ATearInMyEye
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I'm so excited for this series 
The Chef Hires A Servant To Stop The Kang From Ringing: Cavs vs Warriors III
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5-on-5 predictions: Will LeBron and the Cavs repeat against Warriors?
What would another title mean for the Cavaliers or the Warriors? What's the most important thing to watch for each team?
Our 5-on-5 crew previews the NBA Finals and predicts the winner.
1. What's the most important thing to watch for the Cavaliers in the Finals?
Tom Haberstroh, ESPN Insider: Can the Cavs play championship-caliber defense? This is still the critical question for me. On the one hand, after letting the Pacers score at will, the Cavs held Toronto and Boston far below their scoring norms. On the other hand, Toronto and Boston were each missing their All-Star point guards for most of the series.
Get this: If you exclude the injured Kyle Lowry and Isaiah Thomas, the Cavs have yet to face a top-25 offensive player by real plus-minus (RPM) yet this postseason. The Warriors have three in their starting lineup.
Amin Elhassan, ESPN Insider: How long the Cavs can get away with Kevin Love on the floor. The Warriors will employ 5-out lineups that will basically force Cleveland to have a competent perimeter defender at every position, which would probably render Love's presence unmanageable. And before any of you point out that Finals-clinching defensive play, let me remind you that just because Shaquille O'Neal has one made 3-pointer in his career doesn't mean you can then rely on him for perimeter shooting.
Chris Herring, FiveThirtyEight/ESPN.com: How does this team's defense -- which was awful for the majority of the season -- go about containing what might be the most explosive, unusual offense in NBA history? And how much will LeBron James' energy be impacted by having to guard Kevin Durant as opposed to Harrison Barnes?
We've been asking for months whether Cleveland could truly flip the switch after a poor end to the regular season. If they defend well at this stage, and win, it will mark the last time we ever ask that question.
Jeremias Engelmann, ESPN Insider: Can they find good shots early in the shot clock against this elite Warriors defense? The San Antonio Spurs, once without Kawhi Leonard, often had trouble finding a shot they liked and then had to pull the trigger on a contested off-balance heave with little time left on the clock. The Cavs need to create early and, better yet, capitalize on the Warriors' live-ball turnovers.
Kevin Pelton, ESPN Insider: Whether Kevin Love can stay on the court when the Warriors go small. While Richard Jefferson played an important role in last year's Finals, Cleveland needs Love on the court to achieve its full potential -- especially coming off an outstanding series against the Celtics. Yet this year's version of Golden State's Death Lineup offers few hiding spots, which could make Love difficult to play.
2. What's the most important thing to watch for the Warriors in the Finals?
Herring: How they deal with a team that might actually challenge them. Specifically, watch the short stints in the second quarter when the Warriors opt to rest Stephen Curry and Durant simultaneously. In the lead-up to the Finals, the Dubs slaughtered playoff opponents by 31.2, 20.5 and 19.8 points per 100 plays in the first, third and fourth periods. By contrast, Golden State got outscored by 5.5 points per 100 plays in second quarters.
Elhassan: Can Draymond Green be the same dynamo he was a year ago? When you ask how to stop the Warriors, it's kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario -- but I believe limiting Green is a huge step toward achieving that improbable goal. As the team's main playmaker on the offensive end and premier defensive weapon, he's got the power to make this series shift on both ends of the floor.
Haberstroh: Sure, Kevin Durant is the game-changer this time around, but I'm still looking at Stephen Curry here. Curry was awful by his standards last Finals, dealing with what seemed to be a gimpy knee. Last postseason, his player efficiency rating (PER) fell from 29.1 in the conference semifinals to 24.1 in the conference finals to 16.3 in the Finals.
Dovetailing with Kevin Pelton's great story on pull-up 3s, I'll be paying close attention Curry's ability to get his signature transition 3, something that all but disappeared once he came back from the strained MCL. Last year he made three such shots during the entire Finals -- no more than LeBron James and Kyrie Irving did.
