Golden State Warriors: 5 keys to beating Cavaliers in 2018 NBA Finals

Part 4 of the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals rivalry looks more lopsided than ever. How, then, do we go about determining the Warriors’ keys to success —  beyond showing up?

I’m going to spoil the ending and give you the keys to this series right away. If the Golden State Warriors play hard, play smart and stay reasonably healthy, they will beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2018 NBA Finals. I could devote the next thousand words to explaining why, but if you’ve watched June basketball over the last four years, you get it.

The Warriors won the title in 2015, lost it by four points in 2016, added Kevin Durant in 2017, and now will face a Kyrie Irving-less Cavs team in 2018. Nothing is guaranteed, but there has not been a more one-sided Finals matchup since the Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers faced the 52-win New Jersey Nets in 2002.

While the Warriors’ path to victory is simple, Cleveland’s is endlessly nuanced and therefore far more interesting. That will be the focus of our series keys — of course, with the focus still being on Golden State.

Here are the five things the Cavs have to do to compete in the 2018 NBA Finals, and how the Warriors can shut those strategies down.