Draymond: Warriors-Cavaliers rivalry 'won't be appreciated until it's over'

This year's NBA playoffs have belonged to the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, who ran roughshod through the rest of the league's top teams en route to a combined 24-1 postseason record.

Did that make the first three rounds unwatchable to an extent? Even boring? Not according to Warriors All-Star forward Draymond Green.

"I think it's a great thing for the league, contrary to popular belief what everyone says is boring," Green said Friday afternoon. "I think maybe people just fail to realize that you just have two great teams and don't appreciate that. Everyone wants to say, 'This is boring,' and this, that, and the other. But you usually don't appreciate something until you don't have it anymore.

"I think maybe that's just a lack of appreciation for greatness. But then when you look at a situation, most people have never reached greatness. So maybe there's just not an understanding of what you're watching."

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This will be the third year in a row that Golden State and Cleveland have battled in the Finals, making it the first time in NBA history that the same two teams have done so, and the first time in North American sports since the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings competed for the NHL's Stanley Cup from 1954 through 1956.

The possibility of a lack of parity in the Association has been a hot topic of discussion as of late, with the Warriors and Cavaliers facing little to no competition along the way. Rather than point fingers, Green feels everyone should give credit where credit is due, and enjoy the work of two elite rosters which have been on a collision course all season.

"I think you've found two great teams, and we've played that way. And maybe people don't appreciate it because of a blowout or because of a sweep," he added. "But people might want to be careful because I think right now, you're witnessing greatness. Two great teams, great players, and that's what it is.

"And like I said, it probably won't be appreciated until it's over. Whoever wins this championship, say we meet again next year, it still won't be appreciated until we don't meet again and you realize what you had."

Game 1 takes place Thursday night at Oracle Arena, with the Warriors opening as seven-point favorites.