By the time this article gets published, we will already know a few things about this NBA Finals rematch that is happening as we speak, but that does not stop us from doing a preview if you haven’t read one already. Yes we did already mention that this is a rematch from last season’s finals, where LeBron James and company look to take back what they had thought was theirs a year ago. Meanwhile, the Warriors are trying to top off the greatest regular season ever with a Championship to go with it. The Warriors claimed the Best Record Ever with 73 wins, the most ever in the regular season. Where as the Cavs just kinda had an easier road to be the No. 1 team in the East. Let’s face it the Eastern Conference is nothing like it used to be so when we see LeBron James in his sixth straight NBA Finals is it really a shocker? Needless to say this isn’t an article that is going to Bash the Greatness of LeBron James, this is an article to preview what could happen in this year's finals.
In the past four years, we have seen two rematches in the Finals. If you remember the first one, it was when LeBron James was with Miami and it took seven games to beat the Spurs (Even though the Spurs had beaten themselves in Game Six, but who’s judging?). And then the following year it was the opposite story of the Spurs dismantling a team that dismantled the Eastern Conference again. Since the first time in the finals against the Spurs, LeBron James has yet to win a title. It has been three years since his last taste to ultimate victory and this year he has in my opinion a much better chance to hold the Championship again in his arms, but “the road is long and the journey is hard” said someone famous (I didn’t bother looking up who said this) and its going to take everyone on the team to help.
For starters, and speaking of starters, Kyrie Irving has to play this entire series this time around. Last year in the finals, in overtime he took a bad hop and was left on the bench the rest of the finals. But before he left due to injury he scored 23 points, had two blocks on Curry and forced the Warriors to turn the ball over four times. If he hadn’t left due to his knee injury this series could have went a whole new way for the Cavs. But this is why we watch sports, for athletes to get a second try and redeem themselves from past horrors. Speaking of horrors LeBron James would know better than any athlete how hard it is to win the big one. His record in the finals shows that with a 2-4 record. This being his 7th overall and six straight years is an amazing stat but that is all it will be if he doesn’t win this one. This one is much different than the others. He has been here too many times and failed way too many times. Its great that he puts up triple doubles in almost every Finals game he has played in, but when you don’t win that’s what he has been remembered more for.
The Warriors on the other hand are looking through a different window. Not only posting the greatest regular season record of all time at 73-9, but also coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the Western Conference Finals. Coming back from a three games to one deficit has only been done nine other times besides the Warriors. Last season, we saw Houston do it against the Clippers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Now that the Warriors have finally been battle tested they look to keep their title reign going with a Back-to-Back Championship run. In the past 10 years there have only been two repeating champions, that is the 2009 to 2010 Los Angeles Lakers and the 2012 to 2013 Miami Heat. The Warriors have been down but keep battling back in every game especially the Western Conference Finals. Just look at Game Seven they were down by 13 in the first half and cut the lead to six points by half time. Then once the third quarter hit they finally took the lead midway through. And never looked back.
How to play each other:
Now that we see where both teams have come from, now it's time to look at how they should play against each other. Number one LeBron has to not be afraid to take over this series. LeBron Averaged 21 points in last seasons Finals and in two matchups against Golden State he averaged 20 points. This postseason he has averaged 24 points per game with seven assists and nine total rebounds almost triple double worthy. But he has to be the guy like he said in Game Five two years ago when his Heat team was down 3-1, “Follow my lead.” He has to lead this team and be the voice, the coach and the general (like he has been this entire season) for bringing the Cavs their first World Championship. However his team has to adapt in order to play against the reigning defending champions.
It's not going to be easy, especially when the Warriors players can do so much. They have guys that can play multiple positions, they can play small ball, they can play transition, and they can match any team and then some. This team is the ultimate team that can win multiple championships but have to fend off a hungry Cavs team. The Cavs have another problem to look forward too. Unlike the Eastern Conference teams that they have faced to get to the Finals, when their opposing team has the lead, the Cavs feel like they can come back against anyone. Unless you’re the Warriors who will make a 10-point lead go to 20-point lead within three minutes. We have seen it over and over again this season that when the Warriors have the lead they aren’t just going to let you take it away from them, you have to earn it. They grip that lead like a newborn baby grips a finger, not going to let it go that fast or easy. Also it will be interesting to see how the Cavs eliminate the three point game from the likes of Curry, Thompson, Green, Iguodala, Speights, Barbosa, Barnes, Livingston shall I continue? And this question also goes for the Warriors as well. And finally who will win the MVP award. Iggy won it last year with how well he played defense and how was the reason that the Warriors won it all last year, but can he do it again or will another rise to the occasion and help their team win the championship.
Predictions:
I am no expert at all, all of what you read here is what I have read or saw and watched. I would like to one day be on the screen telling you what I think but for now this will do. My prediction for this series is this I think that four games to two is what we will see and we will see (in the words of John Cena, if you don’t know who this is I envy you), the champ is still here! On my Midday Madness Sports Show, I said that the Thunder was going to win it all until I saw them collapse game by game. This time I will not go against the Champs. And once again for sixth straight year I will be rooting against LeBron James.
