NBA Finals: 5 reasons Cavaliers will win Game 7

Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the fourth quarter with guard J.R. Smith (5) against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jun 16, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) reacts after his slam dunk in the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game six of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 115-101. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Tristan Thompson

While all the focus of the Cavaliers’ comeback has been on what LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have been doing, one quiet change has put the team back in the series and may be just as important to their success.

In the three games that the Cavaliers have won this series, Tristan Thompson has been a catalyst down low for getting them where they need to be. Often maligned for his contract, Thompson has proven to be worth every penny in this series and if they can pull it off, there won’t be a word spoken about it again.

It hasn’t just been his ability to crash the boards and protect the rim for the Cavaliers that’s been so key. He’s been getting out on defense on ball screens when Stephen Curry has the ball, which has prevented the Warriors from running pick-n-roll situations on the floor, along with suffocating a good portion of their offensive sets.

It’s a lot like what Oklahoma City did against the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals and Thompson has done a tremendous job of doing his role. If they are going to win Game 7, Thompson is going to have to be a defensive sieve for them yet again.

Next: 4. All the pressure is on Golden State

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