By any measure, Stephen Curry is in the midst of a Cinderella season. The 27-year-old shooting god racked up his first NBA MVP, led the league in All-Star votes, helped his team tally the most victories in franchise history and is now headed the NBA Finals for the first time in his career. “Chef” Curry has consistently knocked down unbelievable shots, dropped remarkable dimes and left defenders Nae Nae-ing the night away while trying to guard the sharpshooter. Though Curry and his companions have, at times, made running the Western Conference gauntlet look easy they’ll now face their biggest challenge and his name is LeBron James.
“King” James is a seasoned veteran at nearly everything Curry has accomplished this season. This postseason marks James sixth trip at the NBA Finals and is a staggering fifth consecutive time at the rodeo. James alone has more championship experience than the entire Warriors team. Even with Kevin Love out for the season and Kyrie Irving hobbled, James has put the Cavs on his back, channeled his inner Aloe Blacc and proven that he’s the man. Though Curry has racked up the lion’s share of regular season awards, it’s common knowledge that James is still the best player in the game. The question is whether he’s great enough to beat the best and deepest team the NBA.
One criticism of the Cavaliers this season has been that they have feasted on the Leastern Conference. There’s just no way to put it, the East is terrible. I said all season long that the Cavs and Bulls were the only two teams capable of making it to the NBA Finals. Even as the Atlanta Hawks emerged as a surprise #1 seed with a remarkable run, I could never imagine them beating either team in a seven game series. The Wizards were solid, but not a true title contender. The rest of the teams were hot garbage. Nonetheless, this Cavaliers team has handled business in the playoffs.
The Cavs squad has posted an amazing 12-2 run to advance to the Finals, including two sweeps. Their matchup versus the Atlanta Hawks should give them confidence going into the Finals. While the Hawks lack a true superstar, they play a similar style of uptempo, team-first basketball as the Golden State Warriors. However with Thabo Sefalosha out and DeMarre Carroll hobbled, the Hawks lacked wing players athletic enough to slow down James and he almost single-handedly eliminated them from the playoffs. The Cavs should be comfortable with the fast tempo of the game and chasing a speedy point guard around the court.
Conversely the Warriors are 12-3 with one sweep. Their matchup versus James Harden and the Houston Rockets should help them prepare for the Cavaliers. Against the Rockets, the Warriors faced a team with a ball-dominant, nearly unstoppable superstar and several sidekicks who love to chuck it from behind the arc. Expect the Warriors to guard James with one defender most of the team. James can’t be stopped but the Warriors should fare better than the Hawks as they have a roster full of capable, athletic wing defenders including Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala. More importantly, guarding James with a single player will allow the remaining guys to fly to the three-point line at New York Knicks castoffs J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, who have been making teams pay dearly for double-teaming James.
The biggest threat to the Warriors (besides James) seems to be health. Both Curry and Thompson had scary moments and were banged up with head injuries in the Western Conference Semifinals. Both are cleared to play and will be in the lineup Thursday night, but with head injuries, you never know. Andrew Bogut is always one play away from being injured, though he has played well since returning from an extended absence in December. You can bet that Matthew Dellavedova will “accidentally” bump into all three guys at some point during the series to ensure they’re in good health.
As far as picking a winner, it’s tough. The Warriors have looked like the best team in basketball by far for nearly the entire season. They are the 14th team to win more than 65 games during the regular season and reach the NBA Finals. The previous 13 all won the championship. They are facing James, who is 2-3 in the NBA Finals with an injury-depleted team. To some that would make him sound vulnerable. To the wise, that makes him sound dangerous. James is desperate to bring Cleveland its first NBA title. Expect him to put the Cavaliers on his back and carry them the entire series.
The Warriors have not paid their dues. Oh wait, neither have the Cavaliers, outside of James. Both teams have rookie coaches so throw the experience factor out the window. The Warriors are too good. They have the depth, the offense, the defense, the versatility and the magic to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. This is Stephen Curry’s year. Not even LeBron James can stop him. James may be the best player in the game, but the San Antonio Spurs proved last season, he can be beaten by a better team. Prediction: Golden State Warriors in six games.
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