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2016 NBA Finals: Position-By-Position Breakdown Of Cavs-Warriors

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) in the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 112-94. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) in the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 112-94. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) fights for a rebound against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the second quarter in game three of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 9, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) fights for a rebound against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the second quarter in game three of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Center: Tristan Thompson vs. Andrew Bogut

This positional battle is significantly more difficult to define than it may seem. Tristan Thompson is an elite offensive rebounder with no offensive game, while Andrew Bogut is a dominant rim protector whose injuries have caught up to him and severely limited his offensive versatility.

This positional advantage comes down to one defining factor: Thompson projects to hurt the Golden State Warriors more than Bogut does the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Having a center who can protect the rim will be important for the Warriors, as both Kyrie Irving and LeBron James will consistently attack the rim. Thus, Bogut’s value is very clear when those two are on the floor.

Thompson’s edge, however, is in his offensive rebounding—an area in which the Warriors have been exploited.

Thompson averaged 13.0 rebounds and 5.3 offensive boards during the 2015 NBA Finals. Golden State didn’t fare much better a round ago, as the Oklahoma City Thunder averaged 12.4 offensive rebounds per game.

Thus, while one could argue Bogut over Thompson, in this series and situation, the latter gets the nod.

Advantage: Cleveland Cavaliers

must read: Who are the Top 10 players in the 2016 NBA Finals?

Despite Thompson’s advantage, the final tally comes in at 3-2 in the Golden State Warriors’ favor.