NBA Playoffs: 5 keys to Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers series

NBA Playoffs 2018: 5 keys to Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers matchup

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: Draymond Green #23, Kevin Durant #35, Klay Thompson #11, and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors look on in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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BOSTON, MA – MAY 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 27, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. LeBron’s greatness

Golden State enter this series as the most talented team. LeBron James enters it as the most talented player. Betting against him in his career has proved to be a very poor proposition for gamblers. It will be up to James to see if he can conjure enough magic in this series to lift his team to an upset victory.

To make history once again, LeBron is going to have to be amazing in this series. He’ll need to create the vast majority of the team’s offense and accept the challenge of defending an All-Star. He’s probably Lue’s best bet to give Durant a real challenge on defense. That might put too much physical stress on James, but he is capable of superhuman efforts.

Golden State will certainly do everything they can to wear him out. In some ways, the Warriors might be best-served to play a long game against James. He’ll finish the year with over 100 games played including this long playoff run. Kerr and company have to be wondering when his body will betray him.

Next: Can the Cavs really pull this off?

Again, betting against LeBron James is a good way to go broke. Don’t be surprised if he pulls out one or two historically good performances in this series. He may not play well enough to bring another title to Cleveland, but he’s too good not to make this series interesting.

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