2018 NBA Finals Preview

Here. We. Go. After 82 regular season games and three more rounds of playoff hoops, we are set to go. Seven games, four wins for somebody to lay claim to the Larry O'Brien trophy as the top team in the National Basketball Association. The writing has been on the wall since the beginning of October who was going to be the last two teams standing. Only question was how were they going to get here. Well we got our answer. Enough wasting time. Here's a breakdown of this years NBA Finals.

For the fourth straight year, it's the Western Conference Champion Golden State Warriors taking on the Eastern Conference Champion Golden State Warriors. Cleveland finished the regular season with a 50-32 record, which placed them 4th in the Eastern Conference. Once the playoffs rolled around, Cleveland defeated the Indiana Pacers in seven games in the first round, then swept the Toronto Raptors in the second round and defeated the Boston Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland is now 119-97 lifetime in the playoffs. As for Golden State, they are the defending NBA Champions. Golden State finished with a 58-24 record, which was good enough for 2nd place in the West. Once the playoffs rolled around, Golden State beat the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the opening round, a five game series win over the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2nd round and a seven game series win over the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals. Golden State is now 114-83 lifetime in the playoffs. This marks the 4th straight meeting in the finals between these two clubs, with the Warriors having won two of the previous three series.

Here's the date and times for every game in this series:
May 31 9:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
June 3 8:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
June 6 9:00 pm Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
June 8 9:00 pm Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
June 11 9:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors* Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
June 14 9:00 pm Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers* Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
June 17 8:00 pm Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors* Oracle Arena, Oakland, California

Looks like old friends meet up again with the title on the line. Cleveland got here, no surprise, on the strength of the greatest player in the world, LeBron James. King James has been playing out of his mind all playoffs long. Kevin Love's been out hurt, so the biggest star that LeBron has been playing alongside is J.R. Smith. Just consider for a moment the level LeBron is playing at to this point in the post season. He is averaging 34 points, 9.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game these playoffs, which is eye popping numbers. So who's gonna draw the assignment of trying to cover LeBron in this series? You'd think it would be Andre Iguodala, who'd done it in the past. He's dealing with a bit of an injury right now, so if he can't go, Draymond Green and maybe some David West could get the assignment. If its Iguodala, then it'll make the King work plenty hard at both ends of the floor. If it's not him, then it may make things a little easier, and give LeBron more room to move. It won't be just on LeBron for Cleveland to pull off this series win. Kevin Love, George Hill, Tristan Thompson and Kyle Korver are going to need to really step their game up in this series and if they don't show up, it doesn't matter what James does. It won't be enough.

Golden State looks to be their usual balanced selves heading into this finals showdown. Just like trying to find somebody to cover LeBron, its going to be a tough task to try and cover Kevin Durant. Tristan Thompson or Larry Nance were used well against Boston, but if Cleveland wants to stand a chance, then Jeff Green is going to be their top choice. It's more then just trying to guard Durant, as the Warriors are known for their rotation. If Durant doesn't get you, then Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymon Green can find ways to burn you. That's the beauty of having a team as talented and loaded as the one the Warriors have. Golden State can really get a team spread out when Steph Curry is allowed to do his thing from deep. The Warriors are at their best when Curry is bending a defense to his will and he needs the ball to do that. Give the ball to Curry and let him unleash the Warriors heavy 3-point shooting offense.

Had it been Houston, I would have given the Cavs more of a chance. But, much like last year, the Warriors are too deep and balanced compared to Cleveland. LeBron has managed to pull off some playoff magic tricks in the past. This case, he doesn't have enough in it to try and pull it off this year. Cleveland may get a game at home but it won't be enough. Warriors are just too good a team.

Prediction: Warriors in 5!