Breaking it down
Position-by-position matchups for the NBA Finals
A position-by-position look at the matchups in the NBA Finals, which begin tonight at 10 p.m. Atlantic, between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers:
CENTRE Zaza Pachulia versus Tristan Thompson Pachulia is back and ready to go after missing two games in the Western Conference finals with a heel injury. He may not be out there long if the Warriors decide they need more mobility against Thompson, who is averaging nearly a double-double and shooting 60 per cent while creating plenty of extra possessions with his offensive rebounding for the Cavaliers. Edge – Cavaliers.
POWER FORWARD Draymond Green versus Kevin Love Green wanted the matchup with the Cavaliers after Golden State fell short last year despite his brilliant Game 7, and now here it comes. On top of his versatility and defence that is so important to Golden State, he’s shooting 47 per cent from threepoint range in the post-season, tops on a team that has some of the best perimeter shooters in the world. Love broke out in a big way in the Eastern Conference finals after opening the playoffs with two quiet rounds, averaging 22.6 points and 12.4 rebounds against Boston. Edge – Warriors.
SMALL FORWARD Kevin Durant versus LeBron James Durant has been terrific in his first post-season with the Warriors, averaging 25.2 points on 55.6 per cent shooting. James has been even better, putting up 32.5 points on nearly 57 per cent shooting, and adding eight rebounds and seven assists per game. James won his first NBA title five years ago at Durant’s expense, and now Durant tries to get his first playing against James. Edge – Cavaliers.
SHOOTING GUARD Klay Thompson versus J.R. Smith Thompson’s shot has been off in the post-season, hitting just about 38 per cent from the field, but his defence is probably more important than his offence now anyway as the usual primary defender against Kyrie Irving. Smith has had a quiet post-season, playing more than 30 minutes and taking more than eight shots just once in the Eastern Conference finals. Edge – Warriors.
POINT GUARD Stephen Curry versus Kyrie Irving With his big performance in Game 5 that helped start Cleveland’s comeback, his threepointer in Game 7 and then his go-ahead basket in their Christmas Day matchup, Irving has repeatedly hurt the Warriors. Now he comes into this series off a sizzling conference finals, shooting 62 per cent against Boston. Curry is averaging 28.6 points in the playoffs and looking like a different player now than heading into last year’s NBA Finals after a knee injury earlier in the post-season. Edge – Warriors.
RESERVES Andre Iguodala, Shawn Livingston, JaVale McGee, Ian Clark, David West and Patrick McCaw versus Channing Frye, Iman Shumpert, Kyle Korver, Deron Williams and Richard Jefferson Iguodala has shot the ball poorly in the post-season but the 2015 NBA Finals MVP will be on the floor plenty anyway because of his other contributions. Meanwhile, McGee (74 per cent), Livingston (61), West (57) and Clark (52) have shot it great. Frye and Korver had their minutes slashed in the last round but the Cavaliers figure to need their three-point shooting now against the tougher Golden State defence. Advantage – Warriors.
COACHES Steve Kerr or Mike Brown versus Tyronn Lue Kerr is still trying to determine if his back is healthy enough to return to the bench. If not, Brown, who replaced him midway through the first round, faces the team he led to the 2007 NBA Finals. Lue tries to build on the terrific start to his coaching career by becoming just the second NBA coach to win titles in his first two seasons. Edge – Even.