to the final buzzer of the their Western Conference Finals victory over the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors have been the best and probably most exciting team in professional basketball.   While King James fights to bring hope and a long-awaited championship back to where he grew up, the Warriors look to reward a fan base that has unconditionally supported their team for forty fruitless years. 

I'm not sure which team comes away crowned NBA champion, as I'm sure many have debated and will continue to debate until this Thursday's tip-off of Game 1, yet my mind tells me the Cavaliers pull away victorious and here's why:

This post-season run has seemed to be less tumultuous than previous for Lebron James.  In recent seasons, James had to battle it out with tough, hard-nosed Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls teams, making the King fatigued in the final round.  This time around; however, James and company have played a total of 14 playoff games, suggesting a well rested bunch come Thursday.  What's more is that Lebron has continued to improve as the Cavs became more injured and dependent upon their king.  In the 4-0 series sweep against the Atlanta Hawks, LBJ averaged 30.3 points per game, 11 rebounds per game, 9.3 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game.  Averaging almost a triple-double is deadly and to marginalize James' greatness to say that the best defensive team in the NBA can handle him is ludicrous.  Watch out Golden State.

Outside of the obvious impact James will have on this series, the Cavaliers have a supporting cast that has grown more comfortable and more effective at the roles they play with each game.  Although Kyrie Irving will still be hobbled by a knee injury come Game 1, his tremendous ball handling skills, ability to get to the cup, and long range shooting prowess will be much needed support to James' arsenal.  People forget, but Kyrie holds the Cavalier's record for most points scored in a game with 57.  Moreover, the line-up is infused with superior athletic wing play.  J.R. Smith, a guy who prefers to shoot the ball contested over open looks, and Iman Shumpert, a flat out baller shooting 36.8% from three, and who, by the way, are both over 6'5" tall give the Cavaliers an advantage against a smaller Warriors backcourt.  The loss to Kevin Love could have created a vulnerable weakness in the Cavaliers' rotation, but the mid-season addition to Timofey Mozgov and emergence of center Tristan Thompson, who is averaging 9.9 RPG, will allow for James and Irving to effortlessly execute transition offense that inevitably results in one of those raging tomahawk slams by the King.

Ultimately I believe the Cavaliers win this series because of Lebron's sheer will-power.  The fact that at the end of this series James could either be 2-4 or 3-3 in the NBA Finals is a huge motivating factor for not only him, but also his team.  I think the Cavaliers have rallied around Lebron James throughout these playoffs as he's put them on his back.  Plus, when you add the fact that this man wants nothing more than to bring a championship to Cleveland, it makes it difficult for a young Warriors team to dethrone the King.  

With that being said though, the Warriors continue to pull on my heart strings.  From watching Stephen Curry annihilate every record he sought out to break and shoot the lights out of the gym with fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson, to watching a cohesive unit rank atop the NBA in offensive and defensive statistics led by a rookie coach who just last season was a sideline commentator--you can't help but think that this team is capable of something special.  The Warriors' also have depth.  Boasting a nine, sometimes ten-man rotation highlighted by Andre Igoudala coming off the bench (which might have been the smartest coaching decision Kerr has made to date), this team will be fresher down the stretch to fend off James and company. Moreover, playing at Oracle Arena will be a tall task for the Cavs.  That place is going to be loud and it is going to be a raucous starting on Thursday.  If the Cavaliers can steal one game in San Francisco, I'd say they have a good chance at winning the title, but if the Warriors control home-court advantage they might be favored to win it all.  If anything, this series is an opportunity for Chef Curry and the Warriors to complete their maturation process and join the group of the elite. 

I know I'm contradicting myself, but how could you not go back-and-forth trying to figure out who wins this matchup.  The Warriors time-and-time again have proven that they are the best team in the league, especially after convincingly emerging out of a conference that is eons ahead of the East.  But, there is something about the Finals that elevates King James' game and his team's game, and that's because he is a leader and he knows how to push the right buttons, so his team will be at their best.  Either way, the potential is there for this year's NBA Finals to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.  Join the conversation! Leave a comment below telling us who you think will be crowned NBA champion, and tune in to ABC tomorrow at 9pm EST.

Pharrell Williams Awarded the 2015 CFDA Fashion Icon Award

Last night at the CFDA Fashion Awards (Council of Fashion Designers of America), Kanye West presented to Pharrell Williams the 2015 Fashion Icon Award. His speech was funny, gracious, and meaningful, you can read it below as a reference. Pharrell is a creative genius. His fans, consumers, and those passing by are reminded of this thanks to his ever-present, and always relevant work. Whether he is singing on the radio, performing at festivals, executive producing an album, running Billionaire Boys Club, collaborating with adidas, show stopping on the red carpet, or writing a book Pharrell speaks through his inspirations. Evidence of this is overwhelming, but two specific instances stick out.

