NBA Finals 2017: 5 big questions for Warriors vs. Cavaliers matchup
By John Buhler
2. How will Cleveland go about defending Golden State, period?
Besides temporarily rattling James upstairs, the best thing that the Warriors have going for them is that Cleveland just isn’t very good defensively. While Golden State finished second in defensive efficiency this past regular season, Cleveland was putrid on that end of the floor, finishing 21st in the league.
Opting for great jump shooting on the outside to keep pace with Golden State, Cleveland definitely limited themselves on defense. The Cavaliers have a lot of old dudes that can shoot, but don’t have the lateral quickness or the verticality they once had. Add in that Irving is a sub-par defender and Love is average at best, this could devolve into ugliness defensively for the Cavaliers if Golden State starts making 3s in bunches.
Realistically, the best way for Cleveland to not hemorrhage on transition defense is to be just as lethal as Golden State is offensively when they are on the up-tempo attack. Cleveland must concede to the idea that Golden State is going to massacre them in transition. However, they are nearly as explosive when they are the ones dictating pace in transition.
The best-case scenario for Cleveland to make an impact defensively is to contain Golden State in the halfcourt. Cleveland has the physicality and the rebounding to win defensively at the rim. However, it could turn into a pick your poison conundrum of which sharp-shooter are you going to let destroy you. Last year, Cleveland chose Harrison Barnes to be that guy and it worked out marvelously for the Cavaliers because Barnes was terrible in the Finals. Well, Durant replaces Barnes, so that’s not going to work. Ideally, Cleveland would have to let Green beat them from distance, as Durant, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson will buzzsaw that Cavaliers with wide-open looks from 3.