It's that time again. It's the NBA Finals and once again for the fourth time in a row it's the Warriors and Cavaliers. This series has definitely lost it's appeal with the people but there are 5 story-lines that makes me want to watch.
The Raptor Cavs or the Celtics Cavs?
5. Which Cleveland team are we getting? Against the Toronto Raptors the Cleveland Cavaliers looked like world beaters. They had great ball movement, people other than LeBron James were making shots. They looked like a team that could compete for a world championship. Against the Celtics though, Cleveland looked completely different. The Celtics had more "dog" in the match-up. They wanted the ball more, they scrapped more, they dunked more, they did everything right except have LeBron James. The supporting cast for most part of the series was non available for the Cavs.
The Cavs averaged 188.5 points per game and gave up 105 points per game. Against the Celtics the Cavs scored an average of 97.5 points per game while giving up 95 points a game. If the Cavs can score the ball like they did versus the Raptors, look out; but if the Cavs score like they did against the Celtics, get your brooms.
Bench Play?
4. What has been a strength for the Warriors in their 2 championship runs against the Cavaliers has been the push that they receive from their bench. Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, David West, even Festus Ezeli have provided great aid off the bench in the past three years. Against the Rockets the bench was nearly nonexistent. Kerr cut down the playtime for a lot of players, and the players who received the most time off the bench were Livingston, and Quinn Cook. It's normal for most teams to only play 8 or 9 players in the playoffs anyway, but with Iguodala hurt, will the Warriors have the same punch coming off the bench this year?
The Cavaliers bench play has potential, but in the words of Wale, potential is another word for ain't done sh*t yet. We've seen the likes of Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson and Kyle Korver all play this postseason, but only Korver has shown up. The above four will have to play the best basketball in their lives to have a chance to beat Golden State, and will have to compete hard in the 8-15 minutes they get.
Who's Playing?
3. Let's take a trip back and look at the first match-up between the Warriors and Cavaliers. Andre Igoudala won MVP, mainly for the job that he did against LeBron defensively with clutch stops and steals and the clutch 3's he hit. Will Iguodala be healthy in this series? Iggy missed the last 3 games of the Semi-Finals against the Rockets and it is unknown what type of condition his knee is in even if he is cleared to play. Without Igoudala, things look possible for Cleveland.
Let's advance to the next year while we're in the memory bank. Steph Curry spent a lot of time on the bench during the 2016 playoffs. He spent the majority of the first round out, re-injured his self against the Thunder, and was a shell of his self, committing senseless turnovers in game 7. Now Steph looked awesome in Game 6 and 7, but this was when Chris Paul was out and didn't have to deal with his defense. George Hill, a long armed veteran in this league can disrupt Curry's rythm, and if not completely healthy, he could fade away in this series if he's not up to par.
Kevin Love missed game 6 and 7 due to a concussion. He also missed the 2015 Finals thanks to Kelly Olnyk and the MMA shoulder move he put on him in the first round. Love is the 2nd best player on the Cavs and for them to have a chance, he'll have to be a 20 plus point per game guy. If not the Cavs won't have a chance.
KD vs LeBron Part III
2. The series is tied up 1 to 1. LeBron won in 5 games in 2012; Durant won in 5 games in 2017. It'll definitely be intriguing to see whether or not LeBron James will compete a little more intensively against Durant this year. LeBron's an all time great and the system is predicated on him getting his numbers. He's going to score more, assist more, rebound more than any one else in this series. What I'm looking to see is if he'll answer the one on one challenge of guarding KD each and every time down the floor. Durant has the notch up in this match-up. He has the better team, he has the better shooting touch, and he's taller. If Cleveland can make things tough for KD, HE WILL FADE. Durant faded against the Heat in 2012. He faded in the 2016 WCF against the Warriors up 3-1. He faded in game 5, 6 against the Rockets. Durant has shown that he'll back down from the moment if it presents itself, but KD has also proven to be an assassin if everything is going well. It will be exciting to see just which KD we'll get in Part III Thursday.
LeBron's Legacy
1. Without question it's what's on everyone's mind. Will he go 3-6, or will he be 4-5 when these finals are over. He's established himself into the conversation as an All-Time player. He's been called the GOAT by many people, including myself. If LeBron wins this Finals Series he is. The odds seem stacked against him. The Warriors have a better team, and LeBron doesn't have a guy on his team averaging 20 other than him. Honestly, I think it's a long shot. But when you have people as talented as LeBron is, there's a chance. In what could be his last days as a Cavalier, the world will watch to see if he is who he says he is: King.
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| The Raptors |
The Raptor Cavs or the Celtics Cavs?
