NBA Finals Schedule 2015: Dates, Game Times, TV Guide for Cavaliers vs. Warriors
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have left little doubt that they are the two best teams in basketball, so it is only fitting that they will do battle in the NBA Finals to determine who takes home the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
Cleveland is anchored by LeBron James, who is making his fifth consecutive Finals appearance and has established himself as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
The Warriors boast NBA MVP Stephen Curry, but they also benefit from perhaps the deepest and most talented supporting cast in the league.
As one of the most intriguing NBA Finals series in recent memory reaches its commencement, here is everything you need to know in order to watch and enjoy all the action.
| 1 | Thursday, June 4 | 9 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | ABC |
| 2 | Sunday, June 7 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | ABC |
| 3 | Tuesday, June 9 | 9 p.m. | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC |
| 4 | Thursday, June 11 | 9 p.m. | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC |
| 5* | Sunday, June 14 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | ABC |
| 6* | Tuesday, June 16 | 9 p.m. | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC |
| 7* | Friday, June 19 | 9 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | ABC |
Cavaliers X-Factor: J.R. Smith
J.R. Smith has long been one of the NBA's most volatile and controversial players. It is difficult to tell how he'll play or act from one game to the next, but the sharpshooting guard has been on fire throughout the playoffs.
Since being exiled from the New York Knicks, the 29-year-old marksman has developed into a key complement alongside LeBron.
He was especially strong in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Atlanta Hawks couldn't solve him. He made 16 three-point field goals in that series alone and is connecting on nearly 40 percent of his long-range tries in the postseason overall.
As seen in this tweet courtesy of RealGM, Smith has been the Cavs' most efficient player outside of LeBron and Kyrie Irving:
It has been an incredible turnaround for Smith considering the fact that he was viewed as an expendable player by one of the NBA's worst teams in the Knicks.
That is something that isn't lost on Smith's mother, according to NBA TV:
Even President Barack Obama has taken notice of Smith and the impact that he has had on the Cavaliers since being acquired from New York:
Efficiency from behind the arc is Golden State's greatest strength, as the likes of Curry and Klay Thompson thrive in that particular area. If Smith is on his game, though, Cleveland can match the Dubs in that regard.
Smith's track record suggests that he could just as easily fall off at any time, which makes him the true definition of an X-factor.
Warriors X-Factor: Andrew Bogut
On a team as exciting as the Warriors, it is easy to forget about the guys who do the little things necessary to win games. Curry, Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes receive most of the accolades, but center Andrew Bogut's contributions shouldn't be ignored.
Despite being the No. 1 overall selection in the 2005 NBA draft, the 7'0" Aussie has checked his pride at the door and become one of the most vital role players in the league.
Few players can impact a game like he can without scoring the basketball. That was on display in the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets, as he didn't score a single point in three of the five games.
He was such a non-factor offensively that ESPN's Bomani Jones wondered if there was a mandate against him trying to score:
Even if he isn't attempting shots, though, Bogut is a key part of the offense due to his ability to rebound and set screens. He is also a fantastic passer, which is something he takes great pride in, according to Ian Thomsen of Sportal:
"I love passing the ball. I think I see the floor like a point guard: I can see two or three moves ahead, where guys are going to be and what is going to be open. A lot of times I will throw the pass before a guy is open, knowing where he is going to be open.
...
If Steph or Klay are missing their first two or three shots, if I can get them a layup or an open three and they knock that down, I know we're good. You get them an easy basket, I know that basket will lead to bang-bang-bang-bang-bang. And then all of a sudden, hey, three threes in a row.
"
The Cavs have gotten surprisingly good play out of bigs Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov as of late, which places even more emphasis than usual on Bogut in the NBA Finals.
He has a total of 34 rebounds over his past three games, and he'll have to be tough on the glass at both ends of the floor in order to give his team a chance to win. If he excels in that regard, then the Cavs will have an extremely difficult time winning the series.
Prediction
According to Odds Shark, the Warriors have been favored to win the NBA title since the start of the playoffs due to their fine regular season. While they haven't necessarily done anything to warrant falling out of the catbird seat, the Cavs have improved rapidly.
Not only is LeBron performing like the best player in the world, but he is getting help as well.
Irving seems to be returning to health, while the likes of Smith, Thompson, Mozgov, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova have all contributed to the team's rise.
The Warriors are similar in that they thrive on the contributions of many players, but there are question marks surrounding them as well.
Chief among them is the health of Thompson, who is currently out with a concussion, according to SportsCenter:
Golden State will take a big hit if he is forced to miss any time, but even if he manages to play in Game 1 and beyond, he may not be able to compete to the best of his ability.
That would put even more burden on Curry, who while great, isn't likely to outgun LeBron. As pointed out by ESPN's Skip Bayless, the Warriors figure to have a very difficult time slowing King James down:
LeBron returned to Cleveland with the goal of bringing the Cavs their first title in franchise history. He may have several more shots at it moving forward considering the state of the Eastern Conference, but it's tough to imagine him squandering this opportunity.
He and the Cavaliers are hitting their stride at the right time, and that will propel them to an NBA championship in seven games.
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