Hey, Cavalier fans back home! It’s Austin – here in San Francisco for the biggest game in franchise history. So … what’s happening?
I gotta admit – I’m feeling good about tonight.
Defensively, I think we have a very good idea of what they’re going to do – which is important going up against this team. And as the series has gone one, we’ve discovered that we actually do match up well with them.
The first two games here in Oakland, we looked lost. But I think LeBron guarding Draymond Green has shifted the entire series. And I think we’ve defended their perimeter better than we had early on.
Basically, we’re making them have to make plays instead of rhythm shooting all the time.
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Joe G. has your keys to victory.
Tyronn Lue says it best: You don’t play Golden State, you attack them.
That’s what rest of the league had to realize, and that’s what Oklahoma City brought to light. The Thunder attacked them. And we’re doing the same thing.
You have to make them play the game, grind it out – playoff-style. If you don’t, they’ll run over you because they’re so used to having things their way. But you’re also seeing that when things don’t go their way, they really seem to get out of whack.
Despite a quiet couple games, I think Kevin Love can still make a major impact on Sunday night.
When Kevin’s in the low post, he’s got to go quick. When you get it and bounce-bounce-bounce, you give them too much time to set up and recover. They’re too quick. And when the ball starts moving and finds you, you have to be able to take advantage of it.
Golden State will take you out of your original offense. They force you to be unpredictable. It sounds simple, but you simply must knock the shots down.
Regardless of what people say, hitting your shots is what affects your defense. You want this team taking the ball out of the basket. If you make shots, you’ll be surprised how much better your defense will be, especially against this team.
One guy you never have to worry about is Tristan. Since Game 2, he’s been the most physical player on the floor. He’s been the guy who’s controlled the inside, defending around the rim, setting the tone. He and LeBron have been HUGE in the paint.
To me, getting physical with Golden State takes them out of their rhythm – because it makes them try to be something they’re not.
Again, OKC exposed this part of Golden State in the Western Conference Finals. And as far as tonight goes, a lot of how physical we can be depends on the officiating. If they don’t let the guys play, then you could have trouble with the Warriors.
I’m surprised the bench rotation has shaped up the way it has, because of how certain guys had played in the run-up to the Finals. But I expect it to stay the way it’s been over the past couple games on Sunday night.
In the Playoffs, it’s always about matchups. And that’s going to be key again tonight.
The bench is more aggressive now. I think they were embarrassed by that 45-10 number in Game 1 and I think they all come into the game with a chip on their shoulder. And I think they’re ready to roll now.
As far as a prediction for tonight, it’s hard to say after these six games. It’s not as if a pattern has emerged. But I’m going to say Cavaliers by two possessions in the closest game of the Finals.
And if that’s the case, please keep the party going for when we land in Cleveland on Monday!
