Cavs Blow Chance to Steal Game 1

If for some strange reason you missed Game 1 of the NBA Finals last night, yet also managed to get your hands on a stat sheet that didn’t include the final score, you might’ve been lead to believe that the Cavaliers completed an improbable upset at Oracle Arena.

LeBron James was an assist away from a triple-double. Cleveland’s big three combined for 66 points. Steph Curry scored 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting while Klay Thompson scored 9 points on 4-of-12 from the field.

You’d be shocked to realize, upon getting your hands on a complete box score that is, that the Cavaliers still managed to lose by 15. How on Earth did this happen?

The large discrepancy in bench scoring was arguably the determining factor, with Golden State outscoring Cleveland 45–10. Iman Shumpert played the most minutes of any Cavs reserve, 17, and was -15. Channing Frye, a difference maker from beyond the three point line in the postseason, was 0-for-1. Compare that with Warriors reserve point guard Shaun Livingston, whose 20 points was as many as Thompson and Curry scored combined.

The Splash Brothers are not going to shoot that poorly again in this series. In fact, they may never shoot that poorly again ever. Their 20 points last night is the fewest combined points they’ve scored in a game together in two seasons.

The Cavaliers caught the ultimate break and didn’t take advantage. The Warriors are the better team, and for Cleveland to have any chance in this series, they have to capitalize when Golden State falters. Last night was that chance, they missed it, and they may not get another.

The Cavaliers shot 38.1 percent from the field and committed 17 turnovers that lead to 25 points. When that happens, you almost always lose, even when the two best shooters in the world put up Andre Roberson like numbers. Cleveland only managed to score 89 points, the second lowest total they’ve finished with in a game during these playoffs. You are not going to beat the Warriors scoring 89 points, just as you’re probably not going to beat the Warriors scoring 99 points.

A loss like last night makes it seem like Cleveland has no shot winning at Oracle Arena, something they will have to do at least once to win this series. Sure the Golden State bench is not going to score 45 points again (although if they continue to treat Shaun Livingston like he’s Tony Allen maybe it will). But will Love and Kyrie play better? Maybe. Will LeBron have a better performance than a near triple-double while going 2-of-4 from three? Eh. Will Curry and Thompson hit more than eight combined shots? You can count on that.

Once that happens, unless the Cavaliers make improvements on both ends of the court, things could get really ugly.