The last time the Golden State Warriors were in the NBA Finals, Gerald Ford was president, Steve Kerr was 9 years old and LeBron James was nine years from being born.
It has been a long wait, but the Warriors are back in the championship round for the first time since 1975, after topping the Houston Rockets in Game 5.
Offensive key to the series: Curry’s open looks
Stephen Curry shot 49 percent from 3-point range in the Western Conference finals (everyone else on the Warriors shot 31 percent combined).
Curry found more open looks and was more efficient on those shots against the Rockets than he was against any other team this postseason. He shot 47 percent on them in the Western Conference quarterfinals, 58 percent in the conference semifinals and 65 percent in the conference finals. He totaled 27 open 3-point looks in five games against the Rockets.
According to Elias Sports Bureau research, Curry is the seventh player to win his first MVP award and reach his first NBA Finals in the same season, the first since Allen Iverson in 2000-01.
Defensive key to the series: Denying Harden
James Harden had a rough night in Game 5, setting an NBA playoff record with 13 turnovers. Harden finished with more turnovers than field goals attempted (11).
Harden shot 59 percent from the field in Games 1 and2 against the Warriors, including 68 percent (13-of-19) against his primary defender, Klay Thompson.
Harden shot 37 percent in the last three games of the series as Andre Iguodala and Harrison Barnes took on bigger roles. Harden went 0-of-7 with five turnovers when guarded by Iguodala, Barnes or Draymond Green in Game 5.
Looking ahead
LeBron James and Steph Curry have faced each other seven times in regular-season games, though only once this season. James’ teams have won five of the seven meetings.
Both teams will have a long layoff before Game 1. This season marked the second time in the past 29 years that both conference finals were wrapped up in in five or fewer games (also 2011).
This series will also be the first time that a pair of first-year head coaches will meet in the NBA Finals since the first year of the NBA.