NBA: 5 best rivalries in 2015-16

By JT Tomiyama | Dec 5, 2015

Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shakes hands with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the fourth quarter of game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Warriors won 105-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

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.Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Cavaliers and Warriors

What is better than watching two of the best players in the world go to battle? That’s what the basketball world was treated to last year in the NBA Finals when the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors collided. Watching Steph Curry and LeBron James go toe-to-toe was epic and had eagerly fans anticipating an encore.

The MVP and the former MVP lived up to the hype. Steph Curry averaged 26 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6 assists. LeBron put up monster numbers averaging 35.8 ppg, 13.3 boards and 8.8 dimes. The Akron native did all of this without two of his best teammates in Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, who missed the series due to injuryies, carrying the Cavaliers as far as he could go.

There is some trash talk but no fights or anything like that in this rivalry. It’s simply the best vs the best in a “to be the man, you got to beat the man” kind of standoff and that is the best kind of rivalry.

Steph Curry and his Warriors showed you can be dominant with small ball and win an NBA Championship. The Warriors are in their prime and the Cavaliers look to be ready for another run to the finals. Don’t be surprised in June if you see these two square off for the Larry O’Brien trophy once again.

Next: 1. Clippers and Warriors

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