The moment we have all been waiting for is finally here. Just like last year, the Cavaliers will come to Oakland to kick off the NBA Finals. Hopefully, this time, there won’t be any excuses a la “if Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving were healthy.” While LeBron James and company tries to bring the rare sports success to Cleveland, the Warriors look to continue to build the dynasty. As the saying goes, “73 wins doesn’t mean a thing without the ring.”
Our Warriors World team got together and we answered some important questions leading up to the Finals:
1. Should Andre Iguodala Be in the Starting Line-Up?
Saam Esfandiari
Yes. Beyond defense on Lebron, Golden States biggest weakness has been turnovers. When Andre is on the floor they are better at taking care of the ball. Secondarily, I liked how Barnes was able to effect the game off the bench. We all know he’s best at PF. Coming off the bench allows him to utilize athleticism v. more tired starters or to go v. second string players, both of which are more favorable match ups. Finally it’s the finals, you want your best players playing the most minutes. It’s hard to get Iguodala above 33 mpg if he’s not in starting lineup. You manage his minutes all season so you can unleash him for 40mpg now.
Sheed Malek
Yes, the Warriors have to maximize Iguodala’s minutes vs LeBron James. Iguodala provides the most resistance and gives the Warriors the best chance at ensuring James doesn’t get off to any big starts.
Yama Hazheer
Yes: While Klay Thompson and Steph Curry will gain the praise for the OKC series, Andre Iguodala was just as important. He defended Kevin Durant extremely well and even got in his head. He held LeBron James to under 40 percent shooting last year and can defend him much, much better than Harrison Barnes. He also gives the Warriors an additional playmaker in the starting lineup. While the bench gets another scorer in Barnes.
Pin Tsan
No, at least not right away. Although Andre gives the Warriors the best combination of speed, strength and smarts to defend Lebron, starting him now has the potential to diminish HB’s contribution and tire Iggy out early in the series. With Lebron likely to try and involve teammates early in the game, and Lue going with him to lead the bench unit early in the second quarter, the Warriors can still match up Igoudala’s minutes when James is at his most potent offensively without starting him and upsetting their own rotation.
Jordan Ramirez
The easy answer is of course, given Iguodala is the far better player than Harrison Barnes. Especially with the gargantuan task of defending LeBron James awaiting whoever starts. But, I’d go with the same regular season lineup and see what happens against the inferior Cavs. Turnovers have killed the Warriors this postseason, and Andre certainly helps in that department, but potential to wear down is also there given an uptick in minutes (See: Shaun Livingston). Barnes starting with a quick hook should be the M.O.
Jesse Taylor
Is water wet?
Is Lemonade about Jay Z?
Was good kid, m.A.A.d. city a better rap album than The Heist?
Do Donald Trump supporters need to take a look in the mirror and ask, “What have I done with my life?”
If you tell Klay Thompson to stop shooting three-pointers will he just look through your eyes like, not only do you not exist, but your brother doesn’t exist, your sister doesn’t exist, your parents don’t exist, your grandparents don’t exist and your immigrant great-grandparents never made it on that ship from Ireland to the United States and instead perished in the Great Potato Famine?
Yes, Andre Iguodala should start. The only argument against it is that Harrison Barnes needs to start to be more effective. Yet, he had one of his most effective games of the 2016 Playoffs coming off the bench in Game 7 against the Thunder. Otherwise, he has been anything but effective as a starter.
Yes. Damn it. Please start Iguodala and play him over 40 minutes per game in this series.
Alex Torres
At this point, you have to play your best hand and Iguodala gives you the best chance to win the pot. Last year, putting Iguodala into the starting lineup was the deciding factor and the Warriors came out with the hardware.
His ability to pass and guard LeBron makes him the easy choice in my opinion. Iguodala had a fantastic series last year and his offensive game was the most surprising aspect.
2. Most Likely to Have a Breakout Series?
Saam Esfandiari
Does Draymond count? He had a rough series offensively vs. the Thunder. Their length and athleticism were the perfect storm to frustrate him. With the way Klay broke out in game 6, it feels like a lot of people are forgetting Draymond was this teams 2nd best player all season and the catalyst of most of what they do. Unlike the Thunder, the Cavs are an extremely favorable match up for Draymond. He averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds and 8.5 assists (on 48.1%) v. Cleveland this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if Draymond played so well he got votes for Finals MVP.
Sheed Malek
Klay Thompson. Look for a much improved showing from Thompson in this year’s Finals matchup. Confidence is at all-time high and he’s got it rolling right now.
