NBA Officiating Report: Refs made four errors in fourth quarter and OT
June 9, 2015Boston Celtics reportedly cooling on Kevin Love
June 9, 2015The wine and gold obtained their much-needed split in Oakland after their Game 2 win against the Golden State Warriors, bringing the NBA Finals to Cleveland tied at 1-1. They did it in an ugly, frightening manner by missing four shots at a game-winning hoop in regulation, losing Kyrie Irving, and relying on 83 points from LeBron James. None of that matters now, however, except the number one next to each team’s name. The Cavaliers will undoubtedly now have unprecedentedly frenzied crowds on Tuesday and Thursday nights in Cleveland. They have an unbelievable opportunity to take a stranglehold on this series by holding serve at home over the next two contests. Here’s how they can take that first step and take Game 3 on Tuesday night.
Mozzy in the middle: The Golden State Warriors have made a significant adjustment with their interior defense. While the Eastern Conference teams that the Cavs left behind along the way to the Finals failed to contain Tristan Thompson, the Warriors have used Andrew Bogut to do just that. Thompson is just 1-of-9 from the field, though he has still managed to grab 29 rebounds (13 offensive) in the first two games. In most cases, this has forced a cross-matchup where Draymond Green or Andre Iguodala is being asked to pick up Timofey Mozgov underneath. The results have been good for the Cavaliers. Mozgov is averaging 16.5 points and nine rebounds in the first two games, and has shot 10-of-18 from the field along with 13-of-20 at the line. With Bogut worried about Thompson on the glass, the Warriors lack another big outside of Festus Ezeli to properly guard Mozgov. Since Bogut and Ezeli don’t often play together, the Warriors have been using a lot of fouls to slow down Mozgov. Three things are key to Mozgov continuing his success: catching the ball in traffic, converting some of the dunks for and-ones, and making a respectable amount of free throws. If he can do that and provide double-digit interior scoring, it makes LeBron’s job easier.
The role player shift: It’s no secret that star power travels better than role players’ games. Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith have taken turns being a crucial second or third scoring option for the Cavaliers throughout the playoffs. In Oakland, they combined to shoot 12-of-43 for 35 points. Add Matthew Dellavedova and James Jones, who are 6-of-18 and 3-for-11 from deep, and the Cavaliers have been trimmed to 18-for-58 (31 percent) from their playoff average of 35.9 percent from three-point range entering the Finals. Meanwhile, for Golden State, Andre Iguodala is 9-of-13 and Harrison Barnes is 9-of-19 on threes. The Warriors have received 22 total points each from Iguodala, Barnes, and Draymond Green. There’s no doubt that the Splash Brothers will show up on the road, but who among their secondary trio will be able to provide scoring?
Smith has been too good this season for the Cavaliers not to have a blazing game from him this series. In Game 2, he committed three or four bone-headed fouls and was called for a technical. On offense, the shots weren’t falling and he seemed to lack his ordinary confidence to take any shot at any time. Shumpert’s defensive responsibilities on Klay Thompson are understandably weighing down his offense, but he hesitated and double-clutched some open shots. James is going to need help to win three more games on the offensive end, and I fully expect Smith to provide that within the friendly confines of the Q.
Two-on-two: The two best defenders on each team are making it clear when they’re on the floor. There are four double-digit defensive ratings thus far in the series. They belong to Draymond Green (93 points per 100 possessions), Andrew Bogut (94), Matthew Dellavedova (97), and Iman Shumpert (97). Which players will be able to deliver the performances on the defensive end that decide the series? Dellavedova and Shumpert guarding Curry and Thompson have that power, as do Green and Bogut, taking turns on James and Mozgov.
The not-so-little things: The Cavaliers record has been perfectly aligned with whether they’ve won or lost the rebounding battle. They’re plus-seven for the series, and each member of their starting frontcourt trio has more rebounds (Thompson – 29, James – 24, Mozgov – 18) than the highest rebound man for Golden State (Green – 16). The wine and gold are also plus-six in turnover margin and plus-12 in free throw attempts. They’ve tracked both Curry and Thompson early and throughout transition opportunities, and they’re turning three-point makes into two-point makes by chasing them inside the arc as the worst case scenario.
The Cavaliers have shown that a physical, ugly, low-scoring brand of basketball is one that they can use to compete against the heavy favorite Golden State and win. While the Cavaliers must find their shot, they can also win by making sure Golden State and Curry don’t find theirs.
12 Comments
Dellavedova just needs to keep channeling his inner Darius Kasparaitis…
I expect Curry to want to come right out and go at Delly and I welcome it. I hope he and the Warriors make this more and more about him because if they do that just like Atlanta they’ll be focused on the wrong thing. For some reason I keep envisioning a play where Curry shakes Delly for just a moment Delly is trailing as Curry either goes to the basket or pulls up and from the side we see the Dark Knight the true MVP come to obliterate Stephon’s shot!
But I will be looking for Kerr’s adjustment to Blatt’s adjustment and the chess match that follows.
Slightly off topic but I saw some near-kerfuffles and some fan-on-fan screaming at the Cavs clincher vs. ATL. People demanding others sit down.
Do better Cavs fans.
Agree 100% – I think Curry taking this personal and wanting to go hero is the best way to keep their offense out of rhythm
Kerr’s adjustments are for sure going to be on display, I’m really excited to see how that shakes out and how Blatt responds. I 100% believe we aren’t still playing right now without Blatt. Dude has been outstanding and making a joke out of all the “pundits” hating.
If true the people who demanded others to sit down should stay at home and watch it on television!
The worst is when security comes and tells people to sit down (Browns games)
Why would anyone stand up at a Browns game? J/K I’ve heard First Energy is more like a police state.
I couldnt believe it. The guy was griping to me about it and I was just trying to ignore him. I’d prefer to stand nearly the whole game for playoffs. I have upper deck partial STs for Cavs and thought these people were quite lame.
From what I saw, these people all paid big markups in secondary market and had the typical “I paid XXX amount so I expect everything to be the wait I want it” mentality.
Sitting is to civilized, period! Stay home watch it on television.
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I’ve been frustrated at the Q and CB stadium with people not standing or cheering enough. At the same time you kind of look like a dick when you are the only guy standing in an entire section, even though it is everyone else’s fault for being lame. The best you can do is trying to get the people around you jacked up. I’m hopeful the fans will step it up tonight
Now that the NBA has admitted to serious screw ups by the refs game 3 could get interesting…. just sayin