After 82 games of regular-season madness and one-and-a-half months of playoff action to match, perhaps it’s fitting that we’re back where last season finished – a finals match-up between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It’s a tantalising match-up. The defending champs against their vanquished foes from last year. The team with the best record ever against one who failed to impress during the regular season. Steph Curry versus LeBron James.
What’s not to like?
The head-to-head record between the two teams doesn’t make for pretty reading if you’re a Cleveland fan. The Warriors won both regular-season games, the second by a whopping 34 points, and also have the edge over the opponents thanks to their 4-2 victory in the finals last year.
But plenty has changed since that encounter. Gone is David Blatt, replacing him as Cleveland’s coach is Tyron Lue, who has reinvigorated the side and got all three of its stars – LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Levin Love – in sync offensively.
Speaking of the “big three,” they represent another departure from the side which lost last year’s finals. That series was blighted by a Game 1 injury to Irving and, with Kevin Love already on the casualty list, it left Cleveland with little chance of lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy.
LeBron James was left to carry the load in last year’s finals. He won’t be similarly burdened this time around. Image: Wikimedia Commons
This season, the Cavaliers come into the finals fully-fit and fully rested; they’ve played just 14 games this post-season, while the Warriors have had to fight their way through a gruelling seven-game series against the Thunder.
Last year it was the Warriors with the smoother run into the finals. This year, the shoe is one the other foot.
Steph Curry vs Kyrie Irving
A tantalising match-up between two of the league’s best offensive point guards. Irving and Curry probably won’t spend a great deal of time guarding each other, but their play will dictate much of the success of both sides.
Curry, despite coming off injuries to his ankle, knee and elbow, remains as deadly as ever, and he showed as much by taking over in the final quarter of Game 7 against the Thunder to book his side’s passage to the finals.
His passing will be just as crucial as his scoring, as the Warriors’ ball-movement is what makes their shooting so effective.
Irving will need to choose his moments to dictate play. He’s lethal off the dribble, and should look to attack the paint and get Golden State’s front court in foul trouble, but Cleveland are at their best when he shares the ball more than he shoots it.
Andre Iguodala vs LeBron James
James remains the most versatile player in the league; he can guard every position on the court, can be dangerous from outside, and is an excellent passer. His real strength is inside scoring; he’s phenomenally gifted at getting to the rack, whether in the half-court set or in transition, and is a strong finisher at the rim.
But Iguodala is capable of stopping James; he showed that last June when he held LeBron to less than 30 per cent shooting to take home the Finals MVP award. Although he always starts from the bench, he’ll be given plenty of minutes to strut his stuff on the defensive end.
Andre Iguodala’s defensive heroics earned him the Finals MVP in 2015. Can he repeat the performance and keep LeBron quiet this time around? (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Draymond Green vs Kevin Love
Love is something of a barometer for the Cavs. If he plays well and finds his rhythm from outside and on the boards, Cleveland rarely lose. If not, he’s a liability.
Green is almost the perfect match-up for Love; he’s an excellent defender, and won’t be shy of coming out to the three-point line to keep the Cavs’ big man quiet. Similarly, he’ll draw Love out of the paint with his own long-range prowess, which could give the Warriors an edge in the rebounding department.
Klay Thompson (Golden State)
A lethal shooter and good – if slightly foul-prone – defender, Thompson provides the perfect second scoring option behind Curry.
Tristan Thompson (Cleveland)
Thompson’s length and defensive versatility will be crucial for Cleveland. Expect him to play plenty of minutes guarding Green.
Shaun Livingston (Golden State)
Livingston would start for many an NBA team. As it is, he’s stuck behind Curry. He’ll have an impact off the bench when Curry needs a breather though.
JR Smith (Cleveland)
Smith is capable of shooting his team into any contest, but he’s just as capable of shooting his team out of it. If he finds his range, there’s little the Warriors will be able to do.
Both Golden State and Cleveland have a Boomer each on their roster who, while not integral to the teams’ successes, still play important roles.
Andrew Bogut
Bogut was horribly out of form when Golden State gave up a 3-1 lead to the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, and his resurgence on the boards and on defence played no small part in the Warriors’ comeback. The big Aussie doesn’t play many minutes down the stretch, but his rebounding, defence and passing early on is worth keeping an eye on.
Matthew Dellavedova’s hustle has got under the skin of many opponents, including Golden State. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Matthew Dellavedova
Delly hasn’t reached the lofty heights of last season – he hasn’t had to, with Irving fully-fit – but he’s still an eager defender and serviceable passer. Expect to see an alley-oop or two come from his hands this series.
This is going to be close – really close. But for all Cleveland’s health, rest and improved form, it’s hard to look past the Warriors. They are coming off the best season in NBA history and have the reigning MVP in Curry, reigning coach of the year in Steve Kerr, and home-court advantage for the finals.
That’s a collection of obstacles even LeBron James will struggle to overcome.
Warriors in seven games
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