2015 NBA Finals Preview

And here we go. We started this journey way back in October. 30 teams all felt they had a chance to claim the crown. Then fast forward to April, where the playoffs rolled in with 16 teams standing. After a month and a half of battle, there are two teams left standing. What's on the line? Winner gets the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, as winners of the NBA Crown.

This year's finals matchup pits the best team in basketball the Golden State Warriors taking on the Eastern Conference Champions the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the Cleveland Cavaliers, they made the post season after winning the Central division, going 53-29 during the regular season. Once the Cavs entered the playoffs, they have had a somewhat easy trip to the finals. The Cavaliers swept the Boston Celtics in the first round, then bounced the Chicago Bulls in six games during the second round, while finally sweeping the Hawks in the conference finals. This marks the 5th straight year that an Eastern Conference team has Lebron James on its roster to play in the finals (this year with CLE and the last four with MIA). The last East team to play for a title without Lebron on the roster was the 2010 Boston Celtics who fell to the LA Lakers in seven games. Cleveland hasn't played for an NBA crown since getting swept by the Spurs in 2007, the only other time the franchise has made the finals.

As for the Golden State Warriors, they had the best record in the NBA during the regular season, going 67-15, including 39-2 at home. With the season the team had, rookie head coach Steve Kerr became the willingest rookie head coach in league history. In fact, Golden State became just the 10th team in league history to notch at least 67 victories. The last team to win 67 or more games was the 2006-2007 Dallas Mavericks. The last team in NBA history to win 67 or more games during the regular season and walk away with the NBA title was 1999-2000 Los Angeles Lakers. Golden State got to this point in the playoffs by sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, then they disposed of the Memphis Grizzlies in six games during the second round, finally taking care of the Houston Rockets in five games in the conference finals. For the Warriors, this marks the 7th time they have made the finals, winning the title three times. Their last championship victory came in 1975, sweeping the Washington Bullets. Ironically enough, that championship win was the last time that the Warriors have played in the finals.

These teams split the two meetings during the regular season. Golden State won in Cleveland, 112-94 on January 9th. Cleveland took the matchup out on the west coast, a 110-99 win on February 26th. The two teams have never faced eachother before in the playoffs.

Here are the dates, times and channels for every game in this series:
June 4 9:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, Oakland, California ABC
June 7 8:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, Oakland, California ABC
June 9 9:00 pm Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio ABC
June 11 9:00 pm Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio ABC
June 14 8:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors* Oracle Arena, Oakland, California ABC
June 16 9:00 pm Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers* Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio ABC
June 19 9:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors* Oracle Arena, Oakland, California ABC

So now that we know how each team got here, and when they tip off, lets take a look at what they have to do to come out with a victory and the title.

If your the Cavaliers, there's plenty at stake for you, from a team and individual perspective. Lebron decided to come home over the summer. He felt he did a lot of growing up while playing in Miami, which he did. Now he wanted a chance to come back to his hometown and carry the team and city to a title, something Cleveland has been starving for. Kevin Love hasn't played since the end of the opening round against Boston, and Kyrie Irving has had his moments, but still has injury troubles to deal with. Even still, with Lebron in charge, Cleveland hasn't been challenged in the east, going 12-2 in this years playoffs. Lebron has been effective this year, as he’s posted 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists. The only other player in league history to notch at least a 27-10-8 in a postseason was “The Big O,” Oscar Robertson (Sports Illustrated).

Lets not forget, there is more to this basketball team than just Lebron James. He can't do everything himself, he has had some help in this years playoffs. JR Smith and Iman Shumpert, both castoffs from the New York Knicks, have come up big so far for the Cavs, especially from behind the three point line. Shumpert is hitting about 36.8% and Smith is operating at a 39.6%. Both guys have each drained four or more three-pointers in a combined seven playoff games so far. And, they have provided solid defense, which has been a big help for Cleveland in this years playoffs. They have had help on the defensive end. Throw in the talent of guys like Tristan Thompson, grit of Matthew Dellavedova and a (presumably) healthy Kyrie Irving following a handful of days off. This bunch gives Cleveland enough firepower to compete with Golden State.

One thing that the Cavs are going to have to pay attention to in this series is the possibility of taking contested jumpers. Or rather, their ability to hit them. Around 28 percent of the Cavaliers' total shot attempts have been open or wide-open threes to this point. The problem here? They won't get THAT many open looks against the Warriors in this series. Cleveland has to try to find those open looks again. If they cannot, then the Cavs have to be able to hit the shots when the get them. If they can't then this could be a quick series. Cleveland was able to get more open looks in previous rounds, but against a defensive team like that of the Warriors, it won't be there as easy.

Now the Golden State Warriors are the best team in basketball, being lead by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Both of those guys have had outstanding playoffs this year, there is no disputing that. Both guys are now benefiting from having a week off between games. Head contusion befell Stephen Curry, falling hard in game five against the Rockets. Meanwhile it was a concussion suffered by Klay Thompson, when he was struck in the head by an knee in game five as well. Golden State is a team that likes to move the ball around and keep pace moving. They have great ball movement, which allows their shooters to get open looks and knock down shots.

One thing that the Warriors have going for them is depth. They have the Splash Brothers, that's for sure. But they also have guys like Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala and Draymond Green. Golden State is deep in the shooting game, and one of the few teams this season that have finished in the top ten in the league on both the offensive and defensive side of the basketball. While the Cavs may be able to matchup offensively to Golden State, its the defensive side of the ball where the two teams differ. Cleveland finished 18th in the NBA while the Warriors finished in the top ten. Having a team that is in the top ten in both catagories is very very rare to have. Its going to make for a fun series to watch.

What the Warriors are going to have to work on in this series is the pace of the game. Golden State likes to move a fast paced game, but the Cavs don't Cleveland plays more of a slower pace game, something that the Warriors can't handle very well. If you look at what happened against the Grizzlies in the last round, the two games that Memphis won, they controlled the pace. Golden State has to get the jump on the Cavs and push the pace quickly. If Cleveland is allowed to control the game and set the tempo, Golden State may have trouble trying to adjust to whats going on.

Prediction
Its been an easy topic for discussion that the East is the weaker of the two. Cleveland had a slightly easy trip to the finals, at least by comparison to what the Warriors had to go through. With that being said, the Cavs have impressed me being able to get to where they are with what they have. Lebron may have lower numbers than expected for a guy his talent, but he has had to do almost everything for the Cavaliers in the playoffs, because Love has been hurt and Irving has been ineffective. At the same token, the Warriors are just that much better. Golden State has had unlimited weapons in the playoffs. Cleveland is a good team, there is no denying that. But they have yet to face a team in this years playoffs who are as deep and well rounded as the Warriors. Cleveland will take a game or two in this series but its almost a no brainer.

Warriors in 6!