NBA Finals 2015: Cavaliers vs. Warriors Schedule, Format, Predictions and More
The long layoff before the 2015 NBA Finals has created a glut of media-manufactured storylines and speculation, but in reality, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers clearly controlled their respective conferences for the majority of the season. The two squads have combined to lose just five times this postseason, illustrating how the league's two best teams are in a deserving position.
Their dominance has extended beyond the postseason, as the Warriors and Cavs went 33-9 and 30-9, respectively, after January 23, the two best records in the league over that span. Though LeBron James and Stephen Curry are stylistically dissimilar alpha dogs, both their supporting casts are also filled with gritty defenders, physical big men and plenty of shooting to go around.
Laying out the full series schedule, let's take a look at the top narratives to watch headed into the series, while also offering up a series prediction for the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
| Game 1 | Thursday, June 4 | 9 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | ABC |
| Game 2 | Sunday, June 7 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | ABC |
| Game 3 | Tuesday, June 9 | 9 p.m. | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC |
| Game 4 | Thursday, June 11 | 9 p.m. | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC |
| Game 5* | Sunday, June 14 | 8 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | ABC |
| Game 6* | Tuesday, June 16 | 9 p.m. | Golden State Warriors | Cleveland Cavaliers | ABC |
| Game 7* | Friday, June 19 | 9 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers | Golden State Warriors | ABC |
Top Storylines
Injuries to Top Sidekicks
After receiving stitches from a Trevor Ariza knee in the Western Conference Finals clincher, Klay Thompson delivered Dubs fans a scare when he was declared "out indefinitely." However, after clearing concussion protocol, the shooting guard appears set to start the series without missing any more time:
The Thompson-Curry pairing is a critical advantage against a Cavs team light on capable perimeter defenders. In the regular season, Thompson saw slight dips in his scoring and plus-minus averages, but he still posted an excellent 58.2 percent true shooting percentage, per Basketball-Reference. Not dealing with Thompson would have considerably eased Cleveland's defensive rotation responsibilities, but it won't enjoy that respite anymore.
The news is similar, but less rosy in regard to Kyrie Irving. Playing through knee tendonitis the past two rounds, Irving sat out the middle games of the four-game sweep against the Atlanta Hawks, meaning that he'll have played just once in 14 days leading up to the Finals. Nevertheless, the All-Star point guard doesn't anticipate being at full strength despite that rest:
A diminished Irving would be devastating against a Golden State defense that has allowed just 101.3 points per 100 possessions during the postseason, right on pace with its league-leading regular-season mark. Irving was also at his best in the two regular-season meetings against the Warriors, averaging 23.5 points per game.
Not having Irving at full strength would be tough for offensive reasons, but while he's not known for his defense, a hobbled Irving could have deleterious consequences for Cleveland's biggest problem in this series.
Who Guards LeBron and Steph?
Neither James nor Curry is likely to stay under wraps particularly long in this series. Though the Dubs and Cavs both have capable defenders who should harass both, the past and current MVP winners are incandescent talents that will get plenty of theirs in this series.
Draymond Green is the likeliest player to guard LeBron. According to NBA.com, players guarded by Green this postseason have shot 1.7 percent worse than their average, impressive considering the caliber of assignment he typically handles. However, even Green believes that guarding LeBron won't be his sole responsibility when he's on the floor:
Indeed, Golden State's advantage is its capability to throw other players like Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala on James. Given that LeBron is sure to play heavy minutes, the steady stream of fresh defenders could at least limit his efficacy, particularly late in games.
The Cavs, on the other hand, don't have the same array of options. Iman Shumpert might be the best perimeter defender on either team, but as SI.com's Ben Golliver illustrates, any option Cleveland chooses against Curry is unlikely to result in a net positive:
"Cleveland will be forced to choose from a series of unappetizing options: 1) use a hobbled Irving on Curry, which could be a disaster, 2) use Shumpert on Curry, thereby leaving Irving to chase Thompson or deal with Harrison Barnes’ size, or 3) use James as a Curry-stopper, thereby daring Thompson or Barnes to beat Cleveland, 4) sic Dellavedova on Curry by going ultra-small and hoping for the best, or 5) pressure and/or trap the ball out of Curry's hands and live with the consequences. None of those choices are guaranteed to limit Curry’s effectiveness, and all of them present secondary complications for Cleveland’s defense.
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The default mode is usually to try to limit the other team's best player, but given the strength of the Warriors' supporting cast, one wonders if the Cavaliers would allow Curry to dominate while eliminating the secondary options. That's still easier said than done, but against an irrepressible shooter, the unconventional approach might be the best one.
Series Prediction
This movie feels like a redux of last year's Finals, when the world's best player wasn't enough to carry an inferior supporting cast against the best all-around squad in the league. Losing a fourth Finals would start to move James into Wilt Chamberlain territory in terms of historical legacy, given both players' notorious issues in championship rounds.
FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine suggested that this year's Cleveland squad is the third-worst supporting cast of any finalist over the past 30 years, based on weighted plus-minus figures. The 2015 Cavs check in one spot ahead of the 2007 Cleveland squad, which earned a reputation as one of the worst Finals teams of all time after LeBron and his ragtag friends got swept at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs.
A weakened Kyrie would move Cleveland into that territory, which is simply not enough against the 67-win Warriors. Observers might not have expected a historically dominant season from Golden State in October, but eight months later, the Dubs are in position to seal their legacy.
Prediction: Golden State in 5
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