NBA Finals 2015: Analyzing the Latest News About Cavaliers vs. Warriors

Injury concerns, LeBron James and Stephen Curry, and rookie head coaches Steve Kerr and David Blatt are creating plenty of buzz leading up to the 2015 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.

With the start of the Finals only two days away on June 4, here is a look at these three key storylines.

Backcourt Injuries an Issue For Both Teams 

After suffering a concussion May 27 near the end of Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets, Klay Thompson is getting closer to a recovery. 

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, the guard will again be looked at Tuesday to evaluate his status for Game 1.

Also per Stein, Thompson appeared to be feeling well about his health after practice Monday. 

"About a 9.5. Actually, no, a 9. Couple more days to get completely right, and I expect to be fully healthy and compete on Thursday," Thompson said, referring to his health on a scale of one to 10.

Update: Thompson has been cleared to play.

Meanwhile, Cleveland seems more uncertain about the status of point guard Kyrie Irving, who is dealing with tendinitis in his left knee, according to cleveland.com. 

Per cleveland.com, Cavaliers coach David Blatt said his All-Star guard has been progressing slowly, and Irving does not expect to be 100 percent healthy for Game 1. Irving is also showing signs of injury during practice, according to ProBasketballTalk's Kurt Helin.

In addition, Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert has been playing through a groin injury, according to CBS Sports.

Based on Thompson's comments and media reports, he should be ready to play Thursday. He has been shooting regularly, which means he should be in good enough rhythm to play his part in the Splash Brothers duo. 

The Cavaliers are in a tough spot. Irving's effectiveness is truly unknown at this point. With the wealth of weapons Golden State has on the perimeter, Cleveland will need Irving to contribute to keep up with the Warriors' high-octane offense. 

In addition, any worsening of Shumpert's injury would spell trouble for Cleveland. Shumpert has been solid with his 10.1 points per game this postseason. He is also arguably Cleveland's best perimeter defender and will be relied upon to slow down the likes of Curry and Thompson. 

James vs. Curry 

James and Curry are obviously the two brightest stars in this matchup. Curry won this season's Most Valuable Player award, while James has won the honor four times. Thus, much has been said about these two players. 

Curry is an offensive dynamo, so how do the Cavaliers plan on stopping him? 

"You can't," James said, per Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. 

In the same article, Curry said it would take a team effort to guard James. Each team plans to rotate defenders on the opposing superstar, according to the Times. 

So who is under more pressure to win this championship? 

Matt Moore of CBS Sports said this series is legacy-defining for James. A win would put him at 3-3 all time in the Finals, including an impressive run with this year's hobbled and inexperienced squad. A loss would put him at 2-4 at age 30, leaving him officially plagued by Finals demons, according to Moore. 

On the other hand, Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes believes Curry is under more pressure to win. He is on a team that won 67 games this year and is taking on an opponent damaged by injuries. According to Hughes, the Warriors are the 14th team to reach the Finals after winning at least 65 regular-season games, and the previous 13 each won the title. 

Those two players are the keys to the series' outcome. However, James has nothing to lose carrying a depleted roster to the Finals. A win only adds to his greatness, while a loss to a dominant Warriors team can be justified. If Golden State blows its first trip to the finals in 40 years, it will be a flop for the team and Curry.

Rookie Coaches Set to Duel

Blatt and Golden State coach Steve Kerr are the first rookie coaches to meet in the Finals since the league's inaugural season in 1946-1947, according to NBA.com. 

It should go without saying that Blatt has been extremely scrutinized this season. However, he has received nothing but praise from his star James leading up to the Finals. 

"Well, any time someone is scrutinized really for nothing, I'm able to relate," James said of Blatt, per CBS Sports. "Being a rookie coach in the NBA and being able to take this team to the Finals—I think he's done a hell of a job." 

Meanwhile, Kerr has enjoyed a monstrously successful first season. His Warriors dominated their way into the Finals with the play of Curry but also with the play of forward Harrison Barnes. 

ESPN's J.A. Adande wrote how Kerr's handling of Barnes transformed him from a frustrated young player into a key contributor. This is one of the many nuances of Kerr's coaching ability that has made his team so good. 

While the build-up to the Finals has been generally positive for both coaches, the result of the series could prove otherwise. 

A loss for Cleveland could add more heat for Blatt, even prompting some to call for his job. A loss for Golden State would be a hugely disappointing ending to Kerr's magical season—especially a loss to an ailing Cavaliers team.