“In terms of being back here in Game 1, a lot of emotions but now that Game 1’s over just ready to attack Game 2”.
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In fact, the man paid to worry about the roster, General Manager Bob Meyers, admitted that he was concerned that Curry might be done for the season when he slipped on a wet spot on the floor during Game 4 of the Warriors’ first-round playoff series against Houston. But they can’t sustain that level of defensive focus, and when the breakdowns came the Warriors exploited it – Draymond Green was 3-of-5 from three in the second quarter, the Warriors liked the tempo and got into their natural state, and led by 15. If they do so, they will likely have to perform much better than they did in Game 1.
Draymond Green was his usual self as the team’s most valuable player after Curry and Thompson.
Golden State repeated the rollicking start it made to the fourth quarter of Game One – only this time it wasn’t particularly crucial to the final result.
“He has such a unique perspective and the little things he sees, especially from my game – how to use leverage with your hands, use your body to create space – that’s invaluable advice”, Curry said.
In the opener, the Cavaliers contained 3-point sharpshooters Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, who combined for only 20 points on 8-of-27 shooting, and outrebounded Golden State 47-41. “Pace, so we can get up the floor and get guys open shots in transition like J.R. [Smith] and Kevin [Love] and Channing [Frye] and those guys”.
Green led all scorers with 18 points including three 3-pointers.
The Cavs, who have been setting 3-point records, made only seven in Game 1. “Those are some good things that we did so we’ve just got to build off of that”, Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. Now everyone wants to know how the Cavaliers will respond, how will they react after a body blow in Round 1 showed no indication that a fully health Cavaliers team was any more capable of defeating the mighty Warriors than the depleted unit that James dragged along with him for six games a year ago.
Look for point guard and unanimous MVP Steph Curry and shooting guard Klay Thompson to return to form in the next game. With basketball games in the finals being the biggest stage for the sport, and all eyes on, outside of a few runs, the Cavalier team as a whole seemed out of their depth. But the Warriors are quicker than the Cavs.
James said the Cavaliers would have to come up with a different recipe for success in Game Two today.
Live-streaming for Game 2 is available via Watch ESPN. Tristan Thompson had 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Cavs, who are trying to end a pro sports championship drought in Cleveland that extends back five decades. “I thought they got to all the 50-50 balls”.
“Those guys are allowed to take any shot they want”, the coach said.
And offense is not even the Cavs biggest problem in this series. “We’re much more experienced”.
“We’ve got to be better”. They did a great job picking us up. “We remain having a sense of urgency, and we’re going to fight for everything we get”. James has won nine consecutive Game 2s after losing Game 1 dating to 2009.
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“When you’re switching one through five, it makes you stagnant”, Lue said.
