After dominating the Eastern Conference bracket of the 2016 Playoffs, the Wine and Gold are back for the eagerly-awaited Finals rematch with the Warriors, who topped the shorthanded Cavaliers in six games last June.
When Game 1 tips off tonight, however, Golden State will square off against an entirely different squad. After coming into last year’s best-of-seven series without Kevin Love and with a hobbled Kyrie Irving (who’s season would end in overtime of Game 1), this year, Cleveland comes into the Finals with a team that’s rested and ready.
In Cleveland’s final two contests against Toronto in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Big Three combined for 71 points in Game 5 and 83 more in Game 6 as the Wine and Gold completed their run through the East with a 12-2 mark, getting a seven-day rest after sweeping Detroit, an eight-day respite after dropping Atlanta and come into tonight’s matchup having been off since Friday.