Charles Barkley has a better job than the average American — to talk and debate sports and often give his controversial takes during the length of the NBA season.
However, as a long and sometimes gruelling 82-game season is only a day away from tipping off again, Barkley notes how it's become harder to make his audience care for the regular season when it's become a collision course between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers during the past two seasons.
“The toughest thing for me is I have to get on TV and fake it for seven months that it’s not going to be the Warriors and Cavs in the finals again,” Barkley said, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.
The Warriors were a buzzsaw during the postseason, mowing their way through opponents at the tune of 16-1, winning 15 straight postseason games before losing Game 4 after an NBA Finals-record 24 made three-pointers by the Cavaliers.
The Cavs were also on a similar streak, winning their first 10 playoff games before a Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Both teams have reloaded yet again this season and barring any key injuries, still look as the odds-on favorites to meet in The Finals for a fourth straight time.