Golden State Warriors: 5 takeaways from Game 3 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors
Jun 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35, left) celebrates with guard Stephen Curry (30) against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 118-113 in a classic Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals. The Warriors have taken firm command of this matchup through a combination of talent, tactics and teamwork.
Following the Golden State Warriors' thrilling comeback win in Game 3, Kevin Durant told ABC's Doris Burke that his team had watched film of last year's blitzing in Cleveland.
Much is different now, and the addition of Durant is just one of those things. The Warriors are mentally tougher, hungrier and more in-sync. They have seen the Cavaliers come back from a series deficit before, and they were more prepared for the best Cleveland had to offer.
For the third straight year, the Cavs came out strong in Game 3. They were up 5-0, then 17-13. This time, the Warriors were resilient, and the Cleveland never punched in the signature run that defined its home wins in Finals past. Even as the Cavs went up seven late (102-95), and six later (113-107), the separation never came. That opened the door for what was a fantastic closing stretch, giving the Warriors 118-113 win and a 3-0 lead in the series.
Our Game 3 takeaways focus heavily on the strategic adjustments, and non-adjustments, that are contributing to the Warriors' dominance thus far.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots as Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) defendsduring the fourth quarter in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
5. Warriors winning the switching game
Three games into their third straight Finals matchup, there are no strategic secrets remaining between the Cavaliers and Warriors.
Central to both team's strategies: forcing switches. Getting Kevin Love into the pick-and-roll has long since been Steve Kerr's approach against Cleveland (and why, in Love's absence, the Cavs fared surprisingly well in 2015). Last year, Tyronn Lue adopted a similar approach, forcing Stephen Curry into the action.
Through two games, the Cavs had underutilized the strategy that helped them win the 2016 title. They made a much more concerted effort to get Curry on to LeBron James and Kyrie Irving in Game 3, with mixed results.
When they got the switch, it worked. It was a big part of why James and Irving scored 39 and 38 points apiece, and the deliberate nature of that approach slowed the game to the tempo Cleveland wanted.
However, Golden State has ramped its defense to a higher level than ever in these playoffs. Anticipating Curry's man becoming a screener, the Warriors have been pre-switching, getting Curry as far away from the action as possible. This confuses the Cavs and stalls out their sets, as it did during their scoring drought across the game's final 3:09.
On the other end, the Warriors went at Love (as well as Tristan Thompson) with far more success. James' willingness to switch onto Draymond Green gave Durant several phenomenal looks, especially late in the fourth quarter. The Cavs' lack of off-ball communication (Kyle Korver is exempt from this; he was outstanding) compounded this issue.
The Warriors have superior talent player for player. If they also generate the matchups they want more often, Cleveland is hopeless.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the fourth quarter in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
4. Irving needs to elevate his game beyond tough shot making
Irving had his best game of these Finals by far. That was to be expected after last year's Game 3 breakout, and from a guy with too much talent to be held quiet throughout an entire series.
He still could have been better, though, in ways that go beyond him making even more crazy shots. Irving's unwillingness to move the ball and create for others came back to bite him in three ways.
First, he was 0-of-7 from deep. To go 16-of-21 from inside the arc and only finish with a true-shooting percentage of 60.1 (Curry was 8-of-19, but had a TS percentage of 61.3) is a problem. Part of that is the make-or-miss nature of basketball, but the Warriors do a great job of defending Irving's off-the-dribble threes. If he were to penetrate, kick the ball around, circle back out and look for the swing pass, he'd be a more efficient shooter.
This gets into the second way in which his style of play hurt his team. This Cavs roster is built around James, and therefore is loaded with catch-and-shoot superstars. While Irving's isolation scoring is great, his inability to take full advantage of the roster is troubling. This is true especially when James sits—the Cavs were outscored 11-0 in Game 3 with Irving on and James off.
