Cleveland Breaks Record for First Win of the Series
The Cleveland Cavaliers destroy Golden State 137-116 for their first win of the series. The Cavs score a NBA Finals record 86 points in the first half and finish the game shooting 53% from the field. Kyrie Irving lead Cleveland in scoring with his second career 40 point game in the finals. LeBron James continues his triple-double pace with 31 points 11 assist and 10 rebounds. Kevin Durant finished with 35 points while Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both struggled, shooting a combined 6-19 from 3 point range. The 21-point defeat is the first loss for the Warriors since April 10th.
It's about time Cleveland show up to these finals. I knew LeBron and company were too good to get swept. 24 -45 from 3 point range as a team? That's how a team that is facing elimination supposed to play. The Cavaliers were way more physical than the previous 3 games. More importantly, the role players for Cleveland decided to score the ball. J.R. Smith was on fire, making 5 threes, including one from almost half court. Tristan Thompson reached double-digit rebounds for the first time this series. And Kevin Love got off to a hot start scoring 14 points in the first quarter.
Because of the situation in Cleveland as far as LeBron being the leader of the team, I sometimes forget that Kyrie Irving was drafted number 1 overall and in Game 4 he played like one. From tip off Irving was in total control of this game. Klay Thompson has been playing great defense this series but Kyrie was on a mission. Not only was he scoring the ball but Kyrie was doing something I rarely see him do and that control the pace of the game. Usually LeBron controls the pace of the game with this half court sets, but at the rate Cleveland was shooting threes, that was more so Kyrie's style of play.
A lot of speculation has came up about the officiating in Game 4 as far as the amount of fouls that were called on Golden State. Well, what did you expect? Officials always favor the home team, especially when they are down 3-0 in a series. Not only that but the fact that Cleveland made 24 three pointers lets me know that they came ready to play. Can't rig that up.
Cleveland were the more aggressive team in Game 4 and if they want to make this comeback a reality they will have to take that same intensity on the road. Don't know how many times Stephen Curry will shoot 2-9 from three, but we all know if anyone can come back down 3-1 its the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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| Kyrie Irving shot 56% from the field in the Game 4 win (cnn.com) |
It's about time Cleveland show up to these finals. I knew LeBron and company were too good to get swept. 24 -45 from 3 point range as a team? That's how a team that is facing elimination supposed to play. The Cavaliers were way more physical than the previous 3 games. More importantly, the role players for Cleveland decided to score the ball. J.R. Smith was on fire, making 5 threes, including one from almost half court. Tristan Thompson reached double-digit rebounds for the first time this series. And Kevin Love got off to a hot start scoring 14 points in the first quarter.
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| Durant and James exchange words in the 3rd quarter (latimes.com) |
A lot of speculation has came up about the officiating in Game 4 as far as the amount of fouls that were called on Golden State. Well, what did you expect? Officials always favor the home team, especially when they are down 3-0 in a series. Not only that but the fact that Cleveland made 24 three pointers lets me know that they came ready to play. Can't rig that up.
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| LeBron James records his NBA Finals record 9th triple-double (bleacherreport.com) |
Cleveland were the more aggressive team in Game 4 and if they want to make this comeback a reality they will have to take that same intensity on the road. Don't know how many times Stephen Curry will shoot 2-9 from three, but we all know if anyone can come back down 3-1 its the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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