NBA Playoffs 2015: Championship Schedule and Cavaliers vs. Warriors Projections

This marathon began eight months ago, back in late October. All 30 teams were fresh in their legs and hopeful in their hearts. Now, after a grueling journey, just two remain.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are bruised and battered, but it’s clear they deserve to be fighting for an NBA title. They have been, without a shadow of a doubt, the two best teams since the playoffs began.

What’s going to win out: LeBron James’ individual greatness or Golden State’s scorching offensive attack?

We’ll see. Check out the schedule below so you don’t miss a minute of action.

How to Watch

Game	Date	Matchup	Time	Channel
1	June 4	Cavs at Warriors	9 p.m.	ABC
2	June 7	Cavs at Warriors	8 p.m.	ABC
3	June 9	Warriors at Cavaliers	9 p.m.	ABC
4	June 11	Warriors at Cavaliers	9 p.m.	ABC
5*	June 14	Cavs at Warriors	8 p.m.	ABC
6*	June 16	Warriors at Cavaliers	9 p.m.	ABC
7*	June 19	Cavs at Warriors	9 p.m.	ABC

Predictions

Cavaliers Will Steal Game 1

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The Warriors set a franchise record with 39 home victories this season, and it’s not hard to understand why. Oracle Arena, which was been dubbed “Roaracle,” gets louder than Meek Mill on a hard beat.

But this isn’t James’ first dance. While his fellow Cavaliers have little big-time playoff experience, their leader has sailed these waters before. He’s won and lost on the biggest stage multiple times.

For all of Golden State’s magnificence on both sides of the ball, the Dubs have zero players with NBA Finals experience. ESPN’s Marc Stein passed along an interesting stat that highlighted the contrast between James and the Warriors:

Golden State has dropped just one game at home (and two games total) throughout these playoffs. But Cleveland has only lost a pair of games, too. This really is a matchup of two powerhouses.

Still, it seems as though no team has stood a chance at Oracle. Outside of the San Antonio Spurs, who were eliminated in Round 1, no team outside of James’ would’ve had such an accomplished playoff resume.

Ron Schwane/Associated Press

James needs this title for his legacy. If the Warriors prevail, the King’s Finals record would drop to 2-4.

Expect LBJ to have his troops prepared for the big stage. And expect him to shine as bright as ever as his team sets the tone and swipes Game 1.

J.R. Smith Will Have Multiple 25-point Games

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Earl Smith Jr.—more commonly known as “J.R.”—is a human firecracker.

He could shoot the Cavs out of a game just as easily as he could single-handedly win it. If given the ball every time, he will shoot...every time.

Just ask the New York Knicks.

Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t. Smith’s 42.4 career shooting percentage is indicative of his inconsistency between red-hot and ice-cold outings.

Since the Cavaliers acquired him in January, though, things have been different. Smith hasn’t been asked to play playground ball; instead, he’s served as a complementary piece to James and point guard Kyrie Irving.

In Game 1 against the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Smith nailed eight of his 12 three-point attempts, setting a Cavaliers playoff record. It wasn’t Smith’s first record-setting day from downtown.

With Golden State’s attention zeroing in on James, Smith hopes to get some open looks. Here’s what the shooting guard told Diamond Leung of the San Jose Mercury News:

Expect ol’ Earl to take advantage of this, especially early in the series as Irving continues to work himself back into big minutes.

James is arguably the best passer in the game, so he’ll find the open man. If it’s Smith who's left open, expect the enigmatic shooting guard to make Golden State pay.

Stats are accurate courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.