Path to the Trilogy

Photo by Michael Tipton via Flickr

The NBA Finals begin Thursday, June 1st at 8:00PM CT with the Cleveland Cavaliers traveling to the Bay Area to face the Golden State Warriors for a third consecutive time. No two teams in the history of the game have faced each other three straight times in the Finals.

In what is shaping up to be a classic series, each team has had a historically dominant playoff run thus far with a combined 24-1 record heading into the Finals. Golden State, armed with an abundance of star power, has cruised past their competition outscoring their opponents by a record (if it is sustained) 16.33 points per game.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has been no slouch given that it has dispatched their challengers by 13.62 points per game themselves. With these two high-octane offenses we will likely witness phenomenal scoring displays each night, either individually or collectively.

Led by Lebron James and Steph Curry, these teams have been offensive juggernauts

Photo Source

While the 2017 NBA playoffs as a whole have provided little excitement—and arguably the most anticlimactic conference finals ever—this series looks to provide all the entertainment, drama, and excitement that sports can provide.

With Golden State failing to repeat last year after a 73 win season, they enter this rubber match strongly motivated to get back what they believe was rightfully theirs in the first place. And lets not forget they added Kevin freakin’ Durant to that same 73 win team.

However, on the other side we have a man that is “chasing a ghost in Chicago”and is relentlessly motivated to continue his reign over the NBA. Flanked by one of the best scorers in the game in Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers can keep up with anybody.

Here's a look at the paths that both Cleveland and Golden State have taken on the road to the Finals.

Path To the Trilogy: Warriors

Photo Source

Golden State finished the regular season 67-15 and captured the top seed in the Western Conference. Perhaps not as smooth as their previous 73 win season, the Warriors consistently overpowered opponents even on off nights with their vast array of offensive talent and playmaking.

And though the offense gets a lot of credit, lets not forget that what many pundits thought would be their weakness (defense) actually turned out to be a strength with Kevin Durant elevating his defensive prowess combined with the already stalwart defense of Draymond Green.

1st Round: Portland Trail Blazers

The Warriors sans Durant, who was still recovering from his knee injury, handled the Blazers with ease and won the series 4-0. Led by Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the Blazers did not have enough weapons to put ample points on the board for a victory.

Furthermore, their most capable big man in Jusuf Nurkic was out for the entire series (except for 17 minutes in Game 3) nursing a fractured fibula.

2nd Round: Utah Jazz

The Jazz entered the series having upset the Los Angeles Clippers in 7 games being led by Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, and an outstanding cast of role players.

Nevertheless, they never seemed to cast doubt on the result of any single game against the Warriors, yet alone the series. Golden State ended up winning comfortably 4-0. Despite the lack of drama though, this highlight is sure to please fans of the game:

Western Conference Finals: San Antonio Spurs

In the most anticipated playoff series other than the Finals, we saw the Spurs try to takedown the seemingly invincible Golden State squad. And for a while, fans from both sides were equally shocked at what was transpiring in the first half of Game 1. The Spurs led by as many as 25 points until the third quarter happened in which we saw Kawhi Leonard take several spills on the ground writhing in pain.

Photo Source

Leonard left shortly thereafter and the Spurs watched their lead dwindle before their very eyes. San Antonio never recovered from this blown lead and ended up losing the series 4-0. Leonard never returned to action but the question was raised: are the Warriors truly invincible?

Path to the Trilogy: Cavaliers

Photo Source

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished the regular season 51-31 and captured the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Though they began the season scorching hot, carrying the momentum on from last years Finals victory, they had numerous swoons throughout the 82-game season that showed itself through general inconsistency and a lack of defense.

Though injuries should certainly take part of the blame (they had 2 starters missing significant time in Smith and Love), it did seem to the naked eye that the Cavs just wanted nothing to do with the regular season. The real question being asked was: Can they flip the switch?

1st Round: Indiana Pacers

Though the Indiana Pacers were led by bona fide superstar Paul George, they fell to the Cavaliers 4-0. Nevertheless, the individual games had quite the drama with the Pacers having a great chance to steal Game 1 at the buzzer and the Cavaliers coming back from an NBA record 25 point halftime deficit to defeat Indiana in Game 3.

2nd Round: Toronto Raptors

In what was a rematch of last years Eastern Conference Finals, the Raptors fell to the Cavaliers 4-0 in which Lebron James showcased his absolute supremacy over the team.

Some say it was disrespect while others applaud his flair for the dramatic. Nevertheless, it was clear that Lebron James and the Cavaliers were very comfortable in dispatching the Raptors.

Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics

Many announced that the Boston Celtics were the worst one seed in the history of the NBA and they simply achieved the feat because Cleveland didn't care. Maybe, or maybe not. But the Cavaliers certainly proved that when locked-in and focused, they reign supreme in the Eastern Conference as the final 4-1 series score indicates.

The Celtics beatdown in Game 2 in which the Cavaliers pummeled them by 44 points will forever be seared in the memories of those present.

The Celtics had no answers for Lebron James and the Cavaliers

Photo Source

So then, who will prevail in this Finals Trilogy? That's impossible to answer. The Warriors are heavy favorites going into the series (just like last year) but the Cavaliers have the firepower to compete with anyone.

Sure, Golden State may have more room for error and perhaps the ability to absorb an off night from one of their stars but the reality is that it is first to 4 games and anything can happen when that is the case.

What will we see more? This:

Or this:

We'll just have to wait and see.

Tune in on ABC at 8:00PM CT on Thursday.