But despite the fact they'll be up against Kevin Durant (NBA MVP and Finals MVP), Stephen Curry (two-time MVP), Draymond Green (Defensive Player of the Year) and Klay Thompson (four time All-Star), they have a puncher's chance of victory.
And that is purely because of one man - LeBron James.
He's arguably the GOAT (greatest of all time) and most definitely the best basketballer ever to play in the NBA. He is also indisputably the most scrutinised and criticised athlete of all time.
It's not possible to overstate just what he has accomplished in the game. Here is just a quick snapshot of what he has done in his 15-year career.
- led an offensively-inept Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007
- ended the Boston Celtics dynasty of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo after dropping 45 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in game six
- took the Miami Heat to four straight finals and helped them win their second and third titles
- led the Cavaliers to a title by becoming the first team to come back from 3-1 down in the NBA Finals
- won four league MVPs, three titles, three Finals MVPs and the 2008 scoring title
- 12 All-NBA First Team selections
And this was all before his most impressive campaign this season.
LeBron played all 82 regular season games for the first time in his career to carry a malfunctioning Cavaliers to the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
He averaged 34 points, 9.2 rebounds and 8.8 assists on 54.2 per cent shooting from the field to lead arguably the worst supporting cast he has had to the finals.
To do it, he single-handedly clawed them back from 3-2 down against the young Celtics, playing all 48 minutes in the decider
In game six he had a casual 46 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and three steals in 46 minutes.
The Golden State Warriors will provide LeBron's sternest test of his career and, whether or not he's the one lifting the trophy at the end, he is comfortably the second greatest player of all time.
One thing that usually gets brushed aside is why the Eastern Conference is so weak.
LeBron is oft derided for overcoming lesser competition to get to the finals but due to his greatness and lasting presence at the business end of the year, he's driven the best opposing talent out of the East.
All Stars in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Jimmy Butler have bolted out of the way, knowing they couldn't beat the King.
Quality teams like Garnett's Celtics, DeMar DeRozan's Toronto Raptors, Melo's Knicks and George's Pacers were tossed aside.
Despite all of this, LeBron garners the most vitriol in world sports. They begrudge his cries for help despite his biggest opponents having a quarter of the top 15 players in the league.
They deride his 3-5 finals record, despite him being the favourite only once and him playing two dynasties at their peak in the Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs.
LeBron is the ultimate professional, donates time and resources to numerous causes and is a leading voice for societal change.
It's just a pity he isn't appreciated for being the best since Michael Jordan.
