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The Golden State Warriors have finally dispatched of the Oklahoma City Thunder, (I mean OKC choked), and will now host the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. The Cavs, after besting Toronto in six games, had been waiting around to see who they would play next. Well, here we are again. The same two franchises that played last year meet again this year, and this time LeBron James actually has help! Without further adieu, here is a quick tale of the tape on each team’s starters, as well as a prediction on who I think wins.
Point Guard – Steph Curry vs. Kyrie Irving. What more is there to say about Curry? He recently earned his second MVP award in a row, and continues to play the game at a level that few can match. His prolific scoring ability, especially from beyond the three-point line, is truly remarkable. However, he is NOT a prototypical point guard. Yes, he can create his own shot, but it is not in his forte. Kyrie Irving on the other hand, IS a true lead guard. He not only gets his teammates involved (penetrating and finding them), but he can ring the bell quite nicely as well. He was DESPERATELY missed last year, and his presence in this series cannot be underestimated. The edge here kind of is a push because both do so much for their teammates.
Shooting Guard – Klay Thompson vs. J.R. Smith. Thompson’s shooting, especially in game six against Oklahoma City (41 points, 11 3’s), is not only what kept the Warriors alive, it was one of the best performances in league history. The other half of the Splash Brothers is no joke, and can equally wreck a game from long-distance. Thompson is a quiet assassin. Smith is a fine defender when interested, and a good three point shooter in his own right. But, he is also someone that easily loses focus, who can draw needless technical fouls at the most inopportune times. The edge at the two-guard is clearly with Golden State.
Small Forward – Harrison Barnes vs. Kevin Love. Barnes is a nice player. He is mainly a glue guy, someone who can have his moments. Love though, much like Irving, was injured last year and did not play in the finals. He is clearly making up for lost time, and comes in playing at a very high level offensively. The edge here is clearly with Cleveland.
Power Forward – Draymond Green vs. LeBron James. This is tough, because almost anyone compared with James comes out way behind. Green however, is an excellent player in his own right. He is really a Jack of all trades. He provides the Warriors with: scoring, rebounding, defending, facilitating, and yes, agitating. Look for the basketball, and in most occasions you will find Draymond. James, well, his ability speaks for itself. With all due respect to Steph Curry, LeBron is still the best player on planet Earth.
Center – Andrew Bogut vs. Tristan Thompson. Neither team really relies much on their starters in the middle. In fact, Bogut plays rather sparingly (20 minutes per game), and Thompson, in only a handful more minutes, provides mainly rebounding and shot-blocking. The edge up front goes to the Cavs.
Bench – the Warriors have the better, and deeper bench. Andre Iguodala was EVERYWHERE in the Thunder series, seemingly making winning plays on both sides of the court nightly. He will continue to spell Barnes at the 3, and along stuffing the stat sheet, will defend not only Love, but James at times as well. Shaun Livingston comes in at point guard and gives coach Steve Kerr a steady hand running his team, as well as a lanky, sneaky scorer. Leandro Barbosa, Festus Ezeli, and Marrese Speights also see minutes and have their worth. Cleveland on the other hand only uses a few bench players, the most effective of which has been Channing Frye. The big man as always, does most of his damage from deep. In this postseason, he is shooting 58% from 3-point range! Matthew Dellavedova brings energy with him on defense, and can drop a three ball of his own now and then too.
So, who wins, you ask? Well, I usually side with the team that has the best player. And while many precincts reporting think that Steph Curry is that guy, I still believe it’s King James. Look, he almost single-handedly carried the Cavaliers to a sixth game against these Warriors in last year’s finals, and this year, he’s got help. Something tells me that with a healthy Love, and most importantly Irving, that once and for all, the trophy is headed to Ohio and Cleveland Rocks!
And that is my 2 Sense for this week.
