The NBA Finals are here. It's a rematch of last year's NBA Finals, with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors are looking to make it back-to-back NBA titles, while the Cavaliers are hoping to finally bring a championship back to Cleveland. Here's our preview and prediction for Game 1 of the Warriors vs. Cavaliers series.
Game Info:
When: 9:00 PM EST
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
TV: ABC
Spread: Warriors by 5.5
O/U: 208
What They're Saying About The Golden State Warriors:
What's Steph Curry's 'Turbo' Button? (San Jose Mercury News)
Stephen Curry Motivated By Haters (CSN Bay Area)
Warriors Can't Be Stopped By This Poor's Cavs Defense (San Jose Mercury News)
What They're Saying About The Cleveland Cavaliers:
Is This A Must Win For LeBron James' Legacy? (FanSided)
Different Cavs Team Prepares For NBA Finals Rematch Against Warriors (Akron Beacon Journal)
How Should The Cavs Defend The Warriors' Pick And Roll? (FanSided)
Key To The Game: Who Steps Up?
Which of the Big 2 step up for each team? It's the finals, and we can pencil in big games from Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. But which players outside of those two step up? Draymond Green and Kevin Love are usually reliable, but both had struggles in the Conference Finals. Their teams need them to play well. As for the Cavs, will J.R. Smith hit his 3-pointers and play defense. Can Matthew Dellavedova play great defense when he's on the court? Can Tristian Thompson rebound and provide a true defensive threat in the paint? Can the Cavs' shooters match the Warriors' 3-point efforts? For the Warriors, can Andre Iguodala limit LeBron James? Can Harrison Barnes contribute either off the bench or as a starter? Can the Warriors' deep bench hit their shots when Curry or Thompson are sitting? NBA Finals games usually aren't won by a single player dominating the entire game, rather, it's the role players stepping up and making the plays they need to.
Prediction: Warriors win 105-100
The Warriors are playing at home, and that will give them a big boost. While the Cavs will make it a contest, the Warriors are the better team right now. Golden State won't sweep the Cavs, but Cleveland could have issues getting the shots to fall on the road. Expect a Warriors' victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.