Why the Cavaliers will REPEAT!

The Cleveland Cavaliers showed last year that the high-flying, sharp shooting Golden State Warriors can be beaten. After completing a historic 73-9 regular season, a comeback from 3-1 down in the WCF, it looked dead certain for the Warriors to repeat against the team they beat in 2015 for the Lary O'Brien trophy. Things were going according to plan when the Warriors held a 3-1 lead in the Finals. No team had ever comeback from such odds but LeBron, Kyrie and co. had other ideas. Not only did they push the series to a 7th game, they ended up winning the title at the home court of the best team in NBA regular season history.

Did the Warriors, Curry, Thomson and all, put too much into their regular season or did the tough Western Conference wear them out before the finals? Or was it because the Cavs were actually the better team? Its actually a combination of both.

It's true Golden State went for the regular season record with more zest than they would have wanted to. After a relatively smooth sailing in the early part of the season, life in the NBA became much harder for the 2015 champs as fatigue, injuries and strategy took their toll. Warriors lost their invincibility aura, but still had enough in the tank to come out with the best regular season record. But it also meant more minutes on the court for their starters, more intensity and a lot more foucs which can drain any team out. Champion teams in recent seasons have done the hard work in the early part of the season and have given rest to their players as the season nears the playoffs. Miami did it, Spurs did it, the Warriors did the same in 2015. But sadly they could not have that luxury in 2016, which led to a top seeded team with players more worked than they should have been. Top seeds not only enjoy home court advantage, but also more rest as they are not fighting till the very end of the regular season for playoff spots. But this season, although the Cavs were well rested, the Warriors were already a tired bunch by the time they reached the playoffs. With a more difficult playoff run as compared to the Cavs, the Warriors were a wounded unit by the time the finals started and the injury to Stephen Curry was one of the many consequences. Draymond Green's expulsion could also be because of this, as over worked individuals can get volatile.

Another reason was Defense. The Cavaliers were easily the better defensive unit of the two and kept up the intensity right up till the last minute of game 7. Of course the Warriors fought toe to toe, but the Cavs had no business beating the defending champs with another stellar season under their belt. But as is so common, it was the defensive intensity and desire to win and not be counted out that helped the tough bunch of guys from Ohio to prevail.

It looks like this year will be another rematch between these two teams, and with the Warriors again looking shaky on defense, it looks like James can do another repeat.