NBA Finals 2017: 5 big questions for Warriors vs. Cavaliers matchup
By John Buhler
The 2017 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors will begin on June 1. Here are five big questions heading into the series.
For the third straight year, the Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Golden State won the first meeting back in 2015 in six games. That was the Warriors’ first NBA Championship in 40 years. Cleveland overcame a 3-1 deficit to win its first championship in franchise history, taking a historic Game 7 in 2016.
Getting a “three-match” was definitely on the table entering this season. Golden State landed the best player in free agency by successful prying small forward Kevin Durant away from the rival Oklahoma City Thunder. Cleveland had its ebbs and flows this season, but proved to be too hot to handle for any team in the Eastern Conference.
Between these two juggernaut basketball teams, they went a combined 24-1 in their 2017 NBA playoff series. If Avery Bradley’s flukey 3-point shot at the buzzer didn’t go in during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, we would be looking at two 12-0 teams going head-to-head.
While the 2017 NBA Playoffs have been largely a snooze up to this point, the 2017 NBA Finals looks to be a television spectacular for however long this series goes, hopefully a full seven games like last year. We will have to wait until Thursday, June 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET for Game 1 in Oakland, but here are five questions we’re all thinking about in anticipation of the 2017 NBA Finals.
5. Can Cleveland steal a game on the road in Oracle?
Since the Warriors have a better regular season record over the Cavaliers, they will obviously have home-court advantage in this best-of-seven series. That means for Cleveland to win back-to-back NBA Championships, the Cavaliers have to find a way to steal a taco for Reggie Miller/a game on the road in Oracle.
Winning on the road in Oakland is tough sledding to say the very least. Golden State was a blistering 36-5 at Oracle Arena this past regular season. The Warriors won all six of their 2017 NBA playoff games at home. While Golden State was a far superior team over the Portland Trail Blazers, the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs, do the Cavaliers have enough firepower to win a game or two in professional basketball’s toughest road environment?
Though Cleveland was 7-0 on the road this postseason, the Cavaliers were actually a game below .500 on the road this past regular season at 20-21. Initially that doesn’t look promising, but James did sit out a handful of road games this season. Cleveland lost all six of James’ road days off.
Obviously, Cleveland will need to match Golden State’s firepower offensively from the perimeter to win on the road. Stopping the Warriors’ attack in transition just does not seem like something in the cards for the lackluster Cavaliers defense.
However, Cleveland does have the two advantages that matter most in playoff basketball: the ability to win at the rim and the best player on the hardwood. If Cleveland wins within six feet of the basket, then the Cavaliers have a strong chance to steal a taco for America and a game in Oakland.