Improvements For Cavs To Win Game 7

The Cleveland Cavaliers have forced a Game 7, after a Game 6 spearheaded by LeBron James, having a sensational performance in route to a second straight 41 point game. With that dominant performance, there is still much to improve on.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have to get back to their execution in suffocating Stephen Curry. Though his kryptonite is foul trouble, and in the Finals he’s been way less than stellar most of the time, Curry is still undoubtedly the greatest shooter ever. There should never be a time he’s getting loose and hitting multiple threes. There were times in Game 6 when the game should have been put away, but instead a barrage of threes cut into the lead. In the first half, Curry had 16 points but more importantly he helped trim a 20 point lead to single digits within the quarter.
Finding a way to lessen Iman Shumpert‘s minutes while remaining effective defensively will be an adjustment to consider. I love Shumpert’s energy, defense, rebounding and top bun. Yet, he’s the only Cavalier playing minutes who is playing as of the game hasn’t slowed down for him mentally. He doesn’t make great decisions or play with a controlled pace and has been responsible for the offense falling apart at times, stopping all momentum for the Cavs. Not in Game 7, I hope.
Going into the bench worked as Mo Williams and Dahntay Jones combined for 9 points in the first half. Williams might be spotted consistently because of Dellavedova’s fatigue or ineffectiveness. Jones may hear his number called again after a terrific performance in Game 6, it stopped the Warriors momentum going into the half. In the last game of the season, it’s possible Tyronn Lue plays sharpshooting veterans James Jones, Channing Frye, or big man Timofey Mozgov before garbage time.
Finding Kevin Love from beyond the line. Though Love will get his mismatches against Harrison Barnes in the post, his shooting from the perimeter is what matters. After the onslaught of the rim in Andrew Bogut‘s absence, I expect the Warriors to try to pack the paint. Rather than go against double or triple teams down on the block, Love should loosen up the defense by going to work from three. However, besides Love, the other Cavs need to find success from deep as well after every Cav not named LeBron, Kyrie, or JR missed all of their attempts from three.
Not leaving so much weight on LeBron’s shoulders. Besides the possibility the Warriors will want to get the ball out LeBron’s hands as much as possible, and the unfair expectation to ask LeBron to drop 40+ points again, this team is much harder to defeat when all of the players are rolling in some way. In the last two games, James has received a fair amount of help. He’ll carry the load, but a 20 point scorer here, and great team defense and execution that leads to easy points, will be sorely needed in this final matchup against the Golden State Warriors.

The five issues that were present in Game 6 were masked by the Golden State Warriors lack of defensive fortitude and LeBron James all-around greatness to the tune of 41 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks, and one turnover while shooting 16-27 from the field and 3-6 from beyond the line and holding his man scoreless, whoever they were (0-7). To bring a championship to Cleveland, the Cavaliers will have to improve upon these five keys in Game 7.