NBA Finals Game 3Series: Tied at 1-1When: Tuesday, June 9Where: Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OhioTime: 9 p. m. ETChannel: ABCLive Stream: WatchESPNPreview and PredictionPredicting what may unfold in the ensuing games of the NBA Finals will require a look back to Game 2, what Cleveland did right and what Golden State must do to combat the Cavaliers' new approach. As expected, the Cavaliers leaned heavily on James upon the absence of Irving. However, we saw a far different LeBron in Game 2 as opposed to Game 1 of the Finals.
Adande of ESPN. com:If you're looking for us to play sexy, cute basketball, that's not us right now. Everything is tough. We're going to come in with an aggressive mindset defensively and offensively. It has to be that for the rest of the series, no matter how many games it takes. The slower pace of the game had an obvious effect on Golden State's offense. Used to running the length of the court and winning shootouts, Cleveland's change of pace threw the Warriors off their rhythm. This led to the Dubs shooting just 39. 8 percent from the floor, as Curry hit just five of 23 attempts for 19 points. Nathaniel S.
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The King's efforts appeared to inspire his teammates, as Timofey Mozgov took control of the interior on the offensive end of the court, and Tristan Thompson served as a force down low on defense, accumulating 14 rebounds and helping the Cavaliers hold a 55-45 advantage in that department. After the game, James put it best during a press conference, via J. A.
Butler/Getty ImagesGolden State's biggest issue going forward will be relying too heavily on three-pointers. Yes, the team has a bevy of playmakers with great range; however, while the team is struggling to find its rhythm, attempting to win with a barrage of shots from downtown just won't cut it. That was evident in Game 2, as the Warriors attempted 35 shots from behind the arc, connecting on just eight.
Warriors vs. Cavaliers: Game 3 Date, Live Stream Schedule, Start Time and PickEric Risberg/Associated PressWe couldn't have asked for a better start to the NBA Finals. The duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were too much for the Cleveland Cavaliers to handle in Game 1, as the Golden State Warriors went on to secure a 108-100 overtime victory despite 44 points from LeBron James.
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In the first game, James put up 44 points in the team's high-octane offense but accumulated just six assists. Conversely, in Game 2, he notched 39 points but added 16 rebounds and 11 assists for a triple-double. The Game 2 version of James was far scarier than the Game 1 version—even if he bucketed just 11 of 35 attempts from the floor. This is because he's no longer just a shooter. James is now acting in the best interests of his team by facilitating, defending and rebounding with more authority.
Unfortunately for Cleveland, coming up short in the game wasn't the team's biggest loss. Kyrie Irving suffered a fractured kneecap, which forced the star point guard into surgery. Without Irving in the mix for the remainder of the series, many pundits began to write off the Cavaliers. Although, coach David Blatt, James and Co. had a different idea. The team switched tactics in Game 2, slowing down the pace and taking high-percentage shots while allowing less time on offense for Golden State. The strategy worked to perfection, as Cleveland gutted out a 95-93 overtime win.
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