The set: It's the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals for the fourth straight season, as the series begins Thursday night in Oakland at Oracle Arena. Golden State won its three home games by a total of 50 points in last year's Finals, avenging a dramatic 4-3 loss the previous year (led the series 3-1) with a 4-1 romp past the Cavaliers for its second championship in three seasons. The Cavaliers were seeded just fourth in the Eastern Conference and needed seven games to get past the Pacers in teh 1st round. Cleveland then shocked the top-seeded Raptors in a four-game sweep, before needing to win Games 6 and 7 in the conference finals to dispatch the Celtics. Meanwhile, Golden State lost two of three to Houston in the regular season and were relegated to second seeding behind the Rockets in the Western finals (Warriors won their first two series in five game). Like Cleveland, Golden State needed to win Games 6 and 7 to reach the NBA finals (Warriors won Games 1 and 7 in Houston). The Warriors and Cavaliers met twice in the regular season but the games came within a 21-day span in the first half of the season, with Golden State winning both. Golden State will be seeing Cleveland for the first time since the Cavaliers jettisoned almost half their roster at the trade deadline in order to bring in four Western imports, George Hill from Sacramento, Rodney Hood from Utah and Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. from the Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams open with key players with questionable status.

Cleveland: Kevin Love suffered a concussion in Friday's Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics and has yet to pass the protocol. Head coach Tyronn Lue doesn't know if he will be available. Love was seen on the practice floor Wednesday and Lue did indicate that he will start the contest if he is cleared to play. Love's presence is needed, as LBJ can't "do it alone" against this team. James is averaging 34.0-9.2-8.8 assists in a stellar postseason but only (Love 13.9 & 10.0) is in double figures among Cleveland's other players.

Golden State: Veteran defensive stopper Andre Iguodala (left leg) will miss his fifth consecutive contest, leaving Golden State without a player who typically shadows James. "Well, he was MVP of the series in 2015, largely because he took that role on of guarding LeBron, but also because of what he did offensively," head coach Steve Kerr told reporters in reference to Iguodala's importance. Kerr said the duty of guarding James will be spread among at least four players, forwards Kevin Durant and Draymond Green and guards Klay Thompson and Shaun Livingston.

The pick: Cleveland's defense has been shaky all season and Golden State's trio of Durant (29.0), Curry (24.8) and Thompson (20.5) don't figure to be contained. Cleveland comes in off the team's last three games averaging only 184.3 PPG. Meanwhile, Golden State, the NBA's highest scoring team, comes in off four straight unders with those contest averaging only 193.3 PPG. Expect that to change in Game 1. Make the Over a 10* play.