Jun 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) passes the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) during overtime in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s not cute at all,” said LeBron James after the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 95-93 overtime win over the Golden State Warriors. “If you’re looking for us to play sexy, cute basketball, then that’s not us. That’s not us right now. Everything is tough.”
-== 5 Reasons Why the Warriors Will Beat the Cavaliers ==-
If the game is tough for the Cavaliers, how must the Warriors feel?
Stephen Curry, the Most Valuable Player in the midst of a dream season, had the worst game of his career: 5-for-23 shooting (2-for-15 from beyond the arc), 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and six turnovers. Just days after Kyrie Irving sustained a season-ending fractured left kneecap, the Cavaliers weren’t just seen as underdogs, but as merely a means to a predictable end.
With Matthew Dellavedova starting in Irving’s place, the road to the Warriors’ first championship in 40 years was supposed to be that much easier. But, even after the absence of now two All-Star, maximum contract players, the Cavaliers found a way to do the impossible: win on the road at the most hostile environment in the league.
“It happens to everybody,” said head coach Steve Kerr. “Whether you’re the MVP or a role player. Sometimes the shots don’t go in. Sometimes things don’t go your way.”
June 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
While both Kerr and Curry attributed the MVP’s off night to simply missing shots, James had a vastly different one: “It had everything to do with Delly,” said the four-time MVP and two-time champion. The second-year guard from St. Mary’s played masterful defense on Curry, who didn’t help himself by taking numerous quick, early jumpers and missing his usual array of looks.
“I doubt this will happen again,” said a confident Curry following the game. “With the adjustments I’ll make once I’ll look at the film. And like I said, one game is not going to make me stop shooting or alter my confidence at all.”
While Dellavedova isn’t near the talent Irving is, he makes the Cavaliers a different team, and not necessarily in a bad way. Irving isn’t a gritty defender like Dellavedova is, and while Irving can certainly score in a plethora of ways, Game 2 showed why it’s the Aussie’s defense that his team needs more than more isolation situations with Irving.
As James stated, the Cavaliers don’t care for how they win, just the final result. Now, playing a team – and more specifically, a backcourt – that doesn’t enjoy to get roughed up, this series is suddenly playing right into the Cavaliers’ style and pace.
Two things can be equally true: Dellavedova played superior defense to Irving while Curry also missed the usual batch of looks he gets on a game-by-game basis. The MVP looked out of it, frustrated and befuddled for the first time since the Memphis series. Whether this game was an anomaly or another dud in the midst of ill-timed slump (33 percent since his fall in Houston), his teams needs him back.
Despite an impressive performance from Klay Thompson – 34 points on 14-for-28 shooting, five rebounds and two assists – the Warriors never found any type of rhythm, which has become a concerning trend this postseason. Little ball movement, early attempts in the shot clock and only 16 assists on the night plagued the usually potent Golden State attack.
“We played great defense, man,” said Thompson. “It’s just we’ve got to play better on the offensive end and trust each other. It’s nobody’s fault. It’s a team effort, and we’ll bounce back. We’ve been in this position before.”
June 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Someone who has been in this position before is LeBron James, who said following Game 1’s 44-point performance that he needed to play better for his team to win. He did just that in Game 2, totaling 39 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists in 45 minutes. Never the one to shoot a ton, this was more like it for James.
“It’s what needs to be done to help our team win, said James. “Am I going to be in the 30s every game or things of that nature? I’m not sure. I would not like to. But if that’s what the case has to be to help us win, then I don’t have a choice.”
Yet despite Curry’s horrid night and James’ dominance, the Warriors still had a chance to win. After Draymond Green entered as center in the Warriors’ lethal small lineup, the team closed the final 3:12 of the game on a 15-4 run. James had yet another chance to hit the game-winner with the last possession, choosing to attack instead of his patented step-back, but similar results followed.
The Warriors didn’t mind another overtime considering their dominance in a similar situation in Game 1. But, this period was different, with teams trading baskets and eventually getting out-hustled by, who else, Dellavedova, who rebounded a James miss with 10.1 seconds left, proceeding to get fouled and hitting the free throws that followed to put his team ahead 94-93.
In a sequence that perfectly summed up Curry’s night, the MVP had Dallevedova on the left wing in an isolation situation, only to airball the attempt. Just seconds later, after James splits free throws to keep it a two-point game, Curry dribbled the ball up the sideline only to have it stolen by Iman Shumpert.
It was a fitting end to an otherwise forgettable game from everyone on the team not named Klay Thompson. The Warriors now head to Cleveland, who will be hosting their first Finals game since 2007. The crowd will be raucous and thrilled to host a Finals series up for grabs at 1-1. The Cavaliers now have the momentum, and it’s the Warriors who now must respond to the doubters.
“Yeah, my first Finals appearance and my first Finals loss, so it’s definitely tough,” said Curry. “Dealing with the emotions of it and the highs and lows of this game, you try to leave it on the floor because it’s a long series and you know we can come back Game 3 and really take control of the series right back.”
The Warriors are hoping they do just that.