the defending champs are offensively

Shaun Powell: Really didn't put much stock into a game without Steph Curry, even though rookie Jordan Bell could see solid minutes come the
playoffs. Yasiel Puig Youth Jersey That's how much he's grown. My takeaway is the continuing marvel of
33-year-old LeBron James at this stage of his career. He's
indestructible and once more a strong favorite for MVP (how many years
running now?). To say that no player was ever better in his 15th season
of basketball than LeBron needs some clarification; had Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar gone to the NBA straight from high school, he'd be just as
good (26.2 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game and 2.9 Yasmani Grandal Youth Jersey blocks per game at age 33). But what we're seeing from LeBron is not
normal, folks. Not even close.

John Schuhmann: There's not much to take away in regard to the matchup.
Given Monday's absences, the Jan. 15 game in Cleveland, when Stephen
Curry and Isaiah Thomas will hopefully be in the starting lineups,
should be more relevant. But rookie Jordan Bell getting the start and
26-plus minutes of Yimi Garcia Youth Jersey playing time (including minutes down the stretch of a close game) when
Zaza Pachulia was healthy is a noteworthy development. Bell is the
center of the future for the Warriors and it may be that the future is
now, giving them a little more defensive versatility and rim protection.

Sekou Smith: My biggest takeaway from the latest edition of
Cavaliers-Warriors is that we don't know what this rivalry will look
like in The Finals. (This assumes they both make it there for a fourth
straight season). There was no Stephen Curry or Isaiah Thomas in the mix
on Christmas and both Cody Bellinger Youth Jersey teams play vastly different when Curry and Thomas suit up. That makes
it hard to judge them off one game without two players so critical to
the potential outcome of a best-of-seven series. As much as the Kevin
Durant vs. LeBron James matchup will color that potential series, Curry
vs. Thomas would be just as crucial. We know the Warriors are a
juggernaut when healthy, focused and sniffing another championship. We
don't know for sure what these Cavaliers will be like in a similar state
with Thomas around ... but I'm guessing it is much the same.