The Cleveland Cavaliers have the keys to beat the Golden State Warriors.
The key to mastering any material is grasping its concept. Its intricacies. There are ways to go about this. In laymen’s terms, firstly you either grasp the concept easily and intuitively or not. If not, the process is more frustrating, more methodical.
There’s trial and error, largely the process by which the Cavs have been trying to solve. Having made progress in accomplishing that task, the results weren’t there. The Warriors were rolling, their talents confounding. The Cavaliers dropped two straight and put themselves in a position to have to go at least six games, maybe seven, with the heavy-handed Warriors.
Love was concussed and though disappointing, it was a fortuitous circumstance that allowed Lue to show a stroke of genius that confounded the Warriors. In that game, they began attacking Stephen Curry. Jefferson and LeBron played their roles expertly. Jefferson as a less dynamic LeBron and LeBron as a more dynamic Love.
It made the Cavs realize they only need Kyrie, LeBron, JR and TT, and somebody who could make quick decisions that benefitted the team. They played solid on-ball defense and contesting every shot possible. It sounds like a lot, but it’s what Love’s role was in Game 5.
Kyrie, the renegade that he is, played that role exceptionally and outplayed the two-time MVP on both sides of the ball. Kyrie realized, or at least believes himself, he’s better than Stephen Curry. That’s the way he’s played in the last three games and a big reason the Cavs are competitive.
Love’s role, or lack thereof, became defined. It’s actually very Blatt-like. However, because the OKC Thunder showed the basketball world that the Warriors lack of size can get exposed in the paint and on the glass, he plays a more integral role than some think. His ability to score down low will be needed in some measure.
The mismatch in size and aggression in attacking the rim, leads to fouls and offensive rebounds that slow down the pace, create easy points, and extra time for the Cavs to score. With this, they keep the ball out the Warriors hands and for the Warriors to defend.
It’s very plain to see that LeBron matches up better with Draymond defensively than any other Cavs player. Kyrie and JR play their main assignments well. Thompson is priceless because he can switch and guard guards and centers.
The fifth starting spot is going to whoever is the most valuable at that time, whether offense or defense. Iman Shumpert, Richard Jefferson, who are great defenders, or Kevin Love, who is a playmaker from the elbow and can score all over the court. He is a good player, though, he doesn’t always play like it. Then again, neither has the reigning MVP in this series. Perhaps we’re overreacting?
Basically, Draymond Green is the Warriors skeleton. He holds them all together. Defense is what really matters for championships.
After Game 5, Draymond is the piece they can visualize his importance as a skeleton by what the organs lacked without him. I believe they’ve discovered his importance. They’ve seen the intricacies of the concept that he brings them after finally playing a game against them in which he didn’t play. They now know how to beat the Warriors. It’s not about neutralizing them all at the same time.
It is about neutralizing Curry by exposing him defensively. It is about neutralizing Green’s defense by LeBron taking him one-on-one. It is about the Cavs playing spectacular defense against the Warriors bench.
Draymond matters because of his rim protection, on-ball defense, playmaking and catch and shoot ability. LeBron for his part, should trust his teammates when guarded by Green as a sign of respect, but also take him to the rim from the perimeter with his advantage in speed, strength and explosion, not the post.
As he learned in Game 6 against Iguodala, he’s more successful on drives at the rim when operating from further out. Undoubtedly, he can score from the post against the right matchups. Against Draymond he shouldn’t try to shoot over him if he wants to be efficient. A quick fake and drive or an off-the-dribble attack? The point-forward will get sprayed, laid, and slayed by The King.
When a center is in for the Warriors, LeBron or Kyrie will take them. Anybody will try to score on Curry. If he’s in foul trouble or getting beat repeatedly he’s taken out by Kerr and when he does the Warriors offense suffers in place of the defense. While remembering to attack Draymond from the perimeter, JR primarily is doing what he can against Klay, who finally had a very good game with 37 points. However, he was almost completely ineffective in the second half after going of for 26 in the first.
They’ll take advantage of Barnes defensively as well to cushion their lead and they’ll do it with Kevin Love, Richard Jefferson, or Iman Shumpert making quick beneficial decisions, playing their roles on him and others to disrupt the flow of the Warriors offense.
Defensively, they could look to trap Draymond as a ball-handler instead of Curry. Draymond is the more dynamic playmaker. Kyrie has shown he can stay with Curry and a trap of Love, Jefferson, LeBron or Thompson will leave Green attempting a pass a long defender.
This often leaves JR and LeBron or Thompson, who log large portions of the minutes and are long defenders, to cover a lot of hardwood and create turnovers. When Green is out and a center or player who allows for small ball is in, the game is much simpler man-to-man. The defense doesn’t have to worry about his ability thwarting their efforts to contain the ball movement as much and can create more on-ball turnovers.
This series is going to be made by the series’ top two superstars. It’ll be a battle of wills, but also a test of the Cleveland Cavaliers understanding of the concept that is Draymond Green.
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