Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: What to Watch For

When the Golden State Warriors face off against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, it’ll be more than just a case of “Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers”. There are multiple storylines to sift through, and while the basketball played between the two teams will be quite a sight, the extra storylines make everything all the more interesting.

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The first storyline is the big offseason trade that never happened. A Kevin Love – Klay Thompson swap was mentioned almost daily during the offseason, it seemed like it was merely a formality before the deal would be announced. The Warriors’ front office rejected the offer, and Love ended up as the third member of LeBron James’ Big Three in Cleveland.

Since then, the Warriors have gone from strength to strength and have been the best team in the league, while the Cavs, who were heavy favourites to win it all going into the season, have been struggling with injuries, a lack of team chemistry, and all-round disappointing basketball. Those who were calling for Klay to be traded have since remained silent, while those defending the reluctance to swap players have feel vindicated in the light of Klay’s continued excellence.

The other storyline is the return of former Warriors’ coach Mark Jackson. No, Jackson isn’t returning to the coaching sideline, but he will be part of ESPN’s broadcast crew at the game tonight. As many of you will recall, Jackson was let go at the end of last season, with the front office deciding that the team had outgrown Jackson.

Jackson was a popular figure in the dressing room, and the players loved the coach and his motivational words. However, it became increasingly apparent that he lacked the tactical nous to run a title contender, with the Warriors’ offense highly stagnant, scoring just 107.5 points per 100 possessions (12^th in the league).

His replacement, Steve Kerr, has gotten off to a flying start with the Warriors. Kerr has reshaped the offense, and has even improved the Warriors’ defense. He has had nothing but kind words for Jackson, claiming that he laid the foundation for the league-leading Warriors today, but it will be interesting to see if that kindness is repaid by his predecessor.

Key Matchups

Kyrie Irving vs. Stephen Curry: This is not a matchup for the purists. Neither point guard is a traditional point guard by any means, with both players being excellent scorers. Irving is a ball-dominant guard that is excellent when it comes to driving to the hoop, where he shoots 64.3 percent. Curry, who is more pass-focused than Irving, is one of the best three-point shooters in league history.

Irving is coming off a season-high 38 points against the Houston Rockets, and will look to lead the LeBron-less Cavs to a second win in eight attempts. As per usual, look for Klay Thompson to be on Irving when he’s on the court, allowing Curry to focus on the offensive end.

Kevin Love vs. Draymond Green: Had the Kevin Love trade gone through, there’s a good chance that Draymond Green wouldn’t have remained on the Warriors’ roster. Green was one of the names linked to the trade, but his improvement this season has made many Warriors’ fans happy that the trade fell through.

Love has been slowly playing his way back into form, averaging 25.5 point and 12.5 rebounds over his last four games. Green will have to be at his best against Love, who has struggled to fit into the Cavs’ offense. Be on the lookout for a three-point shootout between the two power forwards.

Timofey Mozgov vs. Marreese Speights: With their only center Anderson Varejao out for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon, the Cavs set their sights on Denver Nuggets’ center Timofey Mozgov. They paid a hefty price for the center, giving up two future first round picks. There’s a chance that Mozgov will start the game, after being acquired on Wednesday.

Speights had a great game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, putting up 18 points in a sterling shooting effort. His floor spacing makes him a nightmare matchup against slower centers that are uncomfortable moving away from the rim. Mozgov will have to be quick on his feet if he is to stop Speights from having his way in the mid-range.

Keys to Winning the Game:

Stifle the Offense

When the Big Three formed in Cleveland, they were quickly being touted as one of the best offensive teams in the league. Three of the best offensive talents in LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving joining forces would automatically turn any team into an offensive juggernaut. However, while the results haven’t been as great as initially expected, the Cavs are still a top 10 offense in the league. At 105.3 points per 100 possessions, the key here is to limit the Cavs’ offense, as their defense is almost non-existent.

Splash, Splash, Splash

As I mentioned earlier, the Cavs are not known for their defense. Allowing 105.5 points per 100 possessions, the Cavs concede more points than they actually score in 100 possessions. They are the league’s seventh worst defensive team, and the fourth-ranked Warriors’ offense needs to light them up early. If their shots are falling, this game could turn into a blowout fast.

Don’t Get Caught Up in the Moment

This speaks to the external storylines surrounding this game. It’s certain to be an emotional affair, as Mark Jackson returns to the Oracle Arena for the first time since he left. The players have already mentioned their excitement and cannot wait for his return, but they need to focus on the game at hand. With a 15-game win streak on the line, this has all the makings of a trap game for the Dubs.

Prediction: A comfortable win for the Warriors. Without LeBron James this season, the Cavs have gone 1-7. Their record with LeBron hasn’t been great either, but they’re clearly worse without him. The Warriors are playing at full strength, and as long as they keep their wits about them, they should come away with a franchise record win-streak at home.

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