Cleveland Cavaliers: What To Do Against The Golden State Warriors

Step One: Face-Guard Stephen Curry Fullcourt

Are there “The Curry Rules”? Yes. If you want to win as easily as possible, the most explosive player has to be the first priority and, even though Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson are explosive players, neither are as explosive as Stephen Curry. Why? Because Curry has unlimited range and the ball-handling ability to get anywhere on the court. Because Curry’s preferred shot is worth more points than any other shot and he hits them at a rate similar to the how many post-ups the best big men hit. It’s also because Curry is an intelligent player who is one of the two floor generals (in the starting unit) responsible for setting up the rest of the team.

Thompson isn’t throwing passes to himself. Draymond Green isn’t going to be pulling up for many shots. Durant is as efficient as he is now because he’s being passed to more than he’s ever been in his career.

With all that said, Iman Shumpert isn’t the player to guard Curry if he’s going to let things like this happen all game:

This is an example of Shumpert letting Curry get the ball and do whatever he wanted. Sure, Curry missed. Yet, Shumpert gave Curry so much space to shoot it’s as if he read the scoring report and thought that he was playing Seth Curry not Steph Curry.

Want to know how a great shooter gets in rhythm? Getting the chance to shoot shots like he’s at practice. That’s why there’s a thought that free throws help players get in a rhythm. “Seeing the ball go through the net” is, for players, confirmation that their form, touch and stroke is right. To win, Curry can’t be allowed to feel that way.

Face-guarding Curry, because of the amount of points he scores and contributes to, would be the best option for the Cavs. Shumpert may start again but DeAndre Liggins did a much better job against Curry on Christmas Day than Shumpert did on Monday night. It was a night and day difference, with Shumpert giving Curry the chance to shine and regain confidence that it seemed like he was losing in the Cavs four-game win streak. When J.R. Smith comes back, he’ll likely have the burst to keep up with the best guards in the league because he’ll still be able to condition as he rehabs from thumb surgery. In addition, the time he needs to recover from the surgery will allow him rest and rejuvenate his whole body.

He’ll be the best option for the Cavs to have both a high-octane offense and above-average defense.