Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Defense Wins Championships



The Cleveland Cavaliers are dominating the Warriors on the offensive glass and Matthew  Dellavedova  and his marvelously coached crew have completely shut down the leagues MVP Stephen Curry.

As I watch the Cavaliers offensive flurry currently in the third quarter of tonight's game, it's clear the Cavs will win the series in five games. Their defense has Curry at a whopping five points with less than three minutes remaining in the 3rd, now it's a 17 point lead as Curry has made a 3-pointer giving him eight points toward the close of the 3rd period.

The commercial break has started for the 4th, and the Warriors are getting waxed 72-55 and for the second straight game against the tenacious defense of Cleveland, the Warriors have failed to score 60 or more points by the end of the 3rd. First time in 100 games the Warriors have had less than 60 points entering the 4th quarter.

Cleveland has Golden State hanging their heads, it's over. Despite the Warriors current 5-0 run to begin the 4th it's still a 12 point deficit. Andre Iguodala just made a 3-pointer to make it a nine point game with 9:52. Hmm, the first two games of this series did go into over-time and the Warriors furious come back in game two fell short, but game two also looked like a Cleveland blow-out in regulation.



Klay Thompson I feel is still over rated, he's only had three maybe four good games in the playoffs thus far as the Warriors are 13-4 in this illustrious final run. For any team to capture an NBA title, both teams bench players need to step up as well as have production from their star players. Harrison Barnes also needs to get going!

Eight point game now, I should stop writing and watch the game more intently. The Brazilian blur, Leandro Barbosa just made it a six point game.

The Warriors need to halt the Cavs offensive rebounds and somehow get Curry going. LeBron James will always do his thang. Remember the King had 44 points in Cleveland's game one loss. 77-74 now after a Curry three! Over seven minutes now.

If J.R. Smith can be stopped from making down town shots as well as Dellavendova, and Thompson steps up to the plate, the Warriors have a shot at victory in Cleveland to regain home-court advantage.
Both teams are playing solid D as they did in game two, the Cavs are just better at 'D' right now. Nice, Curry with a reverse layup for a three point game after being down by 20 points!

Barely over five minutes remaining and it's still a three point game, J. R. Smith missed a three and look out, ally-oop, Dellavedova with a  sweet pass to James, and it's  81-76 Cleveland. Oh, James has a hurt foot, but he'll be fine.

The announcers and refs are not so good, bad calls against both teams and Van Gundy and company say Curry struggled in game two and was struggling the first three quarters, but it's  Cleveland's 'D' shutting down Curry, give  credit were it's due.

Curry makes it a one point game with another three pointer. Dellavedova gets fouled on a made three, wow, maybe a four point play and he completes it, he has 18 points now. Dellavedova could be the dagger in the heart of the Warriors, he's a savage player.

Under two minutes remaining and James nails a three pointer giving Cleveland an 87-80 lead with 1:44 left in regulation.

That's another thing, Draymond Green needs to stop taking long shots and 3,'s he's a defense player, he just missed another long shot, oh wow a five point game after Curry makes another three, 88-83 Cavs lead with under a minuter remaining.



Cavaliers in six games I predict now, they just have a better defense and just know how to get it done. Curry makes another three, too little too late. Still down by four and all Cleveland has to do is make their free throws.

This game is over, the king just got a steal and the Cavs are running away with the game now. The lead will be nine when James makes his free throw and he did. It's a seven point Cav lead and so it goes, a 2-1 series lead for the Cavs and home court advantage now.

Hmm, 18.8 seconds left after Curry nails another three in this quarter, a three point game now, but it's still too late unless the Cavs miss their free throws. Nice, after being down by 20 in the 3rd, the Warriors didn't go down without a fight.

It's official, Cavs win tonight 96-91. Great reality TV, I'm stoked for Thursday's nights game which will also be in Cleveland. ( 6 p.m. on West Coast) Thursday night is a must win for the Warriors, make no mistake about that, win for a 2-2 series tie, or be down 3-1. Changing my mind again, toss a coin as to which teams wins game seven.

Also in the world of sports, the San Francisco Giants rookie pitcher, Chris Heston hurled a no hitter tonight against the New York Mets.