Finals Live Thread: Game 3 Warriors @ Cavs
2015-06-09
The Cavaliers did what they had to do to snag a game at Oracle Arena, and return to Cleveland with a 1-1 split. They now have seized home court advantage in the series as they get set to face the Warriors in a pivotal Game 3 at the Q, a place where LeBron and Company have a formidable 26-2 record since the King returned from his mid-season fort-night sabbatical.
With a victory tonight, the Cavs can take a firm grasp on the momentum of this see-saw battle of a Finals, and put the favored Warriors in a tenuous position. They know it won’t be easy, however, with a Golden State team that ripped off a league-high 28 games on the road during the regular season and another five in the playoffs. They also have league MVP, Steph Curry, who will be looking to get a grip on his shooting game that went south (or in this case… “down under”) in Game 2.
Though it’s likely that Curry will shoot better than the last time out, it’s also likely that the Cavs will better their 32% shooting as well, especially in the more familiar confines of home. LeBron James and his band of gritty, “grown-ass men” also seem galvanized by getting their hands on the franchise’s first Finals win ever. They will be prepared with plenty more non-cute, unsexy, grindhouse basketball, not to mention some secret motivation that is driving Bron. And as long as he can avoid the clutches of the Warrior defenders (see above photo that Dan Gilbert used to have fun at their expense), he should once again have the Cavs right there in the end.
Time to GET LOUD CLEVELAND!
This has been just a flat out amazing experience. Wish I could contribute more in these live threads but I’m usually busy yelling and screaming at the Cavs through the TV. I about lost mind when they were gonna give golden state the ball without reviewing it… ChristStill 2 more to go. Cavs good karma all the way
@EthanJSkolnick: Matthew Dellavedova didn’t address the media because he’s still undergoing treatment for cramps. He played 39 minutes.
CAVS need to game plan for David Lee in game 4. Was difference maker, like he was when we played in Cleveland back in February.
What a game. Can’t believe I’m listening to this on the radio since I don’t have cable. Still biting my nails the whole time. What a team to cheer for. I want them to win the finals, don’t get me wrong, but even if they don’t, they are displaying some real championship heart. Whoever wins this thing will have had to EARN it.
@SherwoodStrauss: Klay: “If we get our offense back, which we will, we’re going to win this series.”
Print this in the CAVS locker!!
I kind of think it’s good that Curry went off in the fourth. It gives the CAVS a good game plan for the next game. Curry found his shot, for now…
Delly apparently undergoing treatments for cramping and won’t get to the podium tonight. Hope he heals up quick and Joe Harris is ready to play some minutes in game 4 if we get a decent lead to get him some rest.
Delly coming up next on the podium, I think.
Still can’t believe this series… just amazing!
Just looking at some other boards (non Cleveland), it appears the “Delly is dirty” narrative is still a thing. He’ll probably have that label the rest of his career.
Delly and I give zero f*%#! about that label
@kobebryant: Cavs playing as if their life is on the line G.S playing as if they have more #NBAFinals down the line #ThisIsNOW #competitionIsEverything
ESPN’s Buccigross on the Delly three-point play: “Rumbling, stumbling, whoa Delly!”
Lebron just came on the podium
Bogut getting away with holding TT’s arm on almost every rebound they’re matched up. Caused two balls to go out-of-bounds before TT could get to them.
I just don’t like Wade making LeBron open up right now. Up 3-1 okay, I’ll live with it. Not now Wade!
I only hope Wade is motivating LeBron.
Game four will be the hardest yet, because the warriors will be desperate. Cavs need to get more offense out of Iman/JR/Moz.
Yeah, that game is gonna be a bear. I expect Curry to have an NBA Jam type game.
Wade needs to go away. Riley sent him to troll!
Shump apparently thinks the shoulder is just a bruise, and “it’ll be all right”. Hope so.
Him coming back in and sticking that three within a couple possessions…mm. Kid has guys. That type of heart has been contagious on this team. I am so friggin pumped about mike miller’s contributions, btw. He didn’t make a 3, which is what we all thought was his only thing left to contribute. Instead, Blatt found a way to use him on inbounds passes (he made 3 very tough passes right on the money). And he DOVE on the floor at the end of the first half and almost sprung delly for the buzzer beater. That was when I knew… Read more »
I’m even finding the Seven Nations Chant attractive despite it’s association with the Heatles
Tristan on NBA TV Right now with Isiah and the rest of the crew
Ok, guys I know it’s a hard way to win but anybody will have a hard time beating your blue collar game. Know one out is willing to go there. But see know why I’m talking about getting to 17 points on them because they shooters but they also live and die with it and the blue collar is to much. I first want to thank you for the win and taking this type of beating for us. Meaning you and the city of Cleveland. YOU ALL looked like Dellavedova two night. Loved it. I also want thank you for… Read more »
Thanks, we will do our best.
