1. Lovable Losers To Be Crowned

The Warriors haven’t won a title in 40 years. The Cavs have never won a title and the City of Cleveland has not won a championship in over 50 years. Both fan bases are craving the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Here’s what lifelong Cavs fan and ISH Writer Korey Burdman has to say about Cleveland winning it all:

“Since Cleveland hasn’t won a championship in over 50 years, it would be huge. Cleveland fans are so passionate and are so connected to their teams, a championship for Cleveland would probably mean more than it would in any other city.”

Home court will definitely be a huge advantage for both teams. Can Cleveland steal a game on the road? That may decide the series. Both fan bases deserve a title, and unfortunately for one, the wait will have to continue.

2. The King Vs The Kid

LeBron James has been the face of the league for a very long time. LeBron has been in the finals the last 5 years (along with his trusty sidekick James Jones!), and with the East being incredibly weak, that streak could likely continue for a few years. However, Stephen Curry is looking to take over that role. The first step will be taking the crown off the king and winning his first championship. At 27 years old, Curry can start a dynasty in the Bay Area that would have three or four more years of perennial contention in their future.

3. Rookie Coach Showdown

Two rookie coaches will meet in the NBA finals for the first time since the league’s inaugural year. David Blatt and Steve Kerr were handed great teams when they took charge last offseason.

Kerr hired a great coaching staff that turned the Warriors into a strong defensive team, including Alvin Gentry, who has now been hired by the New Orleans Pelicans.

Blatt had to deal with the media frenzy that comes with LeBron, Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, Kevin Love, and company. Although they have had their differences, the LeBron and Blatt got the team to the Finals. Both coaches will have to adjust to the big stage come Thursday.

4. A Change of Scenery

I know LeBron has played in the last 5 NBA Finals, but besides him, these finals are a great change from the recent years. I don’t know about everyone else, but I was sick of seeing a bunch of bandwagon Miami fans in white shirts every June. And as great as the Spurs were, their style of play was getting boring, and it will definitely be nice to see the run and gun Warriors play the flying Cavs in two cities that crave a championship. The youth infusion in these Finals are a welcome change.

5. Matchups on Matchups

Who guards LeBron? Can Draymond Green stay physical with LeBron through a long series? Who does LeBron guard? Does he try to shut down Curry or Thompson or does he stay on Harrison Barnes? Can Harrison Barnes keep Thompson off of the glass if Draymond Green guards LeBron? These are just a few questions that every media member will debate as we wait for the Finals to start on Thursday, and likely throughout. The key to both teams succeeding is stopping Curry and James. How they do that will be interesting.