Golden State Warriors: Three keys to winning Game 5
Give the Cavaliers different defensive looks
The Cleveland Cavaliers have some really amazing offensive players. Their issues have all been on the other end of the floor. They haven’t had any problem putting the ball in the basket.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving are potent offensive leaders. The Cavaliers will go as far as those two will take them. If they’re not doing what they do best, then they’re not going to win.
Fortunately for Cleveland, those two have really settled in over the last two games. They’ve put out two consecutive all-time scoring performances. They’re comfortable.
Early in the series, it seemed like Steve Kerr was comfortable sending multiple bodies at Irving. While they weren’t giving James that treatment, covering him also requires multiple people. When he drove, defenders showed, but then they scrambled to the perimeter to cut off his passes. It worked early in the series.
James and Irving will produce. Kevin Love will, most likely, put up some good numbers too. The Warriors have to find ways to stop the role players from scoring. Those guys are the difference between a win and a loss.
There’s no stopping the Cavaliers’ top two guys, but perhaps the Warriors can slow them down. James and Irving are too gifted to be given the same looks over and over again. They’ll figure out their defender’s tendencies, find space, and attack relentlessly.
Klay Thompson has been Irving’s primary defender. And, despite the fact that he’s played him very well, Irving is now comfortable with him. Maybe the Warriors should consider moving Andre Iguodala onto him in certain lineups.
This would take Iguodala off of James. The Warriors would then have to turn to either Kevin Durant or Draymond Green to cover the reigning Finals MVP. This could, at least, make them think about their plan of attack a little more and give Golden State a small, temporary advantage.
Of course, cross matching could leave Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson in disadvantageous matchups. The Warriors can only change the looks they give certain play’s for a bit, but it could be enough to force tough shots, misses, and turnovers.