The No 1 teams from each conference, pitting the two best players in the world against each other on the grandest stage. This is what the NBA Finals are
about.
Western Conference champions Golden State Warriors host their Eastern Conference counterparts Cleveland Cavaliers in the early hours of Friday morning (2am UK time) in Game 1 of a potential mouthwatering best-of-seven series.
In a repeat of last year's showpiece, which Golden State prevailed 4-2, there are several subplots which will see the course of the series ebb and flow as much as the action will on it. The main subplot will be the battle between Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Both are from Akron, Ohio. Both have tasted success at the pinnacle but illuminate the sport in different ways.
Curry is the current darling of basketball - helping it transcend to new audiences globally.
The Warriors point guard is a back-to-back MVP, having won his second-successive award last month. His accolade this season created history as he became the first player to win the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, in a campaign where he and his team broke records.
The 28-year-old led Golden State to a staggering 73-9 regular season record - eclipsing the Chicago Bulls' 72-10 feat set during the 1995-96 term with Michael Jordan.
Curry set an NBA record with 402 three-pointers, topping his own previous best (286 set in 2014-15) by 116.
He led the league in scoring with 30.1 points per game as well as steals with 2.14 - becoming the first to do since soon-to-be Hall of Famer Allen Iverson in 2001-02.
But it's not just the statistics that see Curry as the current face of the NBA.
The slender build of the 6ft 3in guard resonates greater with fans of the sport as opposed to the classic giants of the game.
His wizardry on the ball, despite his smaller stature, is akin to footballing genius Lionel Messi with equalling spellbinding results.
The way he shoots off-the-dribble especially is something special to behold and his range of finishing has seen the sport change from a post-up game to one orientated by the three-ball.
Curry's perimeter finesse game differs from James' power approach but it would be foolish to underestimate the man nicknamed as 'King James.'
The 31-year-old has ruled the sport for years since his rookie season in 2003 and is desperate to win back his crown from Curry.
While Curry's greatness is forever eulogised the same can't be said for James at present, despite his impressive numbers.
Cleveland's No 23 averaged 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 rebounds in the regular season but could argue he still didn't get the accolades that they deserved. In testament to his talent though that can be attributed to the fact that those figures are expected every season - such is his greatness.
Entering Game 1 on Friday morning, James is set to become the first player to play in six straight Finals in 50 years. This statistic alone shows the fortitude and will of a man who is desperate to win. He will enter the Warriors' Oracle Arena with 127 play-off victories and knowing four more in the upcoming series will seal him a third championship ring.
The forward came close last season to achieve this feat for his hometown franchise - one that was bedraggled by injury.
Cleveland's 'Big Three' became the 'Big One' during the Finals as Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were struck down by injury. In addition, Iman Shumpert was hampered by a shoulder problem. Despite being short-handed James' desire led the Cavs to somehow taking last year's Finals to a Game 6.
This series between the Warriors and Cavaliers marks the 14th time in NBA history that the same teams are meeting in the Finals in consecutive seasons.
Defending champions are 6-7 in these instances, with the 1960s Celtics accounting for four of those six series victories. The runners-up have won six of the last seven rematches with Tyronn Lue's team hoping to extend that record.
If that were to happen then it would be a first for Cleveland who have never won an NBA title. James returned to his hometown franchise in the summer of 2014 to achieve this and won't rest until he does. James returned to Northeast Ohio in July 2014 after swapping Cleveland for the Miami Heat, where he won two NBA titles, four years prior in an excruciating public departure.
The city of Cleveland hasn’t won a major pro championship since the NFL’s Browns in 1964 exasperating the desire to win.
The Cavs desire will be equally matched by the Warriors. While the former cruised through the Eastern play-offs relatively unscathed against the Detroit Pistons (4-0), the Atlanta Hawks (4-0) and the Toronto Raptors (4-2); Golden State have had a tougher path. Wins against the Houston Rockets (4-1), the Portland Trail Blazers (4-1) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (4-3) have seen Steve Kerr's side face many trials and tribulations along the way.
Injuries to Curry and a historical comeback against the Thunder, when trailing 3-1 in the series, shows that the Bay Area can handle adversity. Having won last year's title and recording a regular season record this year, they're determined to certify themselves as one of the best teams to have ever graced the court.
With both teams at full strength, this year’s match-up has a much different feel to 12 months previously with both franchises out to prove a point. Let tip-off commence.
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