NBA Finals 2015: Are the Golden State Warriors in Trouble Against the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Home court advantage has officially been taken away from the No. 1 team in the NBA.
The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals in a thrilling overtime game, 95-93. With that win, the series is now tied 1-1, and the next two games will be played in Cleveland where the Cavaliers have a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
So, how much trouble are the Warriors in?
Usually a team missing their starting point guard and starting power forward isn't in control, but dare we say the Cavaliers are better without them? The Cavaliers are now 3-0 without Kyrie Irving this postseason with two wins coming in the conference finals (against the No. 1 seed Atlanta Hawks) and another in the NBA Finals. Irving has an excellent "handle" (dribbling skills), but with his ankle injury, he was a liability on defense.
Enter Matthew Dellavedova.
Dellavedova played exceptional defense against the league MVP Stephen Curry in Game 2. With Dellavedova guarding Curry, he shot a dismal 0-8 from the field. Overall, Curry shot just 2-15 from the perimeter. Curry's 13 missed three pointers are the most ever in an NBA Finals game in league history. Dellavedova was previously guarding Klay Thompson, but the size mismatch favored the Warriors far too much. Cavaliers head coach David Blatt made a wise decision by making the defensive adjustment.
Their Game 2 win was the first NBA Finals victory in Cavaliers franchise history. If the Cavaliers can win three more games, they will end the Cleveland professional championship drought of 1964.
The Warriors are in a dangerous spot because they lost home court advantage. Five potential games remain, with three more in Cleveland. Only two more games (if this goes to Game 7) will be played in Golden State. In other words, the Cavaliers took care of business on the road, and have stolen home court advantage from the Warriors. The Warriors now have to win in Cleveland.
Center Andrew Bogut is playing terrific defense, but he is providing little to no offense whatsoever. By far the biggest issue for the Warriors is stopping LeBron James. James is averaging over 40 points per game this series, and he's been the best passer on the floor as well. In Game 2 James recorded a triple double with an outstanding 11 assists. The Warriors starting five had 10 total assists in Game 2. The Cavaliers are also playing great despite the fact that Kevin Love is out. Tristan Thompson has been a monster on the boards with 13 offensive rebounds in the first two games.
The Warriors are down, but not out. Coach Steve Kerr has to find another defensive scheme to use against James, because this just isn't working. Curry can't equal the output of James, and if James continues to score about 40 points per game, this series is over. If the Warriors can win one of the next two games in Cleveland, they will take back control of the series and home court advantage. Losing both games and trailing 3-1 would put them in an almost impossible comeback situation.
Curry will have to stop rushing early shots and use more of the shot clock moving forward. Trusting his teammates will also be paramount if the Warriors are going to bounce back and win it all.
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