3 Takeaways from the Cleveland Cavaliers Narrow Victory over the Warriors on Christmas

Offensive Rebounding Was Crucial.

Look at the box score and you’ll see that the Golden State Warriors had 5 offensive rebounds as a team. Tristan Thompson, who had 8 total rebounds, had 6 offensive rebounds himself. LeBron James had 5 offensive rebounds. Irving and Iman Shumpert each had 3 offensive rebounds.

That’s the type of rebounding you need to put up enough points to defeat a high-octane team such as the Warriors when you’re missing your starting shooting guard, your opponent’s length on the perimeter is affecting your own effectiveness and you’re shooting 38.9 percent from the field.

Make no mistake about it, although the Cavs won, the win was as ugly as Irving’s game-winning shot was glorious. That James had 5 offensive rebounds was due to his own misses around the rim and his determination to get the rebound and put the ball in the basket while smudged between blue jerseys.

Thompson’s 6 offensive rebounds had a lot to do with shots from Irving, Shumpert and Jefferson that would either clang off the rim or barely scrape the edge of it.

Without the focus on offensive rebounding, a job made easier when Javale McGee is off the floor and the lumbering Zaza Pachulia or undersized Draymond Green is at center. The Cavs, namely Shumpert, won’t always have games where they shoot this badly. However, now they know a way they can overcome offensive inefficiency and still emerge victorious.