Cavaliers vs Warriors, the biggest rivalry in sports today

This year’s NBA Finals will be one for the ages.

After three disappointing playoff rounds, we finally have the ultimate showdown that basketball fans have been predicting ever since Kevin Durant laced his shoes up in the Bay Area. The NBA Finals start today and this year we couldn’t have had a more predictable matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. The past two years have showcased what could be the biggest rivalry since Larry Bird’s Celtics and Magic Johnson’s Lakers so starting today everyone is expecting that to continue. For LeBron James, this is his 8th Finals appearance but this one is looking to be by far the biggest of his career. The Warriors were already a great team that just won an

The Warriors were already a great team that just won an NBA best 73 games last year before they added a top 5 player in Kevin Durant. Now the Warriors have truly become the offensive juggernaut that kids can only hope their 2K teams can emulate. The road that Durant and the Warriors took to the Finals this year was about as easy as breathing. If James were to beat the Warriors with Durant matched up against him, his name should be right next to Michael Jordan’s without question. here is also a lot of pressure on Durant because he has yet to win a championship and if Golden State were to lose in the finals, the season would be a complete failure. Durant has already received criticism for ‘taking the easy way out’ and signing to the Warriors after they beat his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although players like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will have an impact on this series, the matchup between James and Durant should be the key deciding factor of who will win this series. A lot is at stake for both of these players as well. This will be a position by position matchup between the two teams, which will include the bench.

There is also a lot of pressure on Durant because he has yet to win a championship and if Golden State were to lose in the finals, the season would be a complete failure. Durant has already received criticism for ‘taking the easy way out’ and signing to the Warriors after they beat his former team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Although players like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love will have an impact on this series, the matchup between James and Durant should be the key deciding factor of who will win this series. A lot is at stake for both of these players as well. This will be a position by position matchup between the two teams, which will include the bench.

POINT GUARD:

Steph Curry vs. Kyrie Irving. This is going to be one of the biggest match ups to watch for in this series. The skill sets on these two players are nearly identical. These two probably have the best handles in the league and are of course both deadly shooters from all over the floor. They also can be liabilities on defense at times, but more than make up for it with their tremendous offensive abilities. As you probably know by now, Curry has the advantage in shooting with his unlimited range and quick release while Irving will use his ball handling skills to penetrate the defense and drive to the basket. It will be tough on Irving because he will most likely be guarded by Klay Thompson who is a phenomenal perimeter defender. The difference maker in this match up is the experience these players have in the finals and Irving put on a historic performance last year while Curry hasn’t played like his normal self in the previous finals and has been outperformed by Irving multiple times in the past. EDGE: Kyrie Irvin

SHOOTING GUARD:

Klay Thompson vs. J.R. Smith. While Thompson has had a poor history of Finals performances, he is clearly the better player than Smith. Thompson’s main advantage over Smith is that he is a top defender in the league which will be key while going against Kyrie Irving. He is also a threat on the floor even if he is shooting only 38% during this year’s playoffs, he can never be left open no matter what. Smith is an on and off defender who is also a streaky shooter who’s contribution to the Cavaliers is limited. No matter the history, Thompson is the better player on both sides of the floor and should even have a easier time finding open shots with Durant on the team this year. EDGE: Klay Thompson

SMALL FORWARD:

Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James. As it says above, this will be the most important match up in the whole series by far. Both have already faced each other in the 2012 with James coming out on top. Not to mention this is LeBron’s 7th straight finals appearance, winning 4 out of them. This year, both of them are having a great postseason with James nearly averaging a triple double as he always does come playoff time and Durant shooting over 55%. James as we all know affects the whole team around him with his top notch passing, nearly unstoppable ability to drive to the basket, his ability to guard every position, and now has vastly improved his 3 point shooting to 42% making him a threat on every level. As great of a scorer and defender that Durant is, LeBron out matches him with his skill set and greater finals experience. EDGE: LeBron James

POWER FORWARD:

Draymond Green vs. Kevin Love. Both of these players are major contributors to their teams for different reasons. Love has been on an absolute tear offensively this postseason shooting 47.5% from 3 averaging 17 points a game. He also is still one of the best rebounders in the league The Cleveland Browns should look into signing him as their quarterback because he is hands down the best outlet passer in the league. Just look back at some of the touchdowns that he threw to LeBron in the earlier rounds. Former Kickball MVP Draymond Green on the other hand is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate who can space the floor with his shooting and passing abilities. This is going to be another great battle to watch but Green is probably the better overall player here. EDGE: Draymond Green

CENTER:

Zaza Pachulia vs. Tristan Thompson. This will barely be a match up to begin with since the Warriors will most likely choose to play small ball for the majority of the series. They are both the same type of player based on skill and work ethic, but Thompson is a more athletic version which makes him better in all facets of the game. Thompson is considered one of the top offensive rebounders in the league averaging 5 and a half a game which will be a huge factor of Cleveland’s success this series. He also has the advantage defensively as the main rim protector for the Cavaliers. We probably won’t see these two players on the floor on the same time that much but when we do Thompson will take full advantage of the time. EDGE: Tristan Thompson

RESERVES:

Warriors vs. Cavaliers. The bench play for both of these teams will be important difference makers in this series. Along with 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, the Warriors have been using a deeper bench these playoffs with JaVale McGee, Shaun Livingston, David West, Ian Clark, and Pat McCaw. It really has been a surprise that JaVale McGee, the Shaqtin’ a Fool prince, out of all people have made an impact for the Warriors with a net rating of +26.3, even if he is mostly just throwing down lobs. Livingston and West won’t light up the 3 point line but they can score with ease in the post. Livingston is always a tough guard as a 6’7″ wing man who can post up any guard and drain midrange shots with ease. West on the other hand is an old school big man who uses his big body to score around the basket.

Clark and McCaw have also both been pleasant surprises for the Warriors giving the team the guard depth that they looked to contain this year after losing Leandro Barbosa and Harrison Barnes. The Cavaliers on the other hand have not been a team that has dug deep into their bench this playoffs but they may have to to match the Warriors style of play. Their bench consists of more seasoned veterans such as Deron Williams, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, Kyle Korver, and Iman Shumpert. Once a top 3 point guard in the league, Williams has been the leader off the bench for most of the playoffs with his true playmaking and shooting ability solidifying himself in his new role as a valuable piece for a contender. Jefferson and Shumpert share the same role as lockdown perimeter defenders while Korver and Frye stretch the floor with their marksman level 3 point shooting. Both the benches are even for the most part and how good the reserves from each team plays will play a huge role in who comes out on top. EDGE: Even