NBA Playoffs
NBA Finals
Tip-off: Thursday, 9:05 p.m. ET
Line: Golden State -6.0, Total: 202.5

The Warriors look to take a 1-0 lead when they host the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

The Cavaliers and Warriors have both cruised to this point in the year and now things should get a lot tougher. Cleveland enters this series after sweeping the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cavaliers outrebounded the Hawks in every single game they played and will need to continue to be effective on the glass in order to be in this series. The Warriors, meanwhile, defeated the Rockets in five games last round. They won two of the final three games by double digits and grabbed 72 rebounds in two of the final three games as well. They have done a good job on the glass and will need to keep that up against an aggressive Cleveland team. These teams met twice during the regular season and both squads won by double digits when playing at home. Both games went Under the total as well. Over the past three seasons, the Warriors are 4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS when facing the Cavaliers overall. Golden State has won three of its past four games against Cleveland at Oracle Arena. The Cavaliers are 17-6 ATS after five straight games forcing their opponent to commit 14 or less turnovers over the past two seasons. The Warriors, however, are 9-0 ATS after two straight games where they were called for 25 or more fouls over the past two seasons. PF Kevin Love (Shoulder) and C Anderson Varejao (Achilles) are out for the season for the Cavaliers. SG Klay Thompson (Concussion) is probable for Game 1 and PF Marreese Speights (Calf) is available to play as well.

SF LeBron James (27.6 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 8.3 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG in playoffs) is playing his best basketball entering the Finals. Even with PG Kyrie Irving (18.7 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.1 SPG in playoffs) banged up and PF Kevin Love (16.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG in regular season) out for the remainder of the year, the Cavaliers swept the Atlanta Hawks last round. None of it would be possible without James though, as he averaged 30.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 9.3 APG and 1.5 SPG against the Hawks last round. He looks healthy and is using his size and strength better than ever in the postseason. James has not always been one to be aggressive as a post scorer, but he has done so often in this series. He’ll need to continue to use his size in this one and should really go after it on Wednesday. PF Tristan Thompson (9.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 1.3 BPG in playoffs) is going to need to be on his game in Game 1. Draymond Green is one of the most versatile forwards in basketball and Thompson will need to match his energy on both ends of the floor. He has been the reason this Cavaliers team has been dominant on the glass and his activity as a rebounder will come a long way in determining who wins the series.

Many thought that the going would get tougher in the postseason, but the Warriors have dropped just three games in these playoffs. PG Stephen Curry (29.2 PPG, 6.4 APG, 4.9 RPG, 1.9 SPG in playoffs) averaged 31.2 PPG and 5.6 APG in the Western Conference Finals. He shot 49% from the outside in that series and is playing the best basketball of his career. He will be going up against Kyrie Irving, who is dealing with a number of injuries. If Curry can continue to pour it on offensively then the Warriors will likely be going into Game 2 with a 1-0 lead. He will, however, need some help form SG Klay Thompson (19.7 PPG in playoffs) in this game. Thompson should be feeling good after recovering from a concussion in the time off before the finals. He has struggled with his shot at times in the postseason and must start the series off right. SF Draymond Green (14.0 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG in playoffs) will be one of the most important players in this series. He’ll likely spend a lot of time guarding LeBron James and must hold his own if that is the case. Curry can do everything he wants offensively, but if the Warriors don’t find a way to stop LeBron then it will be tough to win the title.