The NBA Finals are here. Will you be watching the fourth consecutive year of the same match-up? The Warriors and Cavs have been the talk of the league for a number of years now, and honestly, Klay Thompson is right. The rest of the league needs to get better. It’s not their fault that they keep making finals appearances.
Who/what should we all be looking for before tonight’s game?
Kevin Love
Love is going to be an important person heading into the finals. His play will not only help LeBron, but it will keep Cleveland competitive. His numbers (13.9 PPG, 10 RPG) don’t look convincing in these playoffs, but his presence alone can be the difference. Hopefully he passes concussion protocol for tonight.
*Editor’s Note: Love has just been cleared to play.
’07 Cavs vs ’18 Cavs
There’s been a debate that this Cleveland team resembles the 2007 Cavs, and fans have been going crazy. The topic at hand is very realistic. Let’s reminisce on that roster.
Shannon Brown
Daniel “Booby” Gibson
Drew Gooden
Larry Hughes
Damon Jones
Zydrunas Ilgauskas
LeBron James
Dwayne Jones
Donyell Marshall
Ira Newbie
Sasha Pavlovic
Scot Pollard
Eric Snow
Anderson Varejao
David Wesley
This year’s Cavs team has a little more skill than the 07 Cavs. This assumption came to life based on LeBron bringing a one-man show to the finals. In 2007, no name besides LeBron really jumps out at you. It showed in the series. He had to be a one-man show at 22, and now he’s faced with the matter again at 33.
Role Players
People are quick to overlook Cleveland’s role players. Despite their struggles, the Cavs have seen players like George Hill, Jeff Green, Kyle Korver, and Tristan Thompson all step up. Green had a big game under LeBron with 19 points in the Game 7 against Boston, and Hill has been a consistent offensive option throughout the playoffs. Korver always knows how to get a bucket, but his defense has created frustration for other teams as of late. His intensity is something that’s scary, especially come finals time. We haven’t seen this type of Korver in his 14 years in the league.
Thompson will always be the X-factor for this Cleveland team. His presence on the glass matches up well with Draymond Green and JaVale Mcgee. If he becomes more of an offensive option, then that could mean the difference between winning and losing.
Warriors Rotation
For the Warriors, their rotations are deep and a few players have been able to become part of that rotation and make an impact. Some key guys to keep an eye on heading into the series:
Kevin Looney
He isn’t an offensive option at all, but his defense is what’s been getting him minutes. He even got a start against the Rockets in the conference finals.
Andre Iguodala
The former Finals MVP is an instant key piece to the team’s success. When the Warriors adjust to their small ball rotation, Iggy is the first person off the bench.
Shaun Livingston
Livingston’s athleticism and ability to dominate in the low-post as a point guard separates him from the Cavs second line.
STARS
Lastly, we should never shy away from the players that will be tough to guard all-around in Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant. These three can get going at just about anytime, and the majority of the offense is run through them. If the Warriors get out on the break early and start getting open looks on the perimeter, this series could be over in the blink of an eye.
Who’s taking part IV?