The Warriors/Cavs discussion started in the 2015 playoffs where the MVP Steph Curry faced off against Lebron James and the rebuilt Cleveland Cavaliers. The only problem with the Cavs was that they were in fact broken. Cavalier players Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were both injured indefinitely. Lebron fought with a less than adequate lineup, but he still averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists across six Finals games, which he ultimately lost.

The next year, both teams came back stronger. The Warriors broke countless regular season records including wins in one season with 73. Ultimately, both teams made it to the finals once again. The Warriors brought the fight to the Cavs and got up 3-1 in the series with a semi-injured Curry. But with the help of two 41 point games from Lebron and a controversial one game suspension for Draymond Green (In Game 5), the Cavs tied the series at three a piece.

Game 7 was a back and forth game all the way even though Curry and Klay Thompson played poorly. In the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, LeBron James delivered what became known as “The Block” on a layup attempt by Andre Iguodala with the score tied at 89 and 01:50 remaining in the game. Kyrie Irving made a go-ahead 3-point field goal over the MVP Stephen Curry to give Cleveland a 92–89 lead with 0:53 remaining in the game. In the end, Lebron knocked down a clutch free throw and the Warriors didn’t score again. The Cavs won 93-89. This was the first time in NBA history that a team came back from 3-1 in the Finals.

Then, at a Halloween party in October of 2016, James placed a Steph Curry doll that everyone had to walk over to get in his house. Also, the cookies he served had “3-1” written on them.

With the increased tension and the two teams splitting the past two NBA finals, is this officially a rivalry?

“I don’t think we have a rival in our game today,” Lebron James recently said . “We’ve had two great Finals appearances the last two years, but I had the same with San Antonio when I was in Miami. We weren’t rivals. And I think I played those guys more, so I wouldn’t look at it as rivals.”

Following a blowout Warriors win (126-91) on January 16, Warriors forward Draymond Green told reporters he disagrees with James’ statement that it’s not a rivalry.

“Yeah, I think this is a rivalry,” Green said. “It’s definitely fun. A team that you beat, beat you, it’s definitely fun. If you look at the last two years and this year, we’ve been the top two teams in the league each year, and so I look at it as a rivalry, and it’s definitely a fun game to play in.”

In my opinion, it is a rivalry regardless of how many times they’ve actually played. You can definitely see the tension on the court. You can also tell that winning against each other in the regular season seems just as important as a playoff game. Also, they’d be lying if they said there wasn’t any hard feelings between them. Has the rivalry reached that of rivalries such as the old Lakers/Celtics rivalry? No way. Those two teams have met a record 12 times in the NBA finals. But it seems to be heading in that direction. The Cavs and Warriors appear to be on track to meet again this season.

Sophomore Connor Hartmann said, “ Every time they play, a player’s legacy is going to be on the line, either Lebron’s legacy or Currys. After the Finals two years ago, everyone was doubting Lebron’s ability. And now coming back after last year, it’s Curry they’re doubting. So each and every time they play it’s important, it’s not just a game and that’s why it’s a rivalry.”