The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will meet in one of the most highly anticipated NBA Finals in recent memory.
The Finals are guaranteed to be chock full of superstars, great plays and drama. Which team has the advantage heading into the championship series?
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2. The road to the NBA Finals
The Warriors shocked the world by becoming the top team in the ultra-competitive Western Conference with an NBA-best record of 67-15.
The Cavaliers' path to the Finals was met with much less resistance. The Cavs marched through lesser teams in the regular season and playoffs.
Advantage: Warriors
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3. The top player on the court
The Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals will showcase a ton of superstars. But who is the best of the best? LeBron James is a four-time MVP, while Stephen Curry won his first this season.
Advantage: Cavaliers
4. The best crowd in the league
No offense to Cleveland fans, but there's a reason the Warriors arena is called "Roaracle." The fans at Oracle Arena are the most raucous in the league. Don't forget your Warriors jersey and some earplugs if you're attending a game in Oakland.
Advantage: Warriors
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5. The Cavaliers have more experience
The Cavaliers and Warriors have one thing in common: They're young. LeBron James has reached the Finals five consecutive seasons. On a side note: Not a single player on the Warriors has Finals experience.
Advantage: Cavaliers
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6. The coolest nickname
King James. Uncle Drew. The Baby Faced Assassin. Those are all great nicknames of ballers playing in the NBA Finals, yet nothing tops The Splash Brothers. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry were dubbed the popular moniker in 2012 for how well they shoot, especially from beyond the three-point line.
Advantage: Warriors
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7. The shooting touch
Curry and Thompson are called the Splash Brothers for a reason. The Warriors have sunk 50 more 3-pointers than the Cavaliers this postseason. Curry also has the record for most 3-pointers made in a single season with 286. Thompson set the single-game record this season for most in a quarter with nine.
Advantage: Warriors
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8. The advantage on the boards
Both teams have talented rebounders on the inside, but during the playoffs the Cavaliers have elevated their game. The three-headed boards monster of Timofey Mozgov, Tristan Thompson and James help the Cavs clean up the glass.
Advantage: Cavaliers
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9. You can never be too defensive
The suffocating Cleveland Cavaliers defense has dominated the Eastern Conference throughout the playoffs. Cleveland will have a different beast on its hands in the NBA Finals. The Warriors defense was the best in the regular season. Don't forget, the runner-up to Defensive Player of the Year, Draymond Green, is on Golden State, as well.
Advantage: Warriors
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10. The biggest irritant
Matthew Dellavedova has drawn the ire of players, fans and media for his tenacious play that could be conceived as dirty. The Australian guard's controversial plays have resulted in one major injury to Kyle Korver and ejections to Al Horford and Taj Gibson.
Advantage: Cavaliers
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11. The loudest trash talker
Draymond Green might have something to say about Dellavedova being the biggest irritant on the court. Green consistently plays mind games with his opponents for a mental advantage. That includes his excessive use of trash talk.
Advantage: Warriors
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12. The injury bug has hit the Cavs
The Warriors have been able to avoid major injury to its key players throughout the season. The same cannot be said for Cleveland. Two of the Cavs' big three have been bit by the injury bug. Kevin Love injured his shoulder in the first round, while Irving has been dealing with knee tendinitis.
Advantage: Warriors
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13. The best former Knicks players
Both the Warriors and Cavaliers have former Knicks on the roster that are contributing, but which former New York stars have played the best? Cleveland's triumvirate of J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov have been vital acquisitions for the Cavaliers this season.
Advantage: Cavaliers
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14. Two rookie head coaches
When the Warriors and Cavaliers hired Steve Kerr and David Blatt, respectively, the expectations weren't to make the NBA Finals in their first year. For the first time since 1946, rookie head coaches will face each other in the NBA Finals.
Kerr did a masterful job making the Warriors a defense-first team, while Blatt has had some rockier moments in his first year.
Advantage: Warriors
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15. The last championship for either team
The Cavaliers have never won a championship in the history of the franchise. For the Warriors, it's been 40 years since last lifting the trophy. Either way, one team will make its fans extremely happy in June.
Advantage: Warriors
16. The best selfie takers
The Warriors might have some real advantages on the court, but that doesn't take away from the chemistry the Cavaliers have built with each other. Smith took a selfie with James after sweeping the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. How's that for team building?