Yama Hazheer
Stephen Curry: It’s weird to predict the best player in the world will have a breakout series but I don’t see anyone else giving the defense fits like Curry. He had the best regular season ever and has been battling injuries all postseason but is starting to look like his old self again. It’s time for him to finish it off strong and outplay Kyrie Irving and give Delly issues like he did in the latter half of last year’s Finals.
Pin Tsan
Can the unanimous MVP have a breakout series? Whether Curry was hurt, fatigued or just getting clobbered by OKC’s relentless defense, I think it’s safe to say that wasn’t the Curry we were used to seeing in the WCF. But somewhere around Game 5, Steph started to find his groove and finally had an iconic performance in Game 7. I expect him to continue that MVP-level play and announce to the world that he’s back!
Jordan Ramirez
Can Klay Thompson breakout even more than he has this series? His performance against the Thunder is already legend status in the Bay Area, and capping off the season with an impressive Finals performance would cement him as the best shooting guard (and a Top-15 player) in the league. Given his struggles in the Finals last year, Thompson will want to play his best on the biggest of stages, just like has has all postseason.
Jesse Taylor 
James Young (https://twitter.com/goldenstateafro), the man with the most famous black glasses and gray afro this side of Cornel West.
Oracle Arena’s courtside IT guy famously choked, moving out of the way (as did everyone else in the vicinity) when Steph Curry jumped into the crowd against the Thunder in an attempt to save a loose ball. He let the hero in his house fall flat on his face.
Young has another shot at redemption and is ready for atonement. My sources confirm he’s been staying late after work, catching co-workers as they randomly jump into his cube.
In Game 1, LeBron and Curry will simultaneously jump into the stands to save a loose ball. Young will duck out of LeBron’s way to position himself to catch Curry. LeBron will miss the rest of the series with a sprained right elbow and neck. After Young cradles Curry in his arms, a healthy Baby Faced Assassin will lead the Warriors to a repeat NBA title. Thanks to James Young.
Alex Torres
My pick is Shaun Livingston. He’s been solid all season and struggled a bit in the postseason, but he played very well in Game 7 and is going into the Finals with some confidence.
Livingston is such a versatile player that he can affect the game in so many ways. He has one of the best pull up jumpers in the game and because of his size, he has no issues shooting over a smaller defender. His length is a problem for the opposition on the defensive end, so he is able to guard multiple positions.
With all the focus on the Splash Brothers, the role players will have the opportunity to leave their mark on this series and Livingston has all the tools and intelligence to be the break out player the Dubs need.
3. Finals Predictions?
Saam Esfandiari
Warriors in 6. Lebron will likely win one game by himself and Cleveland has enough fire power to get hot another time. They’ve been vicious at home all playoffs. Ultimately I do not think they have close to enough defense to beat Golden State, but I expect them to make it interesting early on.
Sheed Malek
Warriors in 5.
Yama Hazheer
Warriors 4 Cavaliers 2: Love and Irving are healthy, but Curry, Klay and Draymond are all better than they were last year while many can argue LeBron James is essentially the same player. Golden State won’t have the nerves they did last season and have all the momentum after being just the 10th team to come back from being down 1-3 in a series. Meanwhile, Cleveland lost two games to Toronto in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Pin Tsan 
In the first quarter of Game 1, when the Warriors realize that Love, Tristan Thompson and Frye aren’t exactly OKC’s frontline of athletic super humans with freakishly long limbs, they are going to breathe a sigh of relief so loud you’ll be able to hear it over the ruckus Oracle crowd. The Dubs offense will then cascade all over the court. Warriors in 5.
Jordan Ramirez
Warriors in 6. Those picking the Cavs point to what exactly? LeBron can’t lose another Finals or his legacy is tarnished? It’s Cleveland’s time? They’re finally healthy? The logic resembles those of gut takes and not logical thought. The Warriors do everything better than the Cavs, but Cleveland has the ultimate equalizer in LeBron. His presence alone is good for a win, and I’ll say we see a J.R. Smith outing that pushes them towards another win.
Jesse Taylor
With or without the help of James Young, I have the Warriors winning in 5 – sweeping at home and splitting in Cleveland. The Cavs length and size hurt the Warriors more than anything other than LeBron last year. Without Mozgov and the less physical Kevin Love now healthy, the Warriors have an advantage. Kyrie’s lack of defense and his role in relegating the pesky Matthew Dellavedova to bench minutes is another new benefit for the Warriors.
