The wait for Game 7 is nearly over, and hopefully, Cleveland’s long and storied title drought is as well. Here is how the Cavaliers can make that dream a reality:
STEP 1: GIVE THE SPLASH BROTHERS A ‘BIGGEST LOSER’ WORKOUT
In the last 3 games, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have put up point totals of 38 and 25, 25 and 37, and 30 and 25. That’s an gam average of 60 points. The Cavaliers, however, won two of those 3 games (shooting themselves in the foot in game 4).
The key is Cleveland making the Splash Brothers burn serious calories to get their points. The Cavaliers have greatly limited any easy inside scoring (especially for Curry), while also contesting three-point shots. Thus, Thompson, who shot 47% during the regular season, is down to 44.1% in the Finals. And Curry has dropped from 50.4% all the way down to 41.9%.
And the energy that duo has had to spend on the offensive end has definitely hurt them defensively.
STEP 2: BALL AND BODY MOVEMENT ON OFFENSE
I have talked about this several times during the playoff run, including this article…
Obviously, LeBron James’ return to world domination has sparked this surprising Cavalier comeback. But his performance has been greatly aided by good ball and body movement by his teammates. Even in the times when he is in isolation ball mode, the players off the ball are cutting and setting screens for each other at times to occupy the help defense. That either creates more open lanes for LBJ, or more open shooters for James to find as the help defense scrambles towards the LeBron locomotive.
STEP 3: KEEP THE BARNES DOOR CLOSED AND THE MEAN OUT OF GREEN
In games 1 through 4, Harrison Barnes averaged 12.5 points on 51.3% shooting (20 for 39). In the next two games, he has averaged 2.5 points, shooting an abysmal 9.1% (2 for 22).
Draymond Green averaged 22 points in the first two games, shooting 51.6%. Since then, he is averaging 7.7 points on 33% shooting.
With those two struggling and Andre Iquodala’s sore back, Golden State’s vast arsenal has become mostly a 2-man show. If Cleveland can force Barnes and Green into some early misses, that rim will start looking as small as a shot glass.
STEP 4: KEEP THE WARRIOR STORMS FROM BECOMING HURRICANES
The Warriors are going to go on some 9-0 runs. They are just too good offensively. Cleveland can’t allow those to grow to the 29-8 and 29-9 runs of games 1 and 2. They can do that by…
STEP 5: FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE, NOT THE STANKY LEG
The Cavs need to have answers offensively when the Warriors get hot. Cleveland has gotten in trouble when their reply is the stand around and watch offense.
STEP 6: TRIUMPH IN TRANSITION
In these last 2 wins, Cleveland has outscored the high-flying Warriors 47-19 in fast break points. A great effort on defense has helped put that LBJ Locomotive on a downhill track.
If the Wine and Gold can follow that simple plan, the will graduate to…
STEP 7: WEAR PROPER FITTING GOGGLES TO AVOID EYE IRRITATION FROM ANY WAYWARD CHAMPAGNE.
Follow on twitter: @macaljancic