NBA Playoffs 2015: TV, Live Streaming Schedule and Championship Pick
By now, hoops enthusiasts are probably sick of previews and predictions. They just want to see the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers fight for the NBA title.
That wish will come true on Thursday night, when a long layover finally ends and the 2015 NBA Finals tip off.
The series is an easy one to sell. A local hero returns home, looking to provide the city its first taste of sporting glory. In his way stands a rising juggernaut led by a likable superstar.
As the clock counts down to tipoff, let's take one last look at the upcoming NBA Finals.
| 1 | Thur., June 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| 2 | Sun., June 7 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 8 p.m. | ABC |
| 3 | Tue., June 9 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| 4 | Thur., June 11 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| 5* | Sun., June 14 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 8 p.m. | ABC |
| 6* | Tue., June 16 | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | 9 p.m. | ABC |
| 7* | Fri., June 19 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | 9 p.m | ABC |
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Series
Klay Thompson's Health
When Stephen Curry makes a contested circus shot, opponents have to shrug and realize the MVP will find ways to score. When Klay Thompson is also locked in...better luck next time.
The 25-year-old shooting guard has averaged 19.7 points per postseason game, largely fueled by 100 points in the first-round sweep over the New Orleans Pelicans. He started the Western Conference Finals slowly, missing 18 of 22 three-point attempts from Games 1 to 3.
He caught fire during the ensuing two tilts, making 10 of 19 attempts from downtown. His resurgence, however, was dampened by a concussion suffered at the end of Game 5. Thompson's status was initially in doubt, but ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the star shooter passed the concussion protocol:
Thompson also shared an optimistic outlook following Tuesday's practice, via SF Gate's Rusty Simmons. “It’s looking like I'll be ready for Thursday,” Thompson said before undergoing his final tests. “I’m 99.9 percent positive I will be.”
Injured athletes tend to operate with a warrior mentality—pun semi-intended—and that desire to go full throttle is amplified during the Finals. Yet concussions are serious business, so head coach Steve Kerr must keep close tabs on his young star.
Thompson is vital to Golden State's success both offensively and defensively. Considering he almost returned to Game 5 before bleeding out of his ear, it's difficult to fully trust the measures in place.
Three-Point Shooting
Cleveland and Golden State enter the series with the two best opposing three-point percentages this season. The Cavaliers have limited foes to 28.1 percent from behind the arc, while adversaries are shooting a paltry 31.0 percent versus the Warriors.
Random variance can muddle deep-shooting data, but both teams boasted top-10 rates during the regular season as well. While most will view three-pointers as a staple in Golden State's high-paced offense, the Cavaliers attempted 10.1 shots from behind the arc this season, trailing only the Houston Rockets and Warriors.
Stymieing Curry and Thompson from splashing is paramount to stopping Golden State. Despite facing two of the season's three best defenses (Houston and New Orleans) in terms of three-point prevention, the Warriors have still made a playoff-high 11.5 threes per game.
In second? Cleveland, with 10.4. J.R. Smith has accounted for three a game, as he hasn't seen a spot-up jumper he hasn't liked since joining the squad. LeBron James, on the other hand, might want to exclusively attack the basket. For all his gaudy numbers, he's a ghastly 12-of-68 from deep this postseason.
Home Advantage
Home-court advantage typically doesn't mean much when top squads battle. Champions tend to transcend location, excelling wherever they conduct business.
Yet the Warriors' home dominance is well-documented. After going 39-2 inside the Oracle Arena this season, they've won seven of their eight postseason bouts at home. Because of their superior season record, they hold the home edge, which means the Cavaliers must take at least one game on the West Coast.
The venue hasn't mattered much recently for the Cavs, who are 6-1 both at home and on the road this postseason. NBA.com constructed a nifty graphic of both clubs' home prowess:
During the season, however, the Cavs went an underwhelming 22-19 outside the Quicken Loans Arena. While the Warriors boasted the NBA's best net rating (+6.7) on the road, the Cavaliers amassed a minus-0.2 away mark, according to NBA.com.
The series opens with two games inside the Oracle Arena, which emanates a college-like atmosphere for a franchise looking to snap a 40-year title drought. Taking both bouts would place all the pressure squarely on Cleveland's shoulders before the series shifts to Ohio.
Prediction
Golden State played better offensively and defensively than Cleveland all year, and the Cavs' recent improvements came against some subpar, hobbled Eastern Conference opponents.
While Cleveland won't have any answer for Golden State's shooting, the Warriors will stifle the Cavs' role players, forcing James to unsuccessfully play the hero against a Western Conference powerhouse. Again.
Pick: Warriors in five
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