To me, hitting those is a sign that Curry is feeling like himself. So far, he's averaging one per game this postseason. Can Steph keep doing Steph things?
Engelmann: Their health is incredibly important. Zaza Pachulia missed two playoff games because of heel problems, and Andre Iguodala missed a game with knee soreness. These might not be issues that simply disappear with 10 days of rest.
JaVale McGee, who would replace Pachulia, may be a better fit on offense, but he will almost certainly have his issues defensively -- he's known for not boxing out rebounds, something that could be fatal against Cavs big man Tristan Thompson. Iguodala is still one of the best wing defenders in the league, if not the best. The Warriors need him if they want to have a chance of slowing down LeBron.
Pelton: I feel like I've said this every series, but how they execute down the stretch of close games -- assuming they finally play a few in the Finals. This is the test for which Golden State has been preparing -- and not always successfully -- since adding Durant via free agency last summer.
3. If the Cavs win, that means ...
Elhassan: For LeBron, it means making a giant step toward legitimate Michael Jordan comparisons. To beat a team that is not only greater than his, but among the very greatest of all time, without the benefit of timely injury or suspensions, would be an accomplishment that few of the all-time greats ever achieved. For my money, a Cavs win absent of caveats would amount to the greatest upset in the history of basketball -- even greater than beating the 73-win team with the unanimous MVP after being down 3-1 in the series.
For the Warriors, a loss shouldn't mean as much -- after all, they've been to the Finals three years running and that doesn't figure to stop anytime soon. However, to lose twice despite being heavy favorites could become a mental block, similar to what happened to the Lakers whenever they played the Celtics prior to 1985, when they finally beat them.
Pelton: This is one of the great playoff runs of all time. These Cavs would have a better record than last year's champions. They will have taken down a better version of the Warriors in the Finals. Surely, it would change how fans and the media discuss LeBron James' place in history, though I don't think he should need the validation.
Haberstroh: "LeBron James is the greatest player in NBA history" will no longer be a hot take. It might even become the conventional wisdom. Last Finals, he beat a 73-9 Warriors squad. Add Kevin freakin' Durant to that team, watch them go 12-0 heading into the Finals and James still beats them? It'd be unbelievable.
To understand the cards stacked against LeBron, consider that Michael Jordan never faced a 65-win team in the Finals. James has faced one in each of the past three Finals. And every team Jordan faced in the Finals had lost at least three games en route to the Finals. James beating an undefeated Warriors team? It could be the GOAT trump card in the eyes of many.
Engelmann: We'd have to think about sliding Michael Jordan down to the No. 2 spot on the GOAT list. Yes, Jordan still has more titles and the superior Finals record at 6-0. LeBron, though, has had lesser teammates and -- most importantly -- has had to beat a team that's vastly superior to those Jordan had to face -- twice in a row.
Herring: Many things. No more questioning LeBron's teams' late-season coasting. Another disappointing ending for a Warriors team that deservedly enters the series as a heavy favorite, particularly after adding Durant. Perhaps most obviously: It adds more fuel to LeBron's fire about potentially being the best player of all time. Some would argue, with two consecutive wins over a team this heavily favored, that he'd deserve that title, even with fewer titles than Michael Jordan has to his name.
4. If the Warriors win, that means ...
Pelton: They cement their place as one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Even if this series goes seven games, the Warriors' 16-3 record would be the best since the first round of the playoffs expanded to best-of-seven in 2003. Coming on the heels of a regular season in which Golden State's point differential was the fourth-best in league history, that would make this an all-time great team.
Engelmann: If they waltz through the Finals -- in five games or less -- we'll probably see the NBA taking additional measures against the formation of superteams. The league needs to make the playoffs more exciting and increase the number of playoff games by upping the parity. Also, Durant and Curry have the chance to be mentioned among the all-time greats, especially if either wins Finals MVP.
Herring: The most talented team won the title. Durant adds "NBA champion" to his résumé, even if many fans won't give him full credit for the accomplishment, given his choice to leave a contender to join a powerhouse like Golden State. If things go right for this club, this should be the first of a handful of titles the Warriors win with this improved core of players. They'd also be well on their way to making the case as perhaps the greatest team we've ever seen over a five-year span.
