INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Kyrie Irving's rage began one year ago, as he limped off the court and back to the locker room inside Oracle Arena.

The emotions were clear, plastered all over his then-23-year-old face. Irving, who entered last year's NBA Finals with tendinitis in his left knee, had just collided with Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson moments earlier on an attempted drive to the basket.

After Harrison Barnes buried a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a seven-point lead with about two minutes remaining in overtime, Irving departed for the tunnel and discarded his jersey, slamming it to the ground.

At that moment, it all hit him. Anger. Frustration. Disappointment. Sadness.

Irving was finally on the stage he had dreamt about for so long, playing well in a star-studded showdown against MVP Stephen Curry, but after one freak collision, Irving faced an uncertain future while his teammates stared at a 1-0 series deficit.

That rage grew during a long summer, one spent learning to walk, jump and play basketball again. It was there when he spent hours rehabbing. He promised to carry that emotion into the regular season.

One year later, as Irving heads back to Oracle Arena, back to the court where his title dreams faded, along with those of the Cavaliers, he still has those feelings.

"There's still some rage, obviously, but it's more controlled," Irving said following the Cavaliers' practice on Tuesday, their final one in Cleveland before heading to the Bay Area. "Just really balanced coming into this Finals because we have everyone we're supposed to have. That feels really good. There's a lot of luck for both teams to stay as healthy. Steph goes down a little bit, missing a piece. But for us both teams have been relatively healthy."

That's what the Cavs have wanted. They didn't care about the opponent. They just wanted another chance at those two extra wins. It just so happens the Warriors are the team standing in their way again.

"It's great to have a rematch, though," Irving admitted.

The Cavs get another chance at the NBA title, a shot to wipe away those bad memories from last June. This time, their best shot.

"Everyone in the world knows this is what (everyone) wanted to see," Irving said. "The two top teams, No. 1 and No. 1 in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, respectively. This is what it's about, right here, top level basketball, a lot of great players on one court at one time and two great teams just competing."

The Warriors' legend grew on Monday night, as the record-setting team capped a furious comeback, rallying from a 3-1 series deficit against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that might've provided some lessons for the Cavs.

"Just specific matchups," Irving said. "Who they're going to match up with on pick-and-rolls. Us and OKC, we have a lot of similarities in terms of positions. Those guys did an incredible job of putting a lot of pressure on all five guys at all times and it started with Russ (Westbrook) and KD (Kevin Durant) just pushing the basketball, doing a lot of screen and rolls. You take what you can from that series. But obviously for us we have some different plays, different players and now we just have to implement it against the Warriors."

That's been the focus all postseason. It's about staying true to themselves, working to correct their own flaws and continuing to reinforce a new identify, which head coach Tyronn Lue helped unearth. That gives the Eastern Conference champions confidence. That has them believing they have the answers, and this time, the pieces, to end the Warriors' dream season.

"We have another year under our belt and more chemistry," LeBron James said. "But health-wise, you know we're healthy and we're excited about the opportunity."

For Irving, it means another crack at Curry -- one half of the league's best backcourt, the NBA's leading scorer and first-ever unanimous MVP.

"You just try to make it tough as much as possible," Irving said of the defensive plan. "He's going to get to certain spots on the floor. They do a great job of running some continuity plays that allow him to not stay stagnant at all. He's going to come off a lot of pick and rolls, a lot of pindowns. It takes a total team effort to contain him as well as Klay and other guys."

That was an issue during the regular season. The Warriors won both meetings between the two teams, including a 132-98 blowout on Jan. 18. That loss showed the Cavs how far they had to go and whether changes were required. It played a big role in Lue being elevated to head coach.

But, this is the postseason. The Cavs are different. So, too, are the Warriors. What happened months ago has been left in the past.

"In January? I don't remember it," Irving said when asked how different the Cavs are from January.

The same can be said about last year's 4-2 Finals loss, which has led to chatter about the Cavs entering the series with extra fuel.

"I wouldn't say revenge," Lue said. "I just think both teams are happy and excited to make it to The Finals. Organization wise, it's the same two teams, but playing wise and players wise, we're a different team. Kevin (Love) and Kyrie are both healthy, the addition of Channing Frye, we're a completely different team than we were last year."

And Irving is a completely different player and person, with last year's season-ending injury shaping him into a more mature, more mentally tough point guard. After being robbed of his Finals moment, Irving is thankful as he goes back to the building where his rage was first ignited.

"Thinking about just the steps it took to get back to where we are now, I really have a true appreciation for these guys and my teammates and just a true appreciation of the journey," Irving said. "This is what it's about, everything that's built up throughout the regular season coming to this point, ups and downs.

"But we're still not satisfied. We're still not satisfied at all. There's still a goal at hand that we have to accomplish, and I know these guys are going to be ready for it, and so will I."