NBA Finals 2015: LeBron James continues historic run
This might not be LeBron’s prettiest performance, but it is his best.
LeBron James found Jim Brown on the sidelines and bowed down as a deafening noise filled Quicken Loans Arena. Tip-off was moments away and the best player in the world was getting set to, once again, carry a bunch off Knicks castoffs to another NBA Finals win. This one a 96-91 victory.
This is not the best he’s ever played, but it might be his greatest performance. He finished Game 3 with 40 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, four steal and two blocks, another miraculous showing. The 40-point output actually lowered his finals scoring average. Think about that for a moment and how ridiculous it is.
Let's throw out some more numbers: LeBron has now scored, assisted or created 200 of the Cavaliers' 291 points through the first three games of this series, according to Synergy Sports. He's also playing 47.4 minutes per game and has a usage rate of 42.4, a number no player has ever hit in the playoffs or regular season
Yeah, the efficiency hasn't been there -- LeBron has now taken 117 shots in this series and has hit just 37 percent of them -- but to focus on the misses would be like pointing out one stray dot on the Sistine Chapel. It exists, but it doesn't really matter or take away from the beauty. Right now James is doing something that we've never seen before. Him winning the title this season would be like Allen Iverson knocking off the Lakers while playing with the likes of Eric Snow and Aaron Mckie. It would be unprecedented.
The question is can this pace be sustained. It's likely not a coincidence that in all three games this series the Warriors have outplayed the Cavaliers in the fourth quarter. Humans are not supposed to be able to withstand the load that LeBron is currently carrying. He's literally doing everything for the Cavaliers right now. On offense the ball is always in his hands. On defense he's locking in and helping lead the charge against the Warriors's normally high-octane attack. He's blocking shots and crashing the glass.
He’s everything for the Cavaliers, and now Cleveland, too. But James has morphed into more in this series. He’s no longer just competing against his opponents -- now he’s going after the greats of the past, and it’s starting to look like he might catch them all.
3 things we learned
Mathew Dellavedova is here to stay. Stephen Curry caught fire in the fourth quarter -- where he scored 17 of his 27 points -- but it all came too late. Dellavedova had already gotten under his skin, for the second straight game (does the man you see walking off the floor below seem happy?)
Dellavedova also had 20 points and made countless big shots. Any time a ball was on the floor he was there. Any time Curry ran off a pick, Dellavedova was there.
Only 3 of the 20 shots that Steph Curry took were uncontested. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/qoQr1IOtnV
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 10, 2015 It never looks pretty, but somehow this series everything he’s done has worked. If the Warriors don’t figure out an answer for Dellavedova, the Larry O’Brien Trophy is headed to Cleveland. That is definitely a sentence I never thought I would see.
That is all assuming Dellavedova is cleared to play in Game 4. He was hospitalized following Game 3 due to severe cramping he suffered after the game. The Cavs expect to update his condition on Wednesday afternoon.
David Blatt is a really good coach. James and Dellavedova are, rightfully, getting all the credit, but it's time to give some praise to Blatt as well. The Cavaliers were 20th in the NBA in defensive rating during the regular season. Now they're a defensive juggernaut routinely holding the NBA's top offense to 40 percent shooting. Blatt has designed a perfect game plan. He has the Warriors playing slow. He has his defenders keying in on Curry no matter where he is and leaving poor shooters in order to pack the paint. The Cavs attacked David Lee in the pick-and-roll and, somehow, crashed the offensive boards while still taking away the Warriors's ability to push the ball (Golden State had just four fast break points in Game 3). To take a team that has lost two of its best players to the finals is an incredible feat. LeBron may be the primary reason why Cleveland is up 2-1 in this series, but Blatt certainly deserves some credit.
The Warriors need to play David Lee more. This starts with Draymond Green, who's been a huge disappointment this series. On pick-and-rolls the Cavaliers have been trapping Curry up top and taking the ball out of his hands. Curry is making the right play and hitting the screener, often Green, at the top of the key. In a situation like this, Green essentially morphs into the point man of a 4-on-3. He can take the open three-pointer, drive to the basket or create for a teammate. Playing this role is something Green has been great at all season, that is, until this series. In Game 3 Green was just 2-of-10 from the field and had just seven points. He's now missed 22 of the 30 shots he's attempted this series. His struggles are a major reason why the Warriors' offense has looked inept these past three games.
This brings us to Lee. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr decided to go to Lee in Game 3, for the first time this series. Lee responded with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes. The Warriors outscored the Cavaliers by 17 points when he was on the floor. Lee was able to do all the things Green hasn’t -- he made the Cavaliers pay for trapping Curry in the pick-and-roll. Offense has never been a problem for Lee. He can score with both hands, pass and put the ball on the floor. He might hurt Golden State’s defense a bit, but at this point that’s a gamble Kerr and the Warriors should be willing to take. Kerr seemed to agree, saying after the game, “you’ll see more David Lee.”
Play of the Game
This pretty much sums up Mathew Dellavedova’s night, and the series. He has no business holding onto this ball, let along getting a shot up. Of course he does hold onto the ball, and does get a shot up and obviously it goes in. Long live Delly!
11 fun things
Remember when LeBron couldn’t dunk at the beginning of the season? Man, that seems like a LONG time ago.
Final Score
Cavaliers 96, Warriors 91 (Fear the Sword recap | Golden State of Mind recap)
SB Nation presents: The 3-pointer has gone from novelty to necessary
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