Incoming freshman Cameron Fields makes his Post debut.
The Cleveland Cavaliers might not be the theoretical “best team” in this year’s NBA Finals, but they certainly have the most heart. The Cavs showed that heart Tuesday night, beating the Golden State Warriors 96-91 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Cleveland came out firing at the beginning of the game, led by a dominant LeBron James relentlessly attacking the basket. James has scored the most points in NBA Finals history for the first three games with 123 points. Along with this record, James is on the verge of averaging a triple double in the Finals, racking up 41.0 PPG, 12.0 PPG and 8.3 APG; James scored 40 points in the win, along with 12 rebounds and eight assists.
Not only did James continue his dominance, but he received help from fan-favorite Matthew Dellavedova. Dellavedova contributed 20 points on 7-17 shooting. But Dellavedova’s point totals does not show the whole story. Dellavedova is known for being a hustle player, as he frequently gets on the floor for loose balls.
Whereas the Cavs came out with a sense of urgency, the Warriors came out looking like the game would be handed to them. During the first quarter, they shot 39 percent from the field, and their MVP Stephen Curry, did not catch fire until the fourth quarter. Curry started the game off slow, totaling three points for the first half; he came alive late in the game, racking up 27 points on 10-20 shooting.
The Warriors' troubles on offense have not just involved missed open looks. The Cavs have played stifling defense on this new-age NBA team for the entire Finals, as they held the Warrirors to 37 points in the first half — their lowest point total in a half for the season.
Even though the Warriors’ offense looked helter-skelter during the first half, players such as David Lee and Andre Iguodala helped the team rally back from a 20-point deficit. Lee had 11 points on 4-4 shooting and Iguodala had 15 points on 6-12 shooting.
In the fourth quarter, the game was close, just like it had been for the series’ first two games. The Cavs lead 72-55 at the end of the third, but at the beginning of the fourth, their offense looked sloppy and was composed of startling empty possessions. The Warriors looked poised to possibly steal a game after being down by as much as 20, but the Cavs’ leaders — James and Dellavedova — pushed the team to a thrilling finish.
Going forward, it is important for the Cavs to continue to play with a sense of urgency. Their identity in this year’s Finals has been that of grit, hard work and a little bit of talent. The Warriors will need to find a way to get better looks on the offensive end, as they shot an uncharacteristically 35.3 percent from three and have shot 31.7 percent for the series.
Even though the Warriors are viewed as this year’s best team, the Cavs are playing with a high level of energy. They are two wins away from the NBA championship, and if they continue to show their heart and will to succeed, a championship will come to a title-barren Cleveland.
