The highly anticipated 2017 NBA Finals rematch is finally here. The Golden State Warriors seek redemption against the Cleveland Cavaliers after losing to them during the 2016 NBA Finals.
The 2017 NBA Playoffs have featured many lopsided matchups and painful games to watch. In no way is that the expectation for the 2017 NBA Finals, which will be the first time in league history the same two teams met in the championship round three straight times.
This series possesses everything you want in a playoff finals series. It features the best players in the NBA, a Finals rematch, and two teams that bring out every ounce of competition in their opponent when they play each other.
The upcoming Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers is one for the ages. Both teams are coming off an easy series, so rest will not be an issue. With both teams desperate to be the best team in the NBA, you will want to watch every game in this series.
The Warriors are looking to show why they earned the best record in the NBA. The have looked excellent since getting Kevin Durant back from injury. In fact, they have been playing so well they have swept all three teams they played during the playoffs, becoming the first team in NBA history to go a perfect 12-0 en route to the Finals.
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Despite being undefeated in the playoffs this year, they will have their hands full with Cleveland. Stephen Curry must play better than last year’s Finals if the Warriors want to finish the year on top.
The Cavaliers turned on playoff mode despite the struggles they experienced near the end of the regular season. They are coming off a 4-1 series win over the top seeded Boston Celtics. They scored 135 points in the final game of the series. That is excellent offensive momentum they will bring to Golden State.
In addition LeBron James passed Michael Jordan as the all-time leading scorer in NBA playoff history. Cleveland must take it a step further and enter NBA Finals mode to beat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
One for the ages
This series is set up to be one of the best NBA Finals ever. Every shot, pass and play will become a part of each team’s and player’s legacies. During the regular season the two teams met twice, splitting the series 1-1. It is now time to see who is going to pull away from the tie, even if it takes seven games to decide.
Likely Starting Lineups
Point Guard
Stephen Curry (GSW) vs. Kyrie Irving (CLE)
This will be an excellent offensive matchup. Neither of the two guards are known for their defense. Their offensive production this season was actually very similar, which makes this matchup even more interesting.
Curry scored 25.3 points per game to Irving’s 25.2. Curry shot just a little better from three, shooting 41.1 percent to Irving’s 40.1 percent. In addition, Curry compiled more rebounds and assists per game than Irving during the regular season.
Advantage: Golden State
Shooting Guard
Klay Thompson (GSW) vs. J.R. Smith (CLE)
This is the most lopsided matchup of the two teams. Klay Thompson is an offensive weapon and very good on defense. Smith is streaky on offense and decent at defense.
Thompson scored 22.3 points a game and led the Warriors in three-point shooting percentage during the regular season. If he can shake off his recent shooting slump, he should eat J.R. Smith up really quick in this matchup unless Smith can find a way to get hot.
Advantage: Golden State
Small Forward
Kevin Durant (GSW) vs. LeBron James (CLE)
This is the only possible scenario where Kevin Durant does not have the advantage. That is because he is going up against LeBron James, who is in pure playoff form. This is not a knock on Durant in the slightest, because James is averaging 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game during the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
Advantage: Cleveland
Power Forward
Draymond Green (GSW) vs. Kevin Love (CLE)
Both of these players could be the difference-maker in this series. With focus on other players they will have a chance to take over games. Love is a better scorer and rebounder, but Green is much better on defense and as a playmaker. Love did not play well during last year’s playoffs. This year he is playing much better and understands his role. Look for that to continue during the NBA Finals.
Advantage: Push
Center
Zaza Pachulia (GSW) vs. Tristan Thompson (CLE)
Pachulia missed most of the last series due to an injury. He is expected to be back for the Finals as he has already returned to practice. The Warriors need him to be 100 percent because he is going to get a heavy dose of Tristan Thompson.
Thompson is a consistent big man who is scoring 9.2 points a game and grabbing 9.3 rebounds a game during the playoffs. If Thompson averages a double-double this series the Warriors will be in trouble inside.
Advantage: Cleveland
Sixth Man/Bench
Andre Iguodala (GSW) vs. Kyle Korver (CLE)
The Warriors have one of the deepest benches of all time. The first player off the bench is Andre Iguodala. He is able to come in to score, and most importantly, guard LeBron. He is one of the few players in the NBA that can guard LeBron with some consistency.
Korver, on the other hand, struggles defensively. He makes up for that with his three-point shooting ability, where he can really hurt teams when he is on.
Advantage: Golden State
Coaching
Mike Brown (GSW) vs. Tyronn Lue (CLE)
Mike Brown has excellent prior head coaching experience in the NBA, including his time coaching LeBron James at Cleveland. That experience will not make up for getting thrown into the fire due to an injury to Warriors head coach Steve Kerr. Cleveland gets the edge.
Advantage: Cleveland
Key Matchup
Kevin Durant (GSW) vs. LeBron James (CLE)
LeBron James and Steph Curry will be compared the most this series. That will not be the key matchup though.
This will be an excellent opportunity for Kevin Durant to play head-to-head against one of the greatest of our time. Durant has been known to play timid in big games against LeBron in the past. It will be interesting to see if he plays better or worse this time around with so much on the line.
Golden State Will Win If…
They shoot the ball well and get quality minutes from their bench.
Cleveland Will Win If…
They play good perimeter defense on Curry and Thompson to force the other players to beat them. In addition, if LeBron continues to play like he is right now, he will be able to force a long series regardless of what happens in the games.
Next: Golden State Warriors - 5 keys to winning the 2017 NBA Finals
Prediction:
Cleveland Cavaliers will defeat the Golden State Warriors in seven games to win their second consecutive NBA championship.