Haberstroh: Maybe the rings bubble will finally burst. Rings as legacy currency has seen enormous inflation lately, and I wonder if we'd reach a breaking point.
After seeing a perennial MVP candidate (Durant) leave in his prime to join a juggernaut, would NBA commentators try to diminish the value of this particular ring? In turn, would they start cheering even louder for other players like Russell Westbrook to not "chase" rings? Freedom of movement for NBA players every summer has made the legacy conversation much more interesting.
Elhassan: They've fulfilled the "light-years ahead" prophecy and have probably kicked off an era of success that will surpass the Heat of the 2010s, the Lakers of the 2000s and the Spurs of whatever decade you want to ascribe to them.
With Curry and Durant set to be free agents this summer, long-term commitments will keep their core together in their prime for the foreseeable future. And with the new CBA making it even more difficult for teams to accumulate elite talent, it's going to be tough to see someone build a legitimate rival without huge financial sacrifices being made by players.
What would another title mean for the Cavaliers or the Warriors? What's the most important thing to watch for each team?
Our 5-on-5 crew previews the NBA Finals and predicts the winner.
1. What's the most important thing to watch for the Cavaliers in the Finals?
Tom Haberstroh, ESPN Insider: Can the Cavs play championship-caliber defense? This is still the critical question for me. On the one hand, after letting the Pacers score at will, the Cavs held Toronto and Boston far below their scoring norms. On the other hand, Toronto and Boston were each missing their All-Star point guards for most of the series.
Get this: If you exclude the injured Kyle Lowry and Isaiah Thomas, the Cavs have yet to face a top-25 offensive player by real plus-minus (RPM) yet this postseason. The Warriors have three in their starting lineup.
Amin Elhassan, ESPN Insider: How long the Cavs can get away with Kevin Love on the floor. The Warriors will employ 5-out lineups that will basically force Cleveland to have a competent perimeter defender at every position, which would probably render Love's presence unmanageable. And before any of you point out that Finals-clinching defensive play, let me remind you that just because Shaquille O'Neal has one made 3-pointer in his career doesn't mean you can then rely on him for perimeter shooting.
Chris Herring, FiveThirtyEight/ESPN.com: How does this team's defense -- which was awful for the majority of the season -- go about containing what might be the most explosive, unusual offense in NBA history? And how much will LeBron James' energy be impacted by having to guard Kevin Durant as opposed to Harrison Barnes?
We've been asking for months whether Cleveland could truly flip the switch after a poor end to the regular season. If they defend well at this stage, and win, it will mark the last time we ever ask that question.
Jeremias Engelmann, ESPN Insider: Can they find good shots early in the shot clock against this elite Warriors defense? The San Antonio Spurs, once without Kawhi Leonard, often had trouble finding a shot they liked and then had to pull the trigger on a contested off-balance heave with little time left on the clock. The Cavs need to create early and, better yet, capitalize on the Warriors' live-ball turnovers.
Kevin Pelton, ESPN Insider: Whether Kevin Love can stay on the court when the Warriors go small. While Richard Jefferson played an important role in last year's Finals, Cleveland needs Love on the court to achieve its full potential -- especially coming off an outstanding series against the Celtics. Yet this year's version of Golden State's Death Lineup offers few hiding spots, which could make Love difficult to play.
2. What's the most important thing to watch for the Warriors in the Finals?
Herring: How they deal with a team that might actually challenge them. Specifically, watch the short stints in the second quarter when the Warriors opt to rest Stephen Curry and Durant simultaneously. In the lead-up to the Finals, the Dubs slaughtered playoff opponents by 31.2, 20.5 and 19.8 points per 100 plays in the first, third and fourth periods. By contrast, Golden State got outscored by 5.5 points per 100 plays in second quarters.
