NBA Finals Have Many Angles to Consider
The NBA Finals starts on Thursday, 6/1. The Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers will meet for the third year in a row after dominating their playoff opponents with ease. The Warriors enter the Finals with a perfect 12-0 sweep through the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers enter the Finals with a 11-1 record with the best shooting percentage. The Warriors are a -275 favorite and the Cavs are a +180 underdog.
There are many different angles to consider but it comes down to how key players fill their roles and support the superstar players on both teams. Here are some of those key players who will make a difference.
Kevin Love
Kevin Love was not a factor for Cleveland in the past two Finals due to injuries. He missed most of the 2015 postseason with a shoulder injury and didn’t play a single game in the Finals. Last year, he suffered a concussion in Game 2 of the Finals and wasn’t the same for the rest of the series, finishing with averages of 7.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Love is healthy and played a great series against the Celtics. He averaged 22.6 points while shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and a sizzling 53.5 percent from 3-point range. As long as he stays healthy, Love should have a big impact on the series and another strong link the Warriors have not seen in the past finals. He will be able to counter balance the perceived Warrior added edge with the Kevin Durant signing in the off-season.
Deron Williams
Last year, the Cavaliers backup point guard was Matthew Dellavedova, who played tenacious defense but not an offensive player. Deron Williams is a veteran point guard and has proven to be a solid addition to Cleveland’s second unit, offering his services as a playmaker and shooter. Williams has fared well against the Warriors in his career with averages of 16.9 points and 6.9 assists and can hit a three to make a difference in a close game.
Kyle Korver
Korver has had his moments in the postseason, scoring in double figures in three games for the Cavaliers. His performances in Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals shows that he can be a highly effective scorer off the bench. The veteran shooting guard made 22 of his 53 attempts beyond the arc in the postseason, and has nearly 200 career playoff 3-pointers. Williams and Korver are the key players because of their 3 point shooting ability off the bench at crunch time. That one or two extra made 3 point shots can be the game winner in a tightly contested game.
Andre Iguodala
Iguodala was a key player in the Finals two years ago. He guarded LeBron James for long stretches in the series and the veteran forward averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists, which earned him MVP honors for the Finals. When the Warriors returned to the Finals in 2016, Iguodala was dealing with back issues and was struggling in a limited role in the series. After playing just 10 minutes in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and missing Game 2 with a sore left knee, there is concern that Iguodala will not be 100% healthy for the finals against the best offense he has faced this year.
He could be average at best and not as effective against a stronger Cavs team and a better team than last year.
Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson had a mediocre postseason and below average shooting to date. The All-Star guard is averaging just 14.4 points while shooting 38.3 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from behind the arc. Last year he averaged 24.3 points and played six games with at least 30 points, including a 41-point game in the conference finals against Oklahoma City. So far in the playoffs, Thompson has been lucky enough to reach 20 points just twice. His below average performance is a question mark for the Warriors but even if his output is limited, Kevin Durant is the answer for the Warrior`s offense. Durant should be the deciding factor for a final victory for the Warriors.
BUT the combination of LeBron, Irving and Love with key bench shooters will push this series to the limit. Winning playoff games by 30 to 40 points in Boston was an indication of how advanced the Cavs offense has become during their playoff run to the finals. Looking at their numbers, shooting percentages and team chemistry, the Cavs are playing their best ball and should win the series in six games as the underdog just like last year as they shocked the NBA world.
