2016 NBA Finals Schedule Released: Dates, Format and More

The 2016 NBA Finals schedule is set.  

J.A. Adande of ESPN.com provided a memo from the league Thursday, which offers dates (but not times) for all seven games:

This will be the third straight year the Finals feature a 2-2-1-1-1 format. The league previously used a 2-3-2 format, which was easier from a traveling perspective but a far less fair scenario.

Setting the schedule now is little more than a procedural move for television networks. ABC will carry the broadcasts for each game, and a tentative schedule has long pegged these dates as the most likely for the Finals.

The league attempts to plan as much ahead as possible for its broadcast partners, which will sell advertising based on the expected ratings spike. Having a firm schedule is a bit more of a drag for fans, though, as sometimes there can be a lengthy break between the Conference Finals and the Finals.

The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers will enter as favorites to meet for a second straight year. Golden State, sitting at 69-9, is in the midst of a historic regular season that could see it break the single-season wins record. Cleveland has ascended to the top of the Eastern Conference despite near-constant controversy, which has included a coach firing, in-fighting between players and a general sense of underwhelming effort.

That said, there's no Eastern team within a mile of the Cavaliers' talent level. If the Warriors and the Cavaliers meet up again, they'll be tasked with following a six-game series in 2015 that featured a herculean effort from LeBron James. The likes of San Antonio, Oklahoma City and (to a lesser extent) Toronto will have their fingers crossed they can play the spoiler, though.