“We weren’t ready to play”, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. Their defense looked clueless in the second half, and although they’ve been able for most of this series to contain the Warriors two best scorers, it now feels that unless LeBron James plays like a man possessed, it’s over.
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“We tried to keep a body on him when he went to the paint, where he struggled a little bit, but when he went to the three-point line, he made us pay”. They’re never too far away from the lead or never too far away from when they’re down to get back into the game. Golden State shot well but winning the rebound battle kept Cleveland right on their tail. LeBron James, who just missed a triple double and Kyrie Irving who chipped 34 points put in herculean efforts to try and will the Cavaliers to victory but unfortunately missed rebounds, stagnant offense and the Warriors backcourt lead to the Cavs demise. “He’s the MVP for a reason”.
While Golden State’s role players – Draymont Green, Andre Igoudala and Harrison Barnes, among them – have been vital to the Warriors’ success in the Finals, the team’s superstars needed to step up.
Game 4 of the NBA Finals is hours away. The Warriors managed this in large part thanks to excellent three point shooting and a great stretch from former Cavalier Anderson Varajeo.
“I’m not really sure what three you’re talking about it”, he said. Stephen Curry made 19 points on 13 shots but turned the ball over six times. But as close as it was from tip-off until late in the fourth quarter, the Warriors would eventually escape Cleveland with a 108-97 win to take an all-but-insurmountable 3-1 series lead.
Thompson said he expects Game 5 on June 13 to be even more spirited – not just from him and his teammates, but also from the Cavaliers.
Kevin Love came off the bench for the first time in his Cavaliers career after being cleared from his concussion and mustered 11 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes. You’ve got everybody in your ear, you’ve got friends, you’ve got family who want to come to the game and want to discuss everything.
Most didn’t see this win coming.
Curry and Thompson also responded well to all the criticism they received. They combined to shoot 11-for-22 from three-point range, and the Warriors made an NBA Finals-record 17 three-pointers in 36 attempts. “We’re down 3-1, he hadn’t played well“. No team has ever come back from down 3-1 in an NBA Finals.
“We have to play with desperation, play to exhaustion and figure out how to win”, said Cleveland’s J.R. Smith.
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. “We had just won a game by 30 points”.
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As the series heads back to Oakland, one has to wonder if the Cavaliers weren’t finished for good in this game. Because one 60-yard bomb here and 70-yard connection here and now they’re right back in the game.
