Statistically, the Warriors' backcourt is averaging about the same numbers we saw all year. Curry averaged 23.8 points during the regular season, and is now pouring in 23.5 points per game in the Finals. Thompson has dipped from 21.7 points per game to 19.5.

The noteworthy difference has been that both have suffered big declines in three-point shooting percentage. Curry's average has sunk from 44.3 percent during the season to 36.3 in the Finals. Thompson has fallen further, dropping from 43.9 percent to 30.3.

Those are big declines for two gentlemen considered the best shooters in the game. And credit should be given to the Cavaliers' relentless perimeter defense, which has found success trapping and double-teaming Curry and Thompson.

But Warriors fans should be heartened by these numbers. It is highly unlikely the Splash Brothers will remain clunky. If they get their swish back, the final games could be blowouts.

"Well, we wouldn't mind," said head coach Steve Kerr, when asked whether he'd like his two stars to get hot in unison. "It doesn't have to happen. But I think over time, the law of averages tend to balance out."

So far, the two shooting stars have taken turns revealing glimpses of greatness. For their careers, the Warriors are 56-15 in regular-season games in which both score at least 20 points. But it's happened only once in the four Finals games, and that was Game 1 when Curry went for 26 and Thompson 21. The Warriors won that game, but the two haven't meshed since then.

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No. 2: LeBron not thinking about contract right now — You know how it goes during the NBA Finals: Reporters must generate some news somehow, and what better place than with LeBron James? He's a free agent this summer and there might be someone in Tibet who thinks LeBron will not be in Cleveland next season. Otherwise, LeBron re-upping with the Cavs seems a lock. He'll likely sign a one-year deal, then cash in big in the summer of 2016, when the cap is expected to take a generous leap. LeBron is vastly underpaid and like Michael Jordan once was — as in there's no way to adequately compensate him for what he means to the league and TV ratings. Joe Vardon of the Northeast Ohio News Media Group, approached the King to hear what he had to say — or not say — about his contract:

"Ha, I haven't even thought about that until you just said something," James told the Northeast Ohio Media Group. "I'll tackle all of that after the season, but, yeah, I'm happy where I'm at."

James has the Cavs tied at two games each with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals with Game 5 set for Sunday. Winning a championship in Cleveland was one of his stated reasons to return to the Cavs after four years in Miami. He also said previously he wants to "build something great in the present and the future" and finish his career in Cleveland.

Nevertheless, James must choose this summer whether or not to pick up the one-year, $21.57 million player option on his current contract. Virtually no one – the Cavs included – expects him to do so, which means that at least for a few days James would be a free agent.

James' contract last season was designed with two basic principles in mind: flexibility to maximize his worth when NBA revenues explode because of the new TV contract, and, secondarily, leverage to ensure the front office is building around him properly.

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No. 3: Experts say LeBron's workload is unreal — The extra load that LeBron is carrying around with the injury losses to Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving is pretty apparent. LeBron must be all things to the Cavs: Scorer, rebounder, leader, playmaker, shot creator and savior. It's certainly something he can do, but you also wonder how much more of it is possible in a grinding series where he does't always get help from his teammates. Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com took a survey of some experts to get their thoughts on LeBron's broad shoulders:

Last Tuesday a group of leading sports scientists gathered in Northern England to watch the NBA Finals.

That wasn't the intended reason for the gathering. The idea was for top trainers and scientists, from teams like the Premier League's Northampton and Manchester United along with England, Scotland and Welsh Rugby clubs, to hear from Michael Young, Ph.D., noted expert from the Athletic Lab. They wanted to learn what the latest research said about keeping highly paid athletes healthy and at their competitive best.

But the two-day workshop was overrun with talk of, and concern for, LeBron James. The worry begins with a baseline of "stress" — that's their term — surrounding all NBA players. Sports science has exploded in recent years with evidence that things like mucked up sleep, air travel, and densely scheduled games put players in jeopardy. The NBA is elite in all categories.

"It's unfathomable to go across the country from Cleveland to San Francisco — at the very least a five-hour flight — and then play 50 minutes in a game the next day," Young says. "You don't see that in any other sport. The travel stress alone can be debilitating.

"And then you add to the fact that basically it's a one-man team at this point, and the mental and physical burden, it's just overwhelming," Young says.

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No. 4: Report: Jefferson staying with Hornets — In his first season with the then Charlotte Bobcats in 2013-14, center Al Jefferson showcased just how great of a low-post player he is. Jefferson led Charlotte to 43 wins — the second-most wins they enjoyed as the Bobcats — and himself was an All-NBA third-teamer. Last season wasn't as kind to either the now Charlotte Hornets or Jefferson himself. The Hornets' win total fell by 10 and Jefferson played in just 65 games. He could opt out of his deal this summer and test the free-agent waters, but he's sticking with the Hornets, writes Marc Stein of ESPN.com: