NBA Finals Preview: Shooting Guard

Feb 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

As tip off to game 1 of the NBA finals inches closer, the time has come to dissect the intriguing match-ups that loom ahead.

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Like the process of solving an equation by removing equal parts, the expectation, or should I say hope, is that the newly anointed MVP Steph Curry can cancel out King James. Should Curry meet this daunting task, other positional match-ups will likely determine which team gets to call themselves NBA Champions when its all said and done.

No position will have a greater impact on this outcome than shooting guard. While both teams will certainly utilize a number of different lineups throughout the series, the battle at shooting guard will go a long way toward determining the eventual champion. Here’s a look at the three key players, their strengths/weaknesses, and the probable interactions they will have will each other.

Next: Klay Thompson