Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 keys to beating the Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals
1. LeBron entering berserker mode again
In the last two Finals series against the Warriors, LeBron James has averaged 32.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, 8.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
So far through these playoffs, the King is averaging a staggering 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game on blistering .566/.421/.712 shooting splits.
Cleveland Cavaliers
We KNOW he’s going to put up humongous numbers. The question is whether they’ll be mammoth enough to put the Cavaliers on his back as he’s done in the last two championship series against — and we swear it’s true this time — his greatest Finals opponent yet.
In two regular season meetings with the Dubs, LeBron averaged only 25.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Though he shot 41.7 percent from three-point range, he followed up a 31-point, 14-rebound performance in the team’s Christmas Day win with a 20-point, eight-rebound, 6-for-18 dud in a 35-point loss a few weeks later.
Regular season matchups don’t matter much, especially when you realize the Dubs pounded Cleveland by 34 in mid-January in 2016 before choking away that 3-1 series lead. But Golden State did a good job limiting LeBron’s playmaking in their two regular season matchups this year, which cannot be the case again in these Finals.
If Kevin Love holds his own and Kyrie Irving outplays Curry for the second straight time, it still won’t matter without another historic, monster series from the King. That’s how good these Warriors are.
LeBron will not only need to limit either Draymond or KD on the defensive end, but he’ll also need to lead the charge on the offensive end as the Warriors throw long-limbed defender after long-limbed defender at him. If his three-point shot continues to fall in particular, even the Warriors’ stingy defense could be in trouble.
Next: Golden State Warriors - 5 keys to winning the 2017 NBA Finals
We’ve seen LeBron James hit unbelievable highs over his last two series against this team, and they still don’t have anyone who can stop him for a full seven-game series. For the Cleveland Cavaliers to upset the Dubs for the second straight year, the King may have to top off perhaps his best postseason run ever with his greatest Finals performance yet.