10 Reasons the Cleveland Cavaliers Can Absolutely Defeat the Golden State Warriors

4. The Warriors Are the Banged-up Team This Time

Watching Stephen Curry almost single-handedly destroy the Oklahoma City Thunder in the fourth quarter Monday night, it was hard to remember all that was said and written about him after the Warriors fell behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. But the knee and ankle pain which caused him to miss three games against both the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers aren’t entirely a thing of the past. Nor is a bruised right elbow which has required him to wear a protective sleeve.

There are also questions about how worn out the Warriors might be emotionally as well as physically from having to go the distance in a seven-game series, something they never needed to do a year ago. The Thunder were as formidable of an opponent as the San Antonio Spurs could have been, and surviving the Western Conference torture chamber might leave the Warriors vulnerable Thursday night when Game 1 tips off on their home floor.

Next: These Aren’t the Cavs of December and January