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NBA Finals: A Showdown For The Ages

By: Brandon Patton

Since October 28th, 2014 30 NBA teams all had one goal in mind… the NBA finals.

Only two teams were able to achieve that goal - the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors. Both teams, whether it's the Warriors led by the 2015 Most Valuable Player Steph Curry or the Cavaliers and their four-time MVP winner LeBron James, have something to prove.

Golden State Warriors

This NBA Finals will be exciting for sure. The Warriors very possibly may go down as the best shooting team in NBA history with the starting backcourt of Klay Thompson and Steph Curry nicknamed "The Splash Brothers." They play at a very high tempo, shooting 3's, sprinting up and down the court, entertaining the crowd with spectacular dunks drawing "oohs and aahh's" from their Oracle Arena. Their fans cheer so loudly that former head coach Monty Williams of the New Orleans Pelicans jokingly asked during an interview "if the decibel level at Oracle Arena in Game 1 was "legal" under NBA rules," according to ESPN writer Tom Haberstroh.

MVP winner Steph Curry is listed at 6'3, 185 pounds and dribbles the ball doing things only a magician can do. Always in control, he's able to split defenders and shoot at will from anywhere on the court, effortlessly, as if he could do so with his eyes closed.

Cleveland Cavaliers

All eyes are always on LeBron James and while he averaged 25.3 points, 7.4 assists, 6.0 rebounds per game compared to Curry's 23.8 points, 7.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds, he very well could have won his 5th MVP award this season. Leading his injury-stricken team past the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and #1 seed Atlanta Hawks while doubters thought it wasn't possible, showed people just how special James really is.

Recent discussions have asked whether LeBron is better than Michael Jordan, the best player ever according to many. Although the Cavaliers aren't quite the shooters that the Warriors are, they simply follow their leader James and don't quit, despite mismatches and lack of team depth. He waved off coaches and trainers while visibly injured at times, and laid out on the court following a victory, simply exhausted after willing his team with all his might not to give up.

Who Will Win?

This matchup will be the very first time I can remember a championship series where I genuinely liked both teams. No matter who wins I will be happy, whether it's LeBron returning home and winning the first NBA Championship in franchise history or the Warriors winning their first championship since 1975.  Both teams deserve it. Sadly though, only one team will walk away victorious. Selecting a winner is tough, but my prediction is the Warriors win in 7 games because of their more talented roster overal, and elite shooting. You simply can never bet against LeBron James, especially the way he has been playing as of late. One thing that is for certain, this will be a showdown for the ages!

I am a CBS 62/CW 50 Community Affairs Intern. I am a huge sports fan and of course you have to love your hometown teams! I currently attend Eastern Michigan University, I truly love my family and Bullmastiffs!

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