Preview And Predictions For The 2015 NBA Finals

After dominant performances by both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors in the Conference Finals to get here, the NBA Finals are set to begin with four wins separating the teams from reaching the ultimate team goal – becoming NBA champions.

Now that we know who’s in the finals, the obvious question is asked – which team will reign supreme and hold up the Larry O’Brien Trophy when it’s all said and done?

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If we had to sum it up, the NBA Finals consists of the best overall team, statistically at least, in the Warriors against two-time NBA champion LeBron James and Co. James is making his fifth straight finals appearance, his first in Cleveland since 2007 where a young James fell short at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs.

However, as good as the Warriors have been playing team ball, let’s not forget about the reigning MVP Stephen Curry and all the excitement he’s brought this season with his out-of-this-world shooting ability and exciting passes to others around him. Curry has been clutch when it matters this postseason. He already broke Reggie Miller‘s record for the most three-point field goals made in the playoffs with 59 against the Rockets. He’s up to 73 three-pointers heading into the finals and who knows how many he’ll end up with.

Jan 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) hits his chest after attempting a shot against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 112-94. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s also a matchup between two rookie head coaches in Golden State’s Steve Kerr and Cleveland’s David Blatt. Although they lack NBA coaching experience prior to this season, both Kerr and Blatt have been around the game of basketball the past two decades.

All that being said, who do I believe will win this year’s 2014-15 NBA championship?

After thinking about it throughly, I strongly believe if the Warriors play up to their potential on both ends of the floor, like they have all season, they should take care of business in six games against James’ Cavaliers. However, that doesn’t mean I’m counting out the Cavs by any means. Let’s not forget besides James is an upcoming star in Kyrie Irving and solid role players around them like the mid-season acquisitions of Timofey Mozgov, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert, plus Tristan Thompson, who’s been playing out of his mind since Kevin Love went down with a torn shoulder.

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All in all, the Warriors are favored since they are the 14th team in NBA history to win at least 65 regular season games and reach the finals; All previous 13 went on to win the title. Foreshadowing one may say?

Let’s remember Golden State led the NBA in scoring and had the highest point differential at +10.1 a game which at times overshadowed just how good the Warriors played on defense as well. And although no player for the Warriors has made the finals previously, none of the Cavs’ first eight have made the finals either, besides James, of course.

The hype has already built up to see if the combination of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala alongside Curry can knock down James’ Cavs who have somehow, someway made the finals besides being undervalued as a team all season. Both teams are playing their best basketball at the right time and it should be a finals for the ages. A battle between an up-and-coming Warriors team led by MVP Steph Curry against the four-time MVP LeBron James, who has been here year after year and the resurged Cleveland Cavaliers.

I believe it’s Curry’s dream season that can ultimately end with a finals MVP trophy along with the Larry O’Brien trophy to top off the Warriors’ historic season in Kerr’s first year coaching; Warriors in six games, but it won’t be easy.