Without an NBA championship, the Cleveland Cavaliers' season would be a failure, according to forward Richard Jefferson.

Defending champions the Cavs are facing a sweep against the Golden State Warriors, trailing 3-0 heading into Friday's game four in Cleveland.

The championship series has not gone to plan for the Cavs, who have split the last two titles with the Warriors, and Jefferson knows it is all or nothing.

"If we don't win a championship, then the season was unsuccessful," he told reporters during Friday's shootaround. "That's it."

The Warriors and Cavaliers came into the NBA Finals with a combined 24-1 playoff record.

Golden State are seeking to become the first team to roll through the postseason unblemished

The odds are definitely not in the Cavs' favour. 

"Nobody would be surprised at the end of the day if before this series you said the Cavs won," Jefferson added.

"No one would be surprised if someone said San Antonio won a championship at the beginning of the season. No one would be, like, mind blown.

"So for the three, four teams that are in that position, regardless of how it ends or whatever, if you don't raise that banner the next year, then it was unsuccessful."