It's an NBA Finals rematch 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 returned to his explosive self this postseason (after hurting his knee in Game 1 of the Finals last year), averaging 24.2 ppg against the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. 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 his second straight MVP for good reason. Although he battled injuries in the first two rounds of the playoffs against Houston and Portland and has struggled with his shooting rhythm since coming back, the league's most explosive scorer still averaged 27 ppg, 7 rpg, and 6 apg against Russell Westbrook and OKC in helping the Warriors come back from a 3-1 deficit. I expect each team to cross-match, with Curry being guarded by JR Smith and Irving being guarded by Klay Thompson, so they won't be matched up directly on each other, but NBA fans will be treated to a point guard matchup that was cut short in last year's Finals.
Edge: Warriors
Shooting Guards: JR Smith vs. Klay Thompson
JR Smith is the ultimate heat-check, streaky shooter, who has been lights out this postseason (40% for 3 against the Raptors in the ECF). Meanwhile, Klay Thompson is coming off a Western Conference Final in which he shot lights out in Games 6 and 7 to help the Warriors comeback agaimst OKC. He will be critical to the Warriors' success with not only his sharp-shooting but also his perimeter defense on Kyrie and potentially LeBron.
Edge: Warriors
Small Forwards: LeBron James vs. Harrison Barnes
LeBron has carried Cleveland back to the NBA Finals for the second straight year, his seventh straight overall. He has increased his point total each round, and will need to be the best player on the court this series, scoring efficiently and getting his teammates going in order for Cleveland to lift the trophy. A year ago in the finals, James struggled against the physical Andre Iguodala in Games 4-6, as Iguodala won the MVP of the series. He can't do the same this year. Barnes is a streaky shooter who can provide timely shots for Golden State. If Curry or Thompson are struggling, Barnes needs to step up and be ready to shoot.
Significant Edge: Cavaliers
Power Forwards: Kevin Love vs. Draymond Green
Love missed the Finals last year and needs to have an impact this year for the Cavaliers. HE can stretch the floor and shoot three's, but more importantly, he has to grab rebounds and provide some low-post presence for the perimeter heavy Cavaliers. Meanwhile, Green, when not kicking people, is the heart and soul of the Warriors as he rebounds, runs the floor, passes, and shoots 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: Tristan Thompson 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.Thompson signed a big contract last offseason and needs to make an impact on this series by grabbing rebounds and playing good interior defense against the cutters of the Warriors. When he gets switched out on the Golden State guards, he has to stay in front and contest jumpers under control. Meanwhile, Bogut's interior defense around the basket area, rebounding, and (illegal) screen setting is key to a lot of the Warriors success. He needs to stay out of foul trouble and stay available for Steve Kerr in this series.
Edge: Warriors
Bench: Iman Shumpert/Channing Frye/Richard Jefferson/Matthew Dellavedova vs. Andre Iguodala/Shaun Livingston/Leandro Barbosa/Marreese Speights
Shumpert's minutes have dropped this year, but he still provides good perimeter defense and decent three-point shooting. Dellavedova is a pest but helps the Cavs get into their sets and set up shots from LeBron and Love. Channing Frye, a midseason acquisition, has been a revelation shooting threes in the playoffs, but he needs to contribute on the defensive end as well. Finally, old man Richard Jefferson has gotten playoff minutes because of his ability to stretch the floor and play decent defense.
Golden State's bench is deep again this year. Andre Iguodala, the MVP of last year's Finals, will no doubt play heavy minutes this series against LeBron. Livingston and Barbosa are instant offense and energy when they get in the game and are good shooters. Mo Buckets Speights adds toughness and has extended his range beyond the three-point line this season.
Edge: Warriors
My prediction:
The Cavaliers are deeper with Irving and Love, but their bench is not, and I think their defense is not athletic or good enough to hang with the Warriors. Heroball, as the Cavaliers often tend to play, only benefits the Warriors' athletic defense.
In 7.
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