Elhassan: Can Draymond Green be the same dynamo he was a year ago? When you ask how to stop the Warriors, it's kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario -- but I believe limiting Green is a huge step toward achieving that improbable goal. As the team's main playmaker on the offensive end and premier defensive weapon, he's got the power to make this series shift on both ends of the floor.
Haberstroh: Sure, Kevin Durant is the game-changer this time around, but I'm still looking at Stephen Curry here. Curry was awful by his standards last Finals, dealing with what seemed to be a gimpy knee. Last postseason, his player efficiency rating (PER) fell from 29.1 in the conference semifinals to 24.1 in the conference finals to 16.3 in the Finals.
Dovetailing with Kevin Pelton's great story on pull-up 3s, I'll be paying close attention Curry's ability to get his signature transition 3, something that all but disappeared once he came back from the strained MCL. Last year he made three such shots during the entire Finals -- no more than LeBron James and Kyrie Irving did.
To me, hitting those is a sign that Curry is feeling like himself. So far, he's averaging one per game this postseason. Can Steph keep doing Steph things?
Engelmann: Their health is incredibly important. Zaza Pachulia missed two playoff games because of heel problems, and Andre Iguodala missed a game with knee soreness. These might not be issues that simply disappear with 10 days of rest.
JaVale McGee, who would replace Pachulia, may be a better fit on offense, but he will almost certainly have his issues defensively -- he's known for not boxing out rebounds, something that could be fatal against Cavs big man Tristan Thompson. Iguodala is still one of the best wing defenders in the league, if not the best. The Warriors need him if they want to have a chance of slowing down LeBron.
Pelton: I feel like I've said this every series, but how they execute down the stretch of close games -- assuming they finally play a few in the Finals. This is the test for which Golden State has been preparing -- and not always successfully -- since adding Durant via free agency last summer.
3. If the Cavs win, that means ...
Elhassan: For LeBron, it means making a giant step toward legitimate Michael Jordan comparisons. To beat a team that is not only greater than his, but among the very greatest of all time, without the benefit of timely injury or suspensions, would be an accomplishment that few of the all-time greats ever achieved. For my money, a Cavs win absent of caveats would amount to the greatest upset in the history of basketball -- even greater than beating the 73-win team with the unanimous MVP after being down 3-1 in the series.
For the Warriors, a loss shouldn't mean as much -- after all, they've been to the Finals three years running and that doesn't figure to stop anytime soon. However, to lose twice despite being heavy favorites could become a mental block, similar to what happened to the Lakers whenever they played the Celtics prior to 1985, when they finally beat them.
Pelton: This is one of the great playoff runs of all time. These Cavs would have a better record than last year's champions. They will have taken down a better version of the Warriors in the Finals. Surely, it would change how fans and the media discuss LeBron James' place in history, though I don't think he should need the validation.
Haberstroh: "LeBron James is the greatest player in NBA history" will no longer be a hot take. It might even become the conventional wisdom. Last Finals, he beat a 73-9 Warriors squad. Add Kevin freakin' Durant to that team, watch them go 12-0 heading into the Finals and James still beats them? It'd be unbelievable.
To understand the cards stacked against LeBron, consider that Michael Jordan never faced a 65-win team in the Finals. James has faced one in each of the past three Finals. And every team Jordan faced in the Finals had lost at least three games en route to the Finals. James beating an undefeated Warriors team? It could be the GOAT trump card in the eyes of many.
Engelmann: We'd have to think about sliding Michael Jordan down to the No. 2 spot on the GOAT list. Yes, Jordan still has more titles and the superior Finals record at 6-0. LeBron, though, has had lesser teammates and -- most importantly -- has had to beat a team that's vastly superior to those Jordan had to face -- twice in a row.
Herring: Many things. No more questioning LeBron's teams' late-season coasting. Another disappointing ending for a Warriors team that deservedly enters the series as a heavy favorite, particularly after adding Durant. Perhaps most obviously: It adds more fuel to LeBron's fire about potentially being the best player of all time. Some would argue, with two consecutive wins over a team this heavily favored, that he'd deserve that title, even with fewer titles than Michael Jordan has to his name.
