The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors have steamrollered their way through the N.B.A. playoffs with little opposition. Cleveland is 12-2 and Golden State 12-3 so far. There would not seem to be a lot there to help predict the way the N.B.A. finals will go.
But a closer look at the numbers can offer insight.
Dean Oliver, author of the 2004 statistical book “Basketball on Paper,” created the “four factors.” The simple concept is that basketball success can be divided into four parts: making field goals, making free throws, rebounding and avoiding turnovers.