The Golden State Warriors are three games away repeating as National Basketball Association champions and no one is really anxious about the health of Stephen Curry anymore, but a little over a month ago that wasn’t the case.
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“I’m not discouraged at all”, James said. At times it worked, but more often than not Curry or Thompson would just move the ball around until they found whoever Irving was guarding, that person would be open, and they’d get a bucket. Shaun Livingston spanked Cleveland’s defense, scoring a team-high 20 points, almost all from mid-range with that shot that is pure butter. It was the fewest combined points those two players scored in the past two seasons. “It’s not even about that”. In fact, Golden State’s leading scorer Thursday night, Shaun Livingston, came off the bench.
“So we try to make ourselves available for him and be able to make plays, relieve pressure. That’s what won us the game”.
Cleveland’s Big Three of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combined for 66 points, and Golden State’s Steph Curry and Klay Thompson scored 20 points on 8-of-27 shooting.
“Give up 45 points off the bench and 25 points off turnovers on the road, it’s not good ingredients to win”, said James, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds but shot 9-of-21 from the floor. “You try to just contest his shot, but sometimes he won’t even see you”, Curry said.
After an odd Game 1 of the 2016 Finals Thursday night, which the Warriors won 104-89, we’re about to see the same type of chess match unfold.
“I think I took the same shots last series”, Livingston said, “but it’s just staying confident in my shot, understanding my game, where the shots are going to come from and trusting it”.
And, to boot, they don’t have to worry about not having Curry. “Just really proud of the way everybody contributed”. You don’t win championships without the entire squad coming in and making an impact on games…
With Oracle Arena swamped in a sea of yellow as MVP Curry went head-to-head against James, the Warriors started well on the back of 14 quick points, eventually taking a four-point lead into the first break.
“It was a odd game for us”, Kerr said afterward. “I thought they missed a couple that they would normally make, but all in all it was a good defensive effort”.
All of the talk for the Cavaliers headed into the rematch was about the ability of Irving and Love – two defensively deficient players – to keep the high-scoring Warriors in front of them.
“We had a chance in that third quarter to do something special, but we didn’t counter and do it”, James said.
Iguodala, 32, has been called “the adult in the room” by Golden State coach Steve Kerr, and he kept his typical cool in the opener when Cleveland’s Matthew Dellavedova struck him in the groin while committing a foul.
Unlike previous year, each side has a healthy Big Three for this championship tussle.
“I just told LeBron I need him to play faster”, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said.
“But the ball was going into the post a lot and we watched film and we’re seeing some weak side action that we can be better at. You’ve got guys who’ve got to get a little dirty, got to be a little physical, so I can only respect that”. Not so much, as the Golden State Warriors once again constricted the Cavs’ offense en route to a 110-77 victory in Game 2 of the 2016 Finals.
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Or as prepared as they could be against the Warriors’ shooters who are redefining the game.
