Finally, the NBA Finals are just a day away. We had to slog our way through the playoffs to get what we all knew was inevitable back in October—a third straight matchup between King James' Cavaliers and Chef Curry's Warriors.
We're familiar with all the players, but what about all the subplots. Do the Warriors have any chance of stopping the immovable object that is LeBron James? Will we see a truly elite Steph Curry for an entire Finals for the first time in three tries? And whose legacy is truly at stake this time around?
We explore those storylines and more, looking to provide the answers to the most pressing questions leading up to the most anticipated NBA Finals in recent memory.
Can Steph Curry Have an Elite NBA Finals?
Has Anyone Seen Klay Thompson?
Will the Kardashian Curse Rear Its Head?
Can Anyone Stop Playoff LeBron?
Please Let This Be the Last Cavs-Warriors Finals
Whose Legacy is Really At Stake Here?
Ever since LeBron James passed Michael Jordan as the all-time leading scorer in NBA playoff history there has been a lot of talk of legacies and such, who the greatest of all time really is, and whether a Finals victory over these Warriors would give James a legitimate claim to the best-ever crown. For some, nothing will ever be enough. The second James made it to the Finals once and lost, it was over. Jordan was perfect in the Finals, and James wasn’t. End of discussion. And even if the Cavs do lose, it’s hard to imagine them doing so in a way that reflects poorly on James, who could have easily been named Finals MVP in 2015 as well as 2016. So who has the most to win, or the most to lose? Steph Curry, for one. A huge Finals would make up for sub-par (at least by two-time MVP standards) performances the past two years and cement him in the upper echelon. Kevin Durant could silence the haters. And on the Cleveland side, superlative performances from Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson could make the former a legend and the latter a household name. James? He’s got nothing left to prove. Other guys do. —R.B.