Nobody will forget the 2014 Grammy's, the year of Pharrell's hat. People were quick to roast or praise him for his bold fashion statement, but the genius behind the piece came from a genuine place. The oversized bowler hat is a vintage Vivienne Westwood, an English fashion god, from a collection drawing inspiration from the Wild West, an era of expansion and imagination. Those words, expansion and imagination, fully describe Pharrell and his work--who else has a 24-hour music video? While some saw his hat as a statement piece, it is simply an artist thinking outside of the box to convey a message. Places and Spaces I've Been, Pharrell's book, is a collaborative conversation. It contains insightful conversations he has had with friends, colleagues, and people he respects on their contribution to popular culture. The early part of the book features a chat with Jay Z. You can tell how intrigued Pharrell is with him, you literally feel P absorb the valuable information from Jay. In his speech at the CFDAs Pharrell passionately accepts, "I'm not a style icon, I'm just inspired." Pharrell uses his influences and relationships to create in a way that imagines inspiration. Watch his acceptance speech for the Fashion Icon Award below.

Kanye's Speech: What's up, CFDA? You know how Obama brought out the angry version of himself? I'm sort of like the angrier version of Pharrell. [Begins rapping the first verse of "New Slaves."] That rap wasn't written from a good place. That rap was written from an extremely frustrated place. There's a gross misconception about the idea of a celebrity creative — my mom's gonna be mad if this is the wrong way to word it, she's an English professor — that somehow, especially in this room, takes away the idea that there's any ideas. Adidas gave us both an opportunity because they gave us celebrity deals. But the opportunity to create just a little bit more, just to think a little bit more. It is very difficult to break perception.

Fashion has to be the hardest high-school that I ever entered. But at least I had a big brother — a junior, a senior that was there when I was a freshman, that had already worn the tight jeans and went to the fashion shows and had been called too hip-hop to be at the fashion show, and then got called too fashion to be in the hip-hop video. And when we got early cyberbullied, he'd be there, right there, in Paris, to talk me through and keep me going. And have me not give up after my first collection that sold out, $6,000 shoes, was completelydestroyed by the fashion [Establishment]. I totally respect Fern [Mallis]'s voice.Have a voice. Express yourself. That's what our agenda is, expression. Something worth fighting for, no matter what someone might say. Someone who tells you, because you're the No. 1 athlete in the world, you can't express yourself. Pharrell has always been my style idol, and there would be no me, no A$AP, without Pharrell being the nicer version of Obama. So, I know you got scared after the length of my previous speeches that this would go equally as long, so without further ado, to my style idol, and tonight's recipient of the Fashion Icon Award, Pharrell Williams.

ONLY NY Summer 2015 Collection

ONLY NY's unique quality is it has never been limited by New York's overt urban environment. An affinity for the outdoors expands and diversifies the brand, while a sportswear sensibility fulfills the New York competitive spirit. ONLY's Summer 2015 collection is no different as it celebrates the urban outdoors with elements from city and aquatic lifestyle. The lookbook, shot by Chris Baliwas, showcases fleece, t-shirts, headwear, and accessories in urban playing fields and meadows to underline the offering's versatility. ONLY NY's Summer 2015 collection will be available June 3rd at the brand's online store and flagship store.

ONLY NY
176 Stanton St.
NY, NY 10002

Nike Air Force 1 Low Yacht Club "Aqua"

Nike's famed Air Force 1 became an icon really upon its inception in 1982 and re-release in 1986. The sneaker's simplistic aesthetic enables it to be a versatile piece in any wardrobe, and a popular silhouette for more than 1,700 colorways. This time around Nike presents an updated retro for the beach, Air Force 1 Low Yacht Club "Aqua". A canvas upper, comparable to the Sperry Top Sider, is applied for elegance to the streetwear staple. Maritime influences are continued through the AF1s weathered aqua hue. Grab these fun shoes at Titolo and throw your old boat shoes away.

EA SPORTS™ FIFA 16 Features Women's National Teams

EA SPORTS™ FIFA video game franchise achieves tremendous success because it unites the diverse, varied, and passionate world soccer community. While soccer itself is a universal language, the video game is too. Kids in dorm rooms try their hand at the Real Madrid-FC Barcelona rivalry, fans in London control Chelsea on the pitch of Stamford Bridge to a Premier League cup, and World Cup season inspires youths across the globe to take their country to glory. FIFA's World Cup is without a doubt the most popular sporting event in the world; the Women's World Cup is gaining prominence thanks to riveting competition and big market success from the Americans led by Abby Wambach and heartthrob Alex Morgan. With the 2015 tournament eight days away, EA SPORTS™ capitalizes on the hype announcing FIFA 16 will feature 12 Women's national teams for the first time in the game's history. The squads include: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the United States of America (why is defending champ Japan not featured?). Ensuring FIFA's authenticity is continued for the female counterparts, USWNT players Megan Rapinoe and Sydney Leroux (aka Bae), along with Abby and Alex participated in a motion capture session at EA Canada. The game will feature new walks, runs, sprints, and horizontal movements. Along with the news came a trailer on YouTube that features female players working off EA SPORTS™ motto "It's in the game," declaring, "We're in the game." Be a part of history and purchase FIFA 16 September 25 and catch the 2015 Women's World Cup June 6 to July 5. Read the official press release from FIFA here.