OAKLAND — The Cavaliers walked into Oracle Arena full of swagger with a belief that they could catch the Warriors slipping in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Cleveland was looking to take advantage of Golden State coming off a mentally taxing seven-game classic Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.
After steamrolling through the Eastern Conference playoffs – pulverizing the Pistons, Hawks and Raptors – who could blame the Cavs for thinking they could catch a wobbled and weary Warriors squad.
Well, the Cavs’ 12-2 record up to this point in the playoffs may very well be fool’s gold after watching the Warriors drub them with their ‘C-game’ in Game 1 of this much anticipated NBA Finals rematch, 104-89, to take a 1-0 lead in this best-of-seven series.
“We missed 28 shots in the paint. We didn’t finish around the basket, so we’ve just got to keep playing the same way we were playing,” Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue said. “I feel good about how we played. The outcome wasn’t great for us, the score, but to get to the basket missing 28 shots in the paint, that’s not us. We’ll be better next game.”
What Lue said is partly true, but unfortunately for the Cavs, they found out the hard way that this resilient group of champions aren’t the Pistons, Hawks or Raptors. Even on a night when they slowed down Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson – holding the Splash Brothers to a combined 8 of 27 from the field for 20 points – Cleveland couldn’t pull off the upset. It’s going to be extremely difficult for the Cavs to stop the Warriors from winning their second consecutive NBA championship.
Even on a porous shooting night from the best backcourt in the NBA, the Warriors were still able to shoot 49.4 percent and dish out 29 assists as a team. The difference? The Warriors’ bench stepped up and outscored the Cavs’ bench 45-10.
“When you get outscored 45-10 and give up 25 points off 17 turnovers, no matter what someone does or doesn’t do, it’s going to be hard to win,” said LeBron James, who had 23 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. “But don’t matter what you do with Steph and Klay, don’t matter what you do with Draymond. Give up 45 points off the bench and 25 points off turnovers on the road, it’s not a good ingredient to win.”
Cleveland also hasn’t played against a defense that swarms around like killer bees in an awful long time. Defensively, the Warriors flummoxed the Cavs all night – sticking to their shooters as if they were globs of glue – and doubling Kevin Love nearly every time he received the ball in the post.
J.R. Smith – who’s always ready to shoot – didn’t get an attempt off until their was 1:46 left in the first half (he finished the game 1 for 3).
“They were just staying attached,” Smith said. “Pretty much what we expected and what we really wanted so we could get guys, LeBron and Kyrie [Irving], going downhill. We just missed tough shots at the rim.”
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Cavaliers – a team who chirped in the offseason and claimed they would’ve hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy had Love and Irving been able to suit up. They actually rallied from a 14-point first half deficit to take the lead in the third quarter.
But then Matthew Dellavedova hit Andre Iguodala with a blow below the belt.
We would say Iggy reacted appropriately?? pic.twitter.com/ZuL5yorKeH
— KNBR (@KNBR) June 3, 2016
The rest, as they say, is history. The Warriors quickly went on a 15-0 run – thanks to their bench – and it was goodnight for the Cavs.
With Iguodala (12 points, seven rebounds and six assists) and Green getting their active hands on every ball, it’s not far-fetched to expect the Warriors to overwhelm Cleveland again in Game 2.
Yes, the Cavs have the four-time MVP in LeBron James, and a slew of offensive firepower at their disposal. But this Warriors team goes at least 10-deep, and they will find it easier to get to the bucket against Cleveland’s defense, a unit that doesn’t have imposing bigs like the Thunder’s Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka. However, James and company feel like they’ll be able to adjust to the Warriors’ style before Game 2.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the film session and seeing ways we can get better going into Game 2,” James said. “And I think our team will.”
Catch Game 2 on KNBR 1050 or KGO 810 Sunday at 5 pm.