Warriors spoil an epic LeBron performance with Game 1 win
By Ben Ladner
The most decisive playoff games often occur later in series. The difference in a 2-2 split and a decisive 3-1 lead hinges on Game 4. Game 6 is often the first time a team must stave off elimination. The allure of Game 7 speaks for itself. The 2018 NBA Finals nearly swung on Game 1. The Warriors are so heavily favored in this series as to make a six- or seven-game series feel like an upset, even in victory, and Cleveland nearly tipped this Finals series on its head from the start.
Instead, the Cavaliers dropped Game 1, 124-114, in a most excruciating fashion. In perhaps the most captivating game of the playoffs, nearly every major player met or exceeded expectations. Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson all had efficient scoring nights while Draymond Green contributed the type of stat line that has come to epitomize his game. LeBron James put up one of the greatest Finals performances in history with 51 points, eight rebounds and eight assists on a mere 32 shots. An all-time game, spoiled by untimely missed shots and mental lapses.
This felt like Cleveland’s opportunity. James may not play a better game than this one over the remainder of the series. The Warriors have more talent and more room to adjust and improve over the course of a series. All of which begs the question of whether Cleveland will get a better opportunity than this one.
Any sort of improvement will have to come from its role players. Kevin Love struggled from deep all game. George Hill was largely anonymous. An uptick in shooting percentage – and in Hill’s case, shot attempts – would theoretically provide an offensive boost. The Cavaliers’ wing depth was a massive question mark heading into this series, and the first half of Game 1 was something of a mixed bag. Jordan Clarkson, the first guard Tyronn Lue went to off the bench, played 17 minutes and provided little help as a scorer, playmaker or defender. Kyle Korver, Cleveland’s third-best player in the playoffs – didn’t see the floor in the first quarter (though in fairness to Lue, Semi Ojeleye didn’t play in the first quarter either).
That balance probably needs to tilt more toward Korver for Cleveland to have enough offensive juice in this series. He was absent for virtually all of crunch time in favor of J.R. Smith, who shot just 3-of-10 with two turnovers. The defensive limitations Korver creates against the Warriors are obvious, but his offensive value might be worth the cost on the other end. Cleveland made just 10 of its 37 3-point attempts Thursday night, and only three of those looks came from Korver. Part of that is due to Golden State’s extra concern for where Korver is on the floor at all times. Still, James generated plenty of catch-and-shoot 3s all night. Redistribute more those shots to Korver, and perhaps the Cavaliers have the firepower to win in regulation.
A dose of Rodney Hood or Cedi Osman in Clarkson’s spot might even be useful in Game 2 (that is not a good sign for Cleveland).
All that, and Cleveland stayed above water with its non-LeBron James starters on the bench. The four players Lue used off the bench were a combined plus-16 and mostly provided defensive energy or shot-making. Larry Nance Jr. scored nine points and gobbled up 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes while mostly holding his own against the Warriors’ relentless attack. Jeff Green, despite shooting 1-of-6 from 3-point range, was at times a useful piece of connective tissue in different lineups.
All of the holes that nearly caused Cleveland to sink in the regular season are still there, thinly patched by James’ brilliance and a more consistent effort across the board. The Cavaliers are trying harder on defense, but their lack of great defensive habits and personnel make them vulnerable to multiple offensive efforts. Golden State will poke at those spots until they find one that gives, at which point James may no longer be able to patch his team up. With patience, discipline and ball-movement, the Warriors will get good shots; Game 1 was as much a feel-out game for them as the Cavs’ opening bout against Boston weeks ago.
The start of the second half suggested that Golden State might have had Cleveland figured out, and had all the makings of one of a patented third-quarter run. Durant settled into a groove early in the frame while Draymond Green anchored a stringy defensive run. JaVale McGee, who started the second half for Kevon Looney, morphed into a two-way dynamo and sparked a 10-3 run with energetic play before reverting back to prior form.
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These are the sorts of bursts that can turn nail-biters into blowouts and splinter teams – especially ones as emotionally fragile as the Cavaliers have proven to be at times. But once again, the power of a fully-engaged James transcended what might have been crippling obstacles for 29 other teams. He made Cleveland’s next six buckets as the Cavs pulled back within reach of Golden State. But Cleveland could not weather that storm a second time as the Warriors, in typical fashion, simply had more left in the tank down the stretch. James hit a dry spell in overtime, and a corresponding drought from the rest of the Cavaliers held Cleveland to only seven points in the final five minutes. Green and Thompson both splashed triples, and the outcome was sealed.
The nature of the Cavaliers’ roster doesn’t afford them the ability to alleviate much of the burden from James’ shoulders. He has to be good enough to succeed with and in spite of a cast full of deeply flawed players. All playoffs long, James has tested the bounds of what one man can do, pushing further with each passing round. To fully answer the premise, he’ll have to do something truly unprecedented.