The Golden State Warriors have won the chaotic start to the finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In decisive situations they benefited from their class, but also from their opponent’s luck and inadequacies. Steve Kerr’s gameplan should change in game 2.
At the Warriors’ press conference after the wild overtime victory in game 1, one phrase fell particularly frequently: “We were lucky.”
This already started in the initial phase. In a Warriors transition, J.R. Smith wanted to intercept a pass on Klay Thompson, but slipped and into his opponent’s legs. Thompson’s leg and knee twisted violently, with a pain-distorted face he went to the floor and shortly afterwards into the Locker Room.
“That was a frightening play,” said coach Steve Kerr afterwards. “It looked bad. But he came back, and he met some of his clay threesomes. “That’s when I knew he was okay.” The Splash Brother sunk two of the aforementioned “clay threesomes” in overtime, deciding the game. That he hadn’t hurt himself more severely resembled a little miracle just after the replays – lucky, the first one.
Let’s jump into the crunchtime of regular playtime. 40 seconds before the end the dubs were 102:104 behind, the Oracle Arena was shocked and immobilized. Kevin Durant wanted to straighten it out and went to the basket. LeBron James stood in his way and forced the offensive foul – or not.
After a video review the refs changed the call into a blocking foul against LeBron, KD got free throws. He met both of them. The procedure of the referees was completely rule-compliant (here’s the explanation), but nevertheless controversial. The Cavs were angry, the Warriors were lucky for the second time.
A few seconds later, they suddenly looked like the winner after Curry’s three-point game took the Dubs 23 seconds before the end with 107:106. In counter-attack by the Cavs, however, they renounced a George Hill backdoor cut that had to be held by Thompson. Foul, two free throws.
What happened then was almost legendary. Hill met the first and rejected the second (lucky for the third time). However, Kevin Durant did not box out J.R. Smith, who got the rebound – but instead of looking for a throw at 4 seconds on the clock to win the game, he dribbled back to the midline. Time was running out, the Warriors rubbed their eyes in wonder at their new happiness.
Kerr analysed: “I was disappointed that we didn’t get the rebound. Then we were very lucky. He could have thrown, but he was dribbling down time. I guess he thought it was a tie.” Smith later denied this, but I don’t think anyone believed him.
Meanwhile, Draymond Green took it upon himself to make a joke: “He was probably looking for LeBron and that’s why he was dribbling around. And I’m telling you: I would’ve looked for LeBron if I were him.”
So, after a total of four happy situations for the Dubs, it went into overtime – and there they finally celebrated their dreaded Warriors basketball, which they had previously at least missed in the defense.
With 17:7 they dominated the extra minutes, scored 3/3 threes and a total of 5/6 throws from the field. They quickly switched to the front, after forcing difficult throws, completed the transition, electrified the crowd.
They certainly benefited from LeBron’s tiredness, which showed human traits and seemed flat. After his unbelievable 49 points in the regular season, only 2 more were added – who can blame him after a demoralizing end.
The dominance in extra time also gave Kerr the realization that his surprising move to give four classic Big Men seasons was not necessarily successful. Of course, at the beginning of the second half JaVale McGee had an impact on an important run with his energy and even his own points.
But over the whole game he, Kevon Looney, David West and Jordan Bell lost out over the Cavs Big Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson. Neither could they convince in the Helpside against LeBron, nor arrange the rebound duel halfway balanced.
So it was no wonder that in the Overtime Livingston there was Looney in the starting lineup and up to 2 seconds the garbage time also went over the full distance.
Without Andre Iguodala, it had already become clear in the course of the games that the Warriors are still the most dangerous in this way and without a real fiver. The developments of the wild game 1 could now be an indication that Kerr’s rotation will shrink again and two Big Men will collect DNPs again.
If this should be the first lesson, then the second one is: Nobody should underestimate the Cavs. What had not been said about the finals – how should this team around LeBron have any chance? How could there be a short series?
Kerr never understood these discussions: “We’re playing against a great team. It’s the finals. How can you think it’ll be easy? It won’t be. Just like us, they’re playing in the finals four times in a row.”
Game 1 proved the 52-year-old right: it will be anything but a sure-fire game against a team in which there is a player who now seems to be beyond the bounds of what is individually possible.
But Game 1 also showed something else: It’s not enough to do a lot right against the reigning champion. No, you also need the necessary amount of luck – and this was the big favourite for this year’s title in the decisive moments.