Some of us feared that the despite our longing for this NBA Finals rematch, the new Warriors were just too good to give us a classic battle against anyone. Those fears may have been realized, even if just for one game, on Thursday as Golden State beat Cleveland 113-91.
The Cavaliers need more LeBrons
Good morning. We have that and more in Friday’s NBA newsletter.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Kevin Durant was a mastermind, finishing with 38 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and zero turnovers. Paul Flannery’s excellent piece live from Oakland gets into just how incredibly Durant performed and what everyone — including LeBron — had to say about it.
Stephen Curry was awesome too, and he didn’t get punished much on defense because Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green (the latter two of whose shots were off) defended the hell out of the Cavaliers, forcing tough shot after tough shot. Cleveland tried to run Curry through a lot of action, but the Warriors collectively forced a lot of turnovers and got out into transition, which just punished Cleveland.
LeBron had a strong scoring effort but committed too many turnovers and really didn’t look like he knew what to do with Durant most of the night. In fairness, no one knows what to do with Durant when he’s shooting and attacking like that. It’s why for the past five to six years, Durant has been the player most often mentioned alongside LeBron in the conversation about the best player in the world.
Game 2 is Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Will Cleveland find a way in?
There is no question that Rihanna — and the impact she had on the men in her vicinity, including Jeff Van Gundy — was the best part of Game 1.
Most of the discourse is about Durant, so here are two nice Curry moments: celebrating a three with some of the highest kicks this side of a cheer competition, and shaking LeBron out of his corporeal body.
One of the takeaway images of the game will be Durant’s several wide-open dunks down the lane. Here’s why he got those.
LeBron put noted sphinx cat owner JaVale McGee on a poster and then had an all-timer dunk face for the camera.
Russell Westbrook claims to have watched Sister Act 2 instead of Game 1. I am skeptical.
Before the game, I’d ranked the 30 players in the finals. Durant, No. 2 on that list, was too low.
Dynamite Jackie MacMullan piece (which goes without saying) on how Durant’s injuries in 2014-15 changed his worldview and led him to Oakland.
Steve Kerr might coach Game 2.
Tyler Tynes on LeBron and the inability to escape racism in America. Read it.
On that note, we really don’t need to engage with those who are using deep political divisions only to profit by questioning the existence of racism or that LeBron can be a victim of it given his wealth. There are two sports personalities in particular who are attacking LeBron and those sympathetic to LeBron solely to get and maintain attention. I choose to ignore them. It saves me a lot of time and trouble.
We take this brief finals break to gawk at the incredible branding of the Grizzlies’ new G League team, the Memphis Hustle.
Ricky O’Donnell on what Malik Monk offers beyond shooting.
David Roth on the glory of “Roundball Rock.”
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