Maurice Dixon @WriturRece

DON’T LOSE THIS SH–!!!

I thought I would be delivering this classic demand — which was one of Birdie’s (Tupac Shakur) last statements to Motaw (Wood Harris) in the 1994 classic Above the Rim — to the Oklahoma City Thunder after the Western Conference Finals but the Golden State Warriors were determined to not let a record-setting, 73-win season end before the 2016 NBA Finals.

Now the Warriors have to hear me echo Birdie’s message since they squandered a 3-1 series lead. I had a load of confidence in the Warriors ending this series in five (hopefully) or six games.

I just knew I called it right once Golden State left Cleveland with a 108-97 win on June 10 with Game 5 back in Oakland three days later. But LeBron James, the self-proclaimed King, made some complaints to his court after provoking Draymond Green to try to hit another opponent (Steven Adams) below the belt and the NBA told Green he wouldn’t be playing basketball in Oracle on June 13.

With Green watching the game at the Oakland Coliseum alongside area native Marshawn Lynch (Mr. “I’m just here so I won’t get fined”), the Warriors had to try to clinch a second straight title with an altered/shorthanded lineup and James and Kyrie Irving matched each other with 41 points, sending the Finals back to Quicken Loans Arena for the final time this season.

Once again, James scored as many points, Tristan Thompson rebounded like he was playing for another contract and just like that the series is all tied at 3.

So Stephen Curry, make this a Father’s Day (June 19, 2016) to remember. Cap your unanimous MVP season with a Finals MVP and another championship after winning a NBA-best 73 games. Don’t allow the Warriors to be remembered as the first team to lose the Finals after having a 3-1 lead, especially to James, a player me and my homeboy have never been a fan of.

With all that on the table and like Birdie also told Motaw, Golden State “HANDLE YO BUSINESS.”