Not only do the Cavaliers face the daunting task of winning three straight against a team they have beaten only once all year, but they must also win two of them on the Warriors’ home court.
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Conversely the Cavaliers wanted to remain ideal on their home floor – as they were 7-an-oh at Quicken Loans Arena during the post-season, and another win would even the series at 2-all.
“I have an opinion on who’s our general, and that’s coach Lue”, James said. LeBron, the “King”, had 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists which is a solid stat line except for his 7 turnovers.
Green had a different view of James’ actions.
Four Warriors scored in double figures, with Stephen Curry pouring in 38 points to lead the way.
Love had 11 points and five rebounds off the bench, J.R. Smith scored 10 points and Tristan Thompson finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. He certainly got better as the game went on. In the first half of that game, the three-time All-Star was struck in the back of the head by Golden State’s Harrison Barnes while going for a rebound.
Kevin Love was cleared from the NBA’s concussion protocol prior to the contest and came off the bench, scoring 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting in 25 minutes on the floor.
Cleveland was drubbed in the first two games of this series, and only three teams have come back to win an National Basketball Association title after losing the first two games in The Finals. Golden State is now one win away from a championship repeat.
“We just got to get one (win)”, James said of the upcoming trip to California.
Game 4 is Friday in Cleveland, where the Warriors will try to avoid the same sluggish start they made on Wednesday when the hosts raced out to a 20-point first-quarter lead that proved too much for Golden State to overcome. “We felt threatened. Up 2-0, we felt for whatever reason, ‘We got this.’ They hit us in the teeth”. For all the talent James has, he just doesn’t have that instinct to take over a game late, and will his team to the finish line. A 26-12 Golden State run ignited by 10 points from Thompson and eight by Curry was answered by a LeBron James-sparked 10-2 Cleveland run that put the Cavaliers ahead 83-81.
“I have an opinion on who’s our general, and that’s Coach Lue”, James said after shootaround Friday morning.
The Warriors forward has to be careful because he is two technical fouls and one flagrant away from a one-game suspension, although with his side seemingly on the cusp of a second consecutive title that seems to matter less than it did before. We played well. So I just chose to stick with RJ. Draymond Green went so far as to say that Curry had been the victim of “slander” in recent days.
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After all, it’s the Cavaliers who should be threatened now, down to their last breath in the NBA Finals.
