Sports Business Daily’s Austin Karp reported Thursday’s Game 1 recorded the best ratings for an opening title tilt since the Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers produced a 15.2 overnight when they met in the 2001 NBA Finals on NBC.
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The problem with beating the Golden State Warriors – which only happened nine times over the regular season – is they don’t have to play a pristine game to win. On the other, Curry and Thompson slogged through what will likely be their worst games all series, and the Warriors still won by double-digits. The Splash Brothers combined for just 20 points in Golden State’s Game 1 victory. “You don’t win championships without the entire squad making an impact”, Curry said. “That’s why we’re here”.
“When you’re outscored 45-10 in bench points and give up 25 points off turnovers, you’re not winning that game”, LeBron James said.
James had no explanation for his success in bouncing back from game one defeats. He shot just 7-for-22 from the field, and the Cavaliers made just 38.1 percent as a team.
“For the most part I’m pleased with what we did defensively against Steph and Klay”.
In a series with so much star power on both sides, this was a night for Livingston and fellow reserves Leandro Barbosa and Andre Iguodala.
Green added 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
“Not at all”, Dellavedova said when asked if his role on the team was to shake up rival players.
Smooth 2s from Livingston, who spent 49 games with the Cavs in 2012-13.
This is why the Cavaliers made that stunning coaching change in midseason, firing David Blatt after he led them to the finals previous year and a 30-11 start to this season.
The Warriors made a statement while surrounded by thousands of golden yellow “Strength in Numbers” T-shirts worn by their fans throughout sold-out Oracle.
“They were just staying attached”, Smith said. “We pick each other up”. A series of missed foul calls, a cheap shot from an opponent, whatever. The Cavs will have the services of point guard Kyrie Irving (played Game One) and center / forward Kevin Love, who were out of the Finals previous year.
James has proven his team can play better following a playoffs loss, and the Cavs are going to need another one of his great games. As for Cleveland, 36% homes were turned into the game. With 34 seconds remaining in the quarter, Iguodala was bringing the ball up the court when Matthew Dellavedova came up behind Iguodala and, in a cursory attempt at a steal, swiped at the ball, his hand instead landing a shot directly between Iguodala’s legs.
You’ve got to think that Curry and Thompson will heat up.
“We missed 28 shots in the paint”, Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue said. “Their bench played well”.
“Regardless of how the night’s going shooting for me, Klay, throughout the course of the night, we definitely get a boost when our bench guys come in and change the game”, Curry said.
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Coming into the series, the basic bargain of this season’s Cavaliers compared to last year’s was an improved offense producing enough to cover for an inferior defense.
