Monday's Cavs-Warriors showdown newest chapter of NBA's fiercest rivalry

USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick previews the final regular season matchup between the Cavaliers and Warriors.
USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Cleveland.(Photo: Ron Schwane, AP)

By the time LeBron James throws his next Halloween party, this Monday showdown between his defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena will be a forgotten memory.

If James makes another batch of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson “RIP” cookies like he did last time, or has another drum set with a “3-1 Lead” inscription or another stuffed Curry doll at the front door for guests to step over, it will be inspired by the events of the summertime – not the winter. Or, of course, maybe it will be the Warriors howling at the late October moon after they regained control of the NBA’s mountaintop.