Game 2, Cavs @ Warriors, Sunday, June 7th @ 8:00 PM
Game 3, Warriors @ Cavs, Tuesday, June 9th @ 9:00 PM
Game 4, Warriors @ Cavs, Thursday, June 11th @ 9:00 PM
Game 5, Cavs @ Warriors, Sunday, June 14th @ 8:00 PM
Game 6, Warriors @ Cavs, Tuesday, June 16th @ 9:00 PM
Game 7, Cavs @ Warriors, Friday, June 19th @ 9:00 PM
The NBA Finals are finally here and, as a fan, you couldn't be happier with the matchup. The baby faced assassin, Stephen Curry, vs. the King, LeBron James. There are many other intriguing match-ups in this series, but these two will be the center for discussion. Instead of an in-depth, lengthy preview like we did for the Conference Finals, here are ten reasons to watch the 2015 NBA Finals (not that you really need any):
1. A Drought Ends for One Franchise
The city of Cleveland has been the laughing stock of professional sports as they have not won a major professional sports championship since 1964. That is 51 years for you who aren't so great at math and if LeBron were to lead this team to a title it would justify his decision to leave Miami to return to Cleveland. A statue would be built for LeBron and the city would party as if they were Johnny Manziel - sorry if that is a sore subject Browns' fans. As for the Warriors, they have not won a title in 40 years (1975), a title for that fan base would be amazing considering the Oracle is loudest - fake or not - place to play in the NBA and has been for the last few years. I can't say Steph is guaranteed a statue yet but stay tuned.
2. Riley Curry... Riley Curry... Riley Curry
The new sweetheart of the NBA has been killing the Internet lately and I love it. For those who hate seeing her steal the show, you probably hate puppies too. Do you hate puppies?! If nothing else, this needs to go 7 games for the simple hope that Riley Curry has 7 chances to take the spotlight. That being said we'll most likely not see her after losses but one can hope. In all seriousness, I think it is great that Steph has shared these playoffs with Riley. His number one job is to be a father, but being an NBA player he is busy most of the year and he should spend every second he can relishing these moments with his daughter.
3. How effective can Kyrie be? And is there anywhere to hide him on defense?
The injury battles Kyrie has faced during the playoffs have been well documented and his lack of effort on defense has been well documented throughout his career. If Kyrie has a hard time moving around, I don't see who he can guard on the Warriors. David Blatt cannot completely take his young star out of the game as he is a huge key for the Cavs on the offensive side of the ball. For Cleveland to win the Finals they will need two or three 20+ point games from Uncle Drew. The key question will be, does Kyrie score more points than he gives up?
4. Battle of the Rookie Coaches
Though the two are hardly rookies to professional basketball, the winner of this match up will be the first rookie head coach to win it all since Pat Riley with the Lakers in 1982. Steve Kerr inherited a loaded roster and has simply taken them to a new level with there ability to play up tempo and let Stephen Curry do Stephen Curry things. David Blatt at first, inherited a young and talented squad, but then some guy named LeBron returned home and the expectation of Blatt grew exponentially. The job he has done this year has really been under appreciated but a championship would silence the critics... at least for a little bit.
5. Containing Lebron
LeBron James cannot be stopped when he is aggressive, plain and simple. He is a once in a generation blend of size, speed, and athleticism; containing him will be no easy task. That being said, the Warriors are one of the few teams that have the defense to limit him. They play great team defense and have multiple players that they can throw at LeBron. Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala will draw the main task of guarding LeBron, while Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will occasionally be assigned to LeBron. When the King is aggressive, he simply cannot be stopped when he is attacking the rim, but the key will be how many jump shots the Warriors defense can force LeBron to take.
6. J. R. Smith
There may not be another player like J. R. Smith in the league, he is truly one of a kind. The guy loves to put the team on his back and take tough shots. He is absolutely fearless which is likely his greatest skill, but sometimes it's also his biggest weakness. For the Cavs to win this series, they will need J. R. Smith to have at least two 20+ plus point games. With an injured Kyrie, Smith's offensive success is huge in this series. All of a sudden J.R. becomes the Cavs second scoring option and he will need to hit big shots to keep the Warriors' defense honest. If the Cavs win the Finals, LeBron will more than likely win Finals MVP but J.R. Smith could be the real MVP for the Cavs if he plays to his potential.
7. Klay Thompson
The other splash brother has been all over ESPN due to his concussion issues but he has been cleared and he will play in Game 1 of the Finals. Thompson will play a huge role in this series on both sides of the ball and if he gets hot from behind the arc, the Cavs should go ahead and pack it up and go home. This could be a real coming out party for Klay because the nation is obsessed with Steph and views Klay as a sidekick and byproduct of Curry's on-court greatness. Thompson is much more than that and America will finally be able to see that.
8. Over/Under Dellavedova "Dirty" Plays
The dirty kangaroo - not Andrew Bogut - but Matthew Dellavedova has taken on the role of playoff villain and seemingly it's been fully embraced. Personally, I think the St. Mary's product just plays hard and that sometimes leads to injuries, especially when you're consistently diving on the floor. The only play that was dirty to me was the scissor kick on Taj Gibson, which was just really... lame. As for the over/under on "dirty" plays in the Finals, I'd put it at 2 and would take the over. Not because he will actually make a dirty play, but more so that ESPN magnify every time he dives on the floor near Steph Curry and say he's going after his ankles. I respect how hard Dellavedova plays and I hope he continues to play with that passion.
9. LeBron's Legacy
LeBron James is without a doubt a top five player in NBA history. Some would argue he's the greatest player in NBA history, but that's a debate for another day, a day when his career is over. If he were to beat a more talented, deeper Warriors team, he would have a much better argument. I am not a huge LeBron fan because I think he is a bit over dramatic, but the way he makes everyone around him better is truly amazing to from a fan standpoint. This supporting cast is better than the previous ones he has had in Cleveland, but this team has not been healthy for a majority of the playoffs, yet here they are in the Finals. If LeBron leads the Cavs to the championship, I believe it well help cement his legacy as the greatest of all time.
10. IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME
Lebron James and Steph Curry are playing each other in the NBA Finals and what the viewing nation needs to do is simply enjoy it. The Warriors are arguably the most entertaining teams to watch in the NBA, but not many people watch them due to the late games on the West Coast. This is your chance America! Watch them play at a fast pace while having the time of their lives. The Warriors are a family and to see how much fun they have as a team makes you want to follow them. As for the Cavs, America is robbed of watching Kyrie at 100%, but they can still appreciate LeBron James and his greatness. The King is truly a once in a generation player, so soak it up because his career is starting to wind down. My advice for the Finals is simple, just watch the games with friends, beer (if you are of age), and enjoy it because it's going to be one crazy ride.
Our Predictions
Johnathan is extremely unoriginal and has Warriors in 6, I am going with the King and the Cavs in 7.
No comments:
Post a Comment