5. Which Cleveland team are we getting? Against the Toronto Raptors the Cleveland Cavaliers looked like world beaters. They had great ball movement, people other than LeBron James were making shots. They looked like a team that could compete for a world championship. Against the Celtics though, Cleveland looked completely different. The Celtics had more "dog" in the match-up. They wanted the ball more, they scrapped more, they dunked more, they did everything right except have LeBron James. The supporting cast for most part of the series was non available for the Cavs.
The Cavs averaged 188.5 points per game and gave up 105 points per game. Against the Celtics the Cavs scored an average of 97.5 points per game while giving up 95 points a game. If the Cavs can score the ball like they did versus the Raptors, look out; but if the Cavs score like they did against the Celtics, get your brooms.
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| or the Celtics |
Bench Play?
4. What has been a strength for the Warriors in their 2 championship runs against the Cavaliers has been the push that they receive from their bench. Shaun Livingston, Andre Iguodala, David West, even Festus Ezeli have provided great aid off the bench in the past three years. Against the Rockets the bench was nearly nonexistent. Kerr cut down the playtime for a lot of players, and the players who received the most time off the bench were Livingston, and Quinn Cook. It's normal for most teams to only play 8 or 9 players in the playoffs anyway, but with Iguodala hurt, will the Warriors have the same punch coming off the bench this year?
The Cavaliers bench play has potential, but in the words of Wale, potential is another word for ain't done sh*t yet. We've seen the likes of Rodney Hood, Larry Nance Jr., Jordan Clarkson and Kyle Korver all play this postseason, but only Korver has shown up. The above four will have to play the best basketball in their lives to have a chance to beat Golden State, and will have to compete hard in the 8-15 minutes they get.
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| Shaun Livingston has played a huge part in the Dub's Success |
Who's Playing?
3. Let's take a trip back and look at the first match-up between the Warriors and Cavaliers. Andre Igoudala won MVP, mainly for the job that he did against LeBron defensively with clutch stops and steals and the clutch 3's he hit. Will Iguodala be healthy in this series? Iggy missed the last 3 games of the Semi-Finals against the Rockets and it is unknown what type of condition his knee is in even if he is cleared to play. Without Igoudala, things look possible for Cleveland.
Let's advance to the next year while we're in the memory bank. Steph Curry spent a lot of time on the bench during the 2016 playoffs. He spent the majority of the first round out, re-injured his self against the Thunder, and was a shell of his self, committing senseless turnovers in game 7. Now Steph looked awesome in Game 6 and 7, but this was when Chris Paul was out and didn't have to deal with his defense. George Hill, a long armed veteran in this league can disrupt Curry's rythm, and if not completely healthy, he could fade away in this series if he's not up to par.
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| If he plays it'll be tough on Cleveland. |
Kevin Love missed game 6 and 7 due to a concussion. He also missed the 2015 Finals thanks to Kelly Olnyk and the MMA shoulder move he put on him in the first round. Love is the 2nd best player on the Cavs and for them to have a chance, he'll have to be a 20 plus point per game guy. If not the Cavs won't have a chance.
KD vs LeBron Part III
2. The series is tied up 1 to 1. LeBron won in 5 games in 2012; Durant won in 5 games in 2017. It'll definitely be intriguing to see whether or not LeBron James will compete a little more intensively against Durant this year. LeBron's an all time great and the system is predicated on him getting his numbers. He's going to score more, assist more, rebound more than any one else in this series. What I'm looking to see is if he'll answer the one on one challenge of guarding KD each and every time down the floor. Durant has the notch up in this match-up. He has the better team, he has the better shooting touch, and he's taller. If Cleveland can make things tough for KD, HE WILL FADE. Durant faded against the Heat in 2012. He faded in the 2016 WCF against the Warriors up 3-1. He faded in game 5, 6 against the Rockets. Durant has shown that he'll back down from the moment if it presents itself, but KD has also proven to be an assassin if everything is going well. It will be exciting to see just which KD we'll get in Part III Thursday.
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| The dominance was established here..... |
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| and was returned here.... |
LeBron's Legacy
1. Without question it's what's on everyone's mind. Will he go 3-6, or will he be 4-5 when these finals are over. He's established himself into the conversation as an All-Time player. He's been called the GOAT by many people, including myself. If LeBron wins this Finals Series he is. The odds seem stacked against him. The Warriors have a better team, and LeBron doesn't have a guy on his team averaging 20 other than him. Honestly, I think it's a long shot. But when you have people as talented as LeBron is, there's a chance. In what could be his last days as a Cavalier, the world will watch to see if he is who he says he is: King.
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| King? GOAT? Where will he be two weeks from now? |
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