Can the Cleveland Cavaliers be historic?
The 2016 NBA Finals have taken a turn. After a dynamic 30 point blowout on the Cleveland Cavaliers home floor in Game 3, the Golden State Warriors held the Cavaliers to just 20 points in the 4th quarter to take Game 4 108-97 – taking the series to 3-1 in the Warriors favor.
We saw Kevin Love return – off the bench – and play 24 minutes amassing 11 points and 7 rebounds. The one thing he just hasn’t been able to affect is the defensive side of the floor. This is not saying Love has been lazy or taking possessions off, but his defense is not efficient against the faster, smaller Warriors.
The main problem is this series is that the smothering defense of the Warriors has plagued LeBron James in the paint and taken away his layup and dunks in the paint. Regardless, James still managed to amass nearly a triple-double scoring 25 points, snagging 13 rebounds and tallying 9 assists.
Many Cavs fan have asked: “Can LeBron take-over a game vs. the Warriors and their switching defense?
The Cavaliers now face a historic comeback that has never been done in NBA history – coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. It has been attempted 32 times in past NBA Finals, and yet has yet to be accomplished.
But things took on a different light today, when Warriors Forward/Center Draymond Green had his foul – part of a double foul called during an altercation in which Green hit James in the groin – upgraded to a Flagrant 1, putting Green over the number of Flagrant fouls in a years playoffs and thus resulted in being suspended for Game 5. James foul on the play was also upgraded – his to a Technical foul.
So this sets up a scenario where the Warriors must play Game 5 without Green – potentially altering the advantage the Warriors have with home court for Game 5.
The Cavaliers will still have to do something that has not been done in two years to the Warriors – win three straight games.
Will LeBron be able to move freely in the paint without Green’s presence? Maybe. But the advantage only stands for one game. The Cavaliers will still need to beat the Warriors two games in a row after Game 5 (assuming they take Game 5).
Will the Cavaliers find the antidote for the Warriors position-less, switching defense? Warriors Forward Andre Iguodala has played excellent defense against James. The Cavaliers need to find a rotation that takes advantage of the Warriors smaller, faster team. Maybe going big, using Timofey Mozgov could help protect the paint and open up the game to driving lay-ups – a Cavaliers staple.
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
The one thing everyone in the NBA has learned during the OKC vs. Warriors Western Conference Finals battle was that the Warriors struggle with a dynamic, athletic Center to guard (Such as Steve Adams). Is Mozgov another Adams? Unfortunately no. But, maybe he can help divert the positionless team to play a big such as Bogut/Ezeli/Varejao.
With everything on the line in Game 5, Tyronn Lue and his coaching staff needs to make an adjustment. The only thing that will matter is defending, as we have seen that out-scoring the Warriors with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson hitting three’s is nearly impossible.
This is where LeBron and his size and athleticism can take-over a game. With LeBron at Power-Forward and Mozgov in at Center, James could literally take over the paint and help the team get back at the Warriors – at the Oracle arena – and take the series to 3-2.
Can the Cavaliers find the recipe to be historic? If James can play like he did in last years Finals for the final three games, we could possibly see something historic in a Finals comeback for the ages!