Goodnight guys! Thanks for another awesome commentary on another awesome game!
Marc Stein with Delly postgame on ESPN Radio:
http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=13049386
Klay Thompson: “If we get our offense back, which we will, we’re gonna win this series.”
KEY word in this sentence is IF, meaning he himself is doubtful.
NOW DO YOU BELIEVE!?
Amazing game. Home crowd game to play tonight. The whole city is rockin.
Still, we need to win one more. I think we will need to score more on Thursday. And figure out what to do about David Lee.
LeBron is doing the impossible. Imagine 80s big-three Celtics losing Parrish and McHale, could Larry have won by himself. Or Laker’s Magic losing Worthy and Kareem? Or Jordan losing Pippin and Grant.
And Delly comes through again.
East 4th is chanting “DELLY” right now. Wow!
David Lee will get more PT, put Moz on him.
David Lee sat 2 games and 3 quarters.
– He was fresh.
– We hadn’t had to defend him or figure their offense out with him on the floor. We will.
Good point on the fresh legs at that point. Hard to underestimate that in the 4th quarter tonight.
Great Game (atleast 3 quarters) from the Cavs, even with a 36 point quarter for Golden State they still only shot 40% which is amazing. We went to the line twice as much as them (24 to 12) and if we clean up our rebounding (GS had 18 OFF Reb) we will be fine for all 4 quarters.
This is the first playoff game this year in which the CAVs were out-rebounded but won. Up until now the team that got more rebounds won the game.
The fourth quarter shows the importance of not committing live ball turnovers against that team. That is the thing that feeds their more than any other. And thats why the much maligned isolation is the best play we can run. Anyway the silver lining of that fourth quarter is thatthey didnt really find a crack in our armour rather than they made some impossibly tough shots especially near the end. One last thing, has Lebrons 3 point shot finally come back? It seems he is hitting at avery good rate, especially if you exclude the last second heaves(he has had… Read more »
I hope Gilbert has ordered nitrogen chambers for everyone.
That’s what LBJ is buying for them tomorrow.
Apple watches yesterday, nitrogen chambers tomorrow.
That’s why JR can’t wait . . .
David Lee getting a podium game,
So then, aside from Curry, nobody played well? Iggy kinda faded in the end.
The Delly Lama
Thanks for posting that. Appeared after the post game on court interviews and I wasn’t fast w camera
Just an unbelievable game. I love this team.
I don’t believe any player in history has carried a team in the way that Lebron has carried this one in this series. It’s almost unbelievable.
Yet, every player he’s with is leaving everything on the floor. EVERYTHING.
Absolutely. They have to be completely spent. And Lebron most of all. No idea how they are doing it. Everyone was on fumes in 4th quarter tonight.
Well. How about that!! That was. 6 margarita game. Too much tension at the end. In freaking real. What is happening I got is defying logic.
In ESPN’s post-game shots, Cleveland looks like Bourbon Street.
Courageous game by Shump. He was clearly playing with one arm. Any word on the injury?
Not yet, as far as I’ve heard.
Jason Lloyd @JasonLloydABJ
Blatt didn’t have a Shump update but said “I don’t know a lot of guys that come back in the game. He was in some pain and he was hurting.”
Make that game four.
Methinks we need to change the defensive game plan just a bit just to give them a different look.
I wanted to write before the game how thankful I was of Kerr not playing D Lee, remembering how many problems he caused us during the regular season game at the Q, but I really didnt want to jinx it.
On to game three and still JR hasnt had a monster game yet, though he was solid today.
I am a golden god!!! Or…or just a cavs fan in 2015. I think they are on equal footing, elation wise.
Mozgov block party was amazing! Lebron’ effort on defense was outstanding! Delly’s rugby dives were unbelievable! And JR Smith playing basically lockdown defense when he was on klay was inconceivable!
Do they have enough? Do the Cleveland Cavaliers have enough in the tank to win in just 39 hours time??? You bet your friggin a$$ they do!!
Good comment re: JR guarding Klay Thompson.
Fatigue will be the biggest challenge, not GSW. Dealing with fatigue, finishing games, this will be a monumental task going forward.
I believe. CAVS in 6!!! Y’ALL BEST BELIEVE!!!!
Zach Lowe @ZachLowe_NBA
Let him get 40 again
We could be up 3-0. Ugh!
We could also be down 2-1. Look on the bright side!
ESPN and NBA Network both cut away from Blatt. Booooooooo!
Still on FOX Sports Ohio
Klay going remember that out of bounds play “for a long time”
For all the criticism the refs get, their decision to look at the reply was huge. Without that it would have been GS ball
The funny thing about that play: how the hell was it ever GS ball in the first place?
