One way the Cavs hope to make Game 2 a little closer is by being more physical than they were in Game 2.
As ESPN’s Dave McMenamin writes, by getting more physical in Game 2, they hope
to get Tristan Thompson playing at his best:
“I’m all physicality,” Thompson said. “I’m not a jump-shooter. I’m not a ball
handler. I’m a guy that plays hard, is physical and brings all energy. So that’s
what it’s about. It’s the Finals.”
In Thursday’s opener, Thompson finished well below his playoff average of 8.9
boards per game. As a team, the Cavs were only able to corral 15 offensive
rebounds off their 56 missed shots.
“There were opportunities, but they did a good job boxing me out,” Thompson
said. “They did a good of sending, whether it was Zaza [Pachulia] or [Javale]
McGee, with another guard, sending two guys to box me out. That’s their game
plan, to keep me off the glass and limit us to one shot. The bigs are wrestling
down there, and I’m going to keep wrestling down there and get me some offensive
rebounds.”
Thompson added that even if he cannot secure rebounds in Game 2, he has to focus
on at least getting in position to potentially tip the loose ball out to a
teammate so he can get the rebound and retain the possession. Without Thompson
hoarding extra possessions and the Warriors’ defense holding Cleveland to just
34.9 percent shooting with 20 turnovers, the Cavs failed to crack the 100-point
mark for the first time all postseason.
Thompson said he will continue to crash the glass before worrying about
retreating back on defense, even though Golden State outscored Cleveland 27-9 in
fastbreak situations in Game 1.
“I feel that part of our offense is me getting offensive rebounds and creating
second opportunities for them,” Thompson said. “I’m not going to stop doing
that. That’s what I bring to the table. But if I hit the glass and don’t get it,
I have to make sure that I sprint back.”
Simply put, Thompson is putting himself on the line for Game 2.
“Tomorrow I got to be better, play better and just be extra active,” he said.
“You come out and play well in Game 2, everybody will forget about Game 1. So,
that’s how I look at it.”
