It's a marquee NBA Finals between MVP Stephen Curry and the league best Warriors and LeBron James and championship-starved Cleveland! Here's a match-up by match-up breakdown.
Point Guards: Kyrie Irving vs. Stephen Curry
Irving has been banged up much of this postseason, with a hurt left knee and right foot, which has limited his explosive effectiveness. At his best, he is one of the most dynamic players in the NBA, with his devastating handles, quickness, and lights out shooting. He also takes a lot of the burden off LeBron James since he consistently beats his man one-on-one, which draws help defenders and opens up shots for teammates. Meanwhile, Curry won the MVP for good reason. The leading scorer and assist man on the league's best team, his play-making ability and lights-out shooting (the best shooting PG in NBA history) has led Golden State to its first Finals appearance since 1975. He has been nearly unstoppable this postseason, averaging 29.6 ppg, 6.4 asg and shooting 44% from three-point range.
Edge: Warriors
Shooting Guards: Iman Shumpert vs. Klay Thompson
Shumpert was a midseason acquisition from the Knicks who brings good perimeter defense and three-point shooting to help Cleveland spread the floor. He has averaged 10.1 ppg this postseason, while also grabbing 5.4 rpg, and shooting 38% from three-point range. Meanwhile, Klay Thompson, assuming he is over the concussion-like symptoms he suffered from Game 5's clinching win over the Rockets, is critical to the Warriors' success with this sharp-shooting and perimeter defense, as he has averaged 20 ppg and shot 43% from three-point range, while also having to guard players like Tyreke Evans and James Harden this postseason. With both teams likely employing cross-matches, Thompson's defense on Irving, as well as Shumpert's defense on Curry will be a big key in this series.
Edge: Warriors
Small Forwards: LeBron James vs. Harrison Barnes
LeBron's outside shooting may be putrid this postseason (17.6% from three-point range?!?), but he has done everything else for the Cavaliers without Kevin Love and a healthy Irving. Averaging 27.6 ppg, 10.6 rpg, and 8.3 rpg, he has carried Cleveland back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2007 and given the city a legitimate chance at a championship in his first year back after four years in Miami. How effective he is against the top defensive team in the NBA in the Warriors will obviously big storyline in this series, as he should see a bevy of different defenders, from Harrison Barnes to Klay Thompson to NBA Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Draymond Green and even Andre Iguodala off the bench. Speaking of Barnes, he's had a solid postseason, shining in Game 5's clincher over the Rockets with 24 points, while playing shutdown defense on James Harden. His impact on this series will be to stretch the floor by knocking down open jumpers, rebounding, and playing good defense on the best basketball player on the planet.
Significant Edge: Cavaliers
Power Forwards: Tristan Thompson vs. Draymond Green
Thompson has been a beast on the boards, averaging 9.9 rpg this postseason and 10.4 ppg, mostly off putbacks and hustle plays around the rim. If he can be as effective on the glass as he was against the Hawks and get more possessions for the Cavs against the NBA's top defensive team, then Cleveland has a great shot. Meanwhile, Green does it all for the Warriors, as he rebounds, runs the floor, and short threes. Most importantly, however, he anchors a great defensive team. He should match-up with LeBron for a good chunk of the games and he needs to keep LeBron in front of him and force him into long jumpers.
Edge: Warriors
Centers: Timofey Mozgov vs. Andrew Bogut
Both teams employ a lot of small-ball, so there are times this series when neither of these two will be in the game. Mozgov was acquired midseason to replace the injured Anderson Varajao and has fit in nicely, finishing around the rim, rebounding, and being the team's top shot blocker. Meanwhile, Bogut is the leading rebounder and shot blocker on the Warriors. His defense around the basket area against James' drives could be a key thing to watch for in this series.
Edge: Warriors
Bench: JR Smith/Matthew Dellavedova/James Jones vs. Andre Iguodala/Festus Ezeli/Shaun Livingston/Leandro Barbosa
Cleveland has had to dig deep into its reserves, with Kyrie ailing and Kevin Love out for the season. JR Smith is the ultimate heat-check, streaky shooter, who has been lights out this postseason (40% for 3). Dellavedova has quickly made his name into a pesky (dirty?) player who defends at a high level and can knock down open jump shots, and can run the offense when Irving goes to the bench. Finally, James Jones (who is in his 5th-straight Finals riding LeBron's coattails) is a sharp shooter from three-point range as well.
Meanwhile, Golden State's bench has been one of the best in the league this year and has continued to be in the playoffs. Andre Iguodala's jump shot has been awful, but his playmaking ability and perimeter defense has lifted the second unit. Ezeli has been more than capable as a backup center in limited minutes this postseason, with his rebounding and shot blocking. Finally, Livingston and Barbosa, playing limited backup minutes for Curry and Thompson, have provided sparks off the bench with their slashing and quick scoring ability.
Edge: Warriors
My prediction:
LeBron looks like a man on a mission to end Cleveland's championship drought and it would seem unwise to pick against him. However, I think the Cavs took advantage of weak Eastern Conference opponents and he will struggle against a Warriors team that will throw multiple defenders and multiple looks at him. I just don't think Kyrie Irving is healthy enough and Golden State's bench has been more consistent all-year long than the Cavaliers'. Give me the MVP of the league (this year) and the league's most complete team.
In 6.
Last round’s record: 2-0
Playoff record: 11-3
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