ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Golden State Warriors a 75 percent chance to win the NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers in a championship rematch.
In this year’s postseason, the Warriors won back-to-back series in five games over the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. However, Golden State is coming off a tough, physical series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which took the Warriors to seven games before Golden State advanced to face the Cavs. At times, the Warriors seemed sluggish and tired as Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook out-hustled them in transition and OKC center Steven Adams fought for offensive boards. Regardless, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have dominated beyond the arc, and that’s ultimately why Golden State is in this position as they look to repeat as NBA champions. …show more content…
Although they go into the Finals with a supposed 25 percent chance to win, no LeBron James-led team is an underdog. This is not the NBA Finals matchup of last year where James put the injury-riddled Cavs on his back and carried them throughout the series against the Warriors. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are healthy and playing some of their best basketball as of late, both averaging double-digit points this postseason. Instead of relying on their individual stars to go 1-on-5, Cleveland is playing together as one unit.
James and the Cavs ranked fifth in defensive rebounding efficiency this season and should look to come into the series with an emphasis on rebounding the basketball. Limiting Golden State’s opportunities to one shot per possession and gaining more offensive possessions could put the Cavaliers at an advantage throughout the
In this year’s postseason, the Warriors won back-to-back series in five games over the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers. However, Golden State is coming off a tough, physical series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which took the Warriors to seven games before Golden State advanced to face the Cavs. At times, the Warriors seemed sluggish and tired as Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook out-hustled them in transition and OKC center Steven Adams fought for offensive boards. Regardless, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have dominated beyond the arc, and that’s ultimately why Golden State is in this position as they look to repeat as NBA champions. …show more content…
Although they go into the Finals with a supposed 25 percent chance to win, no LeBron James-led team is an underdog. This is not the NBA Finals matchup of last year where James put the injury-riddled Cavs on his back and carried them throughout the series against the Warriors. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are healthy and playing some of their best basketball as of late, both averaging double-digit points this postseason. Instead of relying on their individual stars to go 1-on-5, Cleveland is playing together as one unit.
James and the Cavs ranked fifth in defensive rebounding efficiency this season and should look to come into the series with an emphasis on rebounding the basketball. Limiting Golden State’s opportunities to one shot per possession and gaining more offensive possessions could put the Cavaliers at an advantage throughout the