The Chef vs The King

Few things were more amazing than watching Steph Curry light up the 2008 NCAA Tournament, where he torched every team he faced in route to leading Davidson to the Elite Eight. There hasn't been a player as exciting to watch in the tournament since. Enter 2015, and the same could be said about the way he is carrying the Golden State Warriors, making them relevant again.

On the other side, it’s a familiar foe. For the fifth consecutive season, LeBron James has his team in the NBA Finals. This time though, not as a villain, but as a hero leading his hometown Cavaliers again. If he can do the unthinkable - beat Golden State - he would have to go down as the greatest of all-time.

Two superstars (both born in Akron) on the biggest stage. For NBA fans, it doesn't get much better. 

        The young gun v. the vet           

With rookie head coaches, both teams are looking to bring long-awaited titles back home to starving fans. For the Warriors, it hasn't been since 1975. As for the Cavs, we all know the drought; they have never won a championship. And there may not be a better opportunity. Yeah the Eastern Conference is weak, but who knows when the next chance may come?

It’s crazy to think, but with each season players age, and the further they go, the more the game takes a toll on the body. For instance, in the past four seasons (2010-11 to 2013-14) the Miami Heat tallied 415 games (87 postseason), in which LeBron played in the majority. Add in another 96 this year with the Cavs, and the number is over 500. He’s been in the league since he was 18 years old (12 seasons) and played in the Olympics and World Championships with Team USA. I understand James is a freak, and one of the best to ever play the game, but I don’t know how many ‘great’ years are left in the King’s tank. As a lifetime Ohioan, I’m hoping a while because whatever is left of LeBron’s career might be the last shot Cleveland will have in a long time, to bring the coveted title home.

The Warriors are definitely the deeper team and possess more firepower. They’ve been dominant in just about every phase of the game, regular and postseason, almost resembling a younger version of San Antonio. Without hesitation, the favorites. But in sports, when does that ever matter? Sure they have this season’s MVP, but the Cavs have the best player in the world, a two-time champion and four-time MVP (in 5 seasons) himself. Add in a supporting cast that he never had his first time around, and there is every right for Cavs fans to be optimistic. There is no doubt this will be a daunting task for James and company, quite possibly the toughest he's ever had to face. But with his ability to make guys better, and the way he has matured since his time in Miami, anything can happen. 

Everything suggests Warriors will reign when all said and done, but is there anything better then seeing an 'underdog' overcome the odds?

Yes, it is hard to beat a master Chef, but don’t be so quick to sleep on the power of a King.