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2017 NBA Finals: Ranking most the 5 most important players on the Cavs and Warriors

By Nick Dudukovich

May 14, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks the basketball against San Antonio Spurs guard Kyle Anderson (1) during the second half in game one of the Western conference finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) dunks the basketball against San Antonio Spurs guard Kyle Anderson (1) during the second half in game one of the Western conference finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Spurs 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks and scores against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks and scores against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

3. LeBron James

LeBron’s obviously the most important player on the Cavs. So goes LBJ, so goes the Cleveland Cavaliers.

So why’s he third in these rankings?

I’d argue the pressure is greater is Curry and Durant to win it all. They’re the ones playing on the super team of all super tams.

James is chasing Jordan, but his legacy was cemented when he ended Cleveland’s 52-year championship drought. There’s been a lot of debate among who’s better: LeBron or Jordan, but it’s splitting hairs at this point. With that said, all the people who pick Jordan in the debate will continue to point to titles as Jordan’s capstone achievement.

So LeBron needs to keep winning those Larry O’Brien trophies, and there’s no reason to believe he can’t add his fourth ring against the Warriors.

At 32, James is better than ever, having just surpassed Michael Jordan as the NBA Playoffs all-time leading scorer.

When he scores 30 points and grabs eight rebounds and eight assists, we yawn because were’ so used to it.

If LeBron plays like the maniac we’ve seen for most of these playoffs (minus Game 3 against Boston), the Cavs have an excellent shot to win.

The Warriors added Durant, but he’s not a physically imposing defensive figure. The Warriors are going to have to use Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala to try and check LeBron.

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