Golden State Warriors: 5 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors
Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) and forward Andre Iguodala (9) celebrate against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 132-113, in Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals. As the series begins to unfold, adjustments, trends and new questions regarding each start to emerge.
As the 2017 NBA Finals shift to Cleveland, the parallels to last year's series are both increasing and diverging.
The Golden State Warriors are again up 2-0, winning both opening home games in blowout fashion. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are again struggling early, and a lot has to change for the Cavaliers to get back into the series.
This time, though, Stephen Curry is dominating. Kevin Durant is better than Harrison Barnes. Cleveland actually got better, rather than worse, in Game 2, but was still demolished.
Those differences, as well as similarities, helped inform our Game 2 takeaways.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
1. Cavaliers defended the way they have to
After giving up 113 points in Game 1, the Cavs allowed 132 in Game 2. Yet their defensive game plan, and execution, was far better.
The Warriors turned the ball over four times in Game 1. It doesn't matter that they shot 42.5 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from deep; they shot the ball 106 times. That's how they scored 113 points.
In Game 2, they only shot the ball 89 times. After not recording a single steal in Game 1, the Cavs' defenders swarmed, double-teamed and trapped early, anticipating cross-court passes and playing with fire. They forced 20 turnovers (15 steals), and kept the game close until midway through the third quarter.
That the Warriors scored 132 points is simply a result of their undeniable talent. After an ice-cold Game 1, Klay Thompson went 8-for-12 (4-for-7 from three) in Game 2. Draymond Green was 3-for-6 from deep. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry each added four 3s, many of which were of the deep, contested variety.
If the Warriors get hot, they are unstoppable. And if Cleveland takes its foot off the gas, as it did in the second half of this game, it has no chance. But it showed signs of defending the way it needs to moving forward.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball past Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
2. Kevin Durant outplaying LeBron James
Early on, it looked like James was going to steal this game for the Cavs. After a lackadaisical defensive effort in Game 1, James returned to his role as a help-defense rover. His increased energy helped turn the Warriors over, and he was a monster in transition. He upped his halfcourt aggression as well, blowing through multiple layers of defenders and setting up teammates.
He entered halftime with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 10 assists, two steals and only three turnovers. Cleveland was down just three points (67-64), and he was a +6.
He couldn't repeat the performance in the second half. By the end, he had not only fallen short of stealing the game, but been outplayed overall by Durant for the second straight outing.
The comparison is unfair. James has been to seven straight finals, and almost singlehandedly carried his team to the last four. Durant is younger, with less miles, and carried far less of a load this season.
None of that changes the fact that Durant is outplaying James.
He may have had the best defensive game of his career. He blocked five shots in just about every way imaginable—at the rim, against iso post-ups, as a help defender, on the drive and on a jumper—and added three steals and 13 boards. With Green in foul trouble all night, Durant took it upon himself to lead the defense. He also scored a game-high 33 points on 13-of-22 shooting.
James has excuses. His teammates are worse and his body is more worn down. Curry also had excuses in the 2016 NBA Finals, but it didn't change the fact that Kyrie Irving outplayed him. Durant is doing the same to James this year.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) dunks against Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
3. Cavs beating themselves in battle of the bigs
The Warriors' bigs match up poorly with Cleveland. Tristan Thompson can obliterate JaVale McGee and David West on the glass. Zaza Pachulia's lack of offense allows the Cavs to play more aggressive help defense, and none of the three are particularly good against the pick-and-roll (West is the best and McGee the worst).
However, the Warriors can counter Cleveland's bigs by going small. Rather than pitting his team's strength against that of his opponent, Tyronn Lue has generally conceded his frontcourt advantage thus far. Thompson has played only 43 minutes total through two games.
In fact, in a desperate attempt to get more speed and firepower on the floor, Lue opted for James-at-center lineups when Love rested in the second half. Those lineups may have fared better if Deron Williams, Iman Shumpert, Kyle Korver and and J.R. Smith didn't combine to go 3-of-17 from the field, but there are other more inherent problems with the Cavs amping up their small game.
For example, Irving, Williams and Korver are awful at defense. Secondly, the Warriors wings are huge, and guys like Shaun Livingston, Klay Thompson and of course Durant can dominate Cleveland's wings in the post.
Most importantly, Tristan Thompson is Cleveland's fourth-best player. If he can't play in Lue's mind, what is his team's path to competing with Golden State's superstar-studded small units?
Golden State Warriors
Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) is defended by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
4. Curry key defensively…
Klay Thompson allows Curry to hide on defense. Because of this, Curry will never be considered an elite two-way player, and rightly so.
However, his reputation as a guy who can just help off bad players and come up with cheap steals sells him short. Curry rarely pays for his gambles, which is the sign of a good gambler. He rarely gets beat off the dribble, battles hard in the post and is an elite rebounder at his size.
In Game 2, he had eight defensive boards (10 total) and shut down J.R. Smith just as he did in Game 1. When he was switched onto Irving, he contained him, and his hands were active in passing lanes (though he was only credited with one steal).
Curry will never be a stopper, but his defensive impact is relevant. If Irving dug in on both ends the way Curry does, for example, this would be a more competitive series thus far.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 4, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half in game two of the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
5. …and has a point to prove on offense
Curry's love of humiliating defenders may be inconspicuous, but it is nothing new. A master in the arts of shooting, dribbling and passing, Curry has made a habit of adding something extra to what could be simple plays. Sometimes, his flair has utility (and sometimes futility, but we won't talk about that). Other times, it is purely for show.
In these Finals, a third reason appears to be at play: redemption. Curry may say he simply wants to win to erase the feeling of last year, but he wants to rid himself, and his image, of demons beyond a blown 3-1 lead.
No player has ever risen to the pinnacle and fallen as fast as Curry. He was the most bulletproof superstar since Michael Jordan, until he was suddenly turned on by those who had built him up, feeling as though they been defrauded. The reason? One subpar playoff series.
Curry may not need that adoration back, but he clearly wants to prove people wrong. Why else would he be so adamant to drive on the guy who shut him down in Game 7, or to embarrass the guy who screamed on him in Game 6? Because he can, certainly, but also because he wants people to know he can. And that he could have last year, too.
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