Photos: Why matchups are swinging the Finals dynamic on the court

ByAdam Reisinger ESPN logo
Wednesday, June 6, 2018

The game is won -- and lost -- in the trenches. It's a maxim that is most often said about football, but it very much applies to basketball, particularly playoff basketball. When the calendar turns to June, the game is at its most physical, as two teams scratch and claw -- sometimes literally -- to gain every advantage possible in their quest for the Larry O'Brien Trophy. This year's Warriors and Cavaliers, two teams known more for their high-powered offenses than their tough defenses, are no exception.