It is about dang time we tip this thing
2015 NBA FINALS | GAME 1
Thu Jun 04, 2015 | 9:02 PM, EDT | ABC-TV
Oracle Arena | Oakland, California
2 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 65-31 (8-6 ATS Playoffs
1 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 79-18 (7-8 ATS Playoffs)
Cleveland Cavaliers | Projected Starters
1 CLE 6-03 | 193 IRVING 23y
2 CLE 6-05 | 212 SHUMPERT 24y
3 CLE 6-08 | 242 JAMES 30y
4 CLE 6-08 | 225 THOMPSON 23y
5 CLE 7-01 | 250 MOSGOV 28y
Cleveland Cavaliers | Key Contributors
1 CLE 6-04 | 200 Dellavedova 24y
2 CLE 6-06 | 221 Smith 29y
3 CLE 6-08 | 219 Miller 34y
4 CLE 6-08 | 225 Jones 34y
5 CLE 6-10 | 280 Perkins 30y
Cleveland Cavaliers | Key Injuries
4 CLE 6-10 | 260 LOVE 26y
5 CLE 6-10 | 230 VAREJAO 32y
Golden State Warriors | Projected Starters
1 GSW 6-03 | 185 CURRY 26y
2 GSW 6-07 | 206 THOMPSON 24y
3 GSW 6-08 | 210 BARNES 22y
4 GSW 6-07 | 230 GREEN 24y
5 GSW 7-00 | 245 BOGUT 30y
Golden State Warriors | Key Contributors
1 GSW 6-07 | 182 Livingston 29y
2 GSW 6-06 | 176 Barbosa 32y
3 GSW 6-06 | 207 Iguodala 31y
4 GSW 6-09 | 252 Lee 31y
5 GSW 6-10 | 245 Speights 27y or
5 GSW 6-11 | 255 Ezeli 25y
Anyone who diggs basketball analytics is STILL dazzled at so many of the metrics that 2014-15 Golden State Warriors compiled
Equally confounding are those ‘experts’ who continue to pound the company line about GSW:
1. “GSW is still a just a jump-shooting team in the end - great close-out defenses should give them a lot of trouble”
2. “GSW is 'Offense-First’ team not really as strong Defensively as CLE
3. “GSW’s up-tempo game can be seriously tested by a methodical team”
___________
#1. GSW ‘just a jump-shooting team’ is just false
W’s were the 6th best Paint-Point team in the NBA,
The argument can be made that 2 unheralded keys to GSW’s enormous success in 14-15:
i. Health; especially solid year from Bogut (67 Gms were 18 more than his 49 game yearly avg L-7 seasons)
ii. Depth (GSW NBA ‘6th Deepest’ team)
These factors allowed GSW to run their exhilarating motion game,
Forced opponents to stay honest;
Made GSW opponents a triangle-edged sword of Over/Under/Thru GSW screens
w/Splash Brothers (justifiably) gaining all the publicity they deserved
Finishing #1 & #2 in Threes Made & of course Steph Curry earning MVP
#2. GSW Offense First? GSW POOR D? This is not accurate
We know Golden State (esp Curry; as CWebb keeps saying) a Video Game shooter
Yet, hearing GSW is not great Defensively? Just proof-positive that guys haven’t done their homework
GSW finished Regular Season NBA #1 Defensive team (1.014 PPP Allowed)
GSW finished Regular Season NBA #2 Offense team (1.116 PPP | LAC was #1 at 1.124 PPP)
Taking nothing away from Cleveland.
#3. Pace? This is possible issue for GSW in this series
Yet GSW is so adept at holding teams under 100 that tempo numbers can be really deceptive
In this cappers’ humble opinion, LBJ is STILL not given the appropriate accolades
For propelling team of NYK Castoffs, w/a hobbled All-Star PG & No K Love to the Finals
LBJ’s 5th straight year
Nevertheless, with so much time off, we usually see the best team prevail
GSW’s now 5 (w/Speights) headed Frontcourt rotation
Is deep, versatile & really unlike anything CLE has seen in the last Month since Chicago
Steve Kerr’s use of these interchangeable, yet wildly differing still guys has been inspiring also
(Bogut | Green | Ezili | Lee | Speights)
Kerr’s use of one-step-ahead cross-matching vs Memphis then Houston
Was vintage San Antonio - and many analysts & fans just couldn’t stay with it
Recalling Van Gundy openly asking Is GSW going BIG now? Wait - What?”
Got to be a sign of a coach (Kerr) playing Chess to most guys’ Checkers
Concerns w/a Warrior Bet?
Klay Thompson
Concussion AND time off could affect Thompson more than most
He who just seemed to really break out into one of his trademark groove
Alvin Gentry
Might sounds a little minor, yet GSW Assistant Coach Alvin Gentry disruption (New HC at NOP)
This could truly be a factor in GSW preparation(s)
Cleveland Defense?
“Best Defense in the Playoffs”
Also the #21 during the course of the regular season
Cleveland’s playoff opponents probably skewed the matrix by a ton
Thus, it might be safest to assume the ‘truth is close to the middle’ (1 vs 26)
LBJ
This cat could force the historical ‘best-ever’ subject to the front burner by power-lifting these Cavs to a Title
As the series wears on
GSW (vastly) superior bench strength should be so critical to GSW ability to run many players & hedge looks at LBJ
Looking for the W’s to win & cover Game #1
2 UNIT
CLEVELAND
GOLDEN STATE -6 (-110 | sportsbook.ag)
All the best, guys