This was the highest rated Game 1 since 2001 when NBC was broadcasting the Finals. Yes, they successfully limited the production of the Splash Brothers.
Advertisement
Warriors coach Steve Kerr wasn’t overly concerned at the performances of Curry and Thompson. It contributed to the Cavs turning into the No. 1 offense in the league in terms of efficiency over the last two months of the season.
Klay Thompson (right) celebrates with Shaun Livingston during Game 1. It’s up to the Cavs to be better, because the Warriors will employ the same strategy.
Golden State Warriors backup point guard Shaun Livingston led the defending champs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals with 20 points.
The Warriors’ 87 victories combined from their record 73-win regular season and the playoffs matched the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, the group Golden State topped for the most regular season victories in National Basketball Association history of 73. Andre Iguodala (12 points) and Leandro Barbosa (11) also outscored the Cavaliers’ bench all by themselves.
A 12.4-points-per-game scorer in the regular season, Smith has four games in which he has scored six or fewer points this postseason – and three others when he topped 20. Kevin Love was strong in his Finals debut with 17 points and 13 boards. Matthew Dellavedova embarrassingly finished minus-19 in the 11 minutes he was on the court.
The NBA waited a year to see what a healthy Love and Irving along with James could do against the Warriors.
In the initial shot clock (not counting shots after an offensive rebound or situations where the shot clock was off), Cleveland shot 52 percent in the first 12 seconds of the clock and only 36 percent in the last 12 seconds, according to SportVU. The Cavs can do their best to slow down the Warriors while also getting into their offense earlier.
MVP Stephen Curry recorded 18 points and nine rebounds but played just 25 minutes and spent much of the night cheering from the bench while his team ran rampant against a lethargic and outclassed opposition.
Eleven of the Cavs’ turnovers came from the Big 3.
Golden State’s 3-point defense, however, was a big factor in the outcome, as the home team held the 3-point happy Cavs to just 7-of-21 shooting from distance. The 45 points off the bench was the most in the NBA Finals since Detroit in 1989.
Andrew Bogut and his Golden State Warriors know they have plenty to fear when they play a desperate Cleveland Cavaliers. Not during the Finals. Even after the Game 1 defeat, Cleveland likely isn’t going down without a fight, which should create an entertaining rest of the series.
Game 1 may have gone to the Warriors but this series is far from over.
Advertisement
“For the most part, I’m pleased with what we did defensively against Steph and Klay”, Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. “They are used to winning”.
