NBA Finals: By the numbers

MANILA, Philippines – Learn about some noteworthy figures as we head into the Game 1 of the NBA Finals, featuring a rematch -- an occurrence that has happened only 14 times in the league's history -- between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Check out these facts and figures through this visualization by our PhilStar.com graphic designer Jonathan Asuncion, based on a preview by the Associated Press' Brian Mahoney.

And here's a  position-by-position look at the matchups between the Dubs and the Wine-and-Gold:

The Warriors turned around the finals last year once they benched Bogut and went small, so who knows how much time he gets now after he was needed against Oklahoma City's big men in the Western Conference finals. Thompson averaged 13 points in the 2015 finals and could have those opportunities again against small lineups. Edge: Even.

Love is making his NBA Finals debut and will have to shoot better than he did against the Warriors in the regular season, when he made 28.6 percent from the floor. That will be tough against Green, the runner-up again for Defensive Player of the Year who averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds against Cleveland in the regular-season sweep but must be careful to avoid any more flagrant fouls and face an automatic suspension. Edge: Warriors.

In his sixth straight NBA Finals, it will be hard for James to play any better than he did last June, when he averaged 35.8 points, 13.3 rebounds and 8.8 assists. But he wouldn't need to carry as heavy a load with Love and Kyrie Irving available this time. The Warriors moved Iguodala into the starting lineup late in the Western Conference finals, and the Cavs are well aware of the impact he can make, as he won NBA Finals MVP honors last year after averaging 16.3 points. Edge: Cavaliers.

Expect plenty of 3-pointers from these two, as Thompson has made 77 in the postseason - including a playoff-record 11 in Game 6 of the West finals - and Smith has nailed 49 in just 14 games. Thompson is an All-Star and better all-around player, though Smith is a much-improved defender. Now the Cavs need him to improve his 31 percent shooting in last year's finals. Edge: Warriors.

Curry missed six games with a knee injury but appeared fully recovered in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, making seven 3-pointers and scoring 36 points. The league MVP had a nearly identical performance in Golden State's 132-98 thrashing of the Cavs in January, scoring 35 points on seven 3s in just three quarters. Irving is averaging 24.3 points in the postseason, leading the Cavs until James edged in front of him late in the East finals, and is looking forward to his finals shot after breaking his kneecap late in Game 1 last year. Edge: Warriors.

The Cavs have upgraded their bench unit since adding the shooting of veterans Frye and Jefferson to the perimeter defensive abilities of Shumpert and Dellavedova. But Golden State may still more quality reserves, some of whom would start on other teams around the league. Edge: Warriors.

The experience edge goes to Kerr, and he's only been doing this two years. But from handling the Warriors' pursuit of the league's record for wins to his adjustments in bringing them back from 3-1 down against Oklahoma City, it's clear the Coach of the Year has already mastered the job. Lue replaced the fired David Blatt midway through the season and clearly improved the chemistry and culture of a team that led its conference but seemed to have something missing. Edge: Warriors. – With Denison Rey A. Dalupang