Cleveland is a Heavy Underdog in the NBA Finals, But These Aren't the Regular Season Cavs

Cleveland is a heavy underdog against Golden State in the NBA Finals, and the overwhelming sense seems to be the Warriors will roll in five games, or maybe even sweep LeBron’s Cavs.

Nobody’s giving Cleveland much of a chance for many understandable reasons – Kevin Love won’t play, Kyrie Irving isn’t 100%, the Warriors won 67 games and were #1 in offensive and defensive efficiency in the regular season, the East was weak this year … and did I miss anything?

As someone who picked Cleveland over Golden State at the start of the regular season, and then again before the playoffs began, I think the Cavs can win the series, and in the above video, I detail why I think it’ll happen.

* Where will Cleveland hide Kyrie Irving? Jason Terry was a disaster defensively, either on Curry on when he got switched onto anyone else. Does Kyrie start on Klay Thompson, and Cleveland put Shumpert on Curry?

* The Cavs know what they’ll get from LeBron offensively (his jumper is a key to the series, obviously), JR Smith will be up-and-down, Tristan Thompson will own the glass, and that’s why I think Iman Shumpert is the key to the series at both ends. Shumpert was part of the Knicks team that got lit up by Curry for 54 points in 2013. As you can see here, Shumpert was matched up with him very little:

* I put little or no stock in the regular season meetings. The Hawks beat the Cavs in three of four; didn’t matter in the playoffs. For those who do care about the regular season games:
– Golden State 112, Cleveland 94 in early January. LeBron didn’t play. Iman Shumpert didn’t play. Kevin Love did (17 points, 14 rebounds), Mike Miller started. The host Warriors shot 50 percent, led by 24 from Klay and 23 from Curry.
– Cleveland 110, Golden State 99 in late February. LeBron scored 42 points on 25 shots in 36 minutes. Kyrie Irving scored 24 points. The Warriors couldn’t guard either of them. Golden State only shot 42 percent, and Klay and Curry struggled (10-of-30).

* As long as LeBron doesn’t fall in love with his jumper, and attacks the rim, I’m not sure the Warriors – despite having very good defenders in Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes – will be able to keep LeBron away from the rim with Bogut off the floor.

This one’s difficult because of how long I’ve been a Stephen Curry fan … but I’ll take the Cavs in seven. Can I picked the Cavs but root for the Warriors?