Finals Live Thread: Cavs @ Warriors, Game 1 (#Threequel)
2017-06-01
Blame the recent Ct:B debate about who’s the best Joker for the title picture on this thread… y’all should know by now that’s how my entertainment-corrupted brain works. Yet, it’s a pretty fitting reference to the Cavs’ de facto Batman and Robin in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. The dynamic duo will have to be at the top of their game once again to fell the Suicide Squad of Warriors and prove their legions of national media hype-o-chondriacs spend way too much time gushing over regular season analytics.
It’s probably going to be difficult for this threequel to live up to last year’s sequel, though. It’s rare that you even get a sequel that’s better than the original (Godfather II, Star Trek: Wrath of Khan and The Empire Strikes Back are the only ones that stand out to me), let alone a threequel. Especially, when that sequel resulted in a historic comeback that culminated in the first Cleveland major sports championship in more than five decades. However, both teams are significantly better than their previous incarnations. There are new players in the mix, deeper benches, and no real injuries to speak of, as both teams are well rested.
These two teams know each other, have watched and studied each other from afar all season, and also don’t particularly like each other all that much. Somehow, and maybe for the first time in recent memory, the reigning champs are cast as the underdogs. The challengers who were at one point the golden boys of basketball, have been recast as the villains. Both of these narratives were made possible by Kevin Durant adhering to the old adage of “if you can’t beat ’em… join ’em.”
At this point… everything’s been said. The die is about to be cast. The pressure will be officially on…
The starting lineups look like this…
For the Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson.
For the Warriors: Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and ZaZa Pachulia.
Prediction: There’s nothing rational at all about this series or the hype leading up to this series… so why not go with an irrational prediction… Cavs outlast the Dubs 125-122 in overtime to shock the sellout crowd at Oracle… and the 93% of the population who think Golden State will win this series easily.
Catch all the action on ABC starting at 9pm (EST). And, don’t forget to share your thoughts here on Cavs: the Blog!
Here’s my favorite threequel hype video so far this year… (yes, there are a few GS highlights in there too, but make sure you watch it until the end…)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4YpM7gkVPs
LET’S GO CAVS!!!
I don’t see the problem here.
Cavs are playing a significantly better team. Whether that’s a ‘problem’ or not is entirely up to the individual.
Right. If the warriors are significantly better then we are screwed. Bmif nkt we have. A change.
‘ Bmif nkt we have. A change.’
No denying that.
I didn’t think that was too bad. I figured a blowout one way or the other. Offensive rebounds and turnovers. They took 20 more shots. Those are fixable things. Lebron looked like he was in analysis mode. There will be a better game plan next time. I didn’t think they looked outmatched.
One thing was clear: durant wanted it more than anyone else on the court. He is so happy to be away from Westbrook.
I mean. Imagine if the Cavs signed Durant and faced the Warriors again. What do you think the result would be in game one?
Remind me, did that happen?
I totally agree with Cols, as simple as it sounds it is so true, if the Cavs were the one’s who picked up Durant then this would be a totally different scenario.
Cavs played bad. Warriors played well. Cavs will be better
Warriors played ‘okay’. That’s about all you can say.
Man what a horrible game. The turnovers were almost comical as they kept climbing up.
Not really sure what to do for game two… My mind isn’t working or processing the information quite right at the moment.
Not so bad. For as bad as most of the Cavs outside of Leb looked. It wasn’t bad at all.
Lol.
The first-half pace was ridiculous. Tonight took zero physical toll on the Warriors. Cavs will never wear them down playing like that.
They don’t need to go full 2015 burn-the-clock mode, but they have to take their time and make the Warriors work on D.
But, ok, it’s one game. I expected a blowout from each team in this series. The Warriors had theirs in game 1.
Cavs will not wear them down, period. Even if they were to somehow win the series, very unlikely because the Warriors wore down. Warriors are the deeper team, as far as guys who will actually play. How exactly can the Cavs wear them down?
Do what they did in games 5-7 last year: Be more deliberate on offense and isolate LeBron or Kyrie on Curry. Take his legs away from him.
Unfortunately, they have Durant this year. I can’t see them wearing down…more likely the Cavs will…
If the warriors win the next one I would say Warriors will win it in 5. And the league will officially have a problem if you ask me. The Cavs basically swept all of their Eastern conference adversaries but can’t win a single game against the Western conference all star team ….sorry i meant Warriors.
Durant 38, 8 and 8. Like I said Durant will match Lebron’s output and Kyrie will match Curry’s output it’s up to the others and the defense to show up.
Deron and Kyle combined for 0.
They both should get a Game One Certificate of Participation !
Yayyyyyy… Everyone is a winner.
Wow… Kev had 21 boards…
And TT had just 4 getting outplayed by everyone he covered. WTF
Cavs did not win a quarter…
LeBron really doesn’t like to win Game 1 of the Finals… just 1-7
And the game one he won was against Dallas, which of course beat Miami
I like this stat. :)
KD is crazy on this team. Cavs need like Anthony Davis to counter. Anyway, appreciate the effort, try again in game 2.
Dahntay gets it done…
Be nice to break 90…
Moral victory!
