2015 NBA Playoff Previews: Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Well, well, well, the 2015 NBA Finals have finally arrived. Later tonight, the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers will get this championship series underway. Today, we’re here to get you ready with a little preview. Let’s get into it. 

Golden State Warriors (1) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (2)

Which team is more fun to watch?

Jack (@jackhaveitall): The Cavaliers have LeBron, so this isn’t a landslide victory for the Warriors, but it’s a victory nonetheless. Whenever a question about having fun watching basketball arises, the answer is always the Warriors.

Wes (@wcgoldberg): The Warriors with all of their switching on defense, intensity from Draymond Green and fire from Steph Curry make them the most fun team to watch in the NBA. I love watching LeBron, too. This is going to be a fun series.

Zach (@ZachOliverNBA): While the Cavs have LeBron, who is in a world of his own, it’s the Warriors. It’s like watching a lite version of the Spurs with the ball flowing so smoothly and the defense getting after it on every possession. Also, having a guy like Steph Curry who can shoot, and make it, from anywhere on the floor helps.

Chris (@ChrisBarnewall): It’s the Warriors in a landslide. The possibilities of what they can do on offense, the trash talk, and thanks to Steph Curry the jumpshot has never been as cool as it is right now.

Eric (@ericbuenning): Warriors. Their style of play on both ends of the court is just beautiful and they don’t have Matthew Dellavedova on their team.

Matt (@Matt_Cianfrone): The Warriors. 35 footers, no-look passes, Andrew Bogut; I love it all. But LeBron makes this close than it should be.

Which team is more likeable?

Jack: The Warriors. They have Steph Curry.

Wes: Are the Cavs even likeable?

Zach: The Warriors have Riley Curry. Any other argument is invalid.

Chris: The Cavs have Matthew Dellavedova. The Warriors have Steph Curry. This one is easily the Dubs.

Eric: Not Cleveland.

Matt: The Warriors and it isn’t close because the Cavs have Dellevedova and Perk. Which is a shame because James Jones and Mike Miller and Shawn Marion are impossible to hate.

Who had the more impressive late game shot? 

Steph?

Or LeBron?

Jack: Bron’s bucket was a game-winner, but Steph’s triple was from deep in the corner, right in Anthony Davis’ face, and should have been an and-one. Point, Steph.

Wes: Steph’s shot probably had a higher degree of difficulty, but LeBron’s 3 from the corner to beat the Bulls, down 2-1 in the series, was more impressive.

Zach: The degree of difficulty on Steph’s shot was ridiculous, and he was fouled, which makes it even better. That’s not a slight on LeBron’s shot, though, it was also great but fading away in the corner after rallying from being down 20+ to win? Yeah, give it to the chef.

Chris: Steph Curry’s because we all knew the game was over once he made it. It’s not an official game winner, but lets call it one on a technicality. Also gets bonus point for taking a shot from Anthony Davis in the process.

Eric: Steph. I was in the media room after one of the Bucks playoff games watching that game. When Curry hit that shot, the general reaction was just head shaking and groans of disbelief. LeBron’s may have been more important to the series, but that Curry shot was…smh.

Matt: Steph because he had to shoot it over Anthony Davis and his infinity wingspan.

Which team has a better slogan? (Warriors: Strength in Numbers) (Cavs: All In)

Jack: Uh, Warriors?

Wes: Dub Nation.

Zach: Warriors.

Chris: Warriors I guess. Neither are good.

Eric: I have to pick one? Warriors, I guess. But #banslogans

Matt: To be honest I thought the Cavs was something “The Land” related and I think that is stupider than either of these so Warriors because of that.

Which team has the better jerseys?

Jack: Again I have to go with the Warriors. Going back to the jerseys with the Bay Bridge on the front was one of the best decisions an NBA team has made this decade.

Wes: I’m quite partial to the Cavs’ navy blue jerseys, but on the regular the Warriors have the better threads. The light blue and yellow with the Bay Bridge (not the Golden Gate Bridge) on the front is a great local flavor.

Zach: I’m not a big fan of the yellow jerseys the Cavs have, which I think hurts them. Their blue jerseys are great, though. But, again, this one goes to the Dubs with the local look with the Bay Bridge and all.

Chris: I’m actually a big fan of the Cavs jerseys in all of their color schemes, but the Warriors arguably have the best jerseys in the entire NBA. Give me the Dubs.

Eric: The bridge jersey puts Golden State on top, but the Cavs jerseys aren’t that bad.

Matt: The Warriors unless the Cavs break out this one.

Which team has the better hometown rappers?

Jack: Bad news Cleveland. This one goes to the Bay Area as well. Kid Cudi had some bangers back in the day, but now he’s a weirdo. Chip tha Ripper is fine, I guess. But Machine Gun Kelly is super wack. Meanwhile, the Bay Area is repped by E-40. Lil B, and MC Hammer. Enough said.

Wes: Machine Gun Kelly single handedly wins the award for the Bay Area. I don’t get the obsession with him at all. Give me E-40 any day of the week over Cleveland’s finest. Plus, the Bay Area has a great local rap scene.

Zach: Uh, I… I don’t know? I’m not familiar with rappers and the area they come from, so, I’ll abstain from giving a real opinion here.

Chris: The Warriors have Lil. B on their side which cuts out any and all good rappers the bay area has. As a result, Cleveland takes this one easily.

Eric: I’ll go with the Bay Area because I feel like it would make MC Hammer happy.

Matt: The Bay Area had me at MC Hammer.

Which team would have a better celebration ceremony?

Jack: This one is tough, but it looks like it’s a Warriors sweep. J.R. going wild would be a sight to behold, but this is Riley Curry’s year.

Wes: Both franchises have been waiting a long time for a chip, but I feel like Cleveland’s celebration would be more about LeBron celebrating bringing a title to Cleveland than actually bringing a title to Cleveland, if that makes sense. The Bay knows how to party, however they have had titles with the Giants recently (and success with the Sharks and 49ers), so they might not be as thirsty as a community. This is tough, but it’s probably Cleveland by a hair.

Zach: Which team has J.R. Smith and hasn’t won a championship before? Sure, it might be overshadowed some by LeBron bringing a title to his hometown, but, I think J.R. gives them the bump, even with Riley Curry running wild for the Warriors.

Chris: It would be more fun to watch a new leader in Steph Curry accepting the trophy instead of LeBron again, but lets make this more fun and talk about the atmosphere. I’m going to assume this is taking place in their home arenas. Roaracle and the Dubs celebrating would be a blast and probably squeak out a victory over the Q. The cities themselves? Cleveland is going to be having a damn party for a week straight after finally winning a championship in a major sport.

Eric: I think I’m going to go with Cleveland here. I want to see LeBron bring a title back home, dang it! Plus J.R. attempting to turn up in Cleveland sounds hilarious to me:

“What do you mean this bar closes at midnight?”

“Sorry, J.R. The hours were posted outside on the window.”

“But we just won the dang NBA title!”

“I’m afraid the rules are the rules. Please take this party elsewhere.”

Matt: JR Smith is on one of these teams. There isn’t another answer that is even possibly close to being correct.