Curry and Klay weren’t that great in last year’s Finals. They will be this time around.
Alex Torres
This will be a more competitive series than last year, I expect it to go 6 or 7 games. I can see this series going either way, but I have to give the edge to the Warriors. They have home court advantage and after being on the brink of elimination, the Warriors understand what is at stake. “Don’t mean a thing without the ring”.
4. Who Will Win Finals MVP?
Saam Esfandiari
Stephen Curry. He found his rhythm towards the end of the Thunder series after the injury lay off, and he should find easy shots repeatedly off Kyrie/Love defended screens. Also he’s Steph Curry
Sheed Malek
Stephen Curry. Best player in the World gets it done.
Jun 16, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) talks to the media after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Yama Hazheer
Stephen Curry: It’s his time.
Pin Tsan
Steph. But Klay has a shot if he continues his run of “best player in the playoffs.”
Jesse Taylor
It’s time for the back-to-back MVP to step up and quiet his critics. He hasn’t had a great playoffs for the second straight season. Injuries are partly to blame (remember that awful fall last year?). He shook out of his funk a bit against the Thunder. That momentum will lead to an all-time great NBA Finals performance for Curry and the MVP trophy.
Jordan Ramirez
There’s no real formula for Finals MVP. Last year, Andre Iguodala came in and defended LeBron James better than anyone could, and while James still got his numbers it was with a much higher output. He wasn’t the best player in the series, but his performance was possibly most impactful. For that reason, I’m going with Klay Thompson in what really could be a Postseason MVP award. He’s playing the best basketball of his career, continuing to defend and frankly, keeping the Warriors alive in numerous situations. He deserves it.
Alex Torres
Steph Curry. Is that too obvious? Curry finally looked mortal during the Thunder series, so he is due for a bounce back performance. Last year, Curry didn’t have the ideal Finals performance and he knows the best players perform when the lights are shining the brightest. He has the stage and an opportunity to cement himself as one of the greatest players of all time.
The Warriors are playing their best when Curry is playing his game. When he is on, there is no team that can beat the Warriors in a seven game series. There has been talk about his knee and ankle injury, so it will be interesting to see how well he is moving to start the series.
5. Greatest Team of All-Time?
Saam Esfandiari
1965-66 Cincinnati Royals where they had the best all around player Oscar Robertson, and a significantly better shooter than Steph and Klay in Adrian Smith. That team was a juggernaut. Won 45 games and barely lost to Celtics. Would have probably gone 83 and -1 in todays soft-ass NBA.
Jokes aside, Golden State has a chance to cement their claim. If they finish off Cleveland, I’m not sure how you can say anyone else is better. Record speaks for itself.
Sheed Malek
No. 95-96 Bulls get that Honor. Warriors right behind them.
Yama Hazheer
Yes: The 96 Bulls and the 01 Lakers were both superior teams, but these Warriors won 73 games for a reason. I think if Curry didn’t hurt his ankle, foot and knee, they would have lost maybe one game up to this point. If they beat a LeBron James that’s hungrier than ever, it solidifies them as the best team in NBA history.
Pin Tsan
Best team of this era. The rules are different enough (zone, illegal defense, hand checking) that it makes comparing the Curry Warriors with the Jordan Bulls a moot point. But I guess screaming “Best team of this era!” isn’t as joyful.
Jordan Ramirez
If the Warriors complete this improbable season with a title, they should be considered the greatest team ever. The basketball pundits won’t agree, but given all the team has accomplished this season, there shouldn’t be any doubt. If not, they can debate the ghost of Scottie Pippen.
Jesse Taylor
These guys right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESpLzDNvk5A
Most of the legendary Warriors Hoop Troop have been together at Oracle Arena since the late 1990s. That means they’ve been annoying the hell out of fans … I mean entertaining fans … for almost 20 years. Thunder and the trampoline dunkers have come and gone, but like cockroaches, you can’t get rid of the Hoop Troop. When we all die from a Donald Trump presidency causing the zombie apocalypse, these guys will be shooting T-shirts, tossing pizzas and dropping parachute gift cards at all the dead bodies.
Alex Torres
The 1995-96 Bulls team that won 72 games won the title as well, so that makes them the greatest team ever. The Warriors won 73 games and are four victories away from taking that title away from Michael Jordan and the Bulls.
If the Cavs manage to upset the Warriors, then those 73 wins are nice, but without the Larry O’Brien trophy, it’s just not the same.