2016 NBA Finals: The Ultimate X-Factors

May 26, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) stands on the court prior to the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Channing Frye (9) reacts in the third quarter against the Toronto Raptors in game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Channing Frye, Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: Power Forward
Age: 33 (5/17/1983)
Postseason Slash Line: .621/.578/.800
Postseason Averages: 15.7 MPG, 8.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.0 3PM

When the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Channing Frye at the 2016 NBA Trade Deadline, most wrote it off as an underwhelming acquisition. Roughly four months later, it’s looking like one of the biggest steals of the season.

Frye has been delightful for the Cavaliers thus far, and could be LeBron James’ Mike Miller in the 2016 NBA Finals.

For those unfamiliar, Miller was an opportunistic 3-point assassin during the Miami Heat’s championship runs in 2012 and 2013. He scored 23 points and made seven 3-point field goals in the close-out game of the 2012 NBA Finals, and stepped up in Games 2 and 6 of the 2013 series.

Frye will be expected to provide a similar, if not more consistent, impact.

Frye is currently averaging 2.0 3-point field goals on 57.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc. It’d be tough to hold him to the expectation of near 60 percent shooting from distance, but he’ll need to be a consistent threat in this series.

Beyond being a reliable player, the Cavaliers will likely need Frye to provide at least one 20-point eruption. Fair or otherwise, that’s life in the Finals.

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