“Don’t get in that trap!” teammate Steph Curry told Durant during a press conference following the Warriors 113-91 Game 1 NBA Finals win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
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Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant answers questions after Game 1 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday, June 1, 2017, in Oakland, Calif.
When talking to media ahead of Game 2 on Sunday, Curry was there again dismissing the Queen, Rihanna.
Warriors Coach Steve Kerr watched the game from the locker room, unable to take the sideline due to complications from a back surgery that has sidelined him since the first round of the playoffs.
“I know they are watching film and something for them is to keep me off the glass”. It was just as much, if not more, Warriors applying themselves to the Cavs with Velcro. “They’re going to be way more aggressive in the pick-and-roll on the offensive end and defensively”.
James had 19 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, the first time in his career he managed a playoff double-double before halftime. “We can play at a high tempo as well as in transition and in half-court”.
Golden State’s other Splash Brother has made far more brick sounds than swishes so far this postseason but it’s work on the defensive end that has stood out most and been a major factor in the Warriors leading Cleveland 1-0 in the NBA Finals after three straight series sweeps to open the postseason. “So, guys have to be reminded, I got to be reminded against this team, you got to go balls out”.
“I just wanted to wear Warriors gear under the Cavs shirt”, he said of the blue Curry jersey he was wearing underneath. “There’s no way you’re going to win a game with 20 turnovers against this team and on the road”. Additionally, they have destroyed every playoff opponent en route to remaining flawless through 13 postseason games, including a 113-91 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
“We try to do it all year but this is the time of year where you need it the most”. “But one thing about us, it’s all about us”. They are the only other team to meet the Warriors in the past three NBA Finals, and for a reason.
Not that they’re discussing it. “He’s so capable and so good at doing that, no matter who we’re playing, against any team in the league”.
“Just getting a chance to see how they play, the style of play, how fast they play, you can’t really simulate that in practices”, said Lue.
The Warriors are plenty confident even if Cleveland closes out on the perimeter.
They sure look unstoppable lately.
The Warriors won by 23.
Durant, seeking his first National Basketball Association crown after leaving Oklahoma City for Golden State last July, hit 14-of-26 from the floor and added eight rebounds and eight assists, his early domination including six first-half dunks, more than in any prior full playoff game. James and Cleveland have overcome multi-game deficits in the past, they did it last season.
Cavaliers forward Kevin Love says greater effort will be coming in game two. We can’t let Durant get easy baskets like that. “You just can’t forecast that”.
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“One of our game plans was kind of backwards, but when Kevin Durant has the ball, you don’t want to leave him and get to shooters”.
