NBA Finals Preview: Cavs vs Warriors

We have, this year, the games most revered player, in LeBron James, and his Cleveland Cavaliers versus the top team of this NBA Season, featuring league MVP, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. In my opinion, this is the best matchup that NBA fans could have gotten, and also, the most predictable. LBJ is about to take the Finals stage for the 6th time in his career, and the 5th in a row (not to be outdone, James Jones, Cavs reserve and 3 point specialist will be heading to his 5th consecutive finals as well.) The Warriors are heading to the finals for the first time in 40 years and are pumped up by their great home crowd and led by their rookie coach, Steve Kerr.

The teams faced off in the regular season the last game being on Feb. 26. LeBron scored a season best 42 points in a 110-99 Cavs home victory. Curry and fellow splash brother Klay Thompson shared 31 points on 10/30 shooting while Kyrie Irving put up 24 to compliment LeBron’s monster game. On Jan. 9 in Oakland, Curry and Thompson combined for 47 points in a 112-94 GSW win. James, however, didn’t play as he was somewhere between watching the OSU Buckeyes National Championship game and rehabbing/training in South Beach. J.R. Smith was the scoring leader that game with 27.

To break down my Finals prediction, I will compare in traditional style, starting lineup matchups, coaches, and benches.
Point Guard: Stephen Curry vs. Kyrie Irving
I believe that with Kyrie’s ongoing knee issues he will be on skates for the majority of this series. If healthy, he will definitely make an impact on the offensive side. But defensively, this will be a huge weakness for the Cavs, who will must have Iman Shumpert defend Curry and also hope that Matthew Dellavedova can keep up his intensity on the defensive side. Either way it goes, Curry is averaging nearly 30 a night in the playoffs, and I cannot see him slowing down in the Finals.
Advantage: Warriors

Shooting Guard: Klay Thompson vs. Iman Shumpert
Chicago-area native Shump has fit in well since leaving the trash fire known as the New York Knicks. Against my Chicago Bulls, he turned into a three-point shooter knocking down critical shots which would make you think he was doing more scoring than a little over 10 points a game as he has averaged during the playoffs. Shump, however, is best known for his defense. Look for him to spend his Finals chasing either Curry or Thompson. Klay has been using his eight days of rest to recover from a concussion which left his ear bleeding in the Western Conference Finals finale. Although his scoring has fallen a little during the playoffs, this writer believes his best ball is ahead of him and he easily edges out his opposition.
Advantage: Warriors

Small Forward: Harrison Barnes vs. LeBron James
Not much to say here. James is clearly the best player between these two individually and holistically. The old adage of “You can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him” applies here. However, Barnes is nowhere near a pushover and has had games where he has led the Warriors in scoring, including in the Western Conference Finals. I think Barnes could possibly have another game like this as Bron Bron (nh) will likely switch to guard either Curry or Thompson which can find Barnes matched up against Kyrie Irving.
Advantage: Cavs

Power Forward: Draymond Green vs. Tristian Thompson
Draymond Green is a do it all guy. He is second in assists currently on the Warriors roster and has been able to pretty much guard all five positions. He can get buckets everywhere on the court and you have to respect his jumper from 15ft and out. This will be tough for Thompson, who has been a monster on the boards, especially offensively. If you follow my twitter (@mikeyvick_ in case you don’t,) you have seen me time and time say “PAY TRISTIAN THOMPSON.” The dude is everywhere, but I don’t think Draymond will be going for that in this series. I expect Thompson to be ineffective as Green will put a body on him on defense and offensively keep him out of the paint as he spreads the floor.
Advantage: Warriors

Center: Andrew Bogut vs. Timofey Mosgov
Mosgov has proved to be one of the better pickups for any team this year. He has fit in well with physical play around the basket, can sometimes hit a short jumper when LBJ finds him in the most unpredictable sports, and he can defend the pick and roll very well which will be uber important in this series. Bogut is a great shot blocker and a big body, and has been healthy for the most part during his real first chance to play some relevant basketball, but it stops there as he won’t do much scoring. I have to favor Mosgov, who has stepped in for one of my favorite players, Anderson Varejao, and has not missed a beat. He’s made the Cavs a better team, like it or not.
Advantage: Cavs

Coaching: Steve Kerr vs. Dave Blatt
Both are rookie coaches. Save your “Mark Jackson blah blah blah…,” Kerr is legit. His adjustment of moving Draymond Green to the starting lineup over David Lee (remember David Lee???) worked out as he probably planned, or even better. Blatt does not coach. He almost helped my Bulls go up 3-1 over the Cavs, but LBJ made a coaching decision for him and sealed the game and later the series. I have to go with Kerr here.
Advantage: Warriors

Benches
This matchup will for the most part come down to Dellavedova, J.R. Smith and James Jones against Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, Leandro Barbosa, Festus Ezeli and possibly Marreese Speights. The loss of Kevin Love directly affects the Cavs bench as now they need minutes from elsewhere at the forward position and Mike Miller and Shawn Marion cannot be counted on. Smith will come out shooting, hand in his face or wide open, up 12, down 15, 1st quarter or clutch time. He will probably have, in Earl Smith fashion 20+ point games and sub 10 point games. He can change this series for the good or bad. The Warriors go deep into their bench for a playoff team with players flying into the game and pushing the ball, which has to be wearing for the Cavs. Ezeli is an underrated big man with skill and Iguodala and Livingston are Illinois high school legends who can still get it done in the league.
Advantage: Warriors

Intangibles such as team chemistry, clutch decision making, and health all, in my opinion, favor the Warriors. Also, the Warriors have a better home court advantage and the extra game at home, if needed (don’t we all hope this goes 7 games?) will definitely help them out. My prediction is Warriors in 6.