The third problem manifested itself on arguably the game's most important play (video starts at play below):
Trailing 114-113, Irving took the ball up with 45 seconds remaining. James directed J.R. Smith to go set a ball screen, hoping to get Curry switched onto Irving. Terrific communication between Curry and Andre Iguodala blew up the action, but Irving wasn't concerned with anything but his defender (Klay Thompson) and his target (the rim). He ended up hoisting a step-back three over an outstretched Thompson, which came off the rim with 25 seconds to play. Having squandered a two-for-one, Cleveland had to foul.
The Cavaliers' depth is comparable to that of the Warriors, as is their superstar forward. The biggest difference between these teams is at point guard.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) smiles during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
2. Durant winning MVP battle, but Curry at the center of it all
Irving is not a selfish player, but the result of his play style is the same. This, in contrast to Curry, is the No. 1 reason the Warriors are up 3-0 in this series.
Curry's supreme unselfishness is at the heart of what makes the Warriors great. It's what allowed Kerr to install an egalitarian offense the day he took over, even though he was replacing Curry's beloved coach in Mark Jackson. It allowed Iguodala to win Finals MVP in 2015, or Thompson to take 17 threes in Game 6 against Oklahoma City last year. It allowed Curry to honestly tell Durant he wanted his help last summer, and for Durant to believe him. It allowed Durant to thrive early in the season, at Curry's expense, and allowed Durant to step with confidence into the biggest shot of his career last night.
Another way in which Curry's unselfishness is truly transcendent: He competes extremely hard in non-glory areas of the game, even when he isn't getting his normal amount of shots. In Game 3, he had a game-high 13 rebounds. He also had two steals, including a magnificent strip of James in transition.
His commitment to the aforementioned off-ball switching was remarkable. Not only from a "this guy is working so hard" standpoint, but also from a "this guy is working so hard to get himself away from the play because he knows his teammates are better defenders and he just wants to win" standpoint.
Most superstars cannot admit their own flaws. Fewer can find ways, through that admission, to make those flaws strengths. Of all Curry's otherworldly skills, his unselfishness is is greatest trait. It's going to cost him Finals MVP this year, but, barring something extraordinary, it's going to win him another championship.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) passes as Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) defends during the fourth quarter in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
2. Iguodala flashback, and redemption
In my Game 2 takeaways, I discussed Curry's search for redemption. Perhaps the pre-switch to avoid defending Irving's right-wing step-back three is that search translating to the defensive end, although that's a stretch.
It's less of a reach to apply the mental liberation narrative to Iguodala's game-sealing strip of James. After falling victim to the greatest chase-down block in NBA history last June, Iguodala reversed the roles with 12 seconds to go in Game 3. James tried to rise up for a game-tying three, and Iguodala blocked him on the way up. Just as James is the master of the chase-down, so is Iguodala of that particular type of swipe.
It came shortly after James swatted Iguodala again from behind at the rim. What could have been a nightmare relived became a demon vanquished.
Golden State Warriors
Jun 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the basketball against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) during the fourth quarter in game three of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
1. Warriors' lack of clutch experience rears its not-so-ugly head
The 2015-16 Warriors may have been the most clutch team in NBA history. The 2016-17 Warriors were everything but. This year's team finished with an expected win-loss record of 67-15, two games better than last year's 65-17 mark. However, a lack of clutch success, and close games overall, led to six fewer actual wins.
There was some concern throughout the season that the team's lack of experience in tight moments would hurt them in the playoffs. And though they succeeded in the clutch through three rounds, their chances were still limited, as was their competition.
The test finally came in Game 3. Down 113-107 with 3:09 to play, the Warriors would have to prove what type of high-pressure team they were to the world without knowing the answer themselves.
It turned out to be much ado about nothing. They played all-time level defense, moved the ball, went hard at mismatches and unleashed Durant in an 11-0 run to close it off.
After last year's clutch campaign ended with a clutch failure of historic proportions, this year's regular season performance in close games was rendered equally as meaningless.
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