To win the NBA Championship each team needs something special to happen. Will it?
Keys for the Cavs
The obvious answer for the Cavs is Lebron James. If LeBron can get going, he’s unstoppable … blah, blah, blah. You’ve read the same thing for the last week!
I think a lot of sports writers have missed a significant factor when it comes to James. During Games 3 and 4 against the Celtics this year, the outcome had less to do with LeBron being a star and more about the officials calling a fair game.
The refs allowed players to be physical with James. He couldn’t be his normal running-back-traveling-shoulder- dropping self. So in Game 3 he went 4 of 13 from the field. In Game 4 James wasn’t able to dictate the game. Yes, he scored 34 points, but it took 27 shots.
Understand that I’m not anti-LeBron. I’m just saying that the Finals could very well be determined by officiating. James will always get his points, but if the Warriors can make his stat line inefficient, then he could score 100 points, ‘Lamelo-ball style,’ and still come up short.
To offset the possibility the refs may allow the Warriors to be physical with James, the Cavs need Kyrie Irving to be large.
The Cavs need Irving’s defense as much as they need his offense.
How so? What makes Golden State so dangerous is their ability to move the ball inside the Multiple Triangle-Motion High Offense. They tie in a pick-and-roll in their half court sets. Kyrie will be responsible for shutting down Curry. If Curry is allowed to facilitate with any on-ball pressure (because the Cavs are concerned of his scoring ability), then it will be a long series for the Cavs.
That’s no easy assignment. Curry went off in Game 4 of the Western Finals against the Spurs. His stat line included 36 points on 58% shooting with 5 rebounds and 6 assists. But if Irving can shut him down, we may be looking at the Cavaliers being listed as the Series favorites by Game 2.
Keys for the Warriors
It starts with Kevin Durant. Though a newcomer to this team, KD has made his mark as one of the most dominant scorers in the game. I’ve argued for a while that he’s pound-for-pound the best basketball player I’ve seen in a very long while.
Durant brings multiple skills to the game–much more than “I’m stronger than you, so let me drive the lane and dunk” game. KD can be a cerebral assassin. He can make even the best of coaches stay up at night trying to figure out how to interfere with his game.
For Golden State the keys are for the ‘pretty boys’ to be pretty and for the bruisers to do what they have to do.
Unfortunately for every team–and the Cavs in these Finals–the Warriors are finally jelling. And it came not a moment too soon, I might add. If KD brings that scoring mindset he’ll have captured his first ring … and he will have done so with ease.
But the Warriors also need “Dirty Work” done. That assignment is for JaVale McGee and Matt Barnes. They need to drag LeBron into ‘The Frustration Zone’ with trash talk and physicality. LeBron has never had to play against a team that gives him 100% physical fits. That means fouling him on easy lay-ups and issuing paybacks after dunks.
If the Warriors’ big’s can channel a little bit of that old-school Detroit Pistons basketball, not only will Isaiah Thomas be proud, but they will have taken the Great Shark of the NBA into the shallows.
When the dust the settles, the crown will be theirs once again. Golden State will be more than “so-called champs.”
Your articles are excellent, and I’m sure your book is as well. Best wishes.