I bet the NBA apology press-release was already drafted by the time they got the call right.
Mozgov was huge in the fourth. Thank you, Blatt.
Except at the beginning of it with the turnovers…
Wish he had held the ball instead of throwing it to Delly and out of bounds late. But he has probably been the Cavs second best player overall.
GS blog –
“cavs are the better team
with 2allstars out nothing less.
the cavs give it all 3 quarters thats why GS coming back at the 4th they put so much energy if they keep doing it and keep it up on D getting their 10+ lead before 4th they are going to win this”
by Onej on Jun 9, 2015 | 8:52 PM
Cardiac kids. This series is not good for my heart. Great win, need one more at home to bury this team. Ice up, not getting any easier
Warriors had 36 points in the 4th quarter, we cant have that happen AGAIN
Curry had 17 points of those 36. We need to close games better man. Cant give GS live
When you only have 7 guys and they’re playing these kind of minutes and this kind of defense, you do the best you can… They won the game!
Yea I know, it’s understandable. I wouldnt of mind if the shots they were getting was contested but sometimes it was wide open, thats what got me more frustrated, But we won and I’m Happy. Can’t wait for Thursday
True enough, i would be lying if i didn’t admit i was worried curry comes out on fire in game 4.
You are not going to shut curry down forever. We’re just going to have to survive it.
Delly on the loose ball: https://vine.co/v/eO5rdz7nTzt
Going hard for Lee’s knees.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Love how the guys on SportsCenter are only talking about how Curry found his shot and Lee was a difference maker… SMH
I think Lee scares me more than Green right about now. :D
We will have a plan. For Lee next game
I don’t worry about that one. It’s their job to hype the series. Their company makes a lot of money if this series extends. Just going their job.
The Wombat is now 4-0 as a starter… Cavs are now 6-0 when he plays 30+ minutes
The Wonder From Down Under
Kung Fu Kangaroo
Superdova
Outback Jesus
There’s no need to fear . . .
Dellavadova is here!
Well played, sir.
Correlation/causation, who cares! Gimme some Delly anytime.
Not sure what the Warriors can do now. Led for what, 26 minutes in 144 minutes? Steph got it going late but Delly will be fresh again in the first half of game 4
Rudy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delly had 20 freaking points! +13!
Love Delly!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, so clearly if the Cavs end up winning, Lebron is doing otherworldly things that no one else can do. But that Delly 500-1 MVP line doesn’t look half bad right now
If the Cavs win this series, Lebron should get three MVP trophies. No joke.
Sam Amico just pointed out that Cavs never trailed. Didn’t feel like it at times, but that’s significant.
The cavs have not trailed at the end of ANY quarter. Only time they trailed was at the end of the Game 1 OT. Hard to believe.
The cavs have not trailed at the end of ANY quarter. Only time they trailed was at the end of the Game 1 OT. Hard to believe.
Only gripe from this game is that Curry got it going in the end. Hope Delly continues shutting him down next game.
Cavs were tired and Curry had extra pressure to show up…
Same thing I’m saying, hated to see Curry heat up like that, glad he was cold in the first half to balance it out
I’m worried about that. He’s got to have a big surge of confidence from some of those wild shots he nailed.
Then again they are not going to have so,many offensive rebonds either
LeBron now has the record for most points scored in first three games of the Finals…
He has been superhuman. Wonder how many games this team (i.e., minus Love and Irving) would win without Lebron in a regular season. Might be as low as 20.
Oh my God that was nerve racking. Big win! The winner of game 3 after 1-1 tie goes on to win the series 80% of the time.
Every time Delly dove for a loose ball, David Lee just landed on his back.
I saw that. For Delly, it’s like the good ole rugby days. He probably didn’t notice.
That Delly 3 point play was the turning point.
^^^^^^^^^ TRUTH!!!
It was a pretty huge play.
Yeah I second that. Delly will need to speak at the podium.
Play of the friggin year. You know, aside from the Sunday putback that won the game in OT.
Did you put in that long shot Delly MVP bet, by chance?
No I don’t gamble. But man I wish I would have.
@ZachLowe_NBA: Kerr turned back for an extra shout at the refs before leaving the floor.
Boo fricking hoo. Give us half of the fouls that should have been called on LeBron’s drives, and we might have seen Joe Harris in this game.
Or how about calling even one in three or four of the Warriors’ illegal screens?
MAN that was TOO MUCH!
YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
LeBron hitting all his free throws down the stretch, CLUTCH
These refs need to be embarrassed.
All GS bloggers are talking about is how terribly the game was officiated. They’re livid.
THANK GOD THIS GAME IS OVER.