Klay Thompson (left) and Stephen Curry (right) combined for 11 three-pointers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. |
By: Lamar "L.A" Smith
One win left to go. One win and the Bay Area will be having another championship parade. One win and history will be complete.
Three years ago Mark Jackson former coach of the Golden State Warriors called Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson "the greatest shooting backcourt of all-time". Many analysts thought the praise was premature. Every year Curry and Thompson make Jackson's statement harder to deny.
Before Game 4 in Quicken Loans Arena the Splash Bros struggled mightily. The two players known to toss up shots which seemed to find the bottom of the net with uncanny regularity were on a uncharacteristic cold streak. Game 4 came and everything went back to normal. Curry put up 38 points and Thompson put up 25 points to combine for 63 points.
The Warriors backcourt showed up and so did the team's defense as well. Golden State held the Cavaliers to 97 points including a stretch where the Cavs went almost seven minutes without making a shot. Warriors also held the Cavs to 24 percent shooting from three-point range too. Cleveland made 12 out of 25 threes in Game 3 though, only made 6 out of 25 threes in Game 4.
The Splash Bros combined for 11 made three-pointers to help lead the Warriors to a NBA Finals record for threes made by a team with 17. Golden State also became the first team in NBA Finals history to make more threes (17) than twos (16).
Curry and Thompson were given a lot of flack for the duo's lackluster performances through the first three games of the Finals.
All questions about the duo's play was answered during Game 4 in Cleveland. Every time Cleveland went on a run the Splash Bros seemed to have an answer. The All-Star backcourt made plays on offense and defense and for other players.
Cleveland unraveled down the stretch. The team's best offensive players in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving took 33 out of the Cavs 38 shots in the second half. The isolation heavy basketball destroyed Cleveland down the stretch.
Golden State's defense though not as potent still finished top five in the league in points per possession allowed. Therefore, one-on-one heavy offenses will not beat the Warriors. Ball movement and player movement is a must to score on the Warriors consistently.
Tonight is Game 5 at "Roarcle" Arena in Oakland and the real story is how will the Warriors play without the team's emotional leader Draymond Green.
The most logical option by the Warriors is to place sixth man and last year's Finals MVP Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup. Iguodala does not have some of Green's size and weight but is a capable defender and just as strong of a facilitator.
NBA officials did not act with transparency during this matter and gave every NBA conspiracy theorist in the world reason to believe Green's suspension was a travesty. Green gave Steven Adams a Chuck Norris judo front kick to the groin which looked intentional and was never suspended. The call was upgraded to a Flagrant 2.
Green's squabble with LeBron was blown entirely out of proportion. People perceive Green as being "dirty" due to his antics in the Warriors series vs the Oklahoma City Thunder. Green did commit some questionable actions vs the Thunder but, you cannot reprimand him for previous actions. James and Green's altercation did not warrant a Flagrant foul at all.
James blew the altercation out of proportion in his press conference after Game 4 referring to feeling disrespected and rubbed the wrong way by Green's comments. NBA officials admitted everything including post game interviews went into Green's suspension.
This is not "The Land" anymore. The Cavaliers are coming into the Warriors house. Green will be missed but the energy in the arena will be at an all-time high. Green will be missed but the energy coming from being at home should help fill some of the void.
Everyone on the Warriors roster will be focused tonight after Green one of the team's three All-Stars was wrongfully suspended in the eyes of many. A win tonight would be dedicated to Green. Golden State has a "next man up" team philosophy so, one should not be surprised by the performance of any of the role players.
An angry Warriors team should be feared. The Cavs will be desperate facing elimination but Green's suspension only adds motivation for the seemly inevitable coronation of the Baby-faced Assassin, his Splash Brother and the rest of a riled up Warriors squad.
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