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Find out the scoop on the CAVS from award-winning sports writer Bob Finnan.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Game 5: Cavs at Warriors

GAME 5
NBA FINALS
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (3-2) 104, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (2-3) 91
Oracle Arena
Sunday
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7, La Mega-FM 97.7
TV: ABC

1. This was actually the Cavaliers' first two-game losing streak in the playoffs. The Warriors want to come to Cleveland and close it out on Tuesday. The Cavs don't want that to happen at The Q, much less anywhere.

2. LeBron James played in beast mode for much of the night: 40 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists and a steal in 45 minutes. However, the Cavs needed more from their supporting cast. Tristan Thompson did have 19 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. They needed more from the others. JR Smith had 14 points, but all were in the first half. Iman Shumpert added 10 points and five rebounds.

3. It looked like Smith was going to have a big night. But he fizzled after halftime when the Cavs needed him most. Once again, the Cavs shot under 40 percent (39.5). They've shot under 40 percent in three games in the series. It's the Cavs that is supposed to have the suffocating defense. In this series, it's been Golden State.

4. The Cavs got outrebounded by the Warriors, 43-37, despite the fact Golden State played small the entire game. The Warriors also had the edge in offensive rebounds, 11-10. It seemed like Golden State got several key offensive rebounds when it mattered most.

5. James' numbers in the series: 36.6 points, 12.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists. He also has two triple-doubles. He could be only the second player to win MVP honors on a losing team - if the Cavs don't win the last two games. The other one was Lakers guard Jerry West in 1969.

6. Warriors forward Andre Iguodala has been downright impressive in this series. Not only is he making James work for everything he gets, he outscored him in Game 4, 22-20. No one was expecting that kind of performance by Iguodala, who flirted with a triple-double himself tonight with 14 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

7. The bald-face lie by Steve Kerr got kind of brushed under the rug before Game 4. He said Andrew Bogut would start, knowing his nose was growing as he said it. He didn't want to tip off the Cavs. I lost respect for him with that stunt.

8. Blatt lengthened his bench for Game 5. He played Mike Miller almost 14 minutes. He had to do that just to get by. He couldn't play all of his players almost 40 minutes ever game.

UP NEXT: Game 6, NBA Finals, at Cleveland, Quicken Loans Arena, June 16, 9 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)
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
Monty McCutchen, James Capers, Jason Phillips

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