On Martin Luther King Day, the Golden State Warriors sent a strong message to the Cleveland Cavaliers, crushing the defending champions 126-91. After falling to the Cavaliers 109-108 on Christmas Day, the Warriors struck back in commanding fashion, reminding the Cavaliers that at the moment, the road to the 2017 NBA championship goes through Oakland and not Cleveland.
The Warriors' supreme excellence was on full display as they controlled the glass 58-35 and shot 50.5% from the field while holding the Cavaliers to 35.2% shooting from the field. The Warriors played elite level basketball on both ends of the floor and it showed in the final result. Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson all had 20+ points while Draymond Green finished with another triple-double consisting of 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists while LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love combined for 30.2% shooting from the field.
The Warriors are seen as an offensive juggernaut that loves to play at a fast tempo, but the reality is that they are so much more than that. They are a multi-dimensional basketball team that is capable of destroying teams on both ends of the floor due to their athleticism, talent, and versatility. Klay Thompson, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are all elite shooters while Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala are some of the best defenders in the game today. Such a combination of offensive potency and stellar defense has rarely been seen in NBA history, which is why the Warriors are 35-6, on pace to win 70 games.
The one play that everyone is talking about is a flagrant 1 foul that was called on Draymond Green in the second quarter. LeBron James was driving down the court and Draymond Green bumped him at half court. LeBron James sold the call by flopping, which caused Warriors fans to freak out and complain about LeBron James getting superstar treatment. Having watched the play myself, it is clear that Draymond Green committed a flagrant foul and it's also clear that LeBron James helped to sell the call. Draymond Green wanted to send a message to LeBron James and he succeeded by getting the flagrant 1 foul.
On NBA TV, Rick Fox said the Warriors needed to win big and I think he's right. The Warriors had to bounce back convincingly from the Christmas Day loss and give off the impression that winning in Oakland will be no easy task come June. While the Warriors still have the entire Western Conference playoffs and about half of the regular season to go before the NBA Finals, it is still important for them to send a message to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Warriors know that should they reach the NBA Finals for a third consecutive time, the Cavaliers will likely be the team waiting for them. The Warriors want to give themselves as much of a mental advantage as possible by clinching home court and holding serve at home against the Cavaliers this season.
At the moment, the Warriors have the edge over the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have the better record and had the more convincing win on their home floor. While there is still tons of basketball to be played, Monday's game will definitely linger in the minds of both teams until/should they meet again in June. What's perhaps most amazing is that despite playing in different conferences, these two teams are forming one of the most fun and exciting rivalries in NBA history. I certainly would like to see both of these teams have a rubber match in June. That would be thrilling entertainment.
To connect with NBA Lord on Twitter, click here.
To connect with NBA Lord on Facebook, click here.
To connect with NBA Lord on Google Plus, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment