2016 NBA Finals Preview: Warriors vs. Cavaliers
Coaching
Steve Kerr (GSW) vs. Tyronn Lue (CLE)
We’ll keep this short and simple: As good as Lue has been since taking over for the fired David Blatt, he’s never been here before. You could certainly make the argument that Lue has been better in the playoffs than Steve Kerr, but the truth is, Lue has had to make very few adjustments in a breezy path to the Finals.
Kerr, on the other hand, has had to improvise without the league MVP for two weeks, and he had to face OKC’s small-ball lineup that dramatically outplayed his own.
Kerr has made a few head-scratching decisions, including any time where Anderson Varejao plays or when Curry/Klay/Green have all been on the bench together, but the reigning Coach of the Year deserves the benefit of the doubt against a relative newbie who took over the team a few months ago.
A key point in the Finals will be GSW bench vs. LeBron/Frye frontcourt at start of 2nd. Kerr may have to change rotation to play Green at C
— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) May 31, 2016
That’s not to say that the Cavs haven’t played fantastic ball under Tyronn Lue, or that Kerr is some sort of infallible coaching icon. But when the Dubs needed it most in last year’s Finals, Kerr made the ballsy adjustment of moving Iguodala into the starting lineup and it led to three straight Warriors wins to win the title.
Against a familiar opponent, I’d give the edge to Kerr to make any necessary adjustments in a seven-game series sooner than Lue.
Advantage: Golden State Warriors
Next: Key Matchup