And just how do you expect LeBron to contribute on the offensive end if he's guarding Durant for an entire series?
That's not really the question you should be asking based on the matchup. The issue is, can we get by with Durant essentially being unguarded... Think about what you are saying.
The only chance we have of beating the Warriors is by punishing them inside, and Kyrie can't do that alone...we NEED LeBron's supreme rim attacking abilities.
I think you're looking at this the wrong way; there's no reason to assume that because James is guarding Durant that he will simply stop attacking the basket. It's not an either or thing; and to be honest, our
defense is the only way we'll beat the Warriors -- we're not going to just win by hoping to outscore them.
32-year old LeBron isn't going to be that offensive force if we stick him on Durant in a 7-game series.
Surely he won't be as good offensively as he would be if he were taking defensive possessions off; but the point here is that we have no other person to guard Durant. You.. seem to not be taking that into account; that's the entire reason Golden State made the offseason decisions they did, was to force us into this matchup.
Truthfully, I don't know what the counter is...either pray for an injury or hope that the real (aka, playoff) Durant and Curry show up.
Not really into prayer as an answer to a rational problem; Curry has been pretty good in the playoffs, all things considered -- but Irving/Delly have been pretty good on him defensively.
Same could be said in the past of James/Durant, hence the desire to have Durant go through James to score.
The Warriors are making their offense run almost completely through Durant; that could have detrimental effects in the Finals if James can really close the door on him. Hence the desire to have Irving and Love, particularly Love in the low post, go ham offensively with James focused on creating offense for others and playing defense.
They're going to put Green on James defensively, and I'd rather him not get banged up in the low post or on drives if it means he won't be able to guard Durant...
Anyway, as I and others have suggested, the solution to this problem is likely a pickup by the Cavs of a versatile wing player that changes our dynamic. A Tyreke Evans, Rudy Gay type; not necessarily a defensive stopper, but, someone who can put a body on Draymond and on the offensive end this would prevent the inevitable Kyrie double team.