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Mercury star Diana Taurasi comments on Kevin Durant’s decision to sign with the Warriors and discusses how LeBron James continues to stand above the rest at Mercury practice on Tuesday. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Mercury star Diana Taurasi is never one to mince words. so it’s no surprise she has a bold opinion about the NBA Finals, which begin on Thursday.

She says the grind-it-out mentality that defines the postseason version of the Cleveland Cavaliers will give the heavily favored Golden State Warriors all kinds of trouble.

The teams square off in the Finals for the third consecutive year; the Warriors won the 2015 title and the Cavs returned the favor last season.

RELATED: More predictions for Warriors-Cavs III

Taurasi, an admitted hoops junkie, scrutinizes the NBA game, especially at playoff time. She sees the Cavaliers’ momentum growing with each round.

“They’re just tougher, they’re grimier,” she said. “They have this pit-bull look in them right now, that you can just see that chemistry brewing.”

Her prediction? Cavaliers in six.

Taurasi, now in her 13th season, is tied for first with the now-retired Katie Smith for the WNBA lead in career 3-pointers. Her entrance at the top of that list – with 3-pointer No. 907 – likely will happen on Thursday when the Mercury visit Chicago.

MORE: Taurasi ties WNBA career 3-point lead in Mercury blowout

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