NBA Finals 2015: Cleveland Cavaliers win Game 2, but can they replicate that performance?

The Cleveland Cavaliers put forth a gritty effort to get a win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but was it something they can do again?

The Cleveland Cavaliers were everything they needed to be in Game 2 of the 2015 NBA Finals. They put forth arguably their best defensive effort of the entire season as a team. They stayed tough in overtime even after blowing an 11-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. LeBron James put forth a master-class triple-double to carry his team without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving by his side.

Considering the injury issues for the Cavs, you couldn’t have asked for a better performance from LeBron and company. On both ends of the floor, the team in their current state of affairs looked the best that they could possibly be. The question that they now face is whether or not they’ll be able to deliver like that once again.

The first place you have to look at is how mightily the Cavaliers struggled on the offensive end of the floor. Cleveland shot 32.2 percent from the floor despite getting the victory in Game 2. That’s the only time throughout the entirety of this season and these playoffs that the Cavs have failed to shoot below 33 percent from the floor. While you have to imagine that will improve, you also have to consider that Irving and Love are still out and the improvement may not be that drastic. If the improvement isn’t that drastic, another win with that level of offensive performance is unlikely.

More than that, you have to believe that their defensive output isn’t something that’s going to happen again. Matthew Dellavedova was fantastic guarding Stephen Curry, holding the MVP to 0-for-8 shooting and forcing him into four turnovers while he was the primary defender in the half court. Curry’s 26.1 percent effective field goal percentage was also his worst of all 97 games this season and the 247 career games in which he’s taken more than 15 shots.

However, Curry performing that poorly isn’t something the Cavaliers can expect. They actually should expect the polar opposite, with Curry coming out as a man inspired. His shooting woes in Game 2 clearly rattled him, but there almost surely won’t be a continuation of that into Game 3 and beyond, no matter how the defense performs against him.

As for the defense on the Warriors as a whole, the Cavs held them to mere 22.9 percent shooting from long-range on Sunday night. That’s only the seventh time all year that Golden State has shot below 25 percent from long-range, two of those times coming in their two losses to the Memphis Grizzlies in these playoffs. If that’s any sign, the Warriors won’t be going that cold from deep again.

What also might be forgotten from Game 2 is that the Cavaliers overcame a number of questionable decisions and fouls, especially from J.R. Smith, in key moments to still get the win. If Cleveland shows the same lack of mental toughness, the Warriors won’t allow them to fully get away with it.

The only thing that still looks to be in favor of Cleveland is LeBron. His triple-double was no fluke, even with an abysmal night from an efficiency standpoint. He’s playing like a man who understands the responsibility that is being placed upon him and as if he’s ready to shoulder the load.

Looking at the picture that’s being painted going forward, though, it doesn’t seem like Game 2 is the type of game we’re going to see again this series. Curry and the rest of the Warriors are too talented on both ends of the floor and are too well coached to be shut down offensively like they were in game two again. Moreover, the lack of depth for the Cavs may lessen their effort in the coming week, particularly with only two days rest between games two and three, as well as games three and four.

Game 2 was spirited and refreshing from the Cavaliers. However, don’t expect to see them fight out that kind of win again in this series.

The Cleveland Cavaliers put forth a gritty effort to get a win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but was it something they can do again?

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