4. If the Warriors win, that means ...
Pelton: They cement their place as one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Even if this series goes seven games, the Warriors' 16-3 record would be the best since the first round of the playoffs expanded to best-of-seven in 2003. Coming on the heels of a regular season in which Golden State's point differential was the fourth-best in league history, that would make this an all-time great team.
Engelmann: If they waltz through the Finals -- in five games or less -- we'll probably see the NBA taking additional measures against the formation of superteams. The league needs to make the playoffs more exciting and increase the number of playoff games by upping the parity. Also, Durant and Curry have the chance to be mentioned among the all-time greats, especially if either wins Finals MVP.
Herring: The most talented team won the title. Durant adds "NBA champion" to his résumé, even if many fans won't give him full credit for the accomplishment, given his choice to leave a contender to join a powerhouse like Golden State. If things go right for this club, this should be the first of a handful of titles the Warriors win with this improved core of players. They'd also be well on their way to making the case as perhaps the greatest team we've ever seen over a five-year span.
Haberstroh: Maybe the rings bubble will finally burst. Rings as legacy currency has seen enormous inflation lately, and I wonder if we'd reach a breaking point.
After seeing a perennial MVP candidate (Durant) leave in his prime to join a juggernaut, would NBA commentators try to diminish the value of this particular ring? In turn, would they start cheering even louder for other players like Russell Westbrook to not "chase" rings? Freedom of movement for NBA players every summer has made the legacy conversation much more interesting.
Elhassan: They've fulfilled the "light-years ahead" prophecy and have probably kicked off an era of success that will surpass the Heat of the 2010s, the Lakers of the 2000s and the Spurs of whatever decade you want to ascribe to them.
With Curry and Durant set to be free agents this summer, long-term commitments will keep their core together in their prime for the foreseeable future. And with the new CBA making it even more difficult for teams to accumulate elite talent, it's going to be tough to see someone build a legitimate rival without huge financial sacrifices being made by players.
5. Who wins the series, and in how many games?
Haberstroh: Warriors in 5. Two big differences from last year's Finals: Stephen Curry is rested and healthy; Kevin Durant is a Warrior. I still think Golden State would have won in five in last year's Finals if Draymond Green didn't get suspended in Game 5. This time around, the Cavs' offense is historically good, but I don't see the defense holding up its end of the bargain. The Warriors are just too good on both ends.
Herring: Warriors in 6. I think the Cavaliers can get a victory early in the series, perhaps Game 1, by simply catching the Warriors off guard and challenging them in a way they haven't seen (aside from the first game of the Spurs matchup).
But similar to last year -- when Draymond Green got suspended, Andrew Bogut got hurt, Harrison Barnes went ice cold over the last five games and Festus Ezeli basically went missing -- a lot would have to go wrong for Cleveland to win this. LeBron and Kyrie are capable of going supernova again. I just don't see it as likely.
Elhassan: Warriors in 5. The talent gap is tremendous, and Golden State doesn't just beat you on talent. The Warriors are deeper, execute almost flawlessly on both ends of the floor and have a huge motivator carrying them in the form of last year's disappointment.
Most importantly, the Warriors are a far superior defensive team, and that defensive excellence and versatility will be the decider, leading to Green redeeming himself with a Finals MVP performance for playmaking and timely shooting, but mostly for his efforts on the defensive end.
Engelmann: Warriors in 5. The Cavaliers are a great team and feature the best basketball player on the planet. But their 12-1 playoff record is a little misleading, as the Eastern Conference playoffs are just so much easier. After losing last year's Finals, I think the Warriors are hungry, besides being the better team and having home-court advantage.
Pelton: Warriors in 5. Given the importance of home-court advantage, the higher seed winning the series is most likely in either five or seven games. I find five to be a bit more likely than seven for this matchup.
Haberstroh: Warriors in 5. Two big differences from last year's Finals: Stephen Curry is rested and healthy; Kevin Durant is a Warrior. I still think Golden State would have won in five in last year's Finals if Draymond Green didn't get suspended in Game 5. This time around, the Cavs' offense is historically good, but I don't see the defense holding up its end of the bargain. The Warriors are just too good on both ends.
