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Cavs Vs Warriors: 5 Standout Stats From Game 1

By Omar Josef Guerrero

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Game 1 of the Cavs Vs Warriors is finally history and it ended with the Golden State Warriors outlasting the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-100 in overtime. The Cavs had a chance to win it in regulation but LeBron James’ contested shot from the left side clanged off the rim and into the hands of Iman Shumpert who also missed an attempt as time expired.

The Cavs will look at this game as an opportunity missed and the loss hurts even more as the overtime period cost them Kyrie Irving, who injured his knee. Irving played a superb game scoring 23 points, with seven rebounds, six assists, four steals, and two blocks on Steph Curry including a spectacular one after recovering from a blow by from the League MVP. Now, the Cavs are looking at the possibility that the young guard will be out for the rest of the series if MRI results show a significant damage to the knee.

The Warriors bench also outscored the Cavs’ 34 to 9 with J.R. Smith accounting for all nine points. The final score doesn’t show it but the game was so close that by the end of the fourth quarter, both Cleveland and Golden State made the same number of field goals, free throws, and threes. It was the overtime period that separated both teams, however, and that’s where Cavs Vs. Warriors Game 1 went to GSW. Let’s check out the stats to find out more.

1. LeBron James: 44 Points, 8 Rebounds, 6 Assists, 18-38 FGs The King had a monster game, finishing with a career-high for the Finals and taking his most shots ever in the loss to the Warriors. He is the fourth active player to score at least 40 points in the Finals joining Dwyane Wade with two, Kobe Bryant (1), and Russell Westbrook (1).

Despite the lofty number, LeBron’s primary defender, Andre Iguodala did a superb job of defending him. This was especially true during the waning seconds of the fourth quarter as he forced James to take a tough fall away jumper which he missed. James scored on only two of his 12 field goal attempts when he wasn’t assisted on a shot and 4-of-14 overall against Iguodala. Versus the other Warriors defenders, he was an efficient 12-for-22.

Furthermore, according to Elias, LeBron “is the fifth player to score 40 or more points in a regular-season game and then do it again against the same opponent in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.” Others to achieve the same feat are “George Mikan, Minneapolis vs. Washington (1948-49); Jerry West, Los Angeles vs. Boston (1965-66); Allen Iverson, Philadelphia vs. Lakers (2000-01); and Kobe Bryant, Lakers vs. Orlando (2008-09).”

Jun 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) handles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) during the fourth quarter in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

More than any other game I have ever seen, LeBron was going to the low post and scoring at an incredible pace as the Warriors refused to double team him. Coach Steve Kerr decided that he will live with LeBron’s makes in the post rather than get the shooters going and his gamble paid off. James would gladly exchange every one of his career-high point total for a win.

2. Stephen Curry: 28 Points, 8 Assists, 4 Rebounds, 2 Steals, 10-20 FGs

Curry’s stat line may not stand out compared to LeBron’s, but he was, nonetheless, effective.

Jun 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The shooting touch was evident even though the Cavs defended him well from the perimeter, limiting his three-point shooting to 2-for-6. His baskets from late in the fourth quarter and free-throws in overtime showed that Curry was made for the big stage. So much for first game jitters. Steph was the Baby Faced Assassin indeed.

3. OVERTIME SHOOTING: CAVS: 1-9 FGs, 0-0 FTs; WARRIORS: 1-3 FGs, 7-8 FTs

When was the last time you saw a game wherein two teams combined for only one field goal each in overtime? Maybe never.

We don’t have those stats but the Cavs didn’t help themselves by shooting no free throws in the extra period as well. That lone basket from James in the final seconds was a gimme and kept the team from going scoreless in OT. The Warriors didn’t do too well from the field either but they made seven of their eight their free-throw attempts. A three-pointer from the corner by Harrison Barnes was their only basket in OT as well.

4. CAVS: 45 Rebounds; WARRIORS: 48 Rebounds

Yes it’s just a three-rebound difference but whoever wins the boards wins the game especially in the Finals.

Whenever the Cavs won the battle of the boards they won every single time this postseason. During the Cavs’ run to the Finals, they won all 12 games where they were tied with or outrebounded their opponent. The bigger the rebounding margin, the bigger the winning margin. Their two losses came at the hands of the Bulls who outrebounded them both times.

During the Cavs’ run to the Finals, they won all 12 games where they were tied with or outrebounded their opponent.

In the first quarter, the Cavs led by 14 points due in large part to their edge on the glass with Thompson grabbing six early rebounds. That all disappeared as soon as the Warriors made it a point to go to the boards more. The battle cry is clear for the Cavs in Game 2—No Rebounds No Rings (as Pat Riley so eloquently put it in the 80’s).

5. CAVS: 9-31 (29%) 3Pt FGs, 13-19 (68.4%) FTs; WARRIORS: 10-27 (37.0%) 3Pt FGs; 20-22 (90.9%) FTs

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The Cavs limited the Warriors’ shooting from the three-point line somewhat but they still shot better from three and from the line overall.

The winning margin in this game is eight points. The Warriors made seven more free throws and one more three-pointer which accounted for the game’s winning margin. Both teams made an equal number of field goals (39), but the home team’s efficiency is what spelled the difference. With a very slim margin for error in the Finals, every point counts and Golden State made sure they took advantage of their opportunities.

Did I miss out on an important stat? What gave the win to Golden State in your opinion?