NBA

Will the Warriors beat Cavaliers in 3rd straight?

The NBA’s general managers are expecting a third straight Golden State-Cleveland matchup in this season’s NBA Finals, with the Warriors the pick to reclaim the title.

The Warriors and Cavaliers each got 97 percent of the votes cast by GMs when asked to pick the Western and Eastern conference champions — meaning, if each team got one ballot, 29 of the 30 teams voted for a rematch.

The Warriors got 69 percent of votes cast to emerge as champions for the second time in three years this season, with the defending titlist Cavaliers getting the other 31 percent.

James got 47 percent of the vote, easily outpacing Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook (23 percent), Golden State’s two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry and Houston’s James Harden (10 percent each), new Warriors forward Kevin Durant (7 percent) and Indiana’s Paul George (3 percent).

Asked which player forces coaches to make the most adjustments, James got 75 percent of the vote, far more than Curry (21 percent) and Golden State’s Draymond Green (4 percent).

Towns was picked on 48 percent of ballots, followed by Durant (21 percent) and James (17 percent).

Not coincidentally, 80 percent of the GMs also said Durant is the player move that will make the most impact, far ahead of the 13 percent who think Boston getting Al Horford will.

San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard was overwhelmingly selected as the best defensive player and best perimeter defender in the league, part of the reason why the Spurs got 50 percent of the GM votes as the NBA’s top defensive team.

James was picked as the NBA’s best leader, most versatile player and as the player with the best basketball IQ.

A Los Angeles federal court jury will begin deliberations Wednesday in the Derrick Rose sexual assault civil trial after attorneys for both sides gave their closing arguments Tuesday.

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