Of course Barnes hits a three with clock expiring… smh
Pointers for game 2.
1. Korver with only 3 attempts. Shooters shoot Kyle. Tho we must admit he isn’t getting touches. It’s on Lue and Kyle.
His. 3 shots were wide open looks. JR is really the one I think that needs to shoot more
Yeah really surprised we havent seen a classic JR game with 7-8 threes
He’s not exactly been very good all year…
Dahntay just increased the bench scoring by 30%
Korver and Deron have played like they are just happy to be there.
Dahntay should play more I guess…
Dahntay making a case for being the 8th man
Dahntay!
Still no Channing…
Starters pulled
Bron with as many turnovers as assists now…
He is looking for holes in their defense. They’re very good AND can foul anytime they want. Tough to find holes there
Sure hope he feels the ball better in game two. Too many sloppy passes
He’s gonna hate seeing these stats. Light fire for game 2?
Livingston was holding both love’s arms against himself. Refs blow. Hope they all get bed bugs
This is an ugly quarter of basketball…
Ugh… they brought back the Extra Creepy Colonel…
Valerian will be the biggest bomb of all time…
Turnovers, transition D, and giving up offensive rebounds are the main stories of this game. The first quarter showed we can definitely score with them (only down 30 to 35), but we can’t give them free points.
IMO, execution and flat out hustle are both correctable factors going forward.
I’m not sure Klay Thompson will have another game like this though…
Ugh. Too. Much Shump
At least he hit a shot…
Where the f$&! Is tyron Lue?!
Trying to find someone who will run plays or communicate on D…
He might need to settle for fresh legs
Even our decision making has compeletely imploded.
Just jacking threes now… pull the starters…
Yeah, I’ve had enough for tonight. Good luck whoever is recapping this.
Every time the Cavs take quick shots against set defense, it burns them.
Like Shump just did
That “foul” by LBJ on KD was maybe the softest contact of the game…
very few teams have ever made me want them to lose spectacularly and painfully like this warriors team
Maybe the Heat in 2011?
I wanted them to lose once, yeah. I want these guys to never ever win and for all their losses to be by blown leads
Despite my irrational prediction… I’m not all that surprised at this outcome… a lot like Game 1 last year…
Definitely places where the Cavs had chances to get themselves into this game.
I liked atomic blonde when it was called salt.
Charlize is orders of magnitude cooler than Angelina tho…
Shawn Penn ruined it.
He ruins everything…
Shump dribbling = white flag
The Cavs have more turnovers (17) and have allowed more offensive rebounds (14) than they have assists (13).
That’s gross.
Cavs need to get into a rhythm going into game 2
Just ridiculous…cavs have to win every 50-50 ball on to compete and they are getting ZERO. By luck or by hustle, ball is always going to warriors
Curry already grinning with a towel on his head. Pass me the bucket.
17-4 on turnovers…
Why did RJ have to guard three guys in succession on that last play? Nobody rotating…
7 game series, we will wear them down
More likely the other way…Dubs are deeper…
Deeper with guys who can actually play in this series, I mean…
Just gotta play more physical. Lebron uses game 1s to figure teams out
I did laugh…
KD & Curry on the bench resting. Hard to wear them down like that.
All our problems stem from TT not winning his matchup with anyone. If he is causing them to foul and getting boards like normal this game goes the other way quickly.
I don’t know what adjustment Cavs would make for game 2. No idea what to do with KD
There is nothing to do with him. Hope he misses. Such BS that they were allowed to sign him.
Dubs getting all the bounces.
Have some pride Cavs… make a run here to make it respectable…
Biggest disappointment in this game is TT
Also, Lue has to reconsider his sub patterns. Lebron has to rest at the end of the first and come back fresh at the start of the 2nd, when Potatohead dumbly plays neither Durant or Curry. This has to be a net win for us.
He has been. That’s what happened this game.
Lue’s presser should be exciting…
Embarrassing really. Somehow the Cavs forgot how to play cohesive basketball. Nobody knows who to guard, who to pass to and playing horrid overall basketball.
TT will need to show up big time in game 2…although don’t put it past the warriors to give up this lead and make this very interesting down the stretch
Everyone not named Love or LeBron has been lousy this game.
Irving been fine. Big 3 showed up, no help from anyone else
GS getting any shot they like. We have to step it way up defensively to have a chance.
In the series generally I mean. This game is over.
I hate the warriors so hard they are insufferable.
Ah, poor quarter. KD is just not fair on this team.
Gonna be two full days of “do the Cavs get one?!” in the media. We’ll come back differently in game 2
Cavs missed too many put blank shots…..had zero energy…Warriors want to crush them and Cavs never answered…bizarre to see TT get outmuscled like this…..JR looks lost but not sure who else to play….on to Game 2…..we have come back from worse
Korver and Deron not ready for their first Finals game sadly
Klay has given them nothing, Bray has given them very little offensively, and they are up 20…
This is a sweep.
I think the Cavs get one…probably…
Too early to give up
Refs are giving us nothing. Kyrie gets smacked by iggy with no call, bron gets hand checked all the way to basket…AND they keep getting lucky shots to go down
Green definitely grabbed LeBron’s arm… smh