3 adjustments LeBron James and the Cavaliers have to make in Game 5
Golden State’s revamped defensive strategy frustrated Cleveland on Thursday, but the Cavs can still swing things back to their side.
For the Golden State Warriors' defense in Game 4 on Thursday, the game within the game began every moment LeBron James touched the ball. Every time James held the ball -- he had 118 touches, per the NBA.com's player tracking stats -- Golden State tried its best to get the ball out of his hands. Of those 118 chances, they succeeded in making him pass 80 times.
Through three games, James had a free run at the Warriors defense, resulting in consecutive games of 44, 39 and 40 points scored. On Thursday, the new game plan was to make James put the ball in the hands of his teammates, consequences be damned. Without Kyrie Irving, the Warriors knew what they could survive and what they couldn’t. James going for nearly 50? No. Matthew Dellavedova jacking three-pointers from the top of the key? Yes.
James finished Game 4 with 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Five more of his passes led to secondary assists or a player being fouled, but that was fine, because Cleveland shot just 4-of-27 from behind the arc. Only James with the ball in his hands can beat the Warriors, they’ve realized, which is why it was a success to see him pass 80 of the 117 touches (68 percent of the time). In the previously three games, he passed just 184 times in 349 touches (53 percent).
Mike Prada wrote about how the Warriors doubled James in Game 4 -- never recklessly to give up a dunk or corner three-pointer, but still a constant wave of players coming to force the ball of out James’ hands.
James is the best player in the world, though, and smart enough to adjust. Here's how the Cleveland Cavaliers and James can burn this defensive strategy.
1. Make shots
The first adjustment isn't really an adjustment, more of an obvious concern considering the Cavaliers shot 4-of-27 from deep. The Warriors can continue their strategy of letting Dellavedova, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert shoot 3-of-22 by themselves as long as they're actually shooting 3-of-22. Tick that up to, say, 8-of-22 and the strategy is less tenable. If neither of those three can do it, give Mike Miller a chance. Hell, put 37 percent three-point shooter Joe Harris in the game. It's the NBA Finals and if the ship appears to be sinking, there's no time to stand firm at the helm hoping the situation resolves itself.
2. Go quick
All series, Cleveland has killed the pace, slowed every possession down and taken its sweet time every chance it could. It’s the right approach against the speedster Warriors, and even if Game 4 felt faster, it wasn’t significantly so -- just a few more possessions on either side.
For a few possessions here and there, James and the Cavaliers have to use that against Golden State. An immediate spin move after catching the ball in the post or an unexpected fast break could help Cleveland score six to eight extra points that could come up huge late in the game.
3. Punish the small lineups
In single coverage, James will almost always have Andre Iguodala on him, who has proved to be the best LeBron-stopper in these entire playoffs. It's not easy for him to get to the rim, but with Draymond Green starting at center last game, he has to try.
If there’s one place to concede to the Warriors’ strategy of forcing the ball out of James’ hands, it’s with Timofey Mozgov. He’s a big man with soft touch and a ton of size. If Golden State isn’t going to play anyone over 6’8 for a majority of its lineups, the Cavaliers need the three or four easy post moves he can drop in after establishing deep post position.
It’s likely we see James’ total shot attempts rise back into the 30s on Sunday in Game 5. They really have to for the Cavaliers to have a chance. James, more than anyone, knows it’s true.
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