RSS
Game 4: Warriors at Cavs
GAME 4
NBA FINALS
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (2-2) 103, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (2-2) 82
Quicken Loans Arena
Thursday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: ABC
1. The Cavaliers might be in trouble. The Warriors made the first major adjustment in the series, and changed the whole complexion of the NBA Finals. Coach Steve Kerr went small with his starting lineup, and the Cavs didn't adjust to it all night. OK, they did when they moved out to a 7-0 lead, but then things got ugly.
2. What the move did was spread the floor. It gave them open looks at the 3-point line. It gave them driving lanes. The Cavs appeared to be in scramble mode on defense the whole night. The Warriors got open looks. They created mismatches all over the floor. The Cavs kept their big men on the floor, but it created mismatches like 7-1 Timofey Mozgov covering 6-6 Andre Iguodala.
3. Warriors guard Stephen Curry is finally playing like the league's MVP. He had 22 points and six assists. He made 4 of 7 from the 3-point line. Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova wasn't nearly as effective on the defensive end as he was in the previous games. Curry got a bit physical with Delly, as well. The Warriors put their foot down. There were tired of being pushed around by the Cavs. They battled. They fought. Draymond Green likened it to a street fight.
4. That great defense by the Cavs wasn't there in Game 4. The Warriors shot 47 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line. The Cavs limited them to 97.3 points per game in the first three games. They averaged a league-high 110 during the regular season.
5. The Cavs proved they can't win unless LeBron James has a huge game. Twenty points, 12 rebounds and eight assists won't get it done. They also proved they can't keep the Warriors in check unless James is on the court. He sat out the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, and Golden State immediately left them in the dust. Game, set, match.
6. James got stitches in his head after ramming into the camera on the sideline. He wouldn't say how many he got, however. It gave him a headache. "It's the same kind you'd get if any of you ran into a camera," he said.
7. Timofey Mozgov's 28 points were the most by a Cavs center in the playoffs since Brad Daugherty in 1992. Daugherty had 40 points and 16 rebounds vs. New Jersey. Mozgov was quite good, but the Warriors knew he couldn't beat them by himself.
8. Everyone has been waiting for J.R. Smith to have a good game. They are still waiting. He had four points in Game 4. He was 2 of 12 from the field and 0 of 8 from the 3-point line. How would you assess your game in the NBA Finals? "Horse(bleep)," Smith said.
UP NEXT: Game 5, NBA Finals, at Oakland, Oracle Arena, June 14, 8 p.m.
STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Andre Iguodala (6-6, 215)
NBA FINALS
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (2-2) 103, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (2-2) 82
Quicken Loans Arena
Thursday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: ABC
1. The Cavaliers might be in trouble. The Warriors made the first major adjustment in the series, and changed the whole complexion of the NBA Finals. Coach Steve Kerr went small with his starting lineup, and the Cavs didn't adjust to it all night. OK, they did when they moved out to a 7-0 lead, but then things got ugly.
2. What the move did was spread the floor. It gave them open looks at the 3-point line. It gave them driving lanes. The Cavs appeared to be in scramble mode on defense the whole night. The Warriors got open looks. They created mismatches all over the floor. The Cavs kept their big men on the floor, but it created mismatches like 7-1 Timofey Mozgov covering 6-6 Andre Iguodala.
3. Warriors guard Stephen Curry is finally playing like the league's MVP. He had 22 points and six assists. He made 4 of 7 from the 3-point line. Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova wasn't nearly as effective on the defensive end as he was in the previous games. Curry got a bit physical with Delly, as well. The Warriors put their foot down. There were tired of being pushed around by the Cavs. They battled. They fought. Draymond Green likened it to a street fight.
4. That great defense by the Cavs wasn't there in Game 4. The Warriors shot 47 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line. The Cavs limited them to 97.3 points per game in the first three games. They averaged a league-high 110 during the regular season.
5. The Cavs proved they can't win unless LeBron James has a huge game. Twenty points, 12 rebounds and eight assists won't get it done. They also proved they can't keep the Warriors in check unless James is on the court. He sat out the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, and Golden State immediately left them in the dust. Game, set, match.
6. James got stitches in his head after ramming into the camera on the sideline. He wouldn't say how many he got, however. It gave him a headache. "It's the same kind you'd get if any of you ran into a camera," he said.
7. Timofey Mozgov's 28 points were the most by a Cavs center in the playoffs since Brad Daugherty in 1992. Daugherty had 40 points and 16 rebounds vs. New Jersey. Mozgov was quite good, but the Warriors knew he couldn't beat them by himself.
8. Everyone has been waiting for J.R. Smith to have a good game. They are still waiting. He had four points in Game 4. He was 2 of 12 from the field and 0 of 8 from the 3-point line. How would you assess your game in the NBA Finals? "Horse(bleep)," Smith said.
UP NEXT: Game 5, NBA Finals, at Oakland, Oracle Arena, June 14, 8 p.m.
STARTERS
SF LeBron James (6-8, 250) vs. Andre Iguodala (6-6, 215)
PF Tristan Thompson (6-10, 238) vs. Harrison Barnes (6-8, 225)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Draymond Green (6-7, 230)
SG Iman Shumpert (6-5, 220) vs. Klay Thompson (6-7, 215)
C Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 250) vs. Draymond Green (6-7, 230)
SG Iman Shumpert (6-5, 220) vs. Klay Thompson (6-7, 215)
PG Matthew Dellavedova (6-4, 200) vs. Stephen Curry (6-3, 190)
INACTIVE LIST
Cavs - C Anderson Varejao, F Kevin Love
Warriors - C Ognjen Kuzmic, G Brandon Rush
OFFICIALS
Joe Crawford, Mike Callahan, Ken Mauer
Warriors - C Ognjen Kuzmic, G Brandon Rush
OFFICIALS
Joe Crawford, Mike Callahan, Ken Mauer
posted by Anonymous at
4:42 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home