Live Thread: Cavs @ Warriors

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

It’s Christmas, and Adam Silver has been a very giving man this year. NBA fans are finally getting the rematch they all wished for: Cavs Vs. Warriors. Although, neither team looks exactly the same since they last met on June 16th.

The Warriors are missing their small ball power forward, Harrison Barnes, and the Cavs are fully loaded for the first time in nearly six months.

The game today could be a preview of the Finals, as both teams sit atop their respective conferences. The Warriors have been insanely hot so far this season losing just one game, and winning by an average of 13.5 points (second in the league). The Cavs are are beating opponents by an average of 6.2 points (fourth in the league).

Here’s what I’m looking for today:
1. How will the Cavs cover Stephen Curry? Curry is averaging 31.2 points a night, hitting 4.8 threes a night! In game one of the Finals, Irving covered Curry and held him to 26 points on 10-20 shooting. Curry has scored less than 26 points just eight times this season. Is Irving up for the challenge today?

Once Irving went out with his knee injury in the Finals, the Cavs began trapping Curry pick and rolls, forcing a pass, and then rushing to whoever caught the ball to force one final pass. Whoever received that second pass was free to shoot it. Typically, Andre Iguodala was that guy. He started hitting his shots in games four, five, and six, which propelled the Warriors to a title.

2. What lineup will finish this game? Kyrie Irving is on a minutes restriction, but even if he wasn’t, it’s still questionable as to if he would finish the game out. The Cavs’ Warrior stomping lineup in the Finals was Dellavedova, Shumpert, James, Mozgov, and Thomspon. LeBron ran the offense and the other guys focused on defending and getting every single rebound possible. It flustered the Warriors small ball super group.

3. With Kevin Love back, the Warriors will actually have to defend the entire floor. When the Cavs played them in the Finals, TT and Mozgov were often on the floor together for long stretches of time. Shumpert and Delly couldn’t hit any of their 3s. This resulted in the King seeing at least three defenders in the paint at all times. He had to work his butt off. What’s gonna happen when he gets to face just two defenders in the paint?

4. Both of these teams can defend and play offense. What is each one going to focus on? Is this game going to be a grind it out defensive affair or will both groups just try to out score each other? For the sake of the Cavs, I really hope they turn this game into a rough defensive event. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are too dangerous from beyond the arc to try and out score.

5. TT or Mozgov are going to get guarded by Draymond Green at some point during this game. Can those two assert themselves as Bigs who can punish a smaller guy on the glass?

I’m predicting this game is won by less than three point by the Cavs. The Cavs (the King) have been waiting for this game all year. They’re going to play hard, and I’m sure it’s on their minds that they can deliver the Warriors their second L of the season.

Merry Christmas, let’s hope for a big Cavs win.

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I leave you with the best holiday special of all time: