NBA Finals: 3 questions for Game 2
By Ian Levy
1. Who blinks first in the NBA Finals?
Between the struggles of Curry and Thompson, and the offensive stagnation for Cleveland, neither team was really themselves in Game 1 (although you could argue that adaptability is exactly what Golden State does best). Both teams will likely begin Game 2 with the same basic plan of attack that they used in Game 1.
At some point adversity is going to rear it’s ugly head for one or both teams and adjustments are going to be called for. If Kevin Love’s defense gives way, will Tyronn Lue shave his minutes and lean more on Channing Frye (who played just seven minutes in Game 1)? If Tristan Thompson’s work on the offensive glass keys a big run, will Steve Kerr be forced to up the minutes for Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli? Does Lue trust the Dellavedova-Shumpert-Jefferson-LeBron-Frye unit that steamrolled Toronto but played just one minute together in Game 1? What does Kerr have up his sleeve if J.R. Smith cuts loose and starts raining in threes?
We saw very little lever-pulling by either coach in Game 1, both seeming content to let it ride. As we get deeper into the series, both staffs will have to start tweaking their plans trying to close down holes and exploit those that are showing up on the other side.
This series is about to go from checkers to chess, and tonight we should begin to see which coach is really a move ahead.
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