OAKLAND, Calif. — The Celtics and the Lakers met 12 times in the NBA Finals. But never three times in a row. It only seemed that way in the 1960s and 1980s in the days before Michael Jordan or when the 3-point shot was a luxury, not an absolute necessity.

It’s only happened once in MLB, the NFL and the NHL. Now add the NBA.

For the first time, there is a NBA Finals three-peat in performers as the Cleveland Cavaliers All-Stars with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love face the Golden State Warriors All-Stars now with Kevin Durant joining Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green starting Thursday in Oakland.

The Warriors went on a 73-victory regular-season rampage last year, but James and the Cavs rallied in the Finals from a 3-1 coffin, claimed the first title for the city of Cleveland in 52 years and knocked “defending champs” off the Warriors’ nameplate. So Cavs 1, Warriors 1.

Here’s one look at matchups, including stats from this postseason:

Stephen Curry (28.6 points, 5.6 assists) vs. Kyrie Irving (24.5 points, 5.6 assists)

So whatcha like, the Mercedes or the BMW? Irving has elevated his game by becoming better all-around. He’ll get his points, whether blowing by anyone to the rim or with improved shooting. “He’s unpredictable,” Curry said. But Curry is the better shooter, one of the best ever. And figure Irving will get a lot of Klay Thompson in his face. The Warriors like Splash Brother Klay on the better opposing guard. And Irving basically plays off the ball with LeBron James anyway.

Edge: Warriors

Klay Thompson (14.4 points, 38.3 field-goal pct.) vs. J.R. Smith (6.6 points, 48.4 field-goal pct.)

Who really thought J.R. would shoot so much better than Thompson has in the postseason? Thompson has regressed in these playoffs, but he’s a better all-around player, better defender and he won’t untie your shoelaces. And he’s usually consistent. J.R. can shoot you to a win. Or a loss. He can get 18 on six 3s one night and flame out the next. Thompson can score 15 as the third or fourth option.

Edge: Warriors

Kevin Durant (25.2 points, 7.8 rebounds) vs. LeBron James (32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds)

This is the No. 1 player on the planet against arguably the No. 2 player on the planet. Durant likely starts defending LeBron, but Draymond Green will get most of the job, and everyone hopes he doesn’t have another groin-hitting, suspension-worthy incident like he did last year. James covering Durant helps the Warriors because that’s an enormous burden: carry the team and guard the other team’s superstar. Any way to fatigue LeBron is big. James can be inconsistent from the perimeter, where Golden State wants him. Whether full or half court, once he starts driving to the basket, nothing outside of Godzilla can stop him. With Durant, the task is hardly easier. The Cavs want to keep him off-balance, make him take tough, contested shots. Simple, huh? Throw multiple defenders at him and get the ball out of his hands — then pray Curry and Thompson don’t kill you.

Edge: Cavaliers

Draymond Green (13.9 points, 8.7 rebounds) vs. Kevin Love (17.2 points, 10.4 rebounds)

This is a tough one because Love can go off for 30 on any given night. From strictly a stat standpoint, edge Love. But Green is the emotional heart of the Warriors. He brings a winner’s mentality and is the team’s X-factor. Green should spend a lot of his time guarding James. Love won’t go on Durant. But he’ll do what he does: score and rebound. Both can hit 3s — Green is shooting 47.2 percent on 53 attempts in the playoffs, Love at 47.5 percent on 80 3-point tries.

Edge: Warriors

Zaza Pachulia (6.1 points, 4.3 rebounds) vs. Tristan Thompson (9.2 points, 9.3 rebounds)

Get a good look at Pachulia early in the game. He won’t be around too long. The Warriors go small quickly. Thompson is the better athlete, and Pachulia will be hard-pressed keeping him off the glass and defending his rolls, lobs and putbacks. Thompson is vital on the boards. The Cavs can match the Warriors from the perimeter — they hold a 14.6-12.1 edge in 3-pointers per game during the playoffs — but if the Warriors get putback points, it could get ugly.

Edge: Cavaliers

The Warriors have young guys they developed in Patrick McCaw and Ian Clark. But they also have vets Andre Iguodala, who turned the Finals two years ago, Shaun Livingston and David West. JaVale McGee gives them rim protection. The Cavs added Deron Williams, who has been good in a less pressurized role. Channing Frye and Kyle Korver could be X-factors with their perimeter shooting. Iman Shumpert is a nice combo guard option.

Edge: Cavaliers

James addressed both staffs. On Tyronn Lue, who is going for his second title in two years, he praised “his level of calmness no matter what’s going on.” Mike Brown is leading the Warriors on the bench as Steve Kerr deals with complications from back surgery. Brown won a ring as a Spurs assistant and coached in the Finals with the Cavs (and James) in 2007. “Steve’s there. He’s just not on the bench,” James said. “Mike Brown has enough talent and enough experience to keep it going.” Brown is “damn good defensively,” James added.

Edge: Even

Both sides are loaded with them. Either team can win anywhere, but if it comes to a seventh game, you’d like it in your building.

Edge: Warriors

Fred Kerber
Warriors in 6

The Warriors have too many weapons. The Cavs have three major All-Stars, the Warriors have four.

Mike Vaccaro
Cavaliers in 6

The Warriors have the winning streak and the better roster. The Cavaliers have LeBron. In the NBA, in 2017, that’s still the trump card.

Marc Berman
Cavaliers in 6

The Cavaliers have enough physicality on defense and offensive help for LeBron James now that Kevin Love is back to being a 3-point dynamo. The Warriors have KD, but he’s burdened by tons of pressure, and the Dubs have less depth than they did last season, when they choked at 3-1.

Brian Lewis
Warriors in 6

Kevin Durant wanted to stack the deck and he did. He’ll win Finals MVP and be so dominant he robs us of a classic seven-game finish in the third installment of this trilogy.