1. The MVPs: Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James for Cleveland and two-time reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry for Golden State bring emotional and physical strengths as the sport’s top stars. James has more versatile ways to impact a game but Curry’s 3-point sharpshooting is a wonder and can be just as much a dagger in the heart of a rival as a LeBron slam dunk.

2. Supporting cast: Cleveland has guard Kyrie Irving and forward Kevin Love healthy this time around and how they will fare against Klay Thompson and Draymond Green figures to loom large. Andre Iguodala came off Golden State’s deep bench last year to earn the NBA Finals MVP award and sometimes unheralded heroes can have great impacts when a title is on the line. LeBron took the team on his back a year ago with Love and Irving hurt, the first man to lead a finals in scoring, rebound and assist average. He won’t need such lone-wolf heroics this time, which should make him even more dangerous at whatever he does.

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