Golden State’s supporting cast played 94 minutes, scored 45 points, recorded only one turnover and were by and large the deciding factor in the game.
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There are two facts in particular that are undeniable and indisputable in nature concerning the NBA Finals, which head into Game 2 Sunday with the Warriors holding a 1-0 lead over the Cavaliers.
Curry and Thompson didn’t have the field day that many expected, but the Cavs could never capitalize. Led by backup point guard Shaun Livingston’s 20 points, the Warriors’ “Bench Brothers” decimated the Cavaliers, outscoring Cleveland’s bench 45-10, which included turning a one-point deficit with 1 minute 49 seconds remaining in the third quarter into an 88-74 lead midway through the fourth. – 20 points on 8-for-27 shooting, each knocking down a late 3-pointer. They were still effective taking turns playing good defence on J.R. Smith, who only hit one shot in garbage time at the end of the game. “That’s why we’re here”. “It took us a few games to settle in”, Green said. Barbosa (salary: $2.5 million) and Livingston (annual average salary: $5.5 million) were each ranked as a Good Bargain, and Iguodala ($12 million) rated as Earned Their Keep. Seven players scored in double figures for Golden State, including three bench players, but Thompson and Curry only combined for 20 while shooting a combined 29.6 percent.
Livingston created big matchup problems for the Cavs in Game 1.
Livingston and last year’s Finals MVP Andre Iguodala did most of the heavy lifting. “We believe in each other, and anybody can step up”.
James put up a strong stat line with 23 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in Thursday’s Game 1. The Warriors beats the Cavaliers 104-89, and Golden State’s scoring chart was fascinating. Twelve points, seven rebounds, six assists, no turnovers and great defense.
Harrison Barnes returned to the starting lineup and delivered 13 points.
“If we pick up the pace and play with a faster tempo offensively, I think we’ll be fine”.
You have to give credit to the Warriors’ bench for making plays, too.
“We got to be much better in Game 2, obviously”.
“We have the ultimate confidence in ourselves because of all that went into winning a championship past year”, Curry said. “No other team in our league has that many playmakers”.
Golden State is now a consensus -350 favorite (bet $350 to win $100) to take home its second straight National Basketball Association championship based on the updated series price.
Clearly Kerr wouldn’t have mapped out the game the way it played out for his team.
“Destruction tends to ease some of the anger”. “So I try to take it out on a clipboard instead of a player. So it’s better that way”.
The Cavs had their chances, but the Warriors were ultimately too much in the first game of the NBA Finals.
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Warriors: Longtime Cavs big man Anderson Varejao got on the floor in the opening quarter for the Warriors, the first player to have been on both finals teams in the same season….
