This Cavaliers-Warriors 2016 NBA Finals has had all the drama and theater any fan of basketball or anyone who loves suspense could ask for.
Every game has been its own world. Different guys step up. Different heroes and villains make meaningful contributions.
There are a wide array of storylines to look for heading into Game 6. I’ve narrowed it down to ten, but probably could have gone well beyond that. Here are the top ten storylines to watch in Game 6.
10. No Bogut.
The absence of Warriors starting center Andrew Bogut will be felt by Golden State and noticeable from the moment the game starts. Although Bogut played 12 minutes per game in the first five games of the series, he certainly made an impact. Game 2 was his best performance, blocking fives shots, four of which came in the first quarter, and grabbing six rebounds.
His absence means guys like Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love could have an easier time rebounding and the lanes for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to drive to the basket could be more clear than if Bogut was clogging the middle.
9. Will J.R. Show Up?
Chris B. Haynes of Cleveland.com reported on Wednesday that Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith will opt out of his contract and become a free-agent following the Finals. Smith could re-sign in the summer, but could this be J.R.’s last game in a Cavs uniform?
Smith has been relatively quiet in this series, aside from Game 3 in which he scored 20 points. In the other four games, Smith has scored just 28 total points. It would be hard to imagine LeBron and Kyrie both dominating like they did in Game 5, so Smith may be needed to step up in the biggest game of his life in front of the home fans.
8. Where is the Love?
Kevin Love has had a rough go of it in the 2016 NBA Finals. His best statistical performance of the series was Game 1, when he posted a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, but of course the Cavs lost by 15.
He exited Game 2 concussed and missed Game 3. The team won without him. He came off the bench in Game 4 and scored 11 points in a loss. He started Game 5 and scored just two points, grabbing three rebounds in a victory.
He is the subject of a great deal of scrutiny and Game 6 is an opportunity to silence some critics. If the Cavs lose the series, you can be sure that rumors of trades involving Love will be discussed throughout the offseason.
7. Will Klay Continue to Outshine Steph?
During Game 5 in Oakland, Klay Thompson was on fire from three-point range. He knocked down six in the first half, scoring 26 points in the half, finishing with 37 on the night.
His teammate Steph Curry, the unanimous MVP, has not put up as great of numbers throughout the series, causing some to claim “Thompson has been the better player in the series.”
Which leads us to our next storyline.
6. Will the MVP Curry Show Up?
Curry was phenomenal in Game 4 of the series in Cleveland, scoring 38 points, but other than that has not had any dominant games. Some argue that although he was the regular season MVP, he is not playing like a star in the series and aside from Game 4, it’s hard to say otherwise.
Game 6 is an opportunity for Curry to end the series with a brilliant performance of his own and respond to what the two stars on the Cavs did on his home floor.
5. Will Kyrie Continue to Go into “Uncle Drew” Mode?
The Cavalier point guard also known as Uncle Drew went into video game mode on Monday night, scoring 41 points. It was a historic night for the 24-year-old. Many wonder if he can repeat that performance or come close to it. He has scored 30 or more in three straight games.
Some would say Irving has been the best point guard in the series and if the Cavs do pull off an amazing comeback, he would be a top candidate for Finals MVP.
4. Will LeBron Put the Team on His Back?
LeBron went into killer mode in Game 5, scoring 41 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. It was the LeBron and Kyrie show, but as mentioned above, there is a bit of uncertainty as to whether or not Irving can duplicate that production again. Basketball fans have marveled for over a decade at how LeBron can will his team to victory against adverse circumstances, and Game 6 could be another example of King James having to do that.
3. The Return of Draymond
Draymond Green is back from serving his one-game suspension. Much has been made of whether or not the Cavs will try to “bait” him into receiving another flagrant or technical foul, which would sideline him for the rest of the series.
Green is a great player and a leader of the team, so it will be interesting to see what type of energy and attitude he brings to a close out game on the road.
Fans can also look forward to the exchanges between Draymond and LeBron throughout the game, as the two have not had kind words for one another throughout this series.
Before the series, many believed the Cavs and Warriors rivalry was also a rivalry between LeBron and Curry.
But this series is revealing that the bigger rivalry might be LeBron vs. Draymond.
2. Will the Warriors Put a Bow on their 73-Win Season?
If the Warriors win Game 6 in Cleveland, whether Cavs fans like it or not, this 2015-2016 Golden State team will instantly go down as one of the best of all-time.
They won 73 games in the regular season. Winning the championship would be the fitting end to say “they are one of the greatest” if not the greatest team in NBA history.
It would also be validation for Golden State from last year. The Warriors heard the skeptics and doubters all season long, who said that if the Cavs were healthy in 2015, they would have won the Finals.
This year, both teams have been healthy and there will be no excuses for either side when it’s all said and done.
1. Will Cleveland Stay Alive and Have a Chance to Make History?
If the Cavs win, they force a Game 7 in Oakland to try and become the first team to come back down 3-1 in NBA Finals history.
We all know in Cleveland it’s been 52 years since any major pro sports franchise won a championship.
It would be historic on its own without factoring in the dramatic storyline of LeBron James’ homecoming.
But imagine the books, the movies, the stories we will be telling our grandchildren if LeBron brings a championship to his home town after a brutal exit five years ago.
A story of redemption. A story of forgiveness. A story of loyalty to his hometown. Overcoming the odds. A kid from Akron, who was a “savior,” a villain, and a hero again.
Of course that book can’t be written unless the Cavs can get through Game 6 and add another chapter to what has already unfolded as an amazing series.
It all starts at 9 PM Thursday night and if the past five games have shown us anything, it’s to expect something amazing to happen.
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