Herring: Warriors in 6. I think the Cavaliers can get a victory early in the series, perhaps Game 1, by simply catching the Warriors off guard and challenging them in a way they haven't seen (aside from the first game of the Spurs matchup).
But similar to last year -- when Draymond Green got suspended, Andrew Bogut got hurt, Harrison Barnes went ice cold over the last five games and Festus Ezeli basically went missing -- a lot would have to go wrong for Cleveland to win this. LeBron and Kyrie are capable of going supernova again. I just don't see it as likely.
Elhassan: Warriors in 5. The talent gap is tremendous, and Golden State doesn't just beat you on talent. The Warriors are deeper, execute almost flawlessly on both ends of the floor and have a huge motivator carrying them in the form of last year's disappointment.
Most importantly, the Warriors are a far superior defensive team, and that defensive excellence and versatility will be the decider, leading to Green redeeming himself with a Finals MVP performance for playmaking and timely shooting, but mostly for his efforts on the defensive end.
Engelmann: Warriors in 5. The Cavaliers are a great team and feature the best basketball player on the planet. But their 12-1 playoff record is a little misleading, as the Eastern Conference playoffs are just so much easier. After losing last year's Finals, I think the Warriors are hungry, besides being the better team and having home-court advantage.
Pelton: Warriors in 5. Given the importance of home-court advantage, the higher seed winning the series is most likely in either five or seven games. I find five to be a bit more likely than seven for this matchup.
Damn everyone got warriors in 5
We fukked
FML
Fred
We fukked
FML
Fred
GoddamnyamanProf
Countdown to Armageddon
If I'm the Cavs organization, I'm starting the lobbying right now to the league and officials about paying special attention to the Warriors' screen-setting, with video compilations of all the bullshyt they've gotten away with this year and in past seasons.
Don't wait until you lose a game due to 20 open 3s from 15 moving screens/holding/blatant pushes.
You know they're coming.
Don't wait until you lose a game due to 20 open 3s from 15 moving screens/holding/blatant pushes.
You know they're coming.
G-Zeus
G-Zeus Chrystler...the brehsident
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Avy change incoming?
Brief Keef
Superstar
nope dont got enough techs for that to happen
afterlife2009
Superstar
I haven't checked the five man stats on nba dot com but I wonder how well an Irving, Shumpert, JR, LeBron, Thompson lineup could perform if love starts to have trouble on defense. seems like the best combination of offense and defense imo
Brief Keef
Superstar
they 100% percent that cavs ass whoopin comin just dont make no excuses for ya manz bronze aint gon be none for GS cuz they winning this series
Kiyoshi-Dono
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- Petty Vandross.. fukk Yall
Dray is easily in the category of Sheed when it comes to techs..
It could happen in a pivotal game again with him getting two techs..
So your correct about overall techs but with his explosiveness + wanting to annihilate the CAVS + wanting to make up for last years Finals= shyt could be disastrous..
He's my favorite player in the league, and besides Barbosa/Spieghts, was the only one to show up in Game 7 last year..
I want this for my nikka Dray/Mike Brown the most..
Brief Keef
Superstar
where is the thread to beat on the series
@Brooklynzsonedit: just put all my coli cash on the cavs for the reverse
if they win ill still get somethin outta it
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G-Zeus
G-Zeus Chrystler...the brehsident
The shyt talking getting better 
Cavs best defensive lineup.. can even replace jr with jefferson to gain sizeI haven't checked the five man stats on nba dot com but I wonder how well an Irving, Shumpert, JR, LeBron, Thompson lineup could perform if love starts to have trouble on defense. seems like the best combination of offense and defense imo
GoddamnyamanProf
Countdown to Armageddon
Are you high?
Refs used to bet contests to see who could give Sheed a tech first for the smallest thing.
Draymond regularly runs up on refs yelling in their face and they just turn away or ignore him. Never seen anything like it in 30 years.