Tonight is Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The game will tip off at 8:00 PM EST on ABC in Oakland, California. After trailing 1-3, the Cleveland Cavaliers have found a way to win two straight games thanks to Draymond Green getting suspended for Game 5 and also thanks to LeBron James' back-to-back 40+ point games, a feat only done in the NBA Finals by Shaquille O'Neal and Michael Jordan. This series has gone from being one-way traffic for the Warriors to a fierce duel between two of the best teams in the NBA.
If you read my NBA Finals preview on here, you already know that I picked the Warriors to win this series in seven games and I won't change my pick going into tonight's game. I still have the Warriors winning, but I do believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers have what it takes to become the first team to win a Game 7 on the road in the NBA Finals since the Washington Bullets back in 1978. The Bullets won Game 7 in Seattle by a final score of 105-99.
Given the fact that tonight's game is just the fifth Game 7 in the NBA Finals since 1990, I thought it would be appropriate for me to do a quick preview of it by listing five things to look for. This series has had so many twists and turns such that it wouldn't be right of me to leave my initial series preview as the preview for tonight's game, even though a lot of what I said in that preview still applies to tonight's game. The five things to look for are largely predicated on what has happened since I wrote my initial preview.
#1. Look for Cleveland to pound it inside: Andrew Bogut is out for the rest of the series due to a sprained left knee that he sustained in Game 5 on Monday night. Without the big Aussie on the floor for Golden State, Cleveland would be smart to pound it inside and try to win by controlling the boards. Tristan Thompson had 9 rebounds after the first quarter of Game 6 and finished with 16 rebounds to go along with 15 points. If Tristan Thompson has another monstrous performance on the glass tonight, the Warriors will be in trouble.
#2. The first quarter will be huge: What lost the Warriors Game 6 wasn't the officiating or Ayesha Curry's father getting mistaken for a guy who sneaks into major sporting events. What lost the Warriors Game 6 was putting up only 11 points in the first quarter while allowing the Cavaliers to score 31. If the Warriors come out hot and in control to start the game, that will be a very good sign for them. If on the other hand, they come out cold and Cleveland is controlling the boards and getting easy buckets in transition, things will definitely be in favor of the Cavaliers.
#3. Draymond Green has to play big: 8 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists isn't exactly the type of performance the Warriors needed out of Draymond Green in Game 6. A big reason for why we are at a Game 7 is because Draymond Green was stupid enough to commit a flagrant 1 foul which triggered his suspension. Because Draymond Green contributed to getting the Warriors in this position, it is his responsibility to do whatever he can get them out of it. If Draymond Green plays big and the Warriors win, he'll have saved his skin from a ton of criticism. If on the other hand he lets his emotions derail his performance and the Warriors lose, he'll be the one who takes most of the blame for the Warriors losing this series.
#4. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have to deliver: With Kevin Love not showing up, the Cavaliers need LeBron James and Kyrie Irving to deliver the goods tonight. LeBron James needs to put up around 40 points and Kyrie Irving has to be in that same neighborhood. LeBron has to take it upon himself to will his team to victory and Kyrie Irving has to take it upon himself to be the one to help LeBron James out in terms of scoring. Tristan Thompson will do his thing on defense and on the boards, but he can't be relied upon to get points. That has to be up to Kyrie Irving.
#5. Role players need to step up on both sides: For the Cleveland Cavaliers, they need guys like Kevin Love (Yes, he has become more of a role player), J.R. Smith, Channing Frye, and Matthew Dellavedova to step up and give LeBron James whatever help they can. As for the Warriors the main role player they need to step up his Harrison Barnes. He has made 2 of his last 12 uncontested shots and he scored 0 points in Game 6. If Harrison Barnes and Andre Iguodala aren't able to give the Warriors much, then it will be up to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green to have sensational performances.
Conclusion: I think what will decide tonight's game is which team is able to dictate the tempo and play the style of basketball that they want to play. If the Warriors come out splashing threes from beyond the arc and are playing relaxed and loose, they'll be in great shape. If on the other hand, the Warriors are clanging threes and LeBron James is scoring at will while getting the help he needs from Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers will win instead. Like I said earlier, I still have the Warriors winning tonight's game by a final score of 104-100. I think it will be a close game, but the Warriors will find a way to come up big at home. I have a hard time believing that the Warriors will drop three straight games with two of those games being on their home floor.
As far as what's at stake tonight, the Warriors are playing to be considered the greatest team ever. If they win 73 games en route to an NBA title, it'll be hard to say that they're not the greatest team ever. If they lose, they'll go down as perhaps the biggest disappointment in NBA history. Coming back from 1-3 to win the Western Conference crown to only blow a 3-1 lead in the finals would be beyond disappointing.
In regards to the Cavaliers, LeBron James is once again playing to silence his haters, which for no good reason still exist. If the Cleveland Cavaliers become the first team since 1978 to win a Game 7 on the road in the NBA Finals and the first team to ever come back from a 1-3 hole in the NBA Finals, LeBron James will truly elevate himself into the same class as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Oscar Robertson, and even Michael Jordan. If on the other hand, the Cavaliers lose, there will once again be questions about LeBron James' ability to lead a team to a title without having Dwyane Wade by his side. It's tough, but that's how it goes when you get to this level.